Eric Martin recently recalled a memory about almost trying out for Van Halen back in 1985. However, he didn’t get to the audition stage as he lacked confidence at the time.
1985 was a period of transition for Van Halen. David Lee Roth had shocked the rock world when he announced that he was leaving Van Halen, when they were at the peak of their popularity, thanks to the massive success of their last release, “1984,” which spawned such classic tunes as “Jump” and “Panama.”
Before the band chose Sammy Hagar as Roth’s successor, it was later discovered that other singers were either approached or actually auditioned, such as Scandal’s Patty Smyth. And it sounds like Martin was also on VH’s radar at the time, as well. During the interview with Final Resonance TV, Martin shared his thoughts as to why he ultimately chose not to audition.
During the interview, Martin explained why he ultimately chose not to audition.
“I probably wouldn’t have made it,” Martin explained. “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. 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.”
It sounds like Martin’s physical stature played a part in his decision, in addition to also realizing how difficult it would be to replace a frontman as iconic as Mr. Roth.
“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? 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.'”
