David Lee Roth recently drew an unexpected comparison between himself and global pop star Shakira. He shared a throwback performance video on Instagram to make his point.
The post featured a clip of Roth performing live with Van Halen, covering The Kinks’ classic “You Really Got Me.” The video was headlined “Before Shakira, we had David Lee Roth” — a nod to the signature dance moves both performers are known for.
Roth made his stance clear in the caption of the post.
“Ya hear?” David Lee Roth wrote in the caption of the video. “‘Before Shakira, we had David Lee Roth.'”
The post quickly drew reactions from Van Halen fans. One fan commented: “Regardless what anyone says. Diamond Dave was a show stopper and a real performer!” Another echoed the sentiment, calling Roth the “Greatest Front man of all time, hands-down.” A third fan added: “He is her inspiration. Even the hair.”
The comparison highlights Roth’s enduring legacy as a frontman. Fans continue to rally behind the idea that his energetic stage presence predated and may have influenced performers like Shakira.
Roth served as Van Halen’s lead vocalist across three separate periods. He first joined the band in 1974 and remained until 1985 during the group’s explosive rise to fame. He briefly reunited with the band in 1996 before returning again in 2007, staying on until Van Halen officially disbanded in 2020.
Throughout that run, Roth became widely recognized for his wild and energetic stage persona. His flamboyant showmanship and powerful vocals helped define the visual identity of 1970s and 1980s hard rock and glam metal, setting a standard for rock frontmen that few have matched since.
In May 2025, Roth returned to live performance after a five-year hiatus. He took the stage at the M3 Rock Festival and delivered a 16-song set made up entirely of Van Halen classics. The performance made clear that, for Roth, the show is far from over.
