Wolfgang Van Halen Shares High School Experience Being A Van Halen Member

You’d think being the bassist for Van Halen as a teenager would make you the most popular kid in school—but for Wolfgang Van Halen, it was a different story. In a recent interview with Audacy Music, he opened up about what high school was like while playing in one of the biggest bands in the world.

“It was not cool. It’s not a cool thing in high school. Not at all,” Wolfgang said about his early days on tour.

When he returned to school after touring, he was met with teasing. He explained:

“When I came back from the first tour there were people who, I wouldn’t call it bullying. It was more like light ribbing.
“It was like, ‘Oh look there’s a bass player for Van Halen,’ and somehow turn that into a not cool thing.”

Back to Senior Year Life

Wolfgang missed his entire 11th-grade year due to touring, but made sure to return for his senior year. He said:

“It was nice to be able to go back to my high school after that because I missed my 11th grade year.
“It was nice to be able to go back for my senior year to be with all my friends and it was like it never happened.”

Even while on the road, Wolfgang stuck to a strict tutoring schedule to keep up with school. Originally planning to graduate in 2009, he officially completed high school in 2010—showing his dedication to both education and music.

Early Talent, Big Dreams

Wolfgang was good at singing from a young age. His uncle Alex Van Halen helped him learn how to play the drums on his own, and then he learned how to play the guitar and bass later on. iHeart says that Wolfgang’s background in music set him up for success, even though his awkward teen years and the mixed reactions of his peers made things harder for him.