The "Thank You, Wolfgang" Thread

[Carmine]

I've thought about it...so here it is...the kid deserves his own thread for a lot of reasons...

We're all experiencing the sheer joy of A Different Kind of Truth...

Dave back in the fold for the last 6 years...

another impending tour...

The return of Van Halen...


We've all heard the story...The Ipod...the classic tunes with Dave...saying to his father "This is your best stuff...this is what we need to play...let's go jam on these tunes!" ...during a time when Ed was out of control...again....and in need of saving. Every Dad out there knows how much you always look up to and respect for own father and, when you have a son of your own....no matter how old they get...is always, always..your little boy. As a son...You never want to disappoint your father...and I'd say...as a father...you never want to disappoint your son...this relationship has brought us...Van Halen.

None of us will ever know what was really said or done between Ed and Wolfgang to get to this point...and we don't need too...you can see it in Ed's smile...the proof is in the music...the tours...the new album...moreso, the fact that Edward is still here and healthy...and, the fact that we all...as fans, get to enjoy it...as they smile at each other across the stage...and David Lee Roth is in the middle of that stage...

I had come to a point in the early 2000's to accepting the fact that it would never happen...ever...too much had happened...too much time wasted...too much shit to get over to ever make it happen...and then, out of nowhere...it did...the last 2 months have erased 28 years of agony...

We can all thank Wolfgang Van Halen for that...we can thank him for all of it...he started the Van Halen train rolling again...Dave, Ed and Al have found their way back on the ball together...and really seem to be enjoying each other!!

and uh...the kid can play...can't he...and on that point...you all can take it from here...

[ashstralia]

yeah!!!. wolfie rips on the bass in his dad's band, with uncle dave singing. win win

[atlantakat]

Agree 110% on this!

Wolfie gets huge credit for giving Ed a reason to pull back from the edge, getting Dave back in the band, doing the 07-08 tour clean and sober, Ed getting his chops back, the band going back to its roots and making new music and touring -- again with Ed clean and sober and on the top of his game.

No way the Edward that walked off the stage in Tucson at the last Sam show in 04 does any of the above.

And what about Wolfie's chops??? A key reason so many of the up-tempo boogies on ADKOT sounds like EEAS-era Roth is because Wolfie is channeling some Sheehan madness and tearing off crazy unison riffs with Ed. No way MA could pull that stuff off.

I read with interest the quote from the producer dude that Mike is a great guy but Wolf is responsible for making all of this possible.

That a father's love for his son saved this band is to me the most special and poignant angle on all of this serendipity.

Thanks Wolfgang.

[Carmine]

Agree 110% on this!

Wolfie gets huge credit for giving Ed a reason to pull back from the edge, getting Dave back in the band, doing the 07-08 tour clean and sober, Ed getting his chops back, the band going back to its roots and making new music and touring -- again with Ed clean and sober and on the top of his game.

No way the Edward that walked off the stage in Tucson at the last Sam show in 04 does any of the above.

And what about Wolfie's chops??? A key reason so many of the up-tempo boogies on ADKOT sounds like EEAS-era Roth is because Wolfie is channeling some Sheehan madness and tearing off crazy unison riffs with Ed. No way MA could pull that stuff off.

I read with interest the quote from the producer dude that Mike is a great guy but Wolf is responsible for making all of this possible.

That a father's love for his son saved this band is to me the most special and poignant angle on all of this serendipity.

Thanks Wolfgang.

First post ever?? Well, hell...welcome to Army!

[Mr Walker]

Amen!

[sadaist]

No way the Edward that walked off the stage in Tucson at the last Sam show in 04 does any of the above.

I really thought after that sad night that the next outing for EVH would be his funeral.

Anyways, great post! 1st post & you hit a whopper. Good job!

[fryingdutchman]

Wolfie is the reason for the season...no doubt about that.

He pulled his dads head out of the sand and showed him the way. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Not only did he save the music, but he also probably saved Ed's life. Ed is a lifetime away from his "porn soundtrack" days...playing impromptu gigs at flower shops dressed like a homeless drug addict. He's turned it around 180 degrees since 2004, and I have to believe that Wolfie is the reason.

This lineup kicks ass. Wolfie and his dad have a musical synergy that is mind-blowing to hear...and I might even venture to say that he's brought something to the band that not even Michael Anthony had.

Listen to some of the track when Ed's ripping away and tapping his brains out..... Wolfie is right there with him on the bass, and sometimes even matching him note for note.

I don't want to discount Anthony's contributions, because they were big and I still miss him to some extent. But Wolfie has brought something to the table that makes all of this even more exciting.

I raise my glass to Wolfgang.

THANKS, KID!

[fryingdutchman]

Agree 110% on this!

Wolfie gets huge credit for giving Ed a reason to pull back from the edge, getting Dave back in the band, doing the 07-08 tour clean and sober, Ed getting his chops back, the band going back to its roots and making new music and touring -- again with Ed clean and sober and on the top of his game.

No way the Edward that walked off the stage in Tucson at the last Sam show in 04 does any of the above.

And what about Wolfie's chops??? A key reason so many of the up-tempo boogies on ADKOT sounds like EEAS-era Roth is because Wolfie is channeling some Sheehan madness and tearing off crazy unison riffs with Ed. No way MA could pull that stuff off.

I read with interest the quote from the producer dude that Mike is a great guy but Wolf is responsible for making all of this possible.

That a father's love for his son saved this band is to me the most special and poignant angle on all of this serendipity.

Thanks Wolfgang.

Damn...son!! Hell of a first post.

I didn't even read it thoroughly before I posted mine, and we posted virtually the same sentiments.

The bass riffs in unison with Ed is fucking incredible.

[Nitro Express]

I really thought after that sad night that the next outing for EVH would be his funeral.

Anyways, great post! 1st post & you hit a whopper. Good job!

I don't know what kind of drugs these celebs get on now but I think Keith Richards is right when he said the drugs now aren't worth the bother because the quality sucks. He said the drugs in the 70's were way better.

I have a hunch Ed was buying cocaine and was getting shit cut with crystal meth or who knows what.

[ELVIS]

Maybe we should do a poll on which one of us is Wolfgang...

[pkolb]

I thought “Sauce” Soboleski was irreplaceable, but Wolfie proved me wrong.

[vandeleur]

Some fucking great posts here and am 100% behind you guys Wolfie gets the plaudits for starting this and keeping this together

[scottydabodi]

Great thread!! Wolf deserves a huge mountain of credit for the current state of VH. Wolf loves CVH and is a HUGE factor in the return of Dave. If Mikey was still in the band, you can bet yer sweet bippie that DLR would not. Mikey wants his boyfriend on vocals, even if the rest of the logical universe does not. Rock on, Wolf!!! You've turned rock music on its ear with the return of VH in prime form!!

[Zing!]

Absolutely. The kid earned my respect from 'She's The Woman' alone, not to mention the next eleven tracks. Thanks WVH!

[jhale667]

Totally agree, we have Wolfie to thank for this. So -


THANKS, WOLFIE!!!

I'd also agree he's slightly more proficient than MA -not to discredit Sauce AT ALL... the unison licks are killer... and in addition to how well he vibes with Ed, has anyone else noticed how in sync he and Al are? It's kinda f*ing eerie once you see it up close - now I see why they're calling their new publishing company "3 twins"!