Never let fame get in the way of fatherhood.

This is the quasi-example set by at least seven rock dads who’ve had no problems collaborating with their kids.

Headline acts sharing the spotlight is about as down to earth as rockstars being on time, or helping roadies unload their own gear.

Ask any genuine musician who they’d prefer to play alongside.

Given the choice, most would choose the ‘stay humble, or be humbled’ crowd.

Just like being a dad, the musician life is a marathon, and it’s an empty world without family to fill it.

Seven dads and their kids who seem to own this truth are:

1. Phil & Nicholas Collins

When on tour, Nicholas Collins, son of Genesis, and solo hitmaker, Phil Collins, played drums for his dad.

The first publicised on-stage collaboration between the British father and son was in 2016 at the U.S. Open.

Due to Phil’s back injury problems, Nicholas has filled in where his famous father, a renowned drummer, could not.

He told Rolling Stone, helping Phil out on stage was ‘second nature’ because ‘he’d been exposed to his dad’s music his entire life.’

 

2. Bill & Kasey Chambers

The Age described Australian Bill Chambers as being ‘central’ to his daughter Kasey’s ‘spectacular solo career.’

He ended up leaving gigs in Sydney to play in Kasey’s band.

An accomplished musical family, the Chambers clan are also ‘The Dead Ringer Band.’

Kasey has been on stage with her dad since she was a kid.

 

3. Eddie & Wolfgang Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen, one of the top ten guitarists of all time, shared the stage with his son, Wolfgang (Wolf), multiple times.

Playing alongside his late father, Wolf – a musician in his own right – took over from Van Halen’s bassist from 2006 to 2020.

One of the last on-stage gigs the duo played was during the Van Halen’s final tour in 2015.

Loudwire said the decision to replace Michael Antony Sobolewski, “was Eddie’s most logical choice”, given the ‘dicey’ history between the band members.

“It was never like I went to my dad and said [in a cagey movie villain voice] ‘I should be playing bass’,” explained Wolfgang.

“At that point, I just wanted to keep my dad alive”, he added.

Father and son also recorded together on Van Halen’s 2012 album, A Different Kind of Truth.

 

4. Elvis & Lisa Marie Presley

Lisa Marie first entered the music scene in 1997, singing ‘Don’t Cry Daddy’ in a video duet marking the 20^th anniversary of her father’s death.

The posthumous pairing wasn’t an overnight gimmick.

Thanks to technology, Lisa returned to the stage to sing with her dad in 2007, and 2012.

In 2018, tech brought Elvis and his late daughter together again, for a Gospel album, with Lisa singing alongside her dad, Where No One Stands Alone.

 

5. J., Joey & Jakob Armstrong

Green Day frontman, Billy Joe Armstrong put together a cover of I Think We’re Alone Now, during lockdowns, which was featured on the James Corden Late Late Show in April, 2020.

Armstrong first recorded the song in March that year, saying he’d “been reflecting on the things that matter most in his life”.

For the Late Late Show performance, Armstrong had his sons, Jakob and Joey, play bass, and drums.

 

6. Sir Paul & James McCartney

Sir Paul McCartney’s son James entered the music scene when he was in his 30s.

The now 46-year-old Beatles heir has since recorded his own work, and collaborated with his dad on two albums.

Father and son played three songs together in 2013, at the Ambassadors theatre in central London, supporting James’ album, Me.

James co-wrote Back in the Sunshine Again with his father.

He also played guitar on his dad’s albums, Flaming Pie (1997), and Driving Rain (2001).

 

7. Alice & Dash Cooper

Father and son are both frontmen. AC headlines his own vaudeville inspired rock act, while Dash heads up CO-OP, a Christian rock group.

In 2018, Alice (Vincent Furnier) helped out with the band’s self-titled album, bringing vocals to ‘Old Scratch.’

Additionally, Aerosmith, guitarist, Joe Perry – Alice Cooper’s Hollywood Vampires bandmate – also brought his skills to the plate.

Music Insider gave some insight to the father/son relationship, saying Alice was a sounding board for improving the band’s dynamic.

Cooper senior described the album as great, clarifying, “I’m not just saying this because it’s my son’s band, I really like the music. They’ve got some fire.”

His son’s band also “frequently performs as the Alice Cooper backup band”, with dad coming to jam along at CO-OP shows from time to time.

 

Not all hero dads play a musical instrument, and even fewer get the spotlight a stage can bring.

Real dads don’t need one.

The greatest thing about your kids is that they don’t need you to own a stage to be their hero.

You already are.

All they need is a ton of love, a lot of work, and a little collaboration.

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Photo: Screenshot of Billie Joe Armstrong With His Sons.