Welcome to the 2017 hennemusic Rock News Awards.
Over the next ten days, we’ll be counting down the Top 10 Rock News Artists of the past year.
Finalists for the 8th annual hennemusic Rock News Awards are chosen by readers: winners are determined by the combined total page views of the top 50 hennemusic rock news stories of the past twelve months.
The 2017 hennemusic Rock News Awards winners will be announced on Thursday, December 21.
Rock News Artist Of The Year No. 10 – DAVID LEE ROTH
David Lee Roth first made headlines in January with news that the Van Halen rocker was being sued by a landscaper over an alleged attack by his dog.
According to a report by TMZ, Timothy Salinas said he was doing maintenance work in Roth's Pasadena, CA yard when the singer's Australian Cattle dog suddenly attacked and took a chunk out of his lower left calf; Salinas added that his boss told him he'd lose his job if he reported it.
Roth's lawyer, Ed McPherson, billed the issue as nothing more than a celebrity shakedown, pointing out that Salinas waited 47 days before going to the hospital and that the singer was only made aware of the alleged incident after the landscaper filed an insurance claim.
April brought sad news to the Van Halen family when former bassist Michael Anthony lost his infant grandson, Rex, at just two weeks of age after he failed to recover from successful open heart surgery following a diagnosis of heart disease just hours after his birth.
When Anthony announced plans to raise funds for the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital as part of the annual “Walk L.A.” event in June, Roth topped his former bandmate’s list of supporters with a $10,000 donation.
In early September, Roth performed at a benefit for the Brent Shapiro Foundation at a private estate in Beverly Hills, CA.
The Van Halen frontman delivered a four-song set that featured a pair of covers from his 1985 EP, “Crazy From The Heat” – “Just A Gigolo/I Ain’t Got Nobody” and “California Girls” – alongside Van Halen’s 1978 cover of John Brim’s “Ice Cream Man”, and the band’s only US No. 1 hit, “Jump.”
Hosted by actor Mario Lopez, the “Summer Spectacular Under The Stars” event raised more than $1 million for drug awareness and prevention programs by the Brent Shapiro Foundation.
As Van Halen continued their extended hiatus following a 2015 North American tour, there’s been no reports of activity within the camp, outside of word that bassist Wolfgang Van Halen continues to work on his debut solo album, which is expected to arrive in 2018.
See also:
Search David Lee Roth at hennemusic
AC/DC sweep the 2016 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen and KISS top the 2015 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen sweep 2014 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen and Pearl Jam top the 2013 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen dominate the 2012 hennemusic Rock News Awards
Van Halen win two hennemusic Rock News Awards
Guns N’ Roses named hennemusic’s Rock News Artist of The Year
Jimmy Page’s 2011 plans named hennemusic’s Rock News Story Of The Year
