Wolfgang Van Halen Discusses His Journey with Mammoth and Upcoming Album

On Thursday, October 2, Wolfgang Van Halen made a special appearance on Loudwire Nights to share the latest updates regarding his musical project, Mammoth, and his highly anticipated album, The End, set to release on October 24.

A Personal Challenge in Music

“I didn’t really have any ideas or hopes, I just knew I needed to do something on my own,” Van Halen stated during his conversation with host Chuck Armstrong. This sentiment captures the essence of his early motivations for creating Mammoth.

Reflecting on his journey, Van Halen explained that it was a personal challenge to see if he could carve out a space for himself in the music world. “That was just a personal challenge and just to see if I could and if it was something I could make my life about,” he added.

Inspiration from Family

The seeds of Van Halen’s solo music were planted in 2015 when his father, the legendary Eddie Van Halen, mentioned Wolfgang’s budding ideas during a Smithsonian interview. “He could tell how stoked he was about it because I had about 20 of those ideas. He heard so much of it. You could tell how proud he was,” Wolfgang reminisced.

The Process of Creation

As he prepares for the release of his third album, The End, Van Halen emphasized that he is continually creating. “That’s what I do; I play instruments and stuff, but the thing that I like most is writing songs,” he shared. He described the unpredictable nature of songwriting, revealing, “You can’t really pick when a song comes to you or when an idea comes to you.”

Van Halen explained his method of capturing fleeting musical ideas: “You end up building this bank of random, crappy humming into your phone — hopefully, you’ve got the idea out there.” He also acknowledged that not every idea makes it onto the final album. “We end up getting about 10 or 15 ideas for the record… there’s going to be stuff that falls off the side, not because they weren’t good enough, but because you just didn’t have enough time.” This overflow of creativity often leads to more songwriting once they gather to create an album.

Highlights from the Loudwire Nights Interview

• Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne: Van Halen recounted the emotional experience of covering “Mama, I’m Coming Home” on the night of Osbourne’s death. “I was doing everything I could not to cry and mess up,” he said, emphasizing the urgency he felt to honor the rock legend.
• Upcoming Tour with Myles Kennedy: Van Halen expressed excitement about touring with Myles Kennedy to support The End. “It’s funny to think, this is really only our second headline tour ever,” he noted, highlighting the vast array of music they now have to choose from for the performances.
• Insights on “I Really Wanna”: He shared his thoughts on songwriting, stating that it serves as a cathartic outlet. “No matter what I do, somebody somewhere is going to be really angry with me. So I might as well just embrace it and try to have fun with it at the end of the day,” he reflected.

Listen to the Full Interview

To hear more of Wolfgang Van Halen’s insights, you can listen to his interview on Loudwire Nights, available for replay online. Tune in live every weeknight at 7 PM ET or check your local radio station for availability.

Conclusion

Wolfgang Van Halen’s journey with Mammoth reflects his desire for independence and artistic expression. As he prepares for the release of The End, his passion for songwriting and performing continues to drive him forward. Fans can look forward to experiencing his music live and celebrating his growth as a solo artist.

FAQs

When will Wolfgang Van Halen’s album The End be released?

The album is set to be released on October 24.

What was the inspiration behind the name “Mammoth”?

The name “Mammoth” is a tribute to Van Halen’s family history, as his father originally performed under the name Mammoth in the early days of their career.

Will Wolfgang Van Halen be touring to promote The End?

Yes, Van Halen is excited to tour with Myles Kennedy in support of his new album.

Where can I listen to the full interview with Wolfgang Van Halen?

The full interview is available on the Loudwire Nights show, which can be accessed online or through the Loudwire app.