NEW YORK - Rocker David Lee Roth (news), the former Van Halen frontman, is taking up a new trade.

Instead of screaming "Jump," he'll be yelling "Clear!"


Roth, 50, has been riding for several weeks with a New York ambulance crew in training to become a paramedic, The New York Post reported Tuesday.


"I have been on over 200 individual rides now," said Roth. "Not once has anyone recognized me, which is perfect for me."


The singer, who spent a decade with Van Halen before embarking on a solo career, except a collaboration with the band for two new songs on a greatest hits album, has been riding along with crews in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn several nights a week.


His training seems to be going well.


Several weeks ago, Roth saved the life of a heart attack victim in the Bronx by using a defibrillator.


He takes his work so seriously that he did not want publicity so that it would not "diminish what I am trying to do here." He has said that he did not want the neighborhoods he was working in named so that he would not draw attention to himself or co-workers.


"You would never know you were dealing with a rock-'n'-roll guy," said Linda Reissman, Roth's EMS consultant and tutor. "His commitment really is touching. He wants to help people."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...mu/people_roth

no one else thinks this is one of the greatest stories ever?

David Lee Roth a paramedic.....

Now that's an unsettling thought.

He is still performing though (saw him in concert a week ago).

This is great news.

Anything to keep him off of a stage.

Heard this last July. I think it's great. He's a class act.

His book, "Crazy From The Heat" is really good too. Read it twice.

He's performing with his short hair now? That would be weird to see.

is it? i've always wanted to read it.. just never got around to it.

I'll have a bottle of anything. And a glazed donut.

TO GO!!!

Just curious, is he doing this because he needs a paycheck? Or is this just a lark? I guess it beats serving up fast food. It would be pretty bizarre to be needing EMT help and then see Diamond Dave pumping you full of electricity.

I think he just wanted something productive to do. Before his Van Halen days, he worked for a hospital and would ship organs in ice chests from accident donors to the hospital.

Ten bucks says he's fishing for a reality show...

Maybe he can help save some lives, because he won't be able to revive his career.

Sad how cynical people have become in this day and age. Really, really sad.

He cut his hair and dyed it as not to be recognized. He refused to mention the area he's working in. He was happy that no one has recognized him on 200 runs.

Maybe, just maybe, for once, just this one time, there is no conspiracy or ulterior motive and he just wants to help people?

Maybe he can take the defibrillator and jump start his career.

Then why do we need to know about it at all?

he's learning paramedial techniques just in case his hearts gives out onstage attempting one of his high-kicks and must revive himself

Bozadee bozadee bop!

Crazy From the Heat is a great read (great pics too). I had him autograph my copy when I met him.

He is performing with short hair and looks a lot better than he did with the long bleach-blond hair.

FYI, I heard an interview with him a while back where he said he has always wanted to take after his father in some way, shape or form. His father was a doctor.

Well it's not like he's putting out press releases about it and doing a media tour about it.

The Post probably heard about it and tracked him down for it. This story IS 6 months old.

"Hey dude. I'm gonna have to defib-you-later 'cos I'm late for a gig."

lol

Just what I was thinking.