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Wolfgang Van Halen Chokes on Ham Sandwich Backstage in Lincoln, NE, September 5, 2023
LINCOLN, NE, September 5, 2023—Wolfgang Van Halen, guitarist/songwriter and son of Eddie Van Halen, choked on a ham sandwich today after soundcheck before a concert.
Van Halen, who previously played bass in his father's band, Van Halen, was backstage before tonight's scheduled concert at the Bourbon Theatre with his band, Mammoth VH, when a bite of the ham sandwich he was eating became lodged in his throat. An employee immediately employed the Heimlich Maneuver, saving the big-boned singer-songwriter's life.
A Hearty Performer
By JOHN ROCKWELL
"Wolfie was eating a light dinner," road manager (and uncle) Patrick Bertinelli states, "consisting of ham sandwiches, tacos, calamari, fried eggs, pizza pockets, salmon rolls, spaghetti with alfredo sauce and a big bowl of M&Ms. He took a bite out of his third sandwich and was about to wash it down with a swig of tequila when his face suddenly registered alarm."
Van Halen reportedly then fell to the floor, knocking the entire 3-pound portion of M&Ms to the floor. This reporter has confirmed that drummer Garrett Whitlock then picked the singer up off the floor and performed the Heimlich Maneuver, possibly saving Van Halen's life. It can also be confirmed that the rather large piece of ham and Italian Herbs & Cheese bread flew out of Wolfgang's mouth and hit bass player Ronnie Ficarro in the face, knocking him out.
Ficarro's condition is unknown at this time.
It is also unknown whether or not tonight's show will proceed.
"We had quite a scare," rhythm guitarist Jon Jourdan offers. "Wolfie is a growing boy and takes his dinner seriously. This young man is enthusiastic about everything in his life, including his music. But his enthusiasm for his pre-show supper is something we all respect and take very seriously."
"We're all shaken up," Bertinelli continues. "Wolfgang never even got a chance to sample the spaghetti and Frank (Sidoris, rhythm guitarist) confirmed to me that Wolfie only had a crack at three brown M&Ms before he was stricken."
"This scared us all," Jourdan continues. "I'm always telling him to slow down, but he's like a man on a mission. It's not enough for him to play our band's songs with such vigor; he takes on everything with unbridled enthusiasm. Especially his dinner."
Van Halen played in his father's namesake band from 2006 until the band's last concert in 2015.
His father passed away in 2020 after a long cancer battle.
On June 11, 2021, Wolfgang released his band's first album, Mammoth WVH. He plays all instruments and performs all vocals on this and the band's second album, Mammoth II, released August 4.
The band is in the middle of an extensive tour, which includes dates opening for heavy metal giants Metallica. Outside any other incidents, the tour is expected to last until 2024.
It is unknown at this time what brand of tequila Van Halen was about to enjoy before his backstage difficulties.
More on this story as it develops.
Van Halen, who previously played bass in his father's band, Van Halen, was backstage before tonight's scheduled concert at the Bourbon Theatre with his band, Mammoth VH, when a bite of the ham sandwich he was eating became lodged in his throat. An employee immediately employed the Heimlich Maneuver, saving the big-boned singer-songwriter's life.
A Hearty Performer
By JOHN ROCKWELL
"Wolfie was eating a light dinner," road manager (and uncle) Patrick Bertinelli states, "consisting of ham sandwiches, tacos, calamari, fried eggs, pizza pockets, salmon rolls, spaghetti with alfredo sauce and a big bowl of M&Ms. He took a bite out of his third sandwich and was about to wash it down with a swig of tequila when his face suddenly registered alarm."
Van Halen reportedly then fell to the floor, knocking the entire 3-pound portion of M&Ms to the floor. This reporter has confirmed that drummer Garrett Whitlock then picked the singer up off the floor and performed the Heimlich Maneuver, possibly saving Van Halen's life. It can also be confirmed that the rather large piece of ham and Italian Herbs & Cheese bread flew out of Wolfgang's mouth and hit bass player Ronnie Ficarro in the face, knocking him out.
Ficarro's condition is unknown at this time.
It is also unknown whether or not tonight's show will proceed.
"We had quite a scare," rhythm guitarist Jon Jourdan offers. "Wolfie is a growing boy and takes his dinner seriously. This young man is enthusiastic about everything in his life, including his music. But his enthusiasm for his pre-show supper is something we all respect and take very seriously."
"We're all shaken up," Bertinelli continues. "Wolfgang never even got a chance to sample the spaghetti and Frank (Sidoris, rhythm guitarist) confirmed to me that Wolfie only had a crack at three brown M&Ms before he was stricken."
"This scared us all," Jourdan continues. "I'm always telling him to slow down, but he's like a man on a mission. It's not enough for him to play our band's songs with such vigor; he takes on everything with unbridled enthusiasm. Especially his dinner."
Van Halen played in his father's namesake band from 2006 until the band's last concert in 2015.
His father passed away in 2020 after a long cancer battle.
On June 11, 2021, Wolfgang released his band's first album, Mammoth WVH. He plays all instruments and performs all vocals on this and the band's second album, Mammoth II, released August 4.
The band is in the middle of an extensive tour, which includes dates opening for heavy metal giants Metallica. Outside any other incidents, the tour is expected to last until 2024.
It is unknown at this time what brand of tequila Van Halen was about to enjoy before his backstage difficulties.
More on this story as it develops.
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