Video: Wolfgang at the Oakwood School 2009 Arts Fair

August 30, 2009 108 Comments

Here’s some unexpected footage of Wolfie Van Halen rockin out with some friends at the Oakwood School 2009 Arts Fair.

Cover of Jimmy Eat World’s “The Middle,” Performed by (left to right) Ethan Young, Sam Kauffman, Wolfie Van Halen, Newman Wolf. Wolfie sings and plays guitar:

Cover of “Last Resort” by Papa Roach. Wolfie on guitar:

Filed Under: Wolfgang Van Halen

Erick

Great job, Wolf!
You can just see that he’s going to be an artist in the future. Probably famous too. He’ll do well.
David Alexander, Toulca Lake

The reality is the focus on Michael Anthony as being a focus of Van Halen is a fairly recent phenomenon.

No one in the 70′s or 80′s (old Van Halen’s prime) concentrated on Anthony when they went to live show.

does he has a high vocal range? yes
Was he a major part of the writing of Van Halen music. NO.

Go back and read the interviews around the Fair Warning time. Ed was already complaining that Anthony was not part of the writing process and Mike had been able to purchase cars and remodel his house on Ed’s music writing ability, yet was still given an equal share of the writing credit(and royalties).

Edward Van Halen AND Micheal Anthony made the same amount of money from Van Halen recordings and touring up until the last Van Halen CD when Anthony’s pay was reduced to a minority status. THE SAME AMOUNT. Without ever penning a song.
In most other bands, (The Beatles, Stones, Aerosmith, The Police) those who write take the credit and the royalty checks. With Van Halen it was ALWAYS all four members getting credit. Even though many songs were written without Michael.

Michael made out like a bandit. So Ed feels Mike did very well for himself, on Ed’s musical abilities and generosity. Micheal is a lucky man.

If Ed writes the music and then has to suggest to Michael what he wants him to play, why can’t he just do the same with his son.

You want to be indispensable Mike?? Be indispensable
TheTruthHurts

Dear David Lee Roth,
Van Halen is now a trio, thanks to the shining star that is my son who proved he can be an amazing lead singer, too. So, thanks for everything. And, remember, you can’t use the Van Halen name on anything you do, per our contract circa 2007.
Thanks bunches,
Ed
RA 8 1 2

Truth Hurts! LOLOLOLOLOL! F ing Great!!!!
Kayser Sozay

If you think about the Wolfie/VH situation in the context of Ed and Wolfie’s love for each other, everything makes total sense. For all of Ed’s flaws as a human being, he’s never given anyone any basis to question his love for his son. Even Valerie would tell you that. Wolfie was his best man even!

So of course Ed wants to share with Wolfie the gift they both share (or that Ed gave him if you will) while Ed can still play. I would if I were him. I’m sure Wolfie loves playing with his Dad, too. Ed is also likely thinking about Wolfie’s future and wants to give him that exposure now with VH so that he has an easier time making it on his own later when Ed hangs it up for good. (I realize that logic only works if the band actually makes music and gets out there, etc. but in theory at least…)

So give Ed and Wolf a break people. We should all be so lucky to share God-given gifts with our fathers and have the kind of relationship where you want to use those gifts together while you can. I’ll bet if asked, Ed would tell you he is more proud of playing with Wolfgang than of any of his other contributions to music. And while I’ve slagged on Ed as much as anyone for some of his bad choices, I’ll always admire him for that.

While I miss Mike as much as any VH fan, I think all is right with the world that he is having great success with Chickenfoot and seems to be very happy with how everything worked out. Ed should have just been honest from the beginning and said he booted Mike because he wanted to play with his son. Now, everything would be wonderful if we could get some new VH music soon.
SCAR

Who really cares about all the personal VH drama from way back then? It’s the past, let it go!!! A lot of VH fans know regardless of who wrote what in the band, M.A. will always be a important part of the VH legacy!!! It’s cool that the Foot is around so we can here him jam and use his awesome background vocals again!!! More power to ya Mikey!!!
Jim

Let Wolfie rock. What else do you expect him to do? And how many of you out there really have half the experience that Wolf does already? And stop being such snobs about the “three chord crap songs” of today! Hey, I’m a huge Halen fan but I love Green Day and the like too. Geez, you guys sound old and bitter to me!
vincent

Wow. Seriously guys, GET A LIFE!! It’s absolutely pathetic to read some comments. Whining about a bassist that was fired from a band! Big deal!

You like Van Halen music? Then shut up, listen to it, and enjoy the fact that they are still alive, and willing to continue with DLR as a bonus!

You’re angry because you’re secretly in love with MA or simply don’t have a life? Burn or throw out all of your VH CDs AND STOP WHINING LIKE SPOILED KIDS!

Go find another band to bitch about!

Damn it makes me angry each time I come here to get news and read the same childish complaints over and over again!

THIS WEBSITE IS FOR FANS WHO WANT TO BE INFORMED ABOUT A BAND THEY LOVE.
buzzkill

I dunno, to me it seems a little TMZ-stalker-ish to even be posting a video of anyone’s kid performing at a school sponsored event.

And to those of you coming down hard on Wolfie, wtf is wrong with you, he’s a kid, yeah, he’s EVH’s kid.. bfd.. he’s still just a kid.. lighten up and get a life for fuck’s sake.
Vanicionado

Kayser… “While I miss Mike as much as any VH fan,”

Not ANY Kayser.. more like SOME VH Fans… more like SOME.
Dawn

We hear stories here and there on what Eddie or Wolfgang is up to but what has Dave been doing? I don’t recall reading that he attended Eddie’s wedding or that he has been in the studio with them. I can only hope that they all get together and make more music.
Hugo

Wolfie isn’t playing a Wolfie guitar?!?!
Rock on Wolfie!!!
T.O. Mike

Nothing personal against the kid, but Wolfie is where he belongs in my opinion!!!

Bring Mikey back! And put him on Guitar Hero too!!
Chicken Joe

God, you angry people sure do have a lot of hang-ups. As long as Mike is friends with Sam, he will not be in Van Halen. Deal with it. I thought Wolfie did a good job in these videos. And he definitely sang the backups on the last tour, apparently so well, that some of you idiots mistook them for “piped in” Michael Anthony backups. There’s a lot of bitter old heads on this site. Van Halens forever!
mattharper

Hey..lol i read the last two post and still laughing at “hey you cant be in two bands” comment lol and right now its probably more of a real rock band that he is in now…we need original stuff.. letter rip boys!
kenny

He’s only a Kid, I agree. But VH needs M.A. back, Please Ed suck it up an Bring him back in the band? Now u made 93 Million with Dave, JUST imagine if you TOUR and Record like the old DAYS, 120 Million easy!!!!!
Dave

Granted Wolfie is a kid and you have to cut him some slack but my goodness , how the Mighty Van Halen have fallen…this is LAME!!!!!!!! And you Hagar haters complain about Chickenfoot…open your eyes.
jrod 2009

people, stop picking on wolf. He is just kid who is moe fortunate than you and I. Stop hating!
SCAR

Look at all the haters here tonight, What a bunch of jealous punks!!! Man, be happy for the kid, it’s because of him, the possibility of a new VH album has increased!!! Before the rest of you haters try to slam the kid with more stupid remarks, you should refer to the post from jrod 2009, that post pretty much sums it all up!!! The truth hurts, doesn’t haters???
Top Jimmy

My final thoughts on these videos is that it’s sad. Wolfie is 10 times more animated and “into it” in these videos than he was on the VH tour. I know, because I was there. And it doesn’t take a child psychologist to figure out that it’s because he’s playing with and for his friends and peers, instead of his Dad, his old Uncle and the crazy weird money machine from the past that has become Van Halen. I guarantee you he’s having more fun playing to these 100 kids than he did playing to the 16,000 that were there the night I saw them.
TheTruthHurts

SCAR: That will be $.25 for gimmick infringement.
wmarkl5150

Most of you people are idiots! Why can’t you let the past go? Sammy’s gone, Mikey’s gone, Gary’s gone… I’m not the same person I was 30 years ago, I don’t have the same friends I had 30 years ago. Why cant Eddie & his family change and move into the future? If you don’t like what is going on in the VH camp… please move on to something else.

I will continue to support whatever project EVH comes out with. I’m just glad he’s still around after all of these years.
lucky

Geez Top Jimmy, do ya think he could have been nervous? I’d like to see anybody onstage at 17 or 18 and not shit bricks, let alone on a monstrous VH tour with all that past as baggage, and the fact people would rather see Mike playing the bass. I’m sure that wasn’t lost on him. Idiots. Personally I think he was a little young to be jumping into, but oh well, he ain’t my kid. Yeah, I saw them too, he did fine for a first time out on a major tour, performing big venues, and playing music that was written before he was born for semi-hostile fans.

He did pretty good in those vids. He was having fun playing some covers, that’s it… good god, get a life.
http://vhnd.com handymanrockstar84

Way to go Wolfie! Let’s hear ya play some more guitar!! Sounded like good fun.

Hey I have an idea for Eddie… Let Mike play bass again, and Wolfie can play whatever the hell he wants to (whenever he wants to). His name is Van Halen, too folks. Keys,a little rhythm guitar here and there,the accordian… OK maybe not that last one. Sure we all miss Mikey, but Van Halen in ALL FORMS still includes Alex and Eddie. Don’t forget that after way to many years without him, we have Dave again. Wahooo!! Support your dutch-born virtuosos.
SCAR

That’s the way to wave the VH Flag wmark5150, keep that bad boy flying high!!!! I hear ya TruthHurts, got change for a buck? Rock on boys!!!
john

these videos are very good….interesting that he actually can sing. And for all the people who say he shouldnt be playing with VH, THINK ABOUT THIS…..he has been raised all of his life around music and around recording studios….he naturally can play well because he IS a Van Halen…..he is surrounded by nothing but good musical influences….he is more seasoned than the average musician even at this age…and he just finished a tour that proved to the world he could play
Borch

To me, this video confirms that there is no way Wolfie was doing Michael Anthony’s harmony parts on tour. His vocals on The Middle are horrible. As Simon would say, pitchy. I guess I just really miss the original VH, sorry Edddie
Chad

SCAR, show us evidence of Wolfie’s amazing talent, then you can spout your nonsense. The videos above show an average teenage garage band playing tunes at a dance (or whatever it is). To be a professional musician, you need more credibility than that. I agree with whoever said that Wolfie should be forming his own band with people his own age and making a name for himself that way instead of just riding is dad’s coattails. Then again, maybe control-freak dad won’t let him.

Bottom line – There has been no new VH music since the crap that was put on the “Best of Both Worlds” compilation. Eddie supposedly has 40-50 songs written. So, we’re waiting! And waiting….
Jeff

Some dads go fishing with their sons, because it is a common bond they share, others go on world tours together for the same reason. I don’t see a problem here.
I taught my son guitar from age 2, now he has surpassed me and is doing great things. But the best part is every time I get to sit down with him and his band and jam…….common bond that nobody can take from him or myself!!
Good job Wolfie!! Keep it up!!
SCAR

Chad, read the post from jrod 2009!!!
only1halen

It’s more important that Ted Templeman returns than Michael Anthony. Even though I would like to see both return with Wolf moved to rhythm guitar or out of the band. Ted is the true 5th member of The Mighty Van Halen. The more people around 5150 like Ted and Dave, with the backbone/balls to say no to Eddie, the better the new music will be.
Johnny

SCAR! You have like 20 posts… get a life dude!!!!!!!
SCAR

I do Johnny boy, I do this right out of my office in my bar, so basically I multi task, I pick on the haters and work all at the same time!!!! Talking about getting a life, if you are counting my posts you must not get out a lot!!! A lot of women hang out at the bar, I can help you out with that as long as you don’t mind them laughing at you at first (they are a feisty handful)!!!!!!
http://vhnd Jimmy

I didn’t read everyone’s postings but I did see a couple of jag-offs bagging on the sun of a famous musician. You guys take this shit to serious. It’s sad. If I was one of the Van Halens, I wouldn’t make new music or post news because everyone always some bullshit to say. Leave the kid alone. Van Halen owes us nothing. THX FOR THE MUSIC and IF THERE IS MORE, THEN THATS A BONUS…
Later geeks.
Jolsin

The Kid is great. All you guys are upset about Mike and so was I. But Mike bit the hand that fed him, Ed shared all of the publishing rights with him for years and Mikey never wrote a song. I guess Ed felt slighted when he played with Sam who Ed had a fight with. Ask Jagger/Richards, Bon Jovi/Sambora, Lennon/mcartney if they, or Pete Townsend shared any publishing rights with non song writers. Although Lennon could not be asked. It took me a while to figure this out but Mikey was given many millions that Ed could have kept for himself . I know Al did not write any material but he is a blood relation , like many family businesses he is in the family.
Jolsin
Mike

Song choice? You guys are all so OLD!!!! Jeez, you expect him to play some ancient rock from the 70s? He is playing what is popular now, for a high school audience, what do you expect? I think he sounds pretty good. Hopefully he will find himself in a band of people his own age and write some new rock music.
Rich

Doesn’t matter what guitar he uses, he probably uses Wolfgangs all the time…I think i’d get sick of a guitar that shared my name. Ed didn’t just use one guitar…Strats, Les Pauls, Axis, Wolfgangs, various Kramers, that Ibanez Destroyer for Women and Children First….PRS is a pretty solid make and a good choice for heavier stuff.
Jeff

He is still using the new 5150 III THOUGH!! SOUNDS COOL!!
Ted

Scar, your boy Johnny has a point. Do you live to only make comments on these websites about rock stars? I think your answer to him was very predictable too!
David Alexander, Toulca Lake

Hey, you remember when that girl was prom queen??
Oh wow.
JC

Oh, please… Ed, you can’t kick Wolfie´s ass out of VH for being in an “School of Rock” band (movie’s great, don’t get me wrong), because he is your son, and to my concern he did not deserve to be in the GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME just for being a Van Halen… For example, Jason Bonham is a the hell of a drummer, not better than his dad, but a great one from whom Page & Plant didn’t feel ashamed… And is not about Wolfie himself, it’s just because he deserve to plant his own tree, he is not made to play in VH… And, BTW you get ride of Mike for doing the same things, but, of course, he and you are not related…
Ted

Take it off!!!!!……… take it off!!……… whoa…….. pictures of the silver screen….. greatest thing I’ve ever seen……
http://none Ducky / Dirty Duck

…now her name is up in lights…..everything turned out alright!
john

Great point jolsin,I wish people would realize that Micheal Anthony has to be one of the luckiest people alive.Can you imagine getting Publishing from Van Halen without writting a single song.John Paul Jones was just as important to led Zep as mickey was to VH and the only Publishing he gets is for the songs that he wrote or helped write.In fact one day Howard Stern was interviewing Rodger daltry,and Howard made a comment about how rich he must be,and to that RD said something like I dont have as much as you think I dont own any of the WHOs publishing. Buy the way will Mickey be sharing publishing rights with Sammy and Joe?Do I wish MA was still in the band ?Yes. Do I feel sorry for him,hell most musicans would sell their soul for half his career.
Dee

Wolfgang is exactly where he belongs – playing with his own band in a high school arts fair…I used to dig the Wolfgang cameos, but he should be limited to that. Michael Anthony is an essential piece to the Van Halen puzzle.
JF

Who cares? He wanted to play a gig with/for his friends. They played some contemporary songs, pulling them off rather well, I must say. He probably loved the attention from the young ladies in the audience. That’s about it. More power to him.

As for VH, he’s the bass-man. His young ear will add some new flavor to his dad’s riffs and ideas. Eddie seems happier than ever at having his son in the mix. If these factos bring about a new Van Halen album next year, what exactly are some of you bitching about again???
http://www.paulwitty.com.au Paul Witty

Get a life wankers, for fuck’s sake! Music exists as a force of life. It’s a personal and/or spiritual expression. If people like to observe you doing this thing – which for someone like a VH – is as natural as breathing, then that’s an interesting consequence. If you’re hung up on the content or the brand, then perhaps you should grab yourself a coke.
SA Dave

Keep Rocking Wolf I look forward to seeing you in 2010. Of course my dream is the best of both worlds tour with Sammy / Mike and Dave and even Wolf but that is wishful thinking probably.
Dave C.

Anyone who busts on Mr. Van Halen or his son are pieces of crap..I’m a dad too and to do things with your kids is the best! Wolfgang has some serious talent, not just genetic either….Mr. Ed and Wolf, Rock On!
Rene

long live VH fuck all you that hate,keep on doing what your doing wolf you gotta be a kid and jam with ur friends and for jamming with VH believe me if i were in ur shoes it would kick ass.Sam,Mike love ya ,miss ya Ed how about calling em up and chicken foot open for VH 2010 that would be the shit