Wolfgang Van Halen’s remarks about bands using backing tracks recently received a lot of backlash. Some fans took to Twitter to criticize Wolf, claiming he also used backing vocal tracks during his Van Halen days. In response to all the negative reactions, he wrote:
“Saying I used his Jack Daniels bass shows just how uneducated you truly are on this topic because I never did. Hate me all you want; I know what I’m capable of and know what I played and sung. I don’t use tracks. So respectfully, I’d ask you eat my entire ass.”
However, when a fan wrote that most bands, including Metallica, use backing tracks, Wolf explained what ‘tracks’ could mean in different contexts and what he uses during his live performances by adding:
“We use a click track. That is technically tracks, so when you say ‘tracks,’ that varies wildly from keyboard pads to main guitars and lead vocals and is impossible to get down in one tweet. Hence the arguments.”
Wolf’s latest Guitar World interview that got him under fire by fans on Twitter about most bands using backing tracks and how it’s a problem read:
“You never know… hell, half the people live, it’s tracks nowadays. It’s just a f*cking bummer. Everybody else draws their own line with what tracks are acceptable or not, but it’s like, if you’re pumping in the main guitar riff and the lead vocals and actual f*cking drums – like, pre-recorded drums – that’s a problem. You should be able to play your shit.”
You can read Wolfgang Van Halen’s tweets below.
Saying I used his Jack Daniels bass shows just how uneducated you truly are on this topic because I never did.
Hate me all you want, I know what I’m capable of and know what I played/sung. I don’t use tracks.
So respectfully I’d ask you eat my entire ass https://t.co/f9obwKWuZO
— Wolf Van Halen (@WolfVanHalen) June 16, 2023
We use a click track. THAT is technically tracks. So when you say “tracks” that varies wildly from keyboard pads, to main guitars and lead vocals and is impossible to get down in one tweet. Hence the arguments.
— Wolf Van Halen (@WolfVanHalen) June 16, 2023
