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After the Billy Idol tour ended mid-August, I went back into the studio to finish the Xmas CD Billy and I have been recording this year. "Billy Idol: Happy Holidays" will be available through Billy's website, Best Buy and a label in Europe. We just finished mixing and mastering at Matt Sorum's "Drac Studios". We really tried to make a CD that will add to the spirit of the holidays, not some cute gimmick. Check Billy's comments out about the CD at billyidol.net
Anyhow, at the same time as I was feeling that I didn't want to go right back in the studio and stop playing out live, my friends that have a band "The Starf**kers" called. They play every week at the Cat Club in Hollywood. The band includes Eric Dover, (ex. Jellyfish, Snakepit, Alice Cooper) on vox, Stefan Adika, (ex. Dee Dee Ramone) on bass, John Corabi, (ex. Motley Crue) on gtr., Dizzy Reed, (G-n-R) ..s, and Derek Sherinian, (Billy Idol) ..s as well. I've jammed with all of them in one capacity or another over the years. They needed a drummer for the next month, so I filled in.
A couple weeks later, someone who knows someone who knows someone suggests that we should be the house band at a party Eddie Van Halen is having in his backyard at the end of September, ("The Gathering"). Of course we are psyched. This included Eddie wanting to rehearse with us the day before the party in his backyard.
We rehearsed and then the next day played the party.
The whole damn thing is still totally surreal to me. Eddie was without a doubt one of my top 3 influences and inspirations growing and practicing drums and guitar. I saw the Diver Down tour, learned all the drum licks on every David Lee Roth era record, and VH was one of my favorite bands growing up. I wasn't just into Van Halen; I looked for stuff to learn from them.
So there ya have it. I played with one of my all time idols. I received more than enough kind words from him and he was beyond nice and treated us all with total respect. Chalk this up as one my career highlights... Playing Neil Peart's drums at Madison Square Garden, touring with Ozzy Osbourne and this. Go to www.youtube.com , type in Eddie Van Halen and you can see some little bootleg clips of this.
By the way, we all know how great Eddie is and there is no doubt about how much ground he's broke on guitar. But, what is not talked about that much that I got to feel first hand, was his GROOVE. His natural internal feel is so heavy, slinky and fat. It is rare to play with someone that locks up with so little effort yet is so "there". Eddie has it all together and always has....
It was beyond an honor to get that kind opportunity.

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