David Lee Roth's new career?

Walt · Nov 19, 2004

:shock: Scary: http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/16/people.roth.ap/index.html

Walt · Nov 19, 2004

NEW YORK (AP) -- Rocker David Lee Roth, the former Van Halen frontman, is taking up a new trade.

Instead of screaming "Jump," he'll be yelling "Clear!"

Roth, 50, has been riding for several weeks with a New York ambulance crew in training to become a paramedic, The New York Post reported Tuesday.

"I have been on over 200 individual rides now," said Roth. "Not once has anyone recognized me, which is perfect for me."

The singer, who spent a decade with Van Halen before embarking on a solo career, except a collaboration with the band for two new songs on a greatest hits album, has been riding along with crews in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn several nights a week.

His training seems to be going well.

Several weeks ago, Roth saved the life of a heart attack victim in the Bronx by using a defibrillator.

He takes his work so seriously that he did not want publicity so that it would not "diminish what I am trying to do here." He has said that he did not want the neighborhoods he was working in named so that he would not draw attention to himself or co-workers.

"You would never know you were dealing with a rock-'n'-roll guy," said Linda Reissman, Roth's EMS consultant and tutor. "His commitment really is touching. He wants to help people."

Nytmair · Nov 19, 2004

wow, i definatley never saw that coming!!!

Corry · Nov 19, 2004

Dude...that's awesome.

havoc · Nov 19, 2004

I don't know what to say! I would say he can't drive 55, LOL but that was Haggar....

Gandalf · Nov 19, 2004

Stupid media, leave him alone.

Walt · Nov 19, 2004

Gandalf said:
Stupid media, leave him alone.

For the sake of what he's doing, absolutly, leave him alone. On the other side of things, he has always presented himself over the top and used his flamboyance to his advantage. A certain amount of attention has to be expected.

Canon Fan · Nov 20, 2004

And yet the rest of Van Haggar says he hasn't changed one bit in the last 20 years? Hell I'd say good'ol Dave is walking a better path than Sammy is :roll:

Good for him. On a side note I would really like to hear him sing Panama again though :wink:

Walt · Nov 20, 2004

My bass playing wouldn't be up to par for working with him but it would be a hoot to work on car with him for a shift or two!

terri · Nov 21, 2004

Being an EMT is one tough job. Kudos to the guy for giving it a go.

OTOH, it really is cracking me up.

An odd career move....but what the hey. :wink:

Jeff Canes · Nov 22, 2004

I recall hear that his parents where in medical field.

Gandalf · Nov 22, 2004

Yeah, his parents were fairly wealthy (one of the main reasons he was in Van Halen).

Big Mike · Nov 22, 2004

When I first read this...I was thinking that he just wants access to a defibrillator in case his lifestyle finally catches up with him and he needs to give himself a boost. :lol:

mad_malteaser · Nov 23, 2004

Big Mike said:
When I first read this...I was thinking that he just wants access to a defibrillator in case his lifestyle finally catches up with him and he needs to give himself a boost.

You might be onto something there. I remember at work we contemplated zapping a pig for a barbeque one night. Nobody had the nerve to do it in the end though...

Walt · Nov 23, 2004

mad_malteaser said:
Big Mike said:

When I first read this...I was thinking that he just wants access to a defibrillator in case his lifestyle finally catches up with him and he needs to give himself a boost.

Click to expand...

You might be onto something there. I remember at work we contemplated zapping a pig for a barbeque one night. Nobody had the nerve to do it in the end though...

Just make sure the patches aren't in the right spot, you wouldn't want to revive the pig! :shock: