35 years ago today (January 18th, 1984) Van Halen kicked off its 1984 tour in Jacksonville, Florida. The album produced their only number 1 single “Jump”. That was followed by “I’ll Wait”. David Lee Roth says the lyrics were inspired by a Calvin Klein model. The song was written by David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen, Alex Van Halen, Michael Anthony and Michael McDonald. (Not sure how Michael got involved!) David Lee Roth explains what — or who — inspired its lyrics.
“’I’ll Wait’ was written to the Calvin Klein girl, one of these beautiful vixens in, y’know, David Lee Roth in the valley of the ultra vixens. And this time she’s wearing Calvin Klein drawers. And I just kind of pinned it in front of the TV set and thought, ‘Well, now here’s a little bit more positive than why doesn’t he jump.”
DLR Never liked Jump (even though it was their biggest song ever). It’s what led him to leave the band.
