The solo project of David Lee Roth has produced six studio albums thus far. The albums were successful, with the first two featuring Billy Sheehan, Steve Vai, and Gregg Bissonette. But the former Van Halen guitarist had another guitarist in mind before forming his solo band: Billy Idol’s guitarist.
In an interview with Ryan Roxie, Roth’s bandmate Sheehan revealed why Roth had Idol’s guitarist in mind rather than Steve Vai. “Steve [Stevens] was the guitarist Dave had his eye on. I believe they spoke briefly. But Steve was committed to Billy Idol and wanted to stay where he was. I met Steve after the rock band, and we nearly formed a band together. He’s an incredible guitarist and a wonderful person.”
Roth couldn’t include Stevens in his band. Fortunately, their deal with Vai worked out, and the band was not left without a guitarist. Sheehan went on, “But when it didn’t work out with Dave, I told him, ‘I know another Steve,’ because I had already spoken with Steve Vai about potentially working with him. So, when Steve Stevens wasn’t available, I had Dave contact him, and it worked out perfectly.”
Stevens’ Experience Of Almost Getting In The Band
Stevens met Van Halen members after Roth left the band. The guitarist first met Eddie Van Halen in 1987, and their last conversation was in 2013. During these years, Roth approached Stevens and asked if he wanted to play in his band.
Stevens told the Double Stop podcast how it all happened, “I met Dave, he came to my apartment, and we went to lunch. [But] I said, ‘Look, I’m in the middle of finishing this Idol record [1986’s ‘Whiplash Smile’], I’m not going to leave, and I’m committed to touring in support of it. So you’ll have to wait for me.’ By then, he had Billy Sheehan in the band. He said, ‘I don’t think I can wait for you. Have you ever heard of this guy Steve Vai?’ I knew him from the [Frank] Zappa stuff. I said, ‘He’s an incredible guitar player. He and Billy would be phenomenal together.’ So I passed on the Roth gig.”
Though he passed on the gig, Stevens still had a big impact on Roth’s first album, ‘Eat ‘Em and Smile.’
