David Lee Roth revealed in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he is retiring. “I am throwing in the shoes. I’m retiring,” said the lead singer of the hard rock band Van Halen over the phone. “This is the first, and only, official announcement. … You’ve got the news. Share it with the world.”

In the call, Roth spoke nonstop (in what seemed to be more like a monologue more than an interview) about the origins of Van Haen and his conversations with Alex Van Halen stating they speak to each other constantly, two or three times a day and laugh like pirates. Alex Van Halen is slated to join Roth for his final shows.

Roth had been encouraged by doctors to make this hard choice and added he had been thinking about “the departure of my beloved classmate recently.” he added, “I am encouraged and compelled to really come to grips with how short time is, and my time is probably even shorter. … I thought I might have been the first, frankly … ‘Hey Ed, objects in the rear-view mirror are probably me.’ And my doctors, my handlers, compelled me to really address that every time I go on stage, I endanger that future.”

Roth continued to speak and clarified that his recently announced Las Vegas residency at the House of Blues in Las Vegas would be the “last five shows ever” that he will perform. The shows will take place between Dec. 31 and Jan. 8.

Tickets go on sale Get tickets to his shows here.

Read Relix’s article on David Lee Roth here.