Wolfgang Van Halen has once again made it clear where his creative heart lies, and it’s not in revisiting the past. Despite ongoing speculation among fans about a possible studio collaboration with former Van Halen bandmates Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony, the Mammoth WVH frontman has ruled out the idea entirely, emphasizing that his focus remains solely on his own project.
Speaking in a recent interview, Wolfgang addressed the question that has followed him since joining Hagar and Anthony onstage for a few live performances over the years. “I love Sammy and Mike. They’re family,” he said. “But I’m not interested in doing an album or project under that banner. Mammoth is all I wanna do. It’s where I put everything, my energy, my creativity, my soul.”
The guitarist, singer, and multi-instrumentalist, who famously played every instrument on both Mammoth WVH (2021) and Mammoth II (2023), explained that while he has deep respect for his father’s legacy, his goal is to stand on his own artistic ground. “People always want to connect me to Van Halen, and I get it. But Mammoth is my way of honoring that legacy while being myself. I don’t need to recreate the past to celebrate it,” Wolfgang said.
Fans have long dreamed of a “supergroup” album featuring Hagar, Anthony, and Wolfgang, especially after the success of The Best of All Worlds tour, which saw Wolfgang perform a number of classic Van Halen songs alongside the two veterans. But Wolfgang insists that the live collaboration was meant as a celebration, not a creative restart. “That tour was about having fun and giving people a taste of those songs again. It wasn’t about starting a new band. That chapter is closed for me,” he clarified.
Since the release of Mammoth II, Wolfgang has been praised for his songwriting depth and instrumental prowess, earning Grammy nominations and carving out a clear identity as one of modern rock’s most talented new voices. His insistence on steering clear of nostalgia-based projects underscores his determination to forge his own path, one that, while inevitably tied to the Van Halen name, remains uniquely his.
“I’m proud of where I came from,” Wolfgang said. “But Mammoth is who I am. That’s the future.”
Headline Alternatives:
- “That’s the Past, This Is Me”: Wolfgang Van Halen Dismisses Idea of Album with Hagar and Anthony
- Wolfgang Van Halen: “No Van Halen Reunion Album — Mammoth Is My Life’s Work”
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