David Lee Roth announced his retirement



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“I’m throwing the shoes off. I’m retiring,” Roth told the newspaper on a phone call. “This is the first and only official announcement … You have the news. Share it with the world.”

CNN has reached out to representatives for Roth for comment.

The flamboyant frontman was known as “Diamond Dave” during the band’s heyday in the 70s and 80s, when the quartet had hits like “Dance the Night Away” and “Jump”.

Roth’s announcement comes just under a year after Eddie Van Halen, the band’s lead guitarist and one of his namesakes, died from cancer. The singer referred to Van Halen’s death during the call with the Las Vegas newspaper, saying he had thought of “my beloved classmate leaving.”

“I am encouraged and compelled to really understand how short the time is, and my time is probably even shorter,” he said.

The group formed after Van Halen and his brother Alex met Roth. The band released over a dozen albums over four decades, thanks to a rotating cast of lead singers: Roth was replaced by Sammy Hagar, who was replaced by Gary Cherone – the band then returned to Hagar and, eventually, back to Roth.

Roth told the Review-Journal that he remembered the early days with the group “like it was yesterday.”

Roth has five shows scheduled at the House of Blues in Las Vegas from New Years Eve through early January – five shows he says will be his last.

“I gave you everything I had to give. It was an amazing and great race, no regrets, nothing to say about anyone. I will miss you all. Stay freezing.”

Keith Allen of CNN contributed to this report.

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