Eddie Van Halen is probably looking down right now with a big ear-to-ear grin saying, “I told you so!”
Back in 2006 Eddie called in to The Howard Stern Show for a rare interview. At the time Wolfgang was only 15 years old but, according to Eddie, already a “world class musician”.
“His main instrument is drums, number two is guitar and about three weeks ago he started playing bass. This kid is fuckin‘ dangerous,” Eddie told Stern. “If I excel at the speed of sound, this kid excels at the speed of light!”
At the time Eddie and Valerie shared joint custody of Wolfgang.
“I see him every day,” said Eddie. “Wait ’till you hear this kid play bass, guitar and drums. He can do anything I do on guitar. He’s in school now but the last couple of weeks Alex, he and I jammed.”
Stern co-host Robin Quivers then asked Eddie if he might be embellishing since, after all, this was his son he was talking about.
Eddie quickly and emphatically responded, “No!”
Quivers then asked, “Does Wolfgang sing?”
“Uh huh,” Eddie responded confidently, with a “You just wait and see” tone.
A year later Wolfgang became Van Halen’s new bassist. He recorded with the band on 2012’s ‘A Different Kind Of Truth’ album and hit the road for the ensuing tour. That same year Wolfgang filled in as touring bassist for the band Tremonti and became an official member of the band the following year.
In a 2013 interview with CNN Eddie said Wolfgang was just a toddler when he realized his son had the same musical gift he, his brother Alex and father Jan also had.
“We were in the kitchen and the commercial, ‘I feel like chicken tonight! Chicken to-‘ [was on the TV]. I saw him boogie to it, and he had rhythm, and I went, ‘Yes God! Thank you!!! He’s got rhythm!'”
In 2015 Wolfgang went out on tour with Van Halen again, this time to support the band’s live album ‘Tokyo Dome Live In Concert’. He joined his father on the road once more for what would be Van Halen’s final tour in 2015.
Starting with the release of his debut single “Distance” in November of 2020, Wolfgang has now released a total of four singles from his forthcoming debut Mammoth WVH album. All of the songs have received positive responses from both fans and critics and while he plays all of the instruments on his debut album, he also wrote all 14 tracks.
Maybe the most prophetic quote from Eddie during that ’06 Stern interview was regarding the future of Van Halen.
“Put it this way, the name Van Halen, the family legacy is gonna go on way after I’m gone ‘cuz this kid is just a natural,” said Eddie.
A proud father? Sure. But it’s now safe to say that he wasn’t exaggerating. That kid is now a grown man. And he really is dangerous.
The debut self-titled Mammoth WVH album drops June 11th. Pre-order the album HERE and visit the official Mammoth WVH website for more info.
Mammoth WVH – “Don’t Back Down”
Mammoth WVH – “Think It Over”
Mammoth WVH – “You’re To Blame”
Mammoth WVH – “Distance”