Spoke with Derek Sherinian on the phone last night for better part of an hour and he offered an exclusive (as he confirms exclusive in this interview) Wolf Van Halen was considered for Sons Of Apollo if Billy Sheehan was unavail.

Wolf is probably unavailable too, as he puts the final touches on his new album… for the next 18 to 24 months…

Gilligan: Wolf is probably unavailable too, as he puts the final touches on his new album… for the next 18 to 24 months…

That may get interrupted if VH tours next year.

Gilligan: Wolf is probably unavailable too, as he puts the final touches on his new album… for the next 18 to 24 months…

From a very recent interview (ValB) about his new album, “he plays the bass, and the drums, and the guitar, and the piano, and he wrote all the songs, and he sang all the songs”

Son’s Of Apollo Mike Portnoy on their track, “Coming Home”:
When we wrote it, we were going for a real Van Halen swagger. There’s no question that Van Halen and bands like that are part of our DNA. We’re not going for an old school vibe – that’s the world we come from. Most progressive metal bands of this generation don’t have the classic rock background that this band does. Most of the progressive metal bands from this generation grew up listening to Dream Theater. But we grew up listening to The Who and Van Halen and Sabbath.

Son’s Of Apollo Mike Portnoy on their track, “Figaro’s Whore”
It’s Derek’s Eruption. It’s his Eddie Van Halen moment.

This was just “incase” Billy was not available. But was cool to hear none the less. Some major Van Halen influence on the new Sons album, just got my preorder download today. You can hear alot of Eddie in Derek.