Wolfgang Van Halen Responds to David Lee Roth’s Recent Disparaging Comments
In the aftermath of David Lee Roth’s controversial YouTube video targeting his former Van Halen bandmate, Wolfgang Van Halen has broken his silence in a recent interview with Atlanta radio show The Morning X.
The 32-year-old musician, who took over bass duties in Van Halen after Michael Anthony’s departure in 2006, expressed a mix of bemusement and honor regarding Roth’s comments. “I’m honored [Roth] even thinks about me as much as he seems to,” Wolfgang stated during the interview.
Wolfgang urged listeners to approach Roth’s statements with skepticism, pointing out the singer’s previous outlandish claims, such as writing “Eruption” and creating Eddie Van Halen’s iconic Frankenstein Strat guitar. “You have to take what he says with a grain of salt,” Wolfgang remarked, alluding to Roth’s penchant for extravagant storytelling.
During the radio interview, Wolfgang addressed Roth’s assertion that he took credit for Eddie’s famous 1978 guitar solo “Eruption.” The hosts expressed surprise at Roth’s claim, to which Wolfgang responded with a wry comment: “He said he wrote all the solos that Dad wrote. I guess that’s all I can say.”
However, Wolfgang believes that Roth’s issues go beyond him personally. “I seem to have been born into this Van Halen drama that has come way before me,” he explained. “And now that my dad isn’t here to be a target, I guess he went to the next best thing.”
Roth’s YouTube video, provocatively titled “This F—in Kid,” opens with a fake interview portraying Wolfgang as Jesus Christ, before proceeding to ridicule him for allegedly benefiting from nepotism. A Wolfgang impersonator asserts his talent in the video, denying any favoritism due to his father’s legendary status.
The video then takes a personal turn, with Roth claiming that Wolfgang threw a woman out of two concerts in a misguided act of revenge. Roth alleges that Wolfgang mistakenly believed the woman was Roth’s girlfriend, while she was, in fact, an accountant overseeing the tour’s payroll.
As the Van Halen drama continues to unfold, Wolfgang remains unfazed, emphasizing his dedication to his craft and navigating the challenges that come with being part of the iconic rock band’s legacy.