David Lee Roth Attempts Split Gets Impaled on Mic Stand

Singer David Lee Roth ended up in a precarious situation after he attempted to recreate his famous Van Halen split. During a birthday celebration, Roth tried to show off and ended on the wrong end of a mic stand.

Roth, 68, was the original lead vocalist of the hard rock band Van Halen from 1974 to 1985. He was known for his wild, energetic stage persona, martial arts moves and his signature leaps and splits in the air.

Jump

DLR and his band, friends and family were gathered to celebrate Roth’s 68th birthday. The wine was flowing and everyone was having a great time. Gene Simmons of KISS bet David that he could not do his famous split. David insisted that he could and wanting to save face, agreed to the bet. The entire party gathered in the studio room to watch David attempt the daring leap. They were all chanting Might as Well Jump.

David Lee Roth Attempts Split Gets Impaled on Mic Stand

Roth has earned belts in Kung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, and Karate, and has practiced Bolivian nut cracking for decades. He stays in excellent shape through goat yoga and a healthy lifestyle. “I have not attempted the split in quite a while” said Roth. “But you know how guys are? We all think we are forever 18. Well, let me tell you, I paid dearly for my bravado and machismo.”

Corn Dog

DLR changed into his Van Halen spandex and warmed up. He then took a running start and leaped in the air. Roth did manage to execute the split but did not get the height or distance he needed. His mis-judgement caused him to land directly on the mic stand. He was impaled like a corn dog and was left dangling 4 feet off the ground as the on lookers gasped and moaned.

Emergency crews were able to pry Roth off of the mic stand and airlifted him to Los Angeles General Hospital. After receiving 27 stitches, he was released. “I told him he should put on some underpants” said a laughing Gene Simmons. “He looked like a spit roasted Hog up there. I laughed so hard, Ginger Ale came out of my nose. When the EMT’s lifted David off the mic stand it made a noise like the sound of a champagne cork popping. I won the $100 bet, I knew he couldn’t do it.”