'I don't play Van Halen music at my shows': Wolfgang Van Halen is trying to create a musical identity of his own
Wolfgang Van Halen - the son of late guitarist Eddie Van Halen - claims he would "rather fail on my own" in his attempts to make music than rely on his family connections.
Wolfgang Van Halen is determined to forge his own musical identity.
The 34-year-old musician - the son of late guitarist Eddie Van Halen and nephew of rocker Alex Van Halen - has revealed that he would "rather fail on my own" than merely imitate his relatives by relying on their back catalogue.
In an interview on Chile's Radio Futuro, Wolfgang - who played bass for Van Halen from 2007 until the Jump band disbanded following his father's death in 2020 - said: "I'm very lucky and happy that people are beginning to take me seriously as my own artist and separate me from my family history.
"Cause at the end of the day, that's all I would really like to do, is be taken at face value for what I represent and not for what my family represents. And I think that's why I'm trying to do something different."
He continued: "I don't play Van Halen music at my shows.
"I would rather fail on my own than succeed by playing Van Halen music. So I think that just shows the work that I've been putting in and people beginning to see the person I am on my own. So I'm very grateful."
Wolfgang still has a strong musical connection to his father as he and Eddie both "started on the drums", giving them a "great sort of rhythmic background to the foundation of being a musician".
He said: "And so I think we both attack guitar playing from a rhythmic perspective. And so I think that's a really great thing that my dad and I have in common. And I'm very happy to have that in common with him."
Meanwhile, Van Halen praised the growing female influence in the rock genre.
The musician - who is now focused on his solo project Mammoth - explained: "It's awesome... I think it's an archaic mindset to think that women can't be in rock and roll.
"I mean, I think of one of my favourites out there right now is a very close friend of mine, Lzzy Hale of Halestorm. I think what she's doing is incredible, and she's one of the best singers out there.
"And also, yeah, the drummer that they've got for Rush (Anika Nilles) is incredible. I can't wait to see what the shows are gonna be like. I remember I watched some of her videos on Drumeo, on the YouTube channel, and she's just absolutely insane. No wonder they picked her."
Wolfgang suggested last month that it is "unfair" to brand every celebrity child as a "nepo baby" and stressed that he had carved his own path in the music industry despite his family connections.
He told Metal Hammer magazine: "I’m not going to name names, but in some cases, it does apply: the idea of people getting a leg up when they have no artistic merit or talent.
“All I’m trying to do is be myself and have my own artistic integrity and my own voice. I hope that people can see that.”
