David Lee Roth can still throw down like skirt-lifting riff-a-rama never went out of style â€" that is, as long as your definition of throwing down depends more on a plutonium-bright personality and vaudeville-sharp timing than a perfectly preserved set of pipes.

Trying to divert attention from his failed DJing career, Diamond Dave is on tour again singing classic Van Halen songs and a few bluegrass songs, including a stop at Emerald Queen Casino Nov. 4.

Bluegrass?

Did you not hear about Strummin' With the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen, a compilation of some of Van Halen's biggest hits done in an authentic down home country/bluegrass style released this past May? Roth only sings on three of the album's tracks â€" "Jump" and two versions of "Jamie's Cryin'" â€" and leaves the rest to bluegrass stalwarts Larry Cordle, John Cowan and the Nashville Bluegrass Band. 

Oh well, my man Dave remains the real deal to me â€" not to mention the only touring tongue-in-cheek vulgarian who's saved the life of a heart-attack victim as a paramedic (So when he yells "Jump!", you'd best reply, "Clear!").

Tickets for the Nov. 4 Emerald Queen Casino show are $30-$65 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster. â€" Suzy Stump