David Lee Roth's 1988 solo album "Skyscraper" attempted to fuse rock with electronic and dance music, following the template Van Halen had used on their 1983 hit "Jump," but the experiment ultimately failed to connect with audiences in the way its creators had hoped. The gamble mattered because, had it succeeded, it might have transformed Roth's career trajectory and standing within rock music, at a time when the genre's relationship with electronic sound was deeply contested and divisive among fans and critics alike.

Bassist Billy Sheehan, who worked closely with Roth on the record, later reflected that the title track "Skyscraper" could have made Roth "the genius of the century" had it taken off, given how much effort went into it. Sheehan praised Roth for taking the risk regardless, drawing a comparison to Roth's earlier bold move of leaving Van Halen to launch "Eat 'Em and Smile." The article contrasts Roth's failed crossover with Robert Plant's more successful electronic experimentation on his 1988 album "Now and Zen," suggesting the rock-electronic divide these artists tried to bridge only became mainstream and widely accepted in later years.