David Lee Roth returns to the stage with Van Halen classics

David Lee Roth onstage — (Image credit: Jim Powers)

David Lee Roth has played his first live show in five years. The former Van Halen frontman performed a 16-song set at the 19,000-capacity Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, on Saturday, the second night of this year's long-running M3 Rock Festival.

Roth's setlist was entirely made up of songs originally recorded during his first stint with Van Halen, with no room for his solo output or – perhaps less surprisingly – from Van Halen's 2012 Roth reunion album A Different Kind of Truth.

Instead, fans were treated to 15 bona fide Van Halen classics, from the opening Panama to the closing Jump, plus a cover of The Kinks' You Really Got Me, famously covered by Van Halen on their debut album. Full setlist and fan-shot video of the full concert below.

Roth's previous show was at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, TX, in March 2020, but fans won't have to wait another five years for a show as the singer has another already booked: On September 12 he'll perform at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA, as part of the venue's annual Summer Concert Series.

Other acts performing during the series – which kicks off this month – include Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening, Gogol Bordello, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rick Springfield, Buddy Guy, the Beach Boys, ZZ Top, Three Dog Night, 38 Special, The Marshall Tucker Band, Daryl Hall and Garbage. Tickets are on sale now.

DAVID LEE ROTH - FULL SHOW@M3 Festival Merriweather Columbia, MD 5/3/25 - YouTube

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David Lee Roth M3 Festival May 3rd 2025 full concert - YouTube

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David Lee Roth: Merriweather Post Pavilion setlist

Panama
Drop Dead Legs
You Really Got Me
Unchained
Dance The Night Away
Runnin' With The Devil
Mean Street
Atomic Punk
And The Cradle Will Rock...
Jamie's Cryin'
I'm The One
Everybody Wants Some!!
Romeo Delight
Hot For Teacher
Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love
Jump

Artists

Online Editor at Louder/Classic Rock magazine since 2014. 40 years in music industry, online for 27. Also bylines for: Metal Hammer, Prog Magazine, The Word Magazine, The Guardian, The New Statesman, Saga, Music365. Former Head of Music at Xfm Radio, A&R at Fiction Records, early blogger, ex-roadie, published author. Once appeared in a Cure video dressed as a cowboy, and thinks any situation can be improved by the introduction of cats. Favourite Serbian trumpeter: Dejan Petrović.