Police Story from Dave's Biography Crazy From the Heat

New York City, 1986. A pal and I were just coming by helicopter from the Liberty Island Festival. We landed at the 32nd Street heliport, on the East River. And I'm wearing the spandex, with the boots up to the knees and the Prince Valiant haircut. And my pal says," Jeez, Dave, this is like pimpville. This is dangerous turf."

I says, "It's cool man, it's cool."

A few minutes later, a cop car pulls up, throws the lights on us. "All right, you guys, hold it right there." 'Cause we're colorfully dressed-to say the least.

He checks our ID, he says, "David Lee Roth! What are you doin' around here? This is Hookerville, man!"

"Stayin' over at the Plaza Hotel."

Cop says,"Hey, you want a ride? Jump in the car, you guys. We'll give you a ride to the Plaza Hotel." He and his partner were fans. As we're driving along, one of 'em says to me, "Hey, want to play a little game?"

I says, "Sure. I love games."

He says, "Here. Put these handcuffs on. We're gonna walk you into the precinct station."

It's the 13th Precinct, I think. It's Halloween; it's like a zoo in there. He walks us through, and every skell, every transvestite, every kind of pimp, hooker, is in there. In costume. And as we walk through the crowd, everyone gets real silent. And the night sergeant, sitting at the desk, looks at me in my striped pants,and my haircut and everything and says, "What'd you get him for?"

It's dead silent, in the whole precinct station, 'cause everybody knows who we are.

The cop turns around, and looks at me, and he says,"I don't know, sir. We found him down by 32nd Street. He says he's just a gigolo."