White Lion's Mike Tramp Tells THE Eddie Van Halen/David Lee Roth Story, "Who Are You?!?" - 2023

This is a full in bloom interview with White Lion singer Mike Tramp.
-Description:
Mike talks about his early band Mabel, hanging with Van Halen in 1981, David Lee Roth, Fleur Thiemeyer, Neil Zlozower, Wolfgang Van Halen, meeting Eddie in 1988, and hanging with Roth in the '90s.
Links
Mike Tramp talks about White Lion's early days, Vito Bratta, & more:
• MIKE TRAMP on White Li...
Mike Tramp talks White Lion Reunion:
• Mike Tramp Talks Vito ...
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Outro by FOOL OF FATE
#vanhalen #eddievanhalen #davidleeroth #whitelion #vitobratta

[@Jayhawk9]

Vito bratta was a beast guitarist

[@wrallpaul66]

Mike's DLR impression is so spot on, plus he's a great story teller.

[@ScottAdair]

Awesome. I still listen to Vito and Mike's work as White Lion to this day.

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

Same here. I listen to all four studio albums often, especially Fight To Survive album. Very underrated in my opinion.

[@brianshaffneraclc]

As a bassist, I envied Robinson and Lomenzo getting to work with those two. One of the best rock frontlines ever.

[@richardgruenthaler9523]

I remember when the band was just called Lion they lived in Jackson Heights, Queens, where I lived they were a cool band. from Sweden. I remember Mike tramp, making a new band changed the band to White Lion with different musicians. The other musicians in lion moved back to Sweden and I was playing bass guitar at the time and bought the bass players Peavy stack. they were real nice guys.

[@CMichaels56]

Saw White Lion at Sundance in Bayshore (LI) just when “Wait” came out on MTV. Great band to see live.

[@georgebarry8640]

I remember Frank Cariola's Sundance!!! Fun times!

[@seagullpoet]

We know that time flies……yet each year was speedball magic in the 80s. Then it was over. I can see Eddie smiling his smile “ I remember that “ !

[@goodmorningsundaymorning4533]

It's a shame rap going on 30 yrs and hard rock only lasted a decade.

[@LiquidSwords5150]

Teenagers + kids in their 20’s are like brain dead retarded now. They are all slaves to the Internet

[@brianmeen2158]

@@goodmorningsundaymorning4533 yeah I really Miss the 80s and early 90s rock/metal scene .. I never thought it would end

[@j.p.sixgunner7194]

​@@brianmeen2158 it only ends if you let it.

[@blahzay_]

@@goodmorningsundaymorning4533you sound stuck in the past….

[@mercuripietro6888]

Mike was never a crazy singer or The best vocals out there but his unique tone and great feel gave him something

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

Love all four albums alot. Fighr To Survive is a very underrated album. One band that i never got to see live. Vito in my opinion is one of the greatest guitar players ever.

[@bradhardisty1652]

Interesting comment about Roth backstage. I met Roth along with my best friend Parrish in 79 after the Logan Utah show. Post show, he was in blues jeans sitting on the stage talking to a roadie about some of the details or problems with lighting or something. Totally low key. We walk backstage with him I'm 19, Parrish is 16 and we played in a band called Roxx. He didn't talk to us directly but included us in the walk backstage. After we get in the hallway. He looks across at us and says wadda ya think of the show boys??!!. It's just the three of us. We just stumbled and said something like phenomenal and that was it. Then I talked one on one about guitars with Ed when he came out into the hall.

[@e-rod1596]

I'm a big fan of Mike Tramp and I have listened or read lots of story telling from Mike through the years and let me tell you, this guy should write a book about his life!

[@rickfortine7454]

I TOTALLY DIG FINDING OUT NEW STUFF I NEVER KNEW ABOUT PEOPLE ... THIS IS TOO COOL !!!

[@whamsie4022]

Great interview. From the public perspective, a lot of these guys come across as a flash in the pan. Much respect to Tramp for putting in long years of work to achieve the success he had.

[@clemguitar63]

April 1980...EVH at that time, the youngest fiddle player to grace the cove of 'GUITAR PLAYER' magazine!

[@ChristopherT1]

I met Mike, Vito, and Greg in Springfield, Illinois when they opened for Stryker I think. I can’t remember. What I do remember is Greg. He gave me a full tour of his kit on stage. So kind.

[@gregc8483]

Nice! I drove from Granite City Illinois for that show

[@tracypoole8857]

Stryper.

[@MorGuitarz]

OMG, L'amour in Brooklyn.... I used to go there countless times. I was at that White Lion concert at The Ritz NYC that was on MTV. I haven't watched that show since

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

Got that show on CD. One of my favorite live albums ever. Amazing set list.

[@tangerinerose3724]

Great stuff, Mike! 🤘😎🖤

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

Now those are some great stories!

[@amsedelm]

What a great interview. That Village People story is hilarious!!! Ha ha ha!

[@MusicGhostAccount]

Mike had a club in Michigan and i performed there many times. He was so nice and honest. Cool guy with zero ego!

[@julienceaser]

Very cool, Such a humble guy what at thrill it must've been to not only find out that Eddie remembered but to be able to share the story with his son. Wolfie!~

[@ejames6431]

I saw Mike play in NY with Vito when they were a club band. They were awesome! Mike was an all around great front man.

[@W1NGXER0]

I love the way this guy quotes Dave. It's so accurate. I love it!

[@tracymallon8485]

Badass interview 🎉🤘Mike Tramp is super cool!! Love the way you put this whole thing together, with the pics how they match up to what you guys are saying! Haven't watched lately, so I'm definitely gonna catch up! Always a top notch channel and fave of mine!! 🎸🎶🎵🎼🎧🎙️🎚️🎛️ 💯❤️‍🔥🤘

[@richevans609]

What a Story. Thanks Mike.

[@cbh440]

Mike never gets credit for some seriously amazing lyrics. A true talent.

[@garyt3hsna1l82]

Best gang vocals in rock.

[@jtaylor1120]

He's really cool and he's talented

[@skaz777]

Zounds! That guy seems as genuine as he is entertaining! i really enjoyed this video.

[@JNC1973]

I never realized from listening to White Lion back in the 80s that Mike Tramp had an accent. I always assumed he was just another American White Boy from California or something. Like the accent goes away when he sings some how.

[@_Clem_H_Fandango_]

English, Irish,, Australia, and etc. sings with an American accent. Which means our dialect of English is music to everyone.

[@jacobfralin5482]

I LOVE, absolutely LOVE the way he pronounces the word love. lol though it made him come off a bit odd… 😅

[@localcrew]

Singing and speaking are very different things and are actually processed in different areas of the brain. The American country artist and songwriter Mel Tillis was known for his lifelong stutter but he had no trouble singing because of the separation phenomenon. Speech therapists can sometimes help those with a stutter by having patients do rhythm and breathing exercises that can re-route the neural pathways in the brain and make the brain use the “singing” part for speech. So yeah -that kind of explains the accent thing.

[@timothya.olmeda7299]

I got the chance to see White Lion when they opened for ac/dc on the Blow Up Your Video tour in ‘88. I knew about them from their first album video(s) and wasn’t expecting much from them. Our seats were on the floor mid section, and quite honestly at the time thought they put on a solid show. Vito stood out from the rest of the band though, and just was killing it nonstop. Everything from his stage presence, guitar tones, and playing was spectacular and as well as the band. Most of the crowd agreed, but of course were reluctant to give them much credit simply because ac/dc fans have always been critical no matter who opened for them. For the final bow at the end though the crowd agreed that they did put on a great show and gave them a well deserved applause, and some screams from the few female fans in attendance.

[@Geerladenlad]

Pride Tour?

[@treff9226]

Vito was indeed a special player, the man had it all, technique, tone, phrasing....White Lion was special mainly due to Vito Bratta! It kills me that he retired so early - kills me!

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

​@@treff9226I agree. Vito is indeed very special, and I also hate that he retired at such a young age. Incredible guitar player!

[@pedraw]

Fascinating story.

[@kevinstimelsky673]

Great story!!

[@seangagnonProvidenceR.I.]

White Lion produced some of the greatest melodic metal from the 80’s their first two albums were excellent too bad they didn’t last longer they were such a good band .

[@seagullpoet]

I agree. Tramp’s voice was so unique. Vito’s playing. Glad they met !

[@seangagnonProvidenceR.I.]

@@seagullpoet Tramp and Bratta were such a good fit it was all about melody with them and just heavy enough 🤘

[@deejay7060]

None of those “glam bands” from the 80’s were metal. They were rock n roll bands.

[@seangagnonProvidenceR.I.]

@@deejay7060 “Glam” metal or rock n roll whichever

[@doctordetroit4339]

The 80s were incredible.....I would give my left nut to go back and stay there. If you missed it...too bad. White Lion was awesome. All the bands were awesome. What an incredible time it was. THANK YOU GOD for letting me be alive back then.

[@propaul4428]

Rock on

[@christophercirocco8611]

Amazing stories and MT, you took some of those influences and became a fantastic front/vocal/entertainer!

[@zydecbro]

Dude is full of life and is one really good story teller

[@GembaDocs]

Love White Lion and these stories are great. These boys lived!

[@dennydude3737]

Mike Tramp is one of the great story tellers of his heyday. Hands down. I could listen to him for hours. Lol.

[@TempleGuitars]

His DLR impersonation is amazing hahaha!

[@clausm2203]

Great video🙂🤘

[@charlesmayer7097]

This was a great video. I've heard these stories before but Mike really told them with a different twist and I was laughing most of the time. Thanks for sharing.

[@beeemm2578]

Wow...this guy in voice and everything else, isn't what I thought he was. This interview was captivating to say the least. What stories..

[@jimswordsnchords1759]

Great interview!

[@jackwillson8099]

Cool shit mike stories are killer lucky man 👍

[@paulthompson8642]

Thank you

[@GTLyons]

Great story... man, I miss those days...

[@jamestcallahanphotographer]

Holy shit, Mike is funny! Very enjoyable to listen to, especially the VH stories. 😄

[@blueberrypie8691]

Loved White Lion, always wondered what happened to them.

[@432b86ed]

Back then I could take or leave WL. but this dude Mike is more convincing than the guy he looked up to. That counts.

[@johnspeck]

Too many egos in the highest echelons on music. "Don't meet your idols" Kudos to Mike for staying grounded.

[@stevedahl]

Mainly the Vito solos. Vito was one of the best

[@treff9226]

Lethal guitarist, Vito retired way too early! Dude was special!

[@johnkatsoudas4767]

One of the greatest guitar players ever. Very special indeed.

[@stevedahl]

@@treff9226 his solos were best part of song Derrick Frigo in Enuff Z Znuff was another guy that was killer

[@treff9226]

@@stevedahl Big fan of Enuff z Nuff! Always appreciated their strong vocals, hooks and tight songwriting. Cheap Trick is right near the top of my favorite bands list and Chip and Donnie came real close to matching them! And Derek's early years stint with the band showed his tuneful playing, with memorable soloing and really dug his tone! Nice call on his playing! You can remember his solos, only highly talented guitarists are capable of being able to combine notes that stick in the head. Howard Stern got me into the band, he was constantly praising them! Stern has damn good taste in music, he loved Leslie West and Mountain, as well!

[@bradhardisty1652]

Great Van Halen stories.

[@CarrigansGuitarClub]

Wolfgang must be very sensitive about his father - great to hear that!

[@kerzytibok3211]

I always admired White Lion because they openly admitted they were copying Van Halen and did it proudly --- Vito said he tapped in his songs as a sign of respect for Eddie --- and Mike was obviously copying Diamond Lee's look and hairstyle

[@NEWYORKSTORM13]

With Vito I remember reading something back in the day how it was his shout out to EVH. But Tramp didn't do a thing to have "DL Roth's look". I mean there were so many members of just as many bands that were out. It just so happen to turn out that similar/same look.

[@kerzytibok3211]

@@NEWYORKSTORM13 you obviously didn't pay attention to this interview because Tramp openly admitted that VH was the template he wanted to follow --- both in look and sound

[@HoosierDaddy_]

I never knew anything about these guys. Liked some guitar work but I liked heavier music generally. Hearing his story is great. He seems like a very cool guy and he can tell a damn good story!

[@jamesdelaney3797]

Great story

[@johnprettie2348]

Fleur did some stuff for Motley Crue as well if I'm not mistaken.

[@Dan.50]

I saw White Lion open for AC/DC in G'boro back in the 80's.

[@jasona5806]

Bad ass

[@michaeldcarson4894]

Fantastic

[@warriorv9359]

They had a badass song

[@Dastardly_X]

🤘🏻 🌟 🤘

[@bcanfield1860]

“ A visual date…whatever you may make of that” Is Mike Tramp implying that his future ( now ex) wife was DLR’s beard?

[@jamesbarrick3403]

Not gonna lie - I don't care for White Lion. But that guy has stories and educated and he is living his life for sure.

[@GORGOROTH42]

Big Game was a pretty good album!!

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

They were just as good if not better if any of the rest of those lame hair bands of that day they sure had a hell of a lot better guitar player than all the rest of them

[@jtaylor1120]

I still love 9them 😊

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

"Studs?" That aint gonna work in America. They're gonna think your the new village people. haha He does a great Dave impression and he was right. haha

[@whamsie4022]

He studied and studied American culture and the rock scene, but there are some things you can’t learn in books!

[@CCerwin]

well, When you are around friends “who have seen you naked” lol,, don’t take it personally it’s a routine, not meant to be a personal attack is all… imho. Thank you 🙏 for sharing your memories

[@dtcdtc8328]

Just did a quick search on him. Something Ive began doing back around 2015. I refuse to listen to a word from anyone if they are in the group of people that tows that communist talking points. This Mr Trempenau is a solid dude . I can still listen to W.L & D.L. so many I refuse to listen to now, its sad but , none of us should be supporting bands and people who support the present regimes by either agreeing with them or staying silent .

[@CrimeSchool138]

White Lion was the best hair band

[@medievaltimes6473]

Listen To The Flower People

[@synthogd808]

White lion was the closest thing to Van Halen but without ripping them off. Like Zakk said Vito was the only guitar player in the 80s who did tapping with class while obviously inspired by Van Halen didn’t sound like a cheap ripoff

[@delanoarts3703]

I'll always remember wait and children cry by that band but it's crazy he had been influenced a little by the new wave British metal in my mind some the best metal ever and it was incredibly heavy music maiden number of the beast priest screaming for vengeance what a fucking heavy album of course dio sabbath that was basically the blue print of the genre heaven and hell what an album one the best sabbath of all tines so much great shit from that genre

[@jwhowsezjwhowsez5448]

I HATE KZbin!! POLITICS AND CENSORSHIP but love to find gems like these vids!! Great Post!!!

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

And most normal people hate Trump knob shiners like you

[@dougmiller5608]

Mr Yngwie Malmsteen is another guitarist that many people have forgotten. Check him out

[@1224Peterson]

Amazing Van Halen stories and Mike tells them so well, it's a shame DLR treated him like a nobody later on but that's Dave I guess lol. Small world!

[@sparkonthehorizon]

Sounds about Dave...

[@kevbev1524]

Hail Mary

[@Richard-1776]

"Studs! They'll think you're the new Village People." lol

[@pulsarlights2825]

"An ounce of image is worth a pound of performance" David Lee Roth If you ever heard him sing live, you know that's the truth.....

[@joeinjun401]

Roth never ever was a singer, but that's what made VH a stand alone band. Edward was the heart, Dave brought the attitude.

[@doctordetroit4339]

Vito was every bit as good a shredder as EVH......maybe even a better melodic one at that. There was no one better at point for point melodic shredding than Vito.

[@DeeJay003]

You obviously haven't listened to much Van Halen - Listen to his live solo on the concert 'live without a net' and think again. There is no comparison, lol

[@jimmycampbell78]

Vito is/was a great guitar player. Of course Eddie van Halen was the original and the innovator. But I think you need to check Vito out as well- he was a great technical player too.

[@toddprater14]

Eddie said out of all the 80’s guys that copped my style , none of them impressed me much , but this guy Vito bratta, he gets it(or something to that effect)..they even did a photo shoot and Vito said he was Eddie and Eddie said he was Vito. Lol…Vito phrasing , and solos were very melodic and I think that’s why Ed liked him ….

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

Doctor Detroit you Don't know Jack 💩 boy

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

@@cryptoholica72 agreed

[@Purespirit777]

Not a fan of the band White Lion at all but I like the stories...

[@mikedegarmo3203]

Dude, you're like a police interrogator the way you go after these people when they give those vague answers to your questions. Most every other interviewer out there NEVER bother to get to the bottom of anything, are afraid to "rock the boat", and just take what they get. YOU ARE THE MASTER!!!!

[@steevkelly]

11:33 - even just as a "visual" date whatever you may make out of that - wonder what mr. tramp is implying there. hmmmm....

[@DirtySouthConnection803]

I picked up on that as well. I've always wondered and thought that, about Dave. Mike pretty much just said it all, without saying it.

[@Drfrostybrew]

Yep. He def said it. 😮

[@whamsie4022]

Exactly. I am on my way to Google Dave’s personal life.

[@AJ-yi6hg]

I heard about this in a different interview with another person maybe 2 years ago? Can't remember but u can probably find it if u really wanted to. A credible person making the same indirect remark.

[@glampervert]

A friend of mine who lived in LA 30 years ago,who I haven't spoken to in years,told me a story of his buddy who knew people in the music scene there,who got a call from Dave one time,wanting him to come over his house for some gay activity.Dude was surprised and was saying something about"I didn't know you were into that,what about your reputation with groupies"The quote I got from my friend,his buddy told him Dave said"I'm sick of pussy,I've had so much pussy,I want to try some new things..."Now I wonder how many times over the years Dave used that line on cute guys he was trying to hook up with?😂Every time I hear stories about Dave being in the closet gay ever since,I think about that story my friend told me.😅

[@hellchild6668]

Didn't know Mike tramp is Danish?

[@scottwhite2757]

Interesting, jumping around stage for Screaming girls.. what a life.. Studs.

[@Desmondbrowne666]

White Lion were a remarkably average band, insignificant even.😊

[@scottm2828]

Sounds like he could be Lars Ulrich’s cousin.

[@steveludwig4200]

Who is this guy? NEver heard of him/ LOL

[@jamesragsdale8202]

His ex-wife weny on a visual date? That's a platonic date just for show? He is implying Dave swings gay or bi?

[@BombTheBoatsFeedTheFish]

Truthfully White lion was freaking horrible !!!

[@thebluesrockers]

So "Mike Tramp" stole his stage persona from "Diamond Dave" & "Diamond Dave" stole his stage persona from "Jim Dandy" I wasn't into "White Lion" at all. I loved the Van Halen "DLR" years. hated "Van Hagar" I liked "BOA" but I also hated seeing Mike, Dave and Jim Dandy all prance around on stage like a male stripper. I understand why women may have enjoyed it but come on guys. There shouldn't be any straight guys that actually like their male stripper persona's!"

[@guitar-phantom]

old news

[@DemskePaul2017]

Sounds like a bot

[@ST-lm9bh]

Can ya hear them crying out...... for the people in El Salvador... Hear them cry.....

[@michaelmichaels138]

That dude sounds really cool but I never got into White Lion, the name was too gay for me at the time.

[@RedGarnett-n2p]

🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@Geerladenlad]

Poser 🤡

[@dangermartin69]

This gives insight to why Lars talks the way he does, since he's Danish as well.

[@guitarizt68]

Christ that guy's dialect is so terrible I couldn't even make it through the interview!

[@punkassfunk]

Most singers sing at a higher pitch than they speak. Not this guy...

[@marcelomorem]

Great story!