David Lee Roth may have lost his Van Halen bandmates years ago. And he may or may not have lost his hair. Whether or not it's real, his mane looks ridiculous on the middle-aged singer. Despite the toll taken by the years, Roth still has charisma to spare. The performer continues to "laugh to win." In fact, Roth punctuates every sentence -- whether it's funny or not -- with a guffaw.

Roth's currently on tour in support of his sixth solo album, Diamond Dave, which is loaded with covers. However, it's not all about the music for Roth; it's about the entertainment. Roth is a throwback, who's intelligent, amusing and at times sincere. His former bandmates -- guitarist Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex, whom Roth will only refer to as "the drummer" -- don't talk to Roth. But that doesn't stop Roth from flapping his gums about Van Halen or his archrival Sammy Hagar.

It's only a matter of time until Van Halen is inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. How will you, the Van Halens, Sammy Hagar and the rest of the cast and characters sort everything out when that happens?

I'm going to look at [VH bassist] Mike Anthony and say, "It was a great time and you were there." I will look at the drummer and say, "We were creative and fearless and you were there." I will look at Eddie and say, "Hey man, we made a contribution and you were there." I will look at Sammy and say, "You weren't there."

Eddie has done his share of trash talking. During Van Halen's last tour in 1997, Eddie suggested that you and Sammy should back up Gary Cherone for the Van Halen induction at the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

It sounds like Ed needs a better writer. That was back when Gary was his singer and his soulmate. I'm hesitant to attack Ed since he's neither in a physical or spiritual place to defend himself. It's only fun to crucify people with hilarity if they can respond to it. I don't even think Eddie is aware of what's going on around him. Darkness is over him and it's all consuming at this point.

During your tour with Sammy Hagar last year, you appeared to have a good time at the Blossom show, but Hagar didn't seem quite as comfortable.

I had a great time. Sam's band had a great time. The audience had a great time. Sam was a little anxious, that's a good group therapy way of putting it. Sometimes I got the feeling that I got my hand on Sam's skull and he has one of those little hats with the propellers on it and he starts swinging, but his little arms can't reach me. I got the impression that Sam wanted some closure, some validation. He went out there to compete, and I went out for my usual summer BBQ. Sam found out that he really wasn't what he thought he might have been.

A Van Halen reunion with Diamond Dave would be massive. Is there any chance that you and your ex mates can bury the hatchet in the name of filthy lucre?

The Van Halens kind of got caught with their hands in the bucket. I found out that they have been tinkering around with the royalties for years. That's what caused them to not be able to face me. Long before the first failed Van Halen reunion on MTV [in 1996], they cut a deal with Warner Brothers. They all make three times what I make. I didn't know that until months ago. If you buy Van Halen 1 now, which I highly recommend, I make ten cents, the drummer makes 30 cents.

What would have to happen for there to be a reunion?

There will have to be an intervention with Eddie before we even start talking again about going out on tour or making an album. I don't want to get everybody worked up again with all of the millions of dollars of expectations. On the positive side, I think "hope springs eternal" is an axiom to live by.

The art of showmanship is on the wane and bands are releasing albums with songs which sound pretty much the same. Any advice for young recording artists?

Learn your craft or you'll repeat yourself like Linkin Park is doing. They're bright musicians, but they don't know the alphabet. You need to know 250 songs by other artists. You practice those covers. But young bands aren't interested in that today, which blows my mind. What they do is like someone picking up a Nikon and saying, "I'll figure it out." I recommend that you learn everything from Motown on up. Practice James Brown for groove. Know the Beach Boys for vocal melody. For guitar, learn ZZ Top from the beginning up until 1984. You need to know the past to contribute in the future.

You've gone back to your roots on Diamond Dave, with covers of the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows" and Jimi Hendrix's "If 6 Was 9."

I'm doing some of the material I shoplifted as a kid. When I was growing up. if you wanted to get in touch with your black rage, you imitated Hendrix. All of the songs I do on my album mean a lot to me.

But the fans want to hear the Van Halen classics.

That's what they will hear. I play the hell out of those songs. Playing them again is not like riding a bike. It's like going on a bike race, a very competitive bike race.

You do a version of the Doors' "Soul Kitchen." Are you disappointed Ray Manzarek didn't call you to front his band for its reunion tour?

That tour is more like The Door. Some personalities are not replaceable. The human voice can't replace Caruso, Groucho or Diamond Dave.

Your pal Howard Stern once referred to you as David "Weave" Roth. Is that a weave? What is that on top of your head?

It's my hair.