Wolfgang Van Halen pays tribute to his dad Eddie, shares Van Halen memories

[James in New York]

‘My dad was my biggest supporter’ says Eddie Van Halen’s son Wolfgang

By Rich Hobson

First Published 7 hours ago

Wolfgang Van Halen pays tribute to his dad Eddie, shares Van Halen memories

Wolfgang Van Halen has spoken to Metal Hammer ahead of the launch of his debut album Mammoth WVH, and revealed that the pride that his late father Eddie took in his music has been a source of strength to him in a challenging year.

It was Wolfgang who broke the tragic news of his father’s passing on October 6 last year, and Mammoth WVH’s debut single, Distance, was a touching dedication to the Dutch-born guitar legend, who believed in his son’s talents so much that he recruited him to play bass in Van Halen when he was just 15 years old.

“My dad was my biggest supporter, next to my mom [actress Valerie Bertinelli],” Wolfgang says.

“To this day – and for the rest of my life – the pride my dad had in me is one of the things that drives me most.”

On June 11, Wolfgang’s solo vehicle Mammoth WVH will release a self-titled album, on which the talented 30-year-old musician sings and plays every instrument.

Following on from Distance, three further singles have already been released from the album, Don’t Back Down, Think It Over and Feel.

Asked by writer Rich Hobson to nominate a favourite track on Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang opts to pick an entirely different track, album closer Stone.

“I’m really proud of Stone, it was really fun to just go out with that one,” he says.

“ I don’t really count Distance because it’s a bonus track; Stone is the one I consider the album closer so I really wanted to go for broke and make an epic song.”

Although Mammoth WVH is Wolfgang’s debut album, it’s not his first time appearing on record, with the Los Angeles-born musician previously playing bass on Van Halen’s 2011 studio swansong, A Different Kind Of Truth, and on 2015’s Cauterize and 2016’s Dust from Alter Bridge guitarist Mark Tremonti.

Speaking on his memories of making the final Van Halen album, Wolfgang says, “It was such a fun experience.

I’d wake up early every day excited to go to work, driving over and picking up dad like we were going to school, just getting in there and doing it.”

The bassist also reveals that a follow-up to A Differend Kind Of Truth was never really on the agenda for Van Halen.

“It wasn’t really in the cards,” he says.

“Considering by the time we toured again my dad’s health issues really started to crop up so we couldn’t really invest in that.

I like to think if that hadn’t been the case we’d definitely have worked together more though.”

Asked to share one lesson he learned from his father, Wolfgang says, “Just to keep smiling and enjoy it – the music is what matters, everything else is little.

Being up there and playing is what it’s all about.”

Mammoth WVH is due for release June 11 via EX1 Records.

[Raldo]

Would love to have heard some of the tracks, ideas, riffs that didn’t make the cut for ADKOT.

[Simon Ribeiro]

Cool interview!!!

Having someone to support you into the musical world is great among with all the talent and stuff he has.

"... Stone is the one I consider the album closer so I really wanted to go for broke and make an epic song.”

Wolfgang =VH= really knows what he wants and that is fine. He has some solid convictions there!!

[NDL]

The bassist also reveals that a follow-up to A Differend Kind Of Truth was never really on the agenda for Van Halen.

“It wasn’t really in the cards,” he says.

“Considering by the time we toured again my dad’s health issues really started to crop up so we couldn’t really invest in that.

I like to think if that hadn’t been the case we’d definitely have worked together more though.”

I really appreciate Wolf being out there, both musically and verbally; although his writing style is different, I appreciate his talent, and the quality he put into his album. And while his tone is different than EVH's, it's notably warm.

But I don't believe that there wasn't a follow up to 'A Different Kind Of Truth;' in 2013, the band acknowledged that they had been working on the follow up to ADKOT; DLR said that there was "lots of new (Van Halen) music coming up," with him on vocals. I don't think that Roth was lying; I think they had an album waiting in the wings; one particular poster here said as much - and caught a lot of heat when what he forecasted didn't come to fruition - but I believe that he had his finger on the pulse of the band at the time. Unfortunately, EVH's health tanked, and so did the new music that Roth spoke of.

My hopes were that, at some point, Al would've released the material that they had recorded; Wolf's comment shows me that they have no intention of doing that, sadly.

It's really a shame. I wish that Cherone would leak out the follow up to III...

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

I really appreciate Wolf being out there, both musically and verbally; although his writing style is different, I appreciate his talent, and the quality he put into his album. And while his tone is different than EVH's, it's notably warm.

But I don't believe that there wasn't a follow up to 'A Different Kind Of Truth;' in 2013, the band acknowledged that they had been working on the follow up to ADKOT; DLR said that there was "lots of new (Van Halen) music coming up," with him on vocals. I don't think that Roth was lying; I think they had an album waiting in the wings; one particular poster here said as much - and caught a lot of heat when what he forecasted didn't come to fruition - but I believe that he had his finger on the pulse of the band at the time. Unfortunately, EVH's health tanked, and so did the new music that Roth spoke of.

My hopes were that, at some point, Al would've released the material that they had recorded; Wolf's comment shows me that they have no intention of doing that, sadly.

It's really a shame. I wish that Cherone would leak out the follow up to III...

How are you getting that they(Al and Wolf) have no intention of ever releasing stuff from the vault from this comment by Wolf?

[NDL]

How are you getting that they(Al and Wolf) have no intention of ever releasing stuff from the vault from this comment by Wolf?

I never said that they wouldn't be releasing stuff from the vault, nor do I think that we won't be getting some vault material eventually, but I can't shake the feeling that Van Halen had an album waiting in the wings, which would've been released had EVH's health not gone south.

[evhintexas]

I never said that they wouldn't be releasing stuff from the vault, nor do I think that we won't be getting some vault material eventually, but I can't shake the feeling that Van Halen had an album waiting in the wings, which would've been released had EVH's health not gone south.

Absolutely
Remember Dave basically using his lawyers to push an album and we got that horrible live album...I always felt like Dave's intention was to put out the other ADKoT sessions....

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

I never said that they wouldn't be releasing stuff from the vault, nor do I think that we won't be getting some vault material eventually, but I can't shake the feeling that Van Halen had an album waiting in the wings, which would've been released had EVH's health not gone south.

Maybe. But, Dave never specifically said what the "special project" in 2015 was supposed to be, however Ed said they were trying to work on cleaning up the original WB Demos but they were in too bad of shape. So, who knows for sure, but yes it would be nice to think that they were working on new stuff to follow up ADKOT at one point.

[PrideofPasadena]

An entire record of new music recorded between 2012-'15. IDK, that seems unlikely. Maybe some songs but I doubt that much.

Maybe some of the new stuff with material from ADKOT they didn't use a record coulda been made.

[Zahzoo]

I never said that they wouldn't be releasing stuff from the vault, nor do I think that we won't be getting some vault material eventually, but I can't shake the feeling that Van Halen had an album waiting in the wings, which would've been released had EVH's health not gone south.

Based on the few statements from Ed & Dave and then combined with much more open clarity from Wolfgang... I believe they (Ed, Al & Wolf) had possibly a dozen or so scratch song ideas or basic elements they jammed to, but didn't go into any production or preparation for formal recordings that came from the material worked on prior to the ADKOT release.

Doubtful there's an album's worth of rough cut material nor much, if anything, Roth had worked on at all. Most likely... riffs, jams, partial song frameworks and ideas... all in the form of the mystical and legendary 10 albums of material Ed floated as to sitting on for decades...

[NDL]

Maybe. But, Dave never specifically said what the "special project" in 2015 was supposed to be, however Ed said they were trying to work on cleaning up the original WB Demos but they were in too bad of shape. So, who knows for sure, but yes it would be nice to think that they were working on new stuff to follow up ADKOT at one point.

I am speaking to DLR's comment that there'd be "lots of new van halen music coming up" with him "on vocals." That was his comment verbatim; I do not have a source link for the article in which he had said it. I do not know if they had a full album of new music, but they had something. My hope is that someone would've said "here are the follow ups for ADKOT, enjoy." Wolf's comments made it sound like there was no follow up.

Either way, I am glad that Wolf is releasing his album; in it's own way, I feel like we're getting a new Van Halen album...his is a quality effort in a sea of crap.

[JUNGLE DRUMMER]

I am speaking to DLR's comment that there'd be "lots of new van halen music coming up" with him "on vocals." That was his comment verbatim; I do not have a source link for the article in which he had said it. I do not know if they had a full album of new music, but they had something. My hope is that someone would've said "here are the follow ups for ADKOT, enjoy." Wolf's comments made it sound like there was no follow up.

Either way, I am glad that Wolf is releasing his album; in it's own way, I feel like we're getting a new Van Halen album...his is a quality effort in a sea of crap.

Well, even Wolf said if Ed's health issues hadn't been so prevalent the last few years, they probably would've recorded more. So, I dont think Dave was playing fast and loose with his words, the intention probably was to eventually record again, just like the intention was for the original 4 to play some select stadium dates in 2019, but it just wasn't in the cards because of Ed's health. I have read that Ludwig and John Douglas had already built a new custom Ludwig kit for Al for the proposed 2019 tour and that Mike even said he had intentionally blocked out time between Circle dates to be able to play. Just wasn't meant to be.

[Brett]

I think Ed had been sick on and off for a long time.

[NDL]

Well, even Wolf said if Ed's health issues hadn't been so prevalent the last few years, they probably would've recorded more. So, I dont think Dave was playing fast and loose with his words, the intention probably was to eventually record again, just like the intention was for the original 4 to play some select stadium dates in 2019, but it just wasn't in the cards because of Ed's health. I have read that Ludwig and John Douglas had already built a new custom Ludwig kit for Al for the proposed 2019 tour and that Mike even said he had intentionally blocked out time between Circle dates to be able to play. Just wasn't meant to be.

A shame...If I live to be 80, I don't think there'll ever be a day when EVH isn't in my thoughts, and his music filling my ears.

[NDL]

I think Ed had been sick on and off for a long time.

It's amazing that he played the way that he did, given his arthritis.