Despite being associated with the legendary Van Halen name, Wolfgang is navigating a path distinct from the band’s storied past and the drama that often accompanies it.
After Eddie Van Halen’s passing, the idea of a tribute show or tour has been a subject of speculation and contention, with Sammy Hagar and Alex Van Halen involved in public disagreements.
Moving away from these arguments, Wolfgang gave a different perspective on his and the public’s relationship with Van Halen’s legacy. in a recent conversation with The Messenger, Wolfgang said:
“And if I have to figure out how to have a life without my father in it, I think people can figure out how to live without Van Halen, because it can’t happen. Dad’s not here, Van Halen doesn’t exist anymore as far as I’m concerned.”
He added that he would carry on his father’s legacy in his own way by saying:
“The music and the legacy are there, and I’ll be here to push that forth, through things like dad’s guitar and amp company, and help in every single way.”
With all the chaos around the name Van Halen, he is one of the few musicians who doesn’t add to the drama. Apparently, he was channeling his experiences from Van Halen to his own group about what to do and what not to do. In a conversation on ‘Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk,’ Wolfgang discussed how his time with Van Halen influenced his approach to Mammoth WVH. He said:
“I think throughout my time in Van Halen, you learn things that you wanna do and you wanna apply, and then you also learn things that you don’t wanna apply. And I think that’s why I’ve been so excited to do Mammoth and to have something from its inception be something pure where you can talk about things.”