A Look Back At Van Halen Singer David Lee Roth's Whirlwind Fling With Brooke Shields

Celebrities often find it difficult to maintain privacy in their personal lives when every move they make is scrutinized by the media. Perfectly illustrating this was on page 14 of the August 31, 1982 issue of The National Enquirer where Brooke Shields was spotted with "Happy Days" actor Ted McGinley, and the two were rumored to have been dating ever since they met at a circus. As stars attempt to keep their private lives to themselves, rumors and theories can abound.

On February 7, 2003, in a forum called Van Halen Links, or VHLinks, one fan shared a rumor in a discussion about Van Halen's song "I'll Wait," which they thought was about Brooke Shields. However, according to Song Facts, the lyrics were written by producer Ted Templeman and David Lee Roth about a photograph in a magazine they saw in which men's Calvin Klein underwear is worn by a female model. That song was their second hit in 1984 after their first — and biggest — hit tune, "Jump," came out that year.

In a bit of irony that could be connected to the erroneous belief about the origin of "I'll Wait," a scene in the comedy classic "Fast Times at Ridgemont High" (1982) has underachiever Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn) saving a drowning Brooke Shields. He ends up spending all of the reward money he receives on having none other than Van Halen perform during his birthday party.