In a candid and emotional revelation, Wolfgang Van Halen has opened up about a frightening panic attack he suffered on his way to a Metallica support show, an experience so intense, it nearly derailed him and ultimately became a major inspiration for his upcoming Mammoth WVH album.
Recalling the moment, Wolfgang said,
“My vision closed up. I felt like I was gonna throw up. I started sweating profusely, but I was freezing. I genuinely thought something was wrong with me, like I was having a heart attack.”
The incident occurred during Mammoth WVH’s run supporting Metallica’s “M72 World Tour,” where Wolfgang’s band earned praise for their high-energy performances. But behind the scenes, he was silently struggling. “It came out of nowhere,” he explained. “One second I was just sitting there, and the next, everything hit me like a tidal wave. I didn’t even know what a panic attack was until then.”
For Wolfgang, the terrifying episode marked a turning point, both personally and creatively. He said the experience forced him to confront his anxiety, grief, and the immense pressure of carrying his family’s legendary name. “I think part of it was everything I’d been holding in for years, losing my dad, trying to prove myself, constantly being compared. It all just… exploded.”
Rather than retreat, Wolfgang turned the pain into art. The new Mammoth WVH record, he revealed, channels that emotional turbulence into its sound and lyrics. “It’s the most personal thing I’ve ever done,” he said. “There’s a song that came directly from that night, it’s about feeling completely overwhelmed but still pushing through. Making this album helped me take control of those feelings.”
Wolfgang’s openness about his mental health marks another step in his evolution as both an artist and a person determined to carve out his own identity beyond the shadow of Eddie Van Halen.
“I realized I don’t have to be perfect,” he shared. “I just have to be honest. And if my honesty helps someone else who’s struggling, then it’s all worth it.”
With his new album set to deliver the most raw and emotionally charged music of his career, Wolfgang Van Halen is proving once again that true rock strength isn’t just about riffs and solos, it’s about resilience.
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