To walk away from the world’s hottest rock band at the very peak of their popularity takes a certain amount of chutzpah, but then David Lee Roth never did lack confidence. When the Indiana-born singer quit Van Halen – or was fired from the Pasadena band, depending on whose version of rock history you choose to believe – on April 1, 1985, ostensibly to focus upon directing his (ill-fated) Crazy From The Heat movie, the rock world went into mourning. But everyone knew that the louder-than-life Roth wouldn’t be quiet for long.
Forty years on from the release of his thrilling debut album Eat 'Em And Smile, here are our picks for 'Diamond' Dave's finest solo songs.