David Lee Roth surprised fans when he announced his retirement suddenly in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal that was published on October 1. Roth said in the interview, “I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring…I’m not going to explain the statement. The explanation is in a safe. These are my last five shows…I’ve given you all I’ve got to give. It’s been an amazing, great run, no regrets, nothing to say about anybody. I’ll miss you all. Stay frosty.”
The shows were scheduled for New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, Jan. 5, 7, 8 at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas; he later added dates 14, 15, 21 and 22 . However, the New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day shows were canceled and now the House Of Blues’ website lists the remaining shows as canceled as well.
Billboard reports that Roth’s reps announced on Dec. 30 that the New Year’s shows would be pushed to Feb. 11-12 due to “unforeseen circumstances related to COVID and out of an abundance of caution for those working and attending the shows.” But there haven’t been any announcements about the rest of the shows as of yet (and the Black Crowes are booked at the House Of Blues on those nights). Roth hasn’t commented beyond a cryptic social media post saying “A funny thing happened on the way to Las Vegas.”