ABOUT
VAN WIRSING
Jump back, what’s that sound?
It’s Central PA’s newest tribute band… Van Wirsing!
Van Wirsing pays homage to one of the most iconic hard rock bands of all time – Van Halen. Focusing on the “Diamond” Dave era of the band’s catalog, Van Wirsing brings together the amazing talents of five veteran Central PA musicians, each with decades of experience on the stage. Think of it as a local supergroup of sorts.
The name Van Wirsing is derived from the band’s virtuosic guitarist, Eric Wirsing (Solar Federation, Julie Schreiber Band), a lifelong fan and devout disciple of Eddie Van Halen. His love of the late guitarist’s mind-blowing ability as a technician and true innovator on the instrument continues to resonate with Eric to this day, long after he studied at Boston’s prestigious Berklee School of Music. A master shredder in his own right, Eric’s other superpower is his uncanny knack for mimicking any guitar part you put in front of him. Always fastidious about tone, Eric’s ability to dial in EVH’s signature guitar sounds is a skill that most guitarists simply do not possess.
The rhythm section of Mike Washkevich (Very Fine Gentlemen, Nowhere Quick) on bass and Ffej Herb (Solar Federation, herbie) on drums lays down the relentless, high-energy groove for which Van Halen is known. In addition to his four-string duties, Mike also gets to display his vocal ability by handling the high harmonies of Michael Anthony, which are a hallmark of the VH signature sound.
And if you’re a Central PA native and love classic rock radio, then Van Wirsing’s vocalist certainly needs no introduction. Glenn Hamilton – you may know him as the morning show host on 97.3 WRVV “The River” – is a true icon of FM radio. He’s also no stranger to the stage, having been a lifelong musician and singer. It’s always been a dream of his to perform the music of VH on stage, so Glenn brings a high level of excitement and intensity to the table.
Despite its collective talent, the band’s origins are quite inconspicuous. Van Wirsing came together in the summer of 2025 to perform a 40-minute set of classic VH tunes at a legendary Central PA backyard bash. The band’s set resonated with everyone in attendance, and after video footage of the performance emerged on social media, there was hype. A LOT of hype!
Bret Michaels (yes, THAT Bret Michaels) caught wind of the band and invited Van Wirsing to perform on stage with him at Spyglass Ridge Winery in Pennsylvania. The performance brought down the house, and overnight Van Wirsing went from backyard band to a legitimate tribute to the music of VH.
Since then, Van Wirsing headlined the annual Rock the Food Bank benefit in December 2025 at XL Live in Harrisburg, PA, and the band’s first full show in February 2026 at West Shore Theatre in New Cumberland was sold out. In July 2026, Van Wirsing shared the bill with Vixen, Fuel, and Bret Michaels Band at Hollywood Casino in Grantville, PA, and its video of “Eruption” has garnered more than 1 million views on Facebook.
Sit down, Waldo… there’s a new tribute band in town!
Meet The Band
GLENN HAMILTON - LEAD VOCALS
For Glenn Hamilton, fronting Van Wirsing is the perfect collision of a lifelong love of Van Halen and more than four decades as an entertainer. The longtime morning host and Program Director of The River 97.3 in Harrisburg, PA, Glenn is also an accomplished actor and performer.
As the voice of Van Wirsing, he channels the attitude, humor and larger-than-life energy of the David Lee Roth era, celebrating the music that made Van Halen one of rock’s greatest live bands.
ERIC WIRSING - LEAD GUITAR
Eric Wirsing has been chasing the sound of Eddie Van Halen since he first picked up an electric guitar, at the age of 12, growing up in Olympia, Washington. That early obsession with 1980s guitar set him on a path through Berklee College of Music and into a full-time career as a performing guitarist and instructor, now based in Lebanon, New Jersey, with his wife of 23 years, vocalist of Solar Federation and songwriter Julie Schreiber-Wirsing.
Eric is best known as the lead guitarist and backing vocalist for Solar Federation, an acclaimed RUSH tribute band that performs in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. As an endorsed S.I.T Strings and DiMarzio pickup artist, he's spent years fine-tuning his rig to nail the tones of his guitar heroes note-for-note.
With Van Wirsing, Eric finally gets to bring his playing full circle back to where it all started - Eddie Van Halen's explosive, genre-defining riffs and solos. Whether he's channeling RUSH's Alex Lifeson or Van Halen's own brand of tapping, whammy-bar acrobatics, and unmistakable swagger, Eric brings the same obsessive attention to detail and genuine love of the source material that has defined his playing for over two decades.
MICHAEL WASHKEVICH - BASS, BACKING VOCALS
Michael Washkevich (bass/vocals) is having a blast honoring the legacy of Van Halen with his friends! Although he loves every minute on stage, he somehow manages to keep himself ridiculously busy when he’s not pretending to be Michael Anthony.
Michael works as an AV manufacturer’s representative with SKMAC in the Mid-Atlantic, representing brands including Shure, CHAUVET Professional, Allen & Heath, EAW, and more. He also runs MDW Productions, a recording studio in Harrisburg, PA, where he produces recordings across a wide variety of genres. As if that weren’t enough, he teaches music production at Messiah University and plays guitar in the instrumental jazz/funk/fusion band The Very Fine Gentlemen.
On the rare occasion Michael isn’t working, recording, teaching, gigging, or figuring out why he agreed to do all these things, he and his longtime partner, Adrienne, spend their time traveling and seeing live music. He’d like to thank you for reading this entire bio and raises a glass of Jack Daniel’s in your honor!
FFEJ HERB - DRUMS
You might call Ffej a local icon of sorts. In his native Central PA, he’s recognized by the singular moniker he’s carried with him since kindergarten. In a way, he’s kind of like Madonna, Sting, or Gallagher; not in actual fame, renown, or size of his bank account, mind you… just the singular name thing.
When he’s not laying down the irresistible grooves and thunderous fills of Alex Van Halen in Van Wirsing, he’s solving mathematical equations while running marathons with the celebrated Rush tribute band, Solar Federation. Or working his dream job in marketing at Tröegs Independent Brewing. Or hosting about a dozen events each month with his popular side hustle, Trivia with Ffej. Or visiting dozens of breweries across the country with his longtime wife/partner/drinking buddy/drum tech, Brandi. Or organizing the most epic backyard bash (OK, beer and music festival) in Annville, PA. He also occasionally sleeps and eats.
MIKE BITTS - KEYS, BACKING VOCALS
Mike Bitts rotates in on keyboards and backing vocals for Van Wirsing as his schedule allows, bringing serious tribute-band pedigree to the band's take on Van Halen's "Diamond Dave" era. A Central PA music scene staple, Bitts is known as the bassist of the The Innocence Mission, The Genesis Show, and bassist/keyboardist for Solar Federation, widely regarded as one of the premier RUSH tribute acts on the East Coast.
Tackling Rush's notoriously complex catalog - often cited as one of the hardest song lists in rock to reproduce live - gave Bitts the kind of technical range and stage instincts that translate seamlessly to Van Halen's material. When he's on stage with Van Wirsing, he trades the low end for the keys, anchoring the band's sound on synth-driven staples while adding harmonies alongside vocalist Glenn Hamilton.
JULIE SCHREIBER-WIRSING - BACKING VOCALS
Julie Schreiber-Wirsing rotates in with Van Wirsing as available, lending her voice to backing vocals for the band's tribute to Van Halen's "Diamond" Dave era. She's best known as the lead vocalist of Solar Federation, the Mid-Atlantic's premier RUSH tribute band, where she's spent over a decade tackling some of rock's most technically demanding vocal material. In 2025, Julie was nominated for "Best Female Vocalist" by the Central Pennsylvania Music Hall Of Fame.
Julie's musical roots go back to fronting the Julie Schreiber Band, where critics praised her emotional range and vocal clarity, and she's continued building on that foundation alongside guitarist and husband Eric Wirsing ever since - from full-throttle rock shows to stripped-down acoustic sets. When she joins Van Wirsing on stage, she brings that same seasoned voice to the harmonies behind the band's celebration of Van Halen's classic sound.
