Wolfgang VH: 'AC/DC's Malcolm Young was the best rhythm guitarist to have ever lived'

[James in New York]

PLANET ROCK NEWS

Wolfgang Van Halen: 'AC/DC's Malcolm Young was the best rhythm guitarist to have ever lived'

He also praises his touring buddies Metallica

Author: Scott Colothan
Published 8th Jun 2023

Wolfgang Van Halen has hailed late-great AC/DC legend Malcolm Young as ‘the best rhythm guitarist to have ever lived.’

Speaking to Planet Rock backstage at Download Festival ahead of Mammoth WVH’s Apex Stage performance on Thursday, Wolfgang Van Halen was asked by Wyatt if there were any other bands he’d like to hit the road with having recently played stadium shows with Metallica.

“If there were two, it would be AC/DC and Foo Fighters,” Wolfgang replied.

“The Foos are definitely one of the bigger influences when it comes to Mammoth, for sure.”

Waxing lyrical about AC/DC, he continued: “I only ever saw them once. It was the Black Ice Tour and I got to meet them because my dad (Eddie Van Halen) was friends with them at the time.

“It was just really insane to be able to meet just all of them.

Malcolm Young is one of my… he was the best rhythm guitarist to have ever lived. Ever!

So being able to meet him super quick was so crazy.

“Just to be in a room with AC/DC was insane.

Brian Johnson rolled a cigarette all on his own while we were talking with one hand, which was really crazy."

“I got to meet Brian again at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute (Concert) at Wembley in September 2023 and he remembered me. It was crazy. He was such a sweetheart. They're just wonderful.”

Commenting on a potential AC/DC tour following their appearance at Power Trip festival in October, Wolfgang said:

"Just one more time!”

Addressing the camera, he added: “Hey AC/DC do you guys need an opener? I don't know if you'd be into it but, hey, we'd be happy to.

Just give us like two minutes. We'll play half a song!”

Wolfgang also lavished his current touring buddies Metallica with praise, saying: “We’ve hung out with the guys in Metallica a couple times and they're just so wonderful. They're so kind.

“You think just being the Metal Gods they are, they're just going to be like folded arms, black T shirt.

But no, they're just the sweetest people that you could ever meet. They're so kind and the whole crew is so wonderful.

So, it's a huge honour to even be a part of it.”

Mammoth WVH’s second studio album, ‘Mammoth II’, is released on Friday 4th August 2023.

[Raldo]

Malcolm was a great rhythm guitarist no doubt about it.

[Little Intruder]

Angus was the lightning, Malcolm the thunder and Bon was the hail!

[mike zack]

Wolf's dad wasn't so bad himself!

[FW1981]

Wolf's dad wasn't so bad himself!

Agree! I have always thought that Ed was so underrated as a rhythm guitarist.

[Jedi McFly]

Mammoth + Foo Fighters would be a dream show for me. I hope they make that happen.

[Brett]

Love love Mal, but Ed is the greatest rhythm guitarist of all time.

[CaboChris]

I think he's being kind. I don't believe he really thinks Malcolm Young is the best. He just doesn't wanna look like it's Ed 24/7 all the time if you know what I mean.

[James in New York]

Know exactly what you mean. Totally agree






Couple of new interviews from Download Festival

[MF5150]

I think he's being kind. I don't believe he really thinks Malcolm Young is the best. He just doesn't wanna look like it's Ed 24/7 all the time if you know what I mean.

I think it’s just him saying that in his opinion Mal is the best.

Which isn’t an off base opinion. Malcom is a legend.

[Raldo]

I think he's being kind. I don't believe he really thinks Malcolm Young is the best. He just doesn't wanna look like it's Ed 24/7 all the time if you know what I mean.

Ed is a fantastic rhythm player so I would bet Wolfgang was picking the “Besides Ed who is the best”.

[leroy]

Not many players just play straight rhythm like Malcolm did, in fact i can't think of another band that has a second player that doesn't play any lead riffs or solo's.

Nearest to him is someone like Bryan Adams or Paul Stanley.

Anyway i'm hoping for an AC/DC tour later this year.

[Brett]

Malcolm did actually do a few lead things.

[ziggysmalls]

I know he is being nice but come on. Malcolm was able to write killer riffs. That is for sure. However he painted only using primary colors. I get it that our idols are held up to lofy levels but Malcolm wung as much as Mike Pence on a cruise ship

[Little Intruder]