Passing the torch: The musical offspring of well-known rock stars – National

The idea might be expressed in numerous methods. It runs within the household. Like father (or mom), like son (or daughter). The apple by no means falls removed from the tree. In each case, we’re speaking about both hereditary traits or realized skills handed down from guardian to youngster.

It stands to purpose that when you develop up in a family filled with creatives, one thing goes to rub off on the children, whether or not or not it’s one thing of their genes (nature) or simply due to what goes on round them (nurture.) So in case your dad and mom are musical, then there’s an excellent probability you’ll be musical, too.

Now think about that mother and/or dad is a well-known musician. Cool individuals are all the time dropping in. There are excursions and time within the studio and events and business occasions. How might you not be influenced by this atmosphere? You simply fall into the approach to life. You study to play and write and carry out. And as a result of your dad and mom have some connections and relationships throughout the business, you may need an inside line on establishing a profession for your self.

Musical dad and mom don’t all the time imply musical kids. But creativity can run within the household. For instance, Duncan Bowie (initially christened Zowie by his dad and mom, David and Angels Bowie) pursued filmmaking. Back within the Nineteen Sixties, Jerry Lewis’s son, Gary, eschewed appearing and comedy, forming as an alternative a profitable pop band within the 60s known as Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Patrick Schwarzenegger has achieved a bit of appearing like his dad, however his predominant pursuit has been working a clothes firm.

However, the record of musical offspring could be very lengthy and is getting longer yearly. Jason Bonham is the drummer son of Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham. Norah Jones is the daughter of Ravi Shankar, the Beatles’ favorite sitar participant. There’s Roseanne Cash, daughter of Johnny. Sean and Julian Lennon are each sons of John. Four of the 5 kids of Frank Zappa have had musical careers. R&B singer Stella Santana is the daughter of Carlos. Miley is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. Adam Cohen is the son of Leonard. Carnie and Wendy Wilson are the daughters of the Beach Boys’ Brian. And extra lately, Wolfgang Van Halen is following within the footsteps of his father, Eddie.

Here are a number of extra, with a pair that will have escaped your consideration to date.

1. Jakob Dylan

Okay, so that you in all probability find out about this relationship. Jakob is the son of Bob and Sara Dylan. Although he was the son of the world’s most well-known folksinger, he most popular punk when he was rising up, getting deep into The Clash and the Buzzcocks. A number of bands adopted, together with an aborted try at design college in New York. By 1989, he was in LA with a band known as The Apples, which might quickly morph into The Wallflowers.

Their first album didn’t bother any charts or radio station playlists, however the second, Bringing Down the Horse, was a serious hit. Jakob, the one constant member of the band, has received Grammys, hosted TV specials, and toured the world with the likes of Tom Petty and, er, Dad.

2. Joey and Jackob Armstrong

Billie Joe Armstrong met Adrienne Nesser in 1990, simply as Green Day was beginning up. Their first youngster, Joseph Marciano Armstrong (identify after Joey Ramone and Rocky Marciano), got here alongside in February 1995. Three years later, Jakob Danger Armstrong made an look.

Both boys took after their father. Joey was the primary to type a band that was first often called Emily’s Army, one model of which featured Jakob on bass. Eventually, every of them went their very own method with their very own teams.

Joey’s present band is known as SWMRS and has recorded fairly a bit of fabric over the past 5 years.

Meanwhile, Jakob’s newest venture is known as Ultra Q. They form of sound like The Strokes.

3. Eli Hewson

When he got here into the world, Eli was christened Elijah Bob Patricius Guggi Q Hewson by his dad and mom Paul and Ally. Paul Hewson is, in fact, the actual identify of U2’s Bono. Even although dad was one of many greatest rock stars within the identified universe, Eli didn’t understand there was something particular about his dad till he was 10. Even then, it took him three extra years to get into music.

In 2012, he and a few college buddies shaped Inhaler with Eli out entrance. No one within the group is eager about getting any assist from the singer’s family members — and vice-versa. Eli tells a narrative about how the band was in London and came upon that their Airbnb wasn’t accessible. Eli phoned his mother and requested, “Hey, do you know of any good hotels?” Mom replied, Well, there’s all the time a park bench.”

Inhaler exhibits loads of promise. And sure, Eli does sound so much like dad.

4. Levi Evans

Levi, who grew up subsequent door to Eli, is the one son of The Edge from U2. For the longest time, Levi stayed away from the highlight, though he did get some guitar and piano classes from his dad. For some time, he was blissful simply posting his musical musings to Instagram. The suggestions was sufficient for him to begin recording below the identify Mutlee, which featured his raps and rhymes. In 2021, he rebranded below his personal identify with a change in model. This was his debut single on this new part of his profession.

5. Zak Starkey

If your dad was the drummer in The Beatles, it appears logical that you just’d grow to be a drummer, too. Zak acquired his first drumkit as a present from Keith Moon, who was additionally his godfather. Dad gave him precisely one lesson whereas concurrently attempting to persuade him to be a health care provider or a lawyer. That didn’t work.

First got here a storage band known as The Next, adopted by a gig in a reformed model of The Spencer Davis Group. Then Dad had him carry out along with his All-Starr Band, which was Zak’s entre into working as a drummer-for-hire with a ton of different performers together with Johnny Marr of The Smiths. He’s additionally performed with The Who, The Waterboys, Icicle Works, and Hollywood Vampires. And then there was the interval he was saved time for Oasis.

6. Suspect208/S8nt Elektric

Sadly, the group by no means actually acquired an opportunity to elevate off. Consisting of Ty Trujillo (son of Metallica’s bass participant, Robert), London Hudson (Slash’s child), and Noah Weiland (son of Scott of Stone Temple Pilots) fell aside as a result of Noah couldn’t preserve it collectively lengthy sufficient for the band to rehearse. (Like father like son, proper?) Too dangerous as a result of they sounded nice.

When the band broke up, London and his bandmate, Niko Tsangaris, shaped S8nt Elektric. They’re not dangerous, both.

7. Willow

Willow Smith, the daughter of Will and Jada, began releasing music when she was simply 10, having a Top 15 pop hit with “Whip My Hair. That led to a cope with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation label, leading to a number of extra singles from three albums. Her fourth album, launched in 2021, confirmed a giant change in course with extra of a pop-punk method. And who higher to assist out than Travis Barker of Blink-182?

Here are a number of extra sons/daughters working within the wings.

Frances Bean Cobain: She’s been dropping track snippets on-line (like this tune, Angel) for years now. It’s apparent that she has expertise like her well-known dad and mom, however she’s but to launch something.

Toni Cornell: Chris’ daughter has been performing since he died. Her duet together with her dad on Nothing Compares 2 U is nothing in need of gorgeous.

Violet Grohl: Dave’s oldest daughter is threatening a musical profession, too. Dad even had her sing on this track, Nausea.

Myles and Layne Ulrich: With Myles on drums and his child brother Layne on bass, the sons of Metallica’s drummer are at the moment working collectively in a band known as Taipei Houston, forging a sound that falls someplace between The White Stripes and Royal Blood. Expect to listen to extra from them over the following 12 months or so.

Olivia Vedder: Last 12 months, Eddie’s daughter appeared on the soundtrack of the film Flag Day singing a track known as My Father’s Daughter. An indication of issues to come back?

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Alan Cross is a broadcaster with Q107 and 102.1 the Edge and a commentator for Global News.

Subscribe to Alan’s Ongoing History of New Music Podcast now on Apple Podcast or Google Play