Eric Martin recently opened up about a missed opportunity with Van Halen. He reflected on his decision not to audition for the band back in 1985, in an interview shared on Final Resonance TV.
The Mr. Big frontman discussed his lack of confidence at the time and his thoughts on potentially replacing David Lee Roth as Van Halen’s vocalist.
“I probably wouldn’t have made it. I didn’t have confidence. That’s one thing…maybe a little bit of cockiness, thinking, ‘I could probably do this David Lee Roth thing.’ I had a Paul Rodgers type of voice when I was…well, throughout my whole life,” Martin said.
He continued to explain his vocal capabilities and physical concerns about the role.
“But my voice was like, super-high back in the day. And I said, ‘I could probably do this,’ and a couple of those [Roth-like] screams and stuff,” he added. “But I was short. I was a little guy, and here’s this ominous-looking, cut-looking guy and the greatest entertainer in the world next to…he’s right up there with Freddie Mercury, y’know?”
Martin concluded his reflection with a humorous comparison that showed his respect for Roth’s stage presence.
“I think it’s funny to me. I mean, I don’t mean any disrespect to David Lee Roth, but I go, ‘Those are mighty big clown shoes to fill,'” he said.
Martin’s reflections come decades after one of rock’s most significant lineup changes. Van Halen faced the monumental task of replacing their charismatic frontman during this period.
American Songwriter reported that David Lee Roth announced his exit from Van Halen in August 1985. This ended 12 years of the classic lineup. Roth left to pursue a solo career and Hollywood aspirations. Eddie Van Halen later stated: “Dave left to be a movie star. He even had the balls to ask if I’d write the score for him.”
The band’s search for a replacement proved to be an extensive process with several notable candidates. Blabbermouth revealed that Patty Smyth of the band SCANDAL was actually Eddie Van Halen’s first choice to replace Roth. Eddie was “dead serious” about the offer and discussed it repeatedly with Smyth. She ultimately declined due to being eight months pregnant, unwilling to relocate to California, and concerned about the band’s heavy partying lifestyle.
After Smyth’s rejection, the band eventually recruited Sammy Hagar. He would go on to front Van Halen for nearly a decade. Parade noted that Hagar sang on four studio albums between 1986 and 1995. He left in 1996, rejoined for a 2004 tour, then departed again.
The interview reveals Martin’s candid assessment of what might have been during a pivotal moment in rock history. It adds another layer to the story of Van Halen’s transition from the Diamond Dave era to the Sammy Hagar years.
