"Big Balls made my dad laugh so hard": Wolfgang Van Halen on how he bonded with dad Eddie over Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap

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By ( Classic Rock ) published

Wolfgang Van Halen on Malcolm Young: "The groove that man had was untouchable"

Wolfgang Can Halen added to the cover artwork of Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
(Image credit: Wolfgang Van Halen: Travis Shinn)

“This was my introduction to AC/DC and the wonder that is Bon Scott and his unique singing voice. When I was about seven I was on a Winnebago trip with my mom and dad. We were driving to the Grand Canyon. We pulled over somewhere while my mom went to a store or the bathroom, and my dad said: ‘Hey, check this out.’ And he puts on Big Balls. He was laughing so hard, which made me laugh so hard. Dad loved that song. Every time he heard the bit where Bon goes: ‘Ooooh…’ he just cracked up. 

“Dirty Deeds is such a great album. It’s the one that cemented my love of AC/DC. The title song is fantastic – I love the solo where Angus just hammers on. And Problem Child was always a real big song for me." 

"Brian Johnson is a wonderful human being and an incredible singer, but there’s just something about Bon Scott. He’s got that sleazy, amazing voice that could just never be replicated. That really resonated with me and my dad.

“I only got to meet them as a band once, on the Black Ice tour. It was a huge honour, especially to meet Malcolm Young. Malcolm was always my favourite member. I see myself as a rhythm guitar player first and foremost, and he’s the greatest rhythm guitar player ever. The groove that man had was untouchable. He was the backbone that made AC/DC what it was.”

Wolfgang Van Halen was speaking with Dave Everley.

Dave Everley
Dave Everley

Dave Everley has been writing about and occasionally humming along to music since the early 90s. During that time, he has been Deputy Editor on Kerrang! and Classic Rock, Associate Editor on Q magazine and staff writer/tea boy on Raw, not necessarily in that order. He has written for Metal Hammer, Louder, Prog, the Observer, Select, Mojo, the Evening Standard and the totally legendary Ultrakill. He is still waiting for Billy Gibbons to send him a bottle of hot sauce he was promised several years ago.