California Girls

The Zoo Crew is spinning California Girls by David Lee Roth from his 1985 EP Crazy From The Heat, and Zoo Freaks, this track has some wild stories behind it. Roth shared in a 1985 Record magazine interview that the idea for covering the Beach Boys’ classic sparked on a dull beach afternoon in Puerto Vallarta. While chilling with his crew, the Beach Boys’ version came on, and a bodyguard suggested, “You ought to do this one, Dave.” Roth lit up, declaring, “THAT’S IT!” He packed up, drove 15 hours through the desert to the airport, and flew straight to Warner Bros. president Lenny Waronker to pitch the idea. The song was recorded in just four days at New York’s Power Station studio, with Roth noting the session musicians had a blast playing everything from Beach Boys to Louis Prima in one go. The track features backing vocals from Beach Boy Carl Wilson and Christopher Cross, giving it that authentic sunny vibe. It hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, matching the Beach Boys’ original peak, and its Federico Fellini-inspired music video, directed by Roth and Pete Angelus, became a massive MTV hit in 1985, complete with a Twilight Zone-style intro and Roth as a zany tour guide.

The California Girls video, filmed on Venice Beach, is packed with theatrical flair, showcasing Roth’s “Diamond Dave” persona. Roth and Angelus aimed to create characters you’d feel you knew in just five seconds, like the tourists and swimsuit models, including a young Jane Leeves, later known for Frasier. One iconic scene has Roth dancing down a boardwalk with models posed like mannequins, a moment often imitated in pop culture. Roth reflected in a 2024 director’s commentary on X that the video captured the essence of Southern California’s vibrant culture. Fans on the Van Halen News Desk Facebook group still rave about the video’s campy charm, with some calling it a perfect snapshot of ‘80s excess. The song’s B-side remix even shuffled the verse and chorus order, a quirky touch for collectors, as noted on Discogs.

David Lee Roth, born October 10, 1954, in Bloomington, Indiana, kicked off his musical journey thanks to his father’s love for icons like Al Jolson and Frank Sinatra. After his family moved to California in the ‘60s, teenage Roth dove into the rock scene, obsessing over bands like Led Zeppelin and Alice Cooper. By the early ‘70s, he was singing in local Pasadena bands like the Red Ball Jets, sharing stages with another up-and-coming act, Mammoth, which later became Van Halen. Roth’s larger-than-life persona—think acrobatic leaps, spandex, and a surfer-dude attitude—caught the eye of brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen. He joined their band in 1973, and with his showmanship paired with Eddie’s guitar wizardry, Van Halen skyrocketed to global fame by the late ‘70s. Roth’s solo career launched with Crazy From The Heat while still with Van Halen, though he split from the band in 1985 to go full-throttle solo, later reuniting for tours and 2012’s A Different Kind of Truth.

Zoo Freaks can keep up with David Lee Roth through his Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where he shares everything from throwback clips to new commentary. Fans also gather at the Van Halen News Desk website for updates and trivia, and the David Lee Roth Wiki on Fandom dives deep into his discography. The Van Halen News Desk Facebook group is a hot spot for devotees swapping stories about Roth’s wild performances and solo gems like California Girls. Whether you’re vibing to the song’s sunny grooves or geeking out over its ‘80s legacy, Roth’s flair keeps the party going for all you Zoo Freaks out there.