In a recent episode of The Eddie Trunk Podcast, Wolf Van Halen joined Myles Kennedy to discuss his favorite drummers and share some interesting stories from his touring days with Van Halen. Wolf shared his thoughts on the drummers who inspired him and how he and his uncle Alex Van Halen would cover for his dad Eddie Van Halen on stage.
During the interview, Wolf shared his admiration for several drummers, including Danny Carey and Travis Barker. He explained that learning to play Tool songs helped him improve his skills, and playing Blink 182’s ‘Enema Of The State’ from start to finish was a significant learning experience in his early days.
Wolf also recounted some moments when he and his uncle, Alex, would step in to help Eddie on stage. According to Wolf, his dad had trouble counting, which led to some timing issues during performances. Wolf and Alex would seamlessly cover for Eddie, ensuring the show went on without a hitch.
Wolf Van Halen’s words about him and his uncle saving his father on stage in Van Halen’s touring days read:
“When it comes to drummers, a big drummer for me is Danny Carey. Learning how to play Tool stuff is what really upped my game. He is a very tall man. But also, I think another big drummer that really helped me early on was Travis Barker. I was really into Blink 182 growing up, and learning how to play ‘Enama Of The State’ front and back when I first started learning how to play was a big help.”
He added:
“So fun, just being able to lock with Al [Alex Van Halen]] and not have to worry about singing lead now, which is a thing that I have to worry about all the time with now in Mammoth. You would be surprised at how much Al and I would save dad [Eddie Van Halen], and he would have no idea.
Dad could not count, he would always end on like a three or a five, and there were so many times where he would mess up, and Al and I would just go right in, and Dad would turn around and be like, ‘Yeah, we’re doing pretty good,’ and he would have no idea that we totally just saved him.”
Wolf’s detailed answers provided insight into the drummers that have influenced his musical journey and revealed the unique bond and teamwork between him, his uncle Alex, and his dad Eddie. It also showcased the trio’s strong connection as family and musicians in Van Halen.
