Guitar World Comes Through Again! Awesome VH Cover Story In New Issue!

[TJMKID]

You're shittin' me. What parts? No one here, as far as I'm aware of, has ever called Wolf a genius. If Ed did, as Angel said, that's the kind of things parents say. This TJMKID character still has not answered my question about the whereabouts of Mike's solo CD with all of the masterful song writing he's capable of.

I live in the world of rational thought and deductive reasoning --- Mike doesn't have a solo bass CD but I'm pretty confident that Eddie hired him in 1974 because he could come up with his own bass lines and hold his own in the studio. Eddie and Alex had high standards back then (they didnt hire Dave on his first audition), so I highly doubt Ed would have kept Sobolewski as a hanger-on for six epic rock albums if he had to constantly come up with all his bass lines and treat him like a beginner bass player. There were a lot of session musicians Ed could've hired instead of Mike back in those days --- so that proves Mike had the chops to be a great bass player in an iconic band with 3 other very talented people.

Now look at Wolfie --- he wasn't much more than a potted plant on the 2007-08 tour, and suddenly he comes up with a couple bass runs on ADKOT and now he's the Messiah of Van Halen? I aint seen nothing convincing yet to grant him that title. I'm a lot more inclined to believe a guitar god legend helped him A LOT in the studio coming up with ideas for bass parts so that a proud father could show off his son to the world and give him a good start in his music career. We've all seen this a million times with fathers greatly exaggerating their kids' abilities.

[ELVIS]

the government has pulled the rug out from under my feet....

The wonderful government would do no such thing...

Take back your evil lie!

[DLR Bridge]

I live in the world of rational thought and deductive reasoning --- Mike doesn't have a solo bass CD but I'm pretty confident that Eddie hired him in 1974 because he could come up with his own bass lines and hold his own in the studio. Eddie and Alex had high standards back then (they didnt hire Dave on his first audition), so I highly doubt Ed would have kept Sobolewski as a hanger-on for six epic rock albums if he had to constantly come up with all his bass lines and treat him like a beginner bass player. There were a lot of session musicians Ed could've hired instead of Mike back in those days --- so that proves Mike had the chops to be a great bass player in an iconic band with 3 other very talented people.

Now look at Wolfie --- he wasn't much more than a potted plant on the 2007-08 tour, and suddenly he comes up with a couple bass runs on ADKOT and now he's the Messiah of Van Halen? I aint seen nothing convincing yet to grant him that title. I'm a lot more inclined to believe a guitar god legend helped him A LOT in the studio coming up with ideas for bass parts so that a proud father could show off his son to the world and give him a good start in his music career. We've all seen this a million times with fathers greatly exaggerating their kids' abilities.

Hey, atleast now your speaking with some civility. I agree with the potted plant of '07/'08 angle, but I most definitely think this kid has taken every musical step forward on his own. Don't forget, his true instrument of choice is the drums. From what I had seen of his playing, whether taught by his Uncle Al or not, the kid has complete command of the kit. I see him as a kid who was born with the DNA of a very talented musician. That does not dictate that he is or even will be a genius, but I can clearly see that he has the determination to silence doubters such as yourself, and hopefully, earn your respect as well.

[So this is love]

Just wanted to say hello to the troopers...I need a cold one with this heat today

[Angel]

The wonderful government would do no such thing...

Take back your evil lie!

Yeah, okay...

[ZahZoo]

I live in the world of rational thought and deductive reasoning --- Mike doesn't have a solo bass CD but I'm pretty confident that Eddie hired him in 1974 because he could come up with his own bass lines and hold his own in the studio. Eddie and Alex had high standards back then (they didnt hire Dave on his first audition), so I highly doubt Ed would have kept Sobolewski as a hanger-on for six epic rock albums if he had to constantly come up with all his bass lines and treat him like a beginner bass player. There were a lot of session musicians Ed could've hired instead of Mike back in those days --- so that proves Mike had the chops to be a great bass player in an iconic band with 3 other very talented people.

Now look at Wolfie --- he wasn't much more than a potted plant on the 2007-08 tour, and suddenly he comes up with a couple bass runs on ADKOT and now he's the Messiah of Van Halen? I aint seen nothing convincing yet to grant him that title. I'm a lot more inclined to believe a guitar god legend helped him A LOT in the studio coming up with ideas for bass parts so that a proud father could show off his son to the world and give him a good start in his music career. We've all seen this a million times with fathers greatly exaggerating their kids' abilities.

So you were always the kid pissed off because the coach's kid played better than you... got it.

You can cuntinue this smoke screen of challenging anyone's intelligence who holds a differing opinion of Wolfgang's contributions to Van Halen music. That's such a weak position that's been tried and epically failed for years here.

Let's play with those little things called facts... You claim Wolfgang hasn't written anything nor earned his dues. OK... go queue up the 7 unreleased demos that appear on ADKOT. Crank up your subwoofer... you have one right? Being the musical genius expert I would imagine you have all the proper evaluative tools in your man cave..?

Take a good listen to the bass lines and song breaks in the originals. Now do the same with ADKOT.

You will notice a significant difference in timing, attack and placement of each bass note within the composition. Mike is a traditional bass player and his style was perfectly synced between Alex's back beat between the kick and snare drums. This is why in many cases it's hard to hear Mike's playing stand out... it is mixed right. Right for Van Halen, but also Mike's bass approach perfectly filled the right spaces between Al's low end percussion. That's the true "art" of great bass playing. The rhythm section becomes one... not 2 plus. Mike's style continues today in what I've heard with him performing with the likes of Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, BB King, and Joe Satriani on the few Chickenshit songs I've tortured my ears with...

Wolfgang's bass approach especially during the 07/08 tour was very much emulating Mike's but he was also trying to throw in a few fills, slides, hammers and taps which sometimes worked and several times missed... Mike never ventured there much... he stayed in the middle of the groove. In both ADKOT and live performances of the classics... Wolf's style has emerged. He fills many of the same nooks Mike did, but he's also found a unique timing and blending/mixing both the traditional bass space, but then breaking out and hitting note for note portions directly in sync with his fathers oddball timing signatures and rhythmic fills. This not only adds balls but elephant balls to the signature Van Halen sound.

I don't for minute believe all this is from Dad's coaching and directing. A relatively simple fact counters that argument... For years many folks claim Ed wrote all the bass lines for VH's hits... some even think Mike didn't even record the bass on most of it. If that were the case... Did Ed all of a sudden jump light years forward in his bass compositions with ADKOT and the live performances of the classics Wolfgang is performing? Ed's playing better than ever today... but he's still very much playing in Ed's zone.

To you it may seem illogical that this 21 year old pup actually composed his contribution to the greatest rock album released in the last two decades... Yes some of the song foundations were developed before he was conceived. But compare side by side and you hear a very different product than the originals on bass. Why do you believe Wolfgang didn't write the stuff that went to tape? My ears tell me it wasn't Ed, wasn't Mike... The timing signatures are very pure Van Halenish... meaning that unique timing Ed and Al have. Wolfgang clearly comes from that DNA tree.

One more thing damn it... Ed and Dave didn't write all the music. Ed wrote guitar and composed melodies. Dave wrote lyrics and composed melodies. Alex wrote drums and composed melodies. Mike wrote bass and composed melodies. That's how most rock bands function. None of these guys are Mozart types composing full symphonic pieces. Historically they claimed everything was recorded live in the studio. Sure Ed produced a riff that was born in a jam... Dave wrote a lyric or developed a melodic hook vocally... neither of those guys wrote a single drum beat nor bass line that ended up "the song". Only rock musician egos make such claim... I know first hand from 30+ years as a guitar player, song writer, studio musician, audio engineer, etc... that same bullshit ego crap lives strong even today. I'm never shy in pointing out the stupidity of such a mindset to any artist at any level...

So go ahead and talk nutsacks... since that appears to be the center of your logical thinking and deductive reasoning... I don't believe you have any reasonable basis for your position nor the real world experience to back it.

[TJMKID]

Now go swallow some cum and play with those 2 inches hanging between your legs while you dream of sucking Wolf's nutsack... dumb fucking cunt.

I feel sorry for your kids ---- please donate them to a more deserving family !!

[jhale667]

So you were always the kid pissed off because the coach's kid played better than you... got it.

You can cuntinue this smoke screen of challenging anyone's intelligence who holds a differing opinion of Wolfgang's contributions to Van Halen music. That's such a weak position that's been tried and epically failed for years here.

Let's play with those little things called facts... You claim Wolfgang hasn't written anything nor earned his dues. OK... go queue up the 7 unreleased demos that appear on ADKOT. Crank up your subwoofer... you have one right? Being the musical genius expert I would imagine you have all the proper evaluative tools in your man cave..?

Take a good listen to the bass lines and song breaks in the originals. Now do the same with ADKOT.

You will notice a significant difference in timing, attack and placement of each bass note within the composition. Mike is a traditional bass player and his style was perfectly synced between Alex's back beat between the kick and snare drums. This is why in many cases it's hard to hear Mike's playing stand out... it is mixed right. Right for Van Halen, but also Mike's bass approach perfectly filled the right spaces between Al's low end percussion. That's the true "art" of great bass playing. The rhythm section becomes one... not 2 plus. Mike's style continues today in what I've heard with him performing with the likes of Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, BB King, and Joe Satriani on the few Chickenshit songs I've tortured my ears with...

Wolfgang's bass approach especially during the 07/08 tour was very much emulating Mike's but he was also trying to throw in a few fills, slides, hammers and taps which sometimes worked and several times missed... Mike never ventured there much... he stayed in the middle of the groove. In both ADKOT and live performances of the classics... Wolf's style has emerged. He fills many of the same nooks Mike did, but he's also found a unique timing and blending/mixing both the traditional bass space, but then breaking out and hitting note for note portions directly in sync with his fathers oddball timing signatures and rhythmic fills. This not only adds balls but elephant balls to the signature Van Halen sound.

I don't for minute believe all this is from Dad's coaching and directing. A relatively simple fact counters that argument... For years many folks claim Ed wrote all the bass lines for VH's hits... some even think Mike didn't even record the bass on most of it. If that were the case... Did Ed all of a sudden jump light years forward in his bass compositions with ADKOT and the live performances of the classics Wolfgang is performing? Ed's playing better than ever today... but he's still very much playing in Ed's zone.

To you it may seem illogical that this 21 year old pup actually composed his contribution to the greatest rock album released in the last two decades... Yes some of the song foundations were developed before he was conceived. But compare side by side and you hear a very different product than the originals on bass. Why do you believe Wolfgang didn't write the stuff that went to tape? My ears tell me it wasn't Ed, wasn't Mike... The timing signatures are very pure Van Halenish... meaning that unique timing Ed and Al have. Wolfgang clearly comes from that DNA tree.

One more thing damn it... Ed and Dave didn't write all the music. Ed wrote guitar and composed melodies. Dave wrote lyrics and composed melodies. Alex wrote drums and composed melodies. Mike wrote bass and composed melodies. That's how most rock bands function. None of these guys are Mozart types composing full symphonic pieces. Historically they claimed everything was recorded live in the studio. Sure Ed produced a riff that was born in a jam... Dave wrote a lyric or developed a melodic hook vocally... neither of those guys wrote a single drum beat nor bass line that ended up "the song". Only rock musician egos make such claim... I know first hand from 30+ years as a guitar player, song writer, studio musician, audio engineer, etc... that same bullshit ego crap lives strong even today. I'm never shy in pointing out the stupidity of such a mindset to any artist at any level...

So go ahead and talk nutsacks... since that appears to be the center of your logical thinking and deductive reasoning... I don't believe you have any reasonable basis for your position nor the real world experience to back it.

Attention TJMKID...

[Nitro Express]

Actually, I'm not, although I should be. Final exams, need new car so have to go back to full-time work while studying full-time, and need to figure out where I should move next now that the government has pulled the rug out from under my feet....

I just get it out of my system here so that's the side you see most often. Unlike DLR, I don't do a very good job of keeping my goat hidden, lol.

You don't need the government Angel all you need is to know what you want out of life and a work ethic. Most people don't take the time to plan ahead and even if they do most fear failure. Sometimes when the rug gets pulled out from underneath you it opens a whole new door. It happened to me 12 years ago. I flipped it the bird and moved forward and the quality of my life now is better than it was then. I wish you luck. Set your long-term goals, break it down into little chunks of how to reach it and take life one day at a time.

[DLR Bridge]

A fine analysis Mr. Zoo. Do you work from home?

[Nitro Express]

It's simple. You grab your instrument and you get up there and play it and see how the audience reacts. If you do something extra special people get off on it more than just liking it. I think you are right. People are getting off on Wolfie's bass magic.



If I said I didn't get off on this bass playing I would be lying. I don't know about sucking Wolfie's balls. I don't like him that much.

[TJMKID]

Now that's what I like to see on Roth Army --- a reasonable, rational argument for why Wolfie deserves credit for his musical contributions. A calm debate always gets opposing ideas across better than telling somebody to go "swallow some cum and play with a 2-inch dong".

I'm not a trained musician but I will try to find some time and review your technical analysis of Wolf's playing on ADKOT. I never really noticed Mike's playing on the classic albums --- but the nature of bass playing is to shrink into the background and anchor down the rhythm section. Whatever "genius" abilities Wolfie has, if any ---- he's very subtle about it to the majority of people with untrained ears (95%+ of the VH fanbase).

I've already stated numerous times I don't hate the kid or think he's a bad bassist --- he's obviously got a lot of technical skill --- but I don't come from a world where I immediately idolize a famous person's kid just because that famous person wants us to. A musical artist has to pay his dues to earn my respect --- Dave, Eddie, Alex, and Mike earned it a long time ago, and I'm willing to let Wolfie earn it but he's gotta do more than just 1 album that still has lingering questions about how much his legendary father helped him out.

The ultimate litmus test for me will be when Wolf launches his own band with unknown players and they proceed to kick all kinds of ass without the help of professional songwriters --- then I'll be the first in line to crown this kid the real deal.

So you were always the kid pissed off because the coach's kid played better than you... got it.

You can cuntinue this smoke screen of challenging anyone's intelligence who holds a differing opinion of Wolfgang's contributions to Van Halen music. That's such a weak position that's been tried and epically failed for years here.

Let's play with those little things called facts... You claim Wolfgang hasn't written anything nor earned his dues. OK... go queue up the 7 unreleased demos that appear on ADKOT. Crank up your subwoofer... you have one right? Being the musical genius expert I would imagine you have all the proper evaluative tools in your man cave..?

Take a good listen to the bass lines and song breaks in the originals. Now do the same with ADKOT.

You will notice a significant difference in timing, attack and placement of each bass note within the composition. Mike is a traditional bass player and his style was perfectly synced between Alex's back beat between the kick and snare drums. This is why in many cases it's hard to hear Mike's playing stand out... it is mixed right. Right for Van Halen, but also Mike's bass approach perfectly filled the right spaces between Al's low end percussion. That's the true "art" of great bass playing. The rhythm section becomes one... not 2 plus. Mike's style continues today in what I've heard with him performing with the likes of Billy Gibbons, Jeff Beck, BB King, and Joe Satriani on the few Chickenshit songs I've tortured my ears with...

Wolfgang's bass approach especially during the 07/08 tour was very much emulating Mike's but he was also trying to throw in a few fills, slides, hammers and taps which sometimes worked and several times missed... Mike never ventured there much... he stayed in the middle of the groove. In both ADKOT and live performances of the classics... Wolf's style has emerged. He fills many of the same nooks Mike did, but he's also found a unique timing and blending/mixing both the traditional bass space, but then breaking out and hitting note for note portions directly in sync with his fathers oddball timing signatures and rhythmic fills. This not only adds balls but elephant balls to the signature Van Halen sound.

I don't for minute believe all this is from Dad's coaching and directing. A relatively simple fact counters that argument... For years many folks claim Ed wrote all the bass lines for VH's hits... some even think Mike didn't even record the bass on most of it. If that were the case... Did Ed all of a sudden jump light years forward in his bass compositions with ADKOT and the live performances of the classics Wolfgang is performing? Ed's playing better than ever today... but he's still very much playing in Ed's zone.

To you it may seem illogical that this 21 year old pup actually composed his contribution to the greatest rock album released in the last two decades... Yes some of the song foundations were developed before he was conceived. But compare side by side and you hear a very different product than the originals on bass. Why do you believe Wolfgang didn't write the stuff that went to tape? My ears tell me it wasn't Ed, wasn't Mike... The timing signatures are very pure Van Halenish... meaning that unique timing Ed and Al have. Wolfgang clearly comes from that DNA tree.

One more thing damn it... Ed and Dave didn't write all the music. Ed wrote guitar and composed melodies. Dave wrote lyrics and composed melodies. Alex wrote drums and composed melodies. Mike wrote bass and composed melodies. That's how most rock bands function. None of these guys are Mozart types composing full symphonic pieces. Historically they claimed everything was recorded live in the studio. Sure Ed produced a riff that was born in a jam... Dave wrote a lyric or developed a melodic hook vocally... neither of those guys wrote a single drum beat nor bass line that ended up "the song". Only rock musician egos make such claim... I know first hand from 30+ years as a guitar player, song writer, studio musician, audio engineer, etc... that same bullshit ego crap lives strong even today. I'm never shy in pointing out the stupidity of such a mindset to any artist at any level...

So go ahead and talk nutsacks... since that appears to be the center of your logical thinking and deductive reasoning... I don't believe you have any reasonable basis for your position nor the real world experience to back it.

[ZahZoo]

A fine analysis Mr. Zoo. Do you work from home?

Sometimes... I telecommute a lot and travel to wherever the work takes me. Today I'm off and wasting time here rather than doing yard work in 90 degree heat & humidity...

[DLR Bridge]

Today I'm off and wasting time here rather than doing yard work in 90 degree heat & humidity...

A wise decision. Besides, you can always talk to trees from inside the comfort of your air conditioned home with the use of sign language through the bay window.

[Angel]

You don't need the government Angel all you need is to know what you want out of life and a work ethic. .

Unfortunately, in the film industry, you DO need the government. Jurisdictions that don't have film employment tax credits don't have any productions. That's just the nature of the beast.

I know what I want, and my work ethic is well respected in the industry, but there is an industry wide exodus taking place here. I'm just waiting to see where everyone is going before I make my decision.