In a revealing NEW interview with USA Today, Edward and Wolfgang Van Halen had a lot to say. Here is an excerpt of what Marco R. della Cava (USA TODAY) compiled together for the Van Halen fans:
Edward and Wolfgang Van Halen. The names sound like owners of the old Dutch East India shipping company, or perhaps a couple of guys looking to put a stake through Dracula’s heart.
Eddie Van Halen, right, says about his son, Wolfgang, left, “He’s 21 years old, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t do drugs. What more could I ask for?” The father and son pair talk to USA TODAY about touring together.
So let’s go with what friends call them: Ed and Wolf. Guitar revolutionary and musical disciple. Father and son.
“Look at him,” says Dutch-born Ed, 57, staring straight into the slightly embarrassed eyes of an all-American Wolf. “He’s 21 years old, he doesn’t smoke, he doesn’t drink, he doesn’t do drugs. What more could I ask for? He’s never done a (expletive) thing wrong.
Wolf smiles shyly and returns the compliment when the two are asked about their musical heroes. Ed cites Eric Clapton. “For me, my inspiration was obviously … you,” Wolf says.
In a rare joint interview with USA TODAY, the two Van Halens recently took time between dates on the band’s “A Different Kind of Truth” tour to discuss their relationship in and out of music.
But the news of the moment is about that very tour being cut short after a New Orleans date on June 26.
So what gives? Ed is direct.
“We bit off more than we could chew,” he says. “This record took a lot out of us. And we went on tour earlier than we wanted to so we could play Madison Square Garden (in March, before a renovation), and that threw the schedule out of whack.”
The band will have completed more than 40 shows on this leg, and “a lot of the canceled dates were in cities we already played,” he says. “So in November we’ll hit Japan, and in the new year we’ll possibly do something special, but I can’t talk about it.”
But he will talk about singer David Lee Roth. Contrary to what has been reported, he says there’s no tour-nuking feud. “Dave’s the same as he’s always been, funny, witty,” Ed says. Then he laughs. “Sometimes I can only take that in small doses, because he just goes on and on.”
Wolfgang jumps in: “He’s like the Energizer Bunny— wind it up and see what happens.”
“But Dave always lands on his feet,” Ed says.
Click here to read the rest of the interview!
Van Halen quotables:
Moment of musical truth: Eddie Van Halen says when
son Wolf was 10, “he was in the studio with us and I asked him to play a
little bass. He goes ‘boom, ba-da boom, boom,’ and I go ‘You’re
groovin’ great.’ He goes, ‘Really?’ Never been weird since.”
Father knows best: “As a kid, Wolf walked behind me, not in front,” says Ed. “So one day he was with his mom and I snatched him up from behind and ran. He cried, but I said, ‘Wolf, in two seconds you could be taken from me.’ He never did it again.”
Shared nightmare: “We got stuck on an amusement park ride recently,” Wolf says with a sigh. “Outdoor stuff I love, but this was dark and we’re strapped in,” Ed says. It only lasted five minutes, but Wolf says they were “in panic mode, it was awful.”
Guitar heroes’ heroes: So, who do Ed and Wolf Van Halen crank when they’re rocking out at home? “AC/DC,” says Wolf. “That’s our band.” Adds Ed: “It’s simple stuff, three chords, but so great. (Guitarist) Malcolm (Young) is the riff master.”
The band has 6 upcoming shows which will go on as scheduled:
- 6/14: San Diego, Calif – Viejas Arena
- 6/16: Phoenix, Ariz., US Airways Center
- 6/20: Dallas, Texas, American Airlines Center
- 6/22: San Antonio, Texas, AT&T Center
- 6/24: Houston, Texas, Toyota Center
- 6/26: New Orleans, La., New Orleans Arena
The postponed dates:
- 7/7: Uncasville, Ct., Mohegan Sun Arena
- 7/9: Hampton, Va., Hampton Coliseum
- 7/11: Philadelphia, Pa., Wells Fargo Center
- 7/13: East Rutherford, N.J., Izod Center
- 7/15: Baltimore, Md., 1st Mariner Arena
- 7/17: Rochester N.Y., Blue Cross Arena
- 7/19: Detroit, Mich., Joe Louis Arena
- 7/21: London, Ontario, John Labatt Centre
- 7/24: Toledo, Ohio, Huntington Center
- 7/26: Grand Rapids, Mich., Van Andel Arena
- 7/28: Cleveland, Ohio, Quicken Loans Arena
- 7/31: Fort Wayne, Ind., Allen County Memorial Coliseum
- 8/2: Columbus, Ohio, Schottenstein Center
- 8/4: Knoxville, Tenn., Thompson-Boiling Arena
- 8/6: Memphis, Tenn., FedEx Forum
- 8/8: Birmingham, Ala., BJCC Arena
- 8/10: Greenville, S.C., BI-LO Center
- 8/12: Cincinnati, Ohio, US Bank Arena
- 8/21: Spokane, Wash., Spokane Arena
- 8/23: Portland, Ore., Rose Garden
- 8/25: Sacramento, Calif.,Power Balance Pavilion
- 8/28: Fresno, Calif., Save Mart Center
- 8/30: Reno, Nev., Reno Events Center
- 9/4: Salt Lake City, Utah — EnergySolutions Arena
- 9/8: Albuquerque, N.M., Tingley Coliseum
- 9/11: El Paso, Texas, Don Haskins Center
- 9/13: Austin, Texas, Frank Erwin Center
- 9/15: Oklahoma City, Okla., Chesapeake Energy Arena
- 9/17: Wichita, Kan. – Intrust Bank Arena
- 9/21: Moline, Ill., Iwireless Center
- 9/25: Milwaukee, Wis., Bradley Center
Related links:
VAN HALEN's Official Site
Father knows best: “As a kid, Wolf walked behind me, not in front,” says Ed. “So one day he was with his mom and I snatched him up from behind and ran. He cried, but I said, ‘Wolf, in two seconds you could be taken from me.’ He never did it again.”
Shared nightmare: “We got stuck on an amusement park ride recently,” Wolf says with a sigh. “Outdoor stuff I love, but this was dark and we’re strapped in,” Ed says. It only lasted five minutes, but Wolf says they were “in panic mode, it was awful.”
Guitar heroes’ heroes: So, who do Ed and Wolf Van Halen crank when they’re rocking out at home? “AC/DC,” says Wolf. “That’s our band.” Adds Ed: “It’s simple stuff, three chords, but so great. (Guitarist) Malcolm (Young) is the riff master.”
The band has 6 upcoming shows which will go on as scheduled:
- 6/14: San Diego, Calif – Viejas Arena
- 6/16: Phoenix, Ariz., US Airways Center
- 6/20: Dallas, Texas, American Airlines Center
- 6/22: San Antonio, Texas, AT&T Center
- 6/24: Houston, Texas, Toyota Center
- 6/26: New Orleans, La., New Orleans Arena
The postponed dates:
- 7/7: Uncasville, Ct., Mohegan Sun Arena
- 7/9: Hampton, Va., Hampton Coliseum
- 7/11: Philadelphia, Pa., Wells Fargo Center
- 7/13: East Rutherford, N.J., Izod Center
- 7/15: Baltimore, Md., 1st Mariner Arena
- 7/17: Rochester N.Y., Blue Cross Arena
- 7/19: Detroit, Mich., Joe Louis Arena
- 7/21: London, Ontario, John Labatt Centre
- 7/24: Toledo, Ohio, Huntington Center
- 7/26: Grand Rapids, Mich., Van Andel Arena
- 7/28: Cleveland, Ohio, Quicken Loans Arena
- 7/31: Fort Wayne, Ind., Allen County Memorial Coliseum
- 8/2: Columbus, Ohio, Schottenstein Center
- 8/4: Knoxville, Tenn., Thompson-Boiling Arena
- 8/6: Memphis, Tenn., FedEx Forum
- 8/8: Birmingham, Ala., BJCC Arena
- 8/10: Greenville, S.C., BI-LO Center
- 8/12: Cincinnati, Ohio, US Bank Arena
- 8/21: Spokane, Wash., Spokane Arena
- 8/23: Portland, Ore., Rose Garden
- 8/25: Sacramento, Calif.,Power Balance Pavilion
- 8/28: Fresno, Calif., Save Mart Center
- 8/30: Reno, Nev., Reno Events Center
- 9/4: Salt Lake City, Utah — EnergySolutions Arena
- 9/8: Albuquerque, N.M., Tingley Coliseum
- 9/11: El Paso, Texas, Don Haskins Center
- 9/13: Austin, Texas, Frank Erwin Center
- 9/15: Oklahoma City, Okla., Chesapeake Energy Arena
- 9/17: Wichita, Kan. – Intrust Bank Arena
- 9/21: Moline, Ill., Iwireless Center
- 9/25: Milwaukee, Wis., Bradley Center
Related links:
VAN HALEN's Official Site
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