David Lee Roth will jump back onstage this spring to perform live for the first time since 2020. The original Van Halen frontman has been announced as the headliner for the second day of the 2025 M3 Rock Festival, which takes place May 2-4 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.
The festival, which showcase hard-rock and heavy metal acts, also will feature ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach as the May 2 headliner, and former Ratt bandmates Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini teaming up to perform their old group’s songs as the main act on May 4.
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Joining Roth on the May 3 bill are Accept, Winger, Slaughter, and former Guns N’ Roses drummer Steven Adler, among others. The May 4 lineup also includes founding KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Lita Ford, Warrant, Great White, and Vixen.
Three-day passes and VIP packages for the M3 fest go on sale to the general public on Friday, January 31, at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster. Single-day tickets will be made available at a later date.
Fans interested in purchasing tickets early may want to check StubHub.
Pearcy’s Comments About Performing with DeMartini Again
Founding Ratt frontman Pearcy issued a statement about the partial reunion taking place at the festival.
“It’s only appropriate that the first show in years is at M3 2025,” he said. “It’s about the [band’s] legacy. There was no question when the idea was brought up to me about doing something with Warren again. I know what we can do as a team, and that’s writing great songs and Kickin’ some a– onstage.”
Stephen added, “You’re getting ALL the RATT hits and more. … [L]et the ‘Invasion Celebration’ begin! I guess hell does freeze over. Never say never, right? Pearcy [and] De Martini back in the cellar, let’s go!”
More Recent Roth News
Roth’s last public concert performance took place on March 10, 2020, while touring as KISS’ opening act. In the ensuing years, Diamond Dave announced that he was planning to retire from performing, but subsequently hinted that he might continue to play shows.
During the last few years, Roth also has been releasing a series of solo tracks via streaming services and his social media pages. These recordings have included updated versions of Van Halen songs and solo tunes he debuted as part of an immersive interactive comic called The Roth Project.
His most recent tune, a blues-influenced song titled “Forgiveness,” was released on December 24, 2024.
Meanwhile, as previously reported, a box set featuring Roth’s debut solo EP, Crazy from the Heat, and his first four full-length studio albums will be released on February 21. Arriving in the wake of Crazy from the Heat’s 40th anniversary, The Warner Recordings 1985-1994 can be pre-ordered now.
The multi-disc collection also will feature Eat ’Em and Smile (1986), Skyscraper (1988), A Little Ain’t Enough (1991), and Your Filthy Little Mouth (1994). The box set will be available as a five-CD set, a five-LP vinyl set, and via digital formats. The vinyl collection can be purchased exclusively from Rhino.com.
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