Wolfgang Van Halen Says Joining Van Halen Made Him Grow Up Fast
It’s not easy being thrust into the spotlight at any age, let alone as a young teenager, but that’s just what Wolfgang Van Halen had to deal with when he joined Van Halen at age 15. Playing alongside his father, the late Eddie Van Halen, made Wolfgang grow up fast, the musician said in a new interview.
“Yeah, I think there were a lot of positives and a lot of negatives. I think it really forced me to mature very quickly at a young age. I think at 15, I couldn’t be a regular 15-year-old. So in a certain way, I couldn’t be a regular teenager anymore once that happens, and I experienced a lot of stuff, I think, that most kids that age wouldn’t really normally experience. But that’s my story and I wouldn’t take it back for anything. It’s what has led me to where I’ve gone my entire life. It was a really important thing to be there and to support my dad, and that’s all that was really on my mind. And being able to play with my family for that long is something I’ll never forget.”
Ultimately, his joining Van Halen is what launched Wolfgang Van Halen’s career and set the stage for the next phase of his musical career, which includes solo project Mammoth WVH, which released its second album earlier this year. You can catch them on tour this winter.
11/4 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave
11/5 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue
11/7 – Columbus, OH – The Bluestone
11/9 – Chicago, IL – The Vic Theatre
11/11 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation at the Intersection
11/13 – Toronto, ON – The Danforth Music Hall
11/14 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Beanfield
11/15 – Boston, MA – Big Night Live
11/17 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
11/18 – Philadelphia, PA – Keswick Theatre
11/19 – Baltimore, MD – Rams Head Live
11/21 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead Theater
11/22 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House Of Blues
11/24 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Ballroom
11/25 – Dallas, TX – The Factory in Deep Ellum
11/26 – Austin, TX – Emo’s
11/28 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre
11/29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
11/30 – Boise, ID – Knitting Factory
12/2 – Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory
12/3 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
12/4 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
12/7 – San Diego, CA – House of Blues
12/8 – Las Vegas, NV – House of Blues
12/9 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
