Photo Credit: Jill Meniketti
Mike Vanderhule
Mike is a solid drummer with a solid groove, great technique, and a ton of chops, which he knows when to use. Always playing for the song, he plays every note with passion and feel, giving the music what it needs. Having been exposed to many styles of music growing up, Mike is at home playing multiple genres, while his love for the music shows in all he plays.
As a side man, Mike has performed and/or recorded with The Tubes, Montrose, Vince Neil (Motley Crue), John Denver, Neal Schon (Journey), Greg Kihn, Steve Lukather (Toto), Eric Martin (Mr.Big), Mickey Thomas (Starship), Jesse Collin Young (Youngbloods), Fee Waybill (The Tubes), Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Nelson (Matthew & Gunnar), Kip Winger (Winger), Mark Slaughter (Slaughter), Lita Ford, Bobby Kimball (Toto), Barry Goudreau (Boston), Frank Hannon (Tesla), Geoff Tate (Queensryche), James Durbin (American Idol), Alcatrazz (featuring Graham Bonnet), Tyran Porter (Doobie Bros.), Jennifer Batten (Michael Jackson), Stef Burns (Vasco Rossi, Huey Lewis, Y&T), Jeff Scott Soto (Talisman, TSO), Ron Keel (Keel), Jeff Watson (Night Ranger), Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani, Steve Vai), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, TSO),Gary Pihl (Bostonm, Sammy Hagar), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, TSO), Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Dan Ashley (Bay Area ABC News Anchor), Andreas Öberg (world-acclaimed jazz guitarist), Larry Mitchell (Tracy Chapman, Billy Squire, Rick Ocasek), blues/rock artist, Jackie Greene, and country artist Shelly Streeter.
Prior to Y&T, Mike recorded and toured with SoulMotor, featuring Brian Wheat (Tesla) and Tommy McLendon (UFO). He’s also recorded three albums and toured internationally with guitar virtuoso Michael Lee Firkins, and was a member of Seven Reasons, whose self-titled CD (which Mike produced) earned them support for Bon Jovi.
When not on the road, Mike stays busy doing recording sessions, teaching, and producing artists, as well as recording drums online from his own studio. He has decades of experience teaching all styles of drumming to students of all ages, both privately and online, as well as studying extensively with drumming great Steve Smith.
Mike currently tours the world with Y&T.