This past weekend, Van Halen’s current lineup gave its first ever performance at an awards show when it played a rocking rendition of “Panama” to kick off the 2015 Billboard Music Awards.

Speaking with ABC Radio after the band’s appearance, frontman David Lee Roth revealed that Van Halen also has been tapped to open another awards ceremony, the CMT Music Awards, which the CMT network will air live from Nashville on June 10.

While a show that celebrates the top artists in country music may seem like an odd forum for the hard-rocking Van Halen, Roth said he believed that his band’s passionate approach to rehearsing and creating music has made it a group that appeals to fans of various musical genres.

“Van Halen, as opposed to many of our colleagues, has a whole different approach to how we pursue our art,” explained the flamboyant frontman.  “First off, we don’t pursue it…it’s an obsession.  It’s not something we decided.  It’s not something we thought would make us famous.  It has destroyed us variously in terms of health, finance, family.  It’s a trail that extends about four decades and a million years back, okay?  But it’s an obsession.”

Van Halen fans may remember that Roth made a foray into the country world when he contributed vocals to a few tracks on the 2006 bluegrass-flavored tribute album Strummin’ with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen.

CMT has yet to make an official announcement about the band’s participation in the awards show.

Meanwhile, ABC Radio also asked Roth how he feels when younger artists or fans come up to him and tell him that he’s a legend or that his music has inspired them.

“Whenever somebody approaches and they say, ‘Oh, you’re a legend,’ I say, ‘Well, that’s as misused as the word ‘genius,'” he noted, adding that his first reaction to such praise is that “it makes my night.”

Diamond Dave then joked that he also had a second, more suspicious reaction, saying, “I’m always concerned that they’re gonna blame me for their bad habits and then tell me one of their children is mine.”

Van Halen kicks off a North American tour on July 5 in Auburn, Washington, and the trek runs through an October 4 show at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

“Like” KFIX on Facebook.

Add Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen’s name to the list of rock and rollers turned authors.

The 57-year old guitarist’s new memoir, Adrenalized: Life, Def Leppard and Beyond,  will be published on October 27.

Written with veteran journalist and author Chris Epting, the book is the first  by a member of the group. In addition to Collen’s story it features never-before seen photographs of Collen and the band.

“It’s fascinating for even me to look back at my life from working in a factory at 16 years old to eventually traveling the world selling over one hundred million records and all the experiences that come with that journey,” Collen said in a statement.

“I realize that there is a constant evolution of ‘me’ that is still a work in progress even as I continue to be vital and dynamic in my same occupation for the past 35 years well into my late fifties.”

Def Leppard will be touring this summer with Styx and Tesla. The 48-date outing will kick off in Tampa, Florida, on June 23 and will wrap up in Jacksonville, Florida on October 17.

Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

“Like” KFIX on Facebook.

You can’t always get what you want, but if you ever wanted to ask a question to the members of The Rolling Stones, you now have your chance.

The guys in the band are taking part in their first ever Twitter Q&A, and you can submit questions now via The Stones’ Twitter account.

There’s no restriction on the subjects the band members will discuss, so ask away!  Answers to select questions will be posted this Monday, May 18, at 1 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, frontman Mick Jagger recently tweeted a message to let fans know that The Stones currently are rehearsing for their upcoming North American trek, the ZIP Code Tour, and asked for suggestions about what songs they should play in concert.

The 15-date tour gets under way Sunday, May 24, in San Diego and runs through a July 15 show in Quebec City.  Check out all the dates at RollingStones.com.

Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.

“Like” KFIX on Facebook.