Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times reports that David Lee Roth, VAN HALEN's frontman for the band's first decade, said Thursday (March 8) he will not attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony because event officials have turned down his repeated overtures to perform.

� The Van Halens have been in lock-down mode since their plans for a summer reunion tour with Roth collapsed last month. Roth said he last spoke to Eddie Van Halen's camp a week ago, and he said he could not determine the truth about reports that the guitarist is seeking help for alcohol problems. "Ed is indisposed and working toward a better future here," Roth said. "If Ed ever dries up, this is going to be a stadium act, man.... What's happening here with this [New York event] is part and parcel of the same spiral that screwed up the tour." [we know that all worked out!] - more on this story