Wolfgang Van Halen is a chip off the old block. While his fan base may not be as big as his famous dad’s, every diehard VH fan knows Wolfgang Van Halen birthdate, even if they don’t know Eddie’s.
How did that come to be?
Back in 1991, when Wolfgang William Van Halen was born, his dad wrote a song for him. It was an instrumental acoustic guitar piece that later ended up on Van Halen’s 1991 album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. It was called “316.” Wolfgang Van Halen’s birthday is March 16.
Van Halen fans have kind of watched Wolfgang Van Halen grow up. He is the child of Eddie Van Halen and ex-wife Valerie Bertinelli. When Sammy Hagar left Van Halen for the last time in 2006 and took bassist Michael Anthony with him, Wolfgang Van Halen stepped into the empty spot. He’s been there ever since.
Valerie Bertinelli has commented that it is touring with his son that makes Eddie Van Halen proudest.
But Wolfie is also set to prove that he is not just slotted into Van Halen because of his dad. He also plays bass for metal band Tremonti, fronted by Mark Tremonti of Creed and Alter Bridge.
Of course, Wolfgang Van Halen knows who brought him to the dance. He is bowing out of Tremonti’s upcoming tour because it conflicts with the extensive North American tour that Van Halen is setting out on in support of their new live album Tokyo Dome Live in Concert.
The band kicked the proceedings off with a two-night stint on Jimmy Kimmel Live, their first televised performance with David Lee Roth. Wolfgang Van Halen is right in the thick of it in this photo.
Too many hits for one night. More from @VanHalen TONIGHT on #Kimmel pic.twitter.com/KyfDvL3kI7
— Jimmy Kimmel Live (@JimmyKimmelLive) March 31, 2015
And mom Valerie Bertinelli was right there to cheer her son on.
Aww nothin, just shutting down Hollywood Blvd… @JimmyKimmelLive pic.twitter.com/5J3sJfFEoC
— Valerie Bertinelli (@Wolfiesmom) March 31, 2015
And here the kickoff is — minus David Lee Roth’s nose injury. If anyone knows why Alex Van Halen chose to play the cowbell rather than a snare drum the whole song, let me know. But Wolf does hold his own, even if he does not have Michael Anthony’s signature vocal sound. For that, you have to go listen to Chickenfoot.