David Lee Roth is rolling in the dough these days, revealing he recently sold his publishing catalog for a large sum of money.
The Associated Press caught up with the former Van Halen singer backstage earlier this month at the first weekend of Coachella, where he made a surprise appearance singing “Jump” with Teddy Swims.
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In a video interview just posted to YouTube (watch below), Roth said, “I sold my publishing eight months ago,” and told the AP reporter to ask him how he feels. When the reporter obliged, Roth answered, “Rich! [laughs] For the first time in my life, I can rub two coins together and create a little interest. No, really!”
While Diamond Dave didn’t disclose the exact amount he received for his publishing catalog, its likely well into the tens of millions. Recent similar sales have garnered Bruce Springsteen $500 million, Bob Dylan $300 million, and Sting $300 million.
Elsewhere in the interview, DLR emphasized that he and the late Eddie Van Halen wrote all the Van Halen songs from his time in the band: “Eddie and I wrote all the songs. I wrote everything I sing. Every note that I sing, every word, all the titles, I stacked the harmonies, that was my job. If you’re singing it, Roth was bringing it.”
David Lee Roth recently kicked off a North American solo tour featuring a set almost entirely made up of classic Van Halen songs. The outing runs through a June 20th show in Milwaukee, with tickets to the remaining dates available here.
Watch his interview with the Associated Press below.
