Wolfgang Van Halen just announced his second Mammoth WVH record, which is noticeably devoid of any Van Halen covers. And sure – Wolfgang performed a handful of Van Halen songs during the Taylor Hawkins tribute show, but is making it abundantly clear that he's not interested in recording any covers.
In an interview with Jason Bailey of Audacy Check In, Wolfgang said if he was ever to cover any of his father's music, it'd be something on YouTube or pretty much anywhere else outside an official album.
"Nah. If I ever were to cover a thing, it maybe would be like a YouTube video thing. I've got a YouTube channel, maybe it would be fun at some point, when I have more free time, to cover songs for fun and put them up there. On an official album, probably not. I think I have too much of a desire to prove myself and just figure out my own creative process without trying to take from somebody else."
Still, Wolfgang is incredibly grateful for his dad and says it's the reason he's doing what he's doing now. Wolfgang also points out that simply getting out there and making music is tribute enough, and that he doesn't have to drive the point home by covering "Panama" or any Van Halen hits.
Which is fair – Mammoth WVH if Mammoth WVH, and Van Halen was Van Halen. Same with Eddie and Wolfgang. They're two different vehicles for artistic expression, and they're two entirely different guitarists making different music.
"It's very important. He's the reason why I do what I do. I wouldn't exist if it wasn't for him. So, that's certainly very important. I think just doing what I do is enough of a reference and tribute – just me existing and continuing to be my own person and my own musical space. I don't think people realize that me just doing that is enough of a tribute and respect towards the life that he gave me, and the interests he instilled in me. I don't have to play, 'Panama,' in order to respect him, you know what I mean."
