See the little ones — and now not-so-little ones — that made these rock stars dads!
While known as rock stars to most, these musicians also hold another very special title: Dad!
Though many of these stars have spent years — even decades — rocking out on stages around the world, they also started families of their own during that time.
From Jon Bon Jovi’s four kids with his wife of more than 30 years to the late Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang, who has followed in dad’s footsteps as a musician, learn more about the kids of these famous rockers of the 1970s and 1980s.
Jon Bon Jovi’s Children Stephanie, Jesse, Jake and Romeo
After tying the knot in 1989, Jon Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea Bongiovi welcomed four kids: Stephanie, Jesse, Jake and Romeo (all seen here with mom and dad in 2018).
Despite Dad’s rock star status, Dorothea told PEOPLE that the parents have always “tried hard” to give their kids “a normal life.”
The kids are moving on to their own lives, too, as both Jesse and Jake recently got married. Jesse and longtime girlfriend Jesse Light said “I do” in Las Vegas on May 7 at the same chapel where his parents eloped in 1989. And in late May, Jake and fiancée Millie Bobby Brown became husband and wife in an intimate ceremony, the rocker confirmed to BBC. “They’re absolutely fantastic,” he said. “It was a very small family wedding, and the bride looked gorgeous, and Jake is happy as can be.”
Gene Simmons’ Children Nick and Sophie
KISS rocker Gene Simmons shares his two children, Nick and Sophie, with his longtime love Shannon Tweed.
When it was time for their daughter to walk down the aisle in 2023, the parents told PEOPLE, “We couldn’t be prouder of our daughter.” The pair called her fiancé James Henderson “a solid young man,” and added that “Sophie can do anything she puts her mind to. We wish them a lifetime of love and happiness. If they are even half as happy as we are, they will last long.”
Ozzy Osbourne’s Children Jessica, Louis, Aimee, Kelly and Jack
While known as the Prince of Darkness to many of his fans, Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne is also a dad to five children. Before marrying longtime wife Sharon Osbourne (seen here with their three kids Jack, Kelly and Aimee in the early 1990s), Ozzy welcomed two children, Jessica and Louis, with his first wife, Thelma Riley.
In the early 2000s, Ozzy and Sharon opened up their home to cameras for the MTV reality show The Osbournes which featured Jack and Kelly, while Aimee chose not to be included.
Sting’s Children Joe, Fuschia, Mickey, Jake, Eliot and Giacomo
In addition to being the former frontman for The Police, Sting is dad to six kids. He welcomed his first two children, Joe and Fuschia Sumner, with ex-wife Frances Tomelty, and shares four children with his wife of more than 30 years Trudie Styler: Mickey, Jake, Eliot and Giacomo.
Sting and his wife (left) are seen here with Jake, Joe, Fuschia and Mickey in 2014.
Eddie Van Halen’s Son Wolfgang
The late Edie Van Halen shared his one son, Wolfgang, with Valerie Bertinelli, whom he married in 1981. The two were married until 2007.
Eddie died in 2020 from throat cancer at the age of 65, and both Bertinelli and his son were by his side.
“He was the best father I could ask for,” Wolgang wrote on Twitter to announce his father’s death. “Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever recover from this loss.”
Wolfgang has followed his father’s musical footsteps and even spent 14 years playing alongside Eddie with Van Halen.
“Everything that I do in music is for [Eddie], so I just do the best I can and make sure I try to make him proud in everything I do,” Wolfgang told PEOPLE at the 2022 Grammys, where he was nominated for his first award.
Tommy Lee’s Children Brandon and Dylan
Amid Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee’s whirlwind marriage to Pamela Anderson, the former couple welcomed two sons: Brandon Thomas and Dylan Jagger.
“Brandon and Dylan are true miracles, considering their gene pool,” Anderson wrote in her book, Love, Pamela. “They have been through so much, yet they are not full of holes.”
Both have chosen paths in the entertainment industry, with Brandon appearing on screen as well as producing his mom’s recent documentary, Pamela: A Love Story. Dylan is a model and musician.
Paul Stanley’s Children Emily, Sarah, Colin and Evan
When Paul Stanley is not sporting his famous KISS makeup, he is dad to kids Emily, Sarah and Colin (seen here with their mom Erin Sutton in 2015) and older son Evan, whom he shares with ex-wife Pamela Bowen.
“#Maui would only be better with Evan here,” the rock star captioned this 2015 vacation photo with his three younger kids. “YES, I’m a blessed and lucky man.”
Tom Petty’s Children Adria and AnnaKim
Tom Petty shared his daughters Adria and AnnaKim Violette (pictured here in 2024) with his first wife of 22 years, Jane Benyo. The two both followed artistic paths, with Adria working as a film director while younger sister AnnaKim Violette is an L.A.-based artist. Petty was also stepdad to his second wife Dana York’s son, Dylan.
The Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers frontman died in 2017 at the age of 66.
Slash’s Children London and Cash
Slash, the iconic lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses, is also dad to two sons, London and Cash Hudson, whom he shares with ex Perla Ferrar.
To celebrate his dad’s birthday in 2023, London, who has pursued a career in music, shared a throwback photo of the duo captioned: “Happy birthday to the raddest dad around, I love you so much! 🫡❤️”
James Hetfield’s Children Cali Tee, Marcella and Castor
Metallica’s James Hetfield shares his three kids, daughters Cali Tee and Marcella Francesca and son Castor Virgil, with Francesca Hetfield. (James reportedly filed for divorce from his wife of 25 years in 2022, TMZ reported at the time.)
In this throwback shot, the family of five is seen attending the premiere of Journey 2: The Mysterious Island in 2012.
