Reflecting on his late father Eddie Van Halen’s wisdom, Wolfgang Van Halen emphasized the importance of making solos “melodically memorable” above all else. Despite his legendary lineage, Wolfgang has carved his own path with Mammoth WVH over the past nine years, proving himself as a multifaceted artist beyond the shadow of his father’s legacy.
In a recent interview with MusicRadar, Wolfgang shared how his musical journey has evolved, particularly with Mammoth’s sophomore album and his experiences performing at Taylor Hawkins’ tribute shows in 2022. These events allowed him to explore his musical identity more freely, blending influences while maintaining authenticity.
“I think, finally sort of exercising the comfortability with doing a little shreddy solo every now and then felt like I wasn’t copying my dad but being able to be myself in that same space,” Wolfgang explained. “Once I was able to conquer that and play the Van Halen songs at the Taylor Hawkins tribute, it took a lot of pressure off and I was able to have a bit more fun.”
While acknowledging that not every song requires a solo, Wolfgang expressed how this newfound comfort has allowed him to incorporate more dynamic guitar work into Mammoth’s repertoire, balancing songwriting with moments of expressive soloing.
Regarding his preference for semi-hollow guitars, Wolfgang highlighted his deliberate choice to differentiate his sound from Eddie’s iconic style. Despite perceptions, Wolfgang has found that semi-hollow guitars, like his custom EVH SA-126 model, can deliver robust, heavy tones suited even for metal music.
“The big thing that drove me into semi-hollows was just wanting to sound different from my dad,” Wolfgang admitted. “People see semi-hollows and think, ‘That’s not a heavy guitar’. Man, it is – you can play metal on this.”
He went on to describe the versatility and power of his SA-126, designed to handle aggressive playing with its “crazy shreddy neck” and specialized pickups. Wolfgang’s advocacy for semi-hollow guitars challenges misconceptions, affirming their capability to excel across genres, including heavier styles.
In essence, Wolfgang Van Halen continues to honor his father’s legacy while forging his own musical identity, embracing both tradition and innovation in his artistic journey with Mammoth WVH.
