Wolfgang Van Halen recently talked about his deep admiration for Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and his cautious approach to meeting musical heroes.
Wolfgang Van Halen on Maynard James Keenan Fandom and Creating His Own Legacy
While speaking with Rick Beato, Wolfgang said he tries not to meet artists he really respects because he wants to keep the excitement of being a fan, and doesn’t want to risk being disappointed.
He said Maynard James Keenan is one of his favorite singers ever, and he liked him so much that he didn’t want to bother him in person. Wolfgang remembered being at Download Festival when Keenan’s band, Puscifer, was playing the same day. Even when his bandmate told him that Keenan was nearby, he decided not to go over and meet him.
“It’s funny. Somebody asked me a question like who is on your Mount Rushmore of like each instrument? I was like, I think every member of Tool is on every single, you know, Maynard was one of those people,” Van Halen said. “He’s one of my favorite singers of all time. He was one of those guys where I was like, I love you so much. I will never ever bother you. Just keep me in yourself, you know. Sometimes I just I’m too big a fan to introduce myself or to just bother them with my presence
And uh, he was one of those guys. I remember we were at Download. Puscifer was playing the same day we were and John my guitar player was like, ‘Dude, Maynard’s over there.’ I was like, ‘Cool, I’m not going over there,’” he continued
Later, he unexpectedly got the chance to perform with Keenan at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony for Ozzy Osbourne. Wolfgang was shocked to find out they would be on stage together, but once they met, they got along really well. He said Keenan was a great person and that their meeting turned out better than he ever imagined.
“But then Ozzy called all of us to do the Hall of Fame thing and then I was forced to be like when I couldn’t believe it when my manager was like, ‘Dude, guess who’s singing the song with you?’ Maynard. I couldn’t believe it. And so meeting him and you know we actually we hit it off. He’s just an awesome dude. He’s really really cool. I guess it’s just funny how the way that happens. He’s the best man
Wolfgang Van Halen on Finding His Own Path
After opening up about meeting Maynard James Keenan, Wolfgang Van Halen also shared his thoughts on being labeled a “nepo baby.” While speaking to Metal Hammer, Wolfgang said he understands why people might use the term but believes it can be unfair. He feels it takes away from the hard work and individuality of those who genuinely earn their success.
Wolfgang explained that the label only fits when someone relies completely on their family’s fame without adding anything original. In his case, he’s always tried to make his own mark in music and build a career that reflects his own creativity and voice.
“I’m one to talk, but I think the term ‘nepo baby’ is a bit unfair. I think it takes the individuality of the person away. People say Jack Quaid [star of Amazon TV series The Boys and son of actors Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid] is one of the ‘good ones’ and it’s like, who decides that?”
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.”
He got an early start in music because of his father by joining Van Halen as the band’s bassist while still a teenager. But being part of such a famous band at a young age came with a ton of challenges. When he returned to school after touring, classmates took shots at him, showing that fame didn’t make him immune to judgment.
“When it comes to high school, I was almost a loser,” Wolfgang admits. “I had a tutor when I took off for the first Van Halen tour in 11th grade [aged 16], and when I came back for senior year, it was almost a dig. People would be like [mockingly], ‘Oh, look! It’s the bass player for Van Halen!’ It’s pretty funny how kids are.”
After Van Halen stopped performing in 2015, Wolfgang decided to follow his own musical vision. He started his band Mammoth (originally Mammoth WVH) and took inspiration from modern rock groups like Foo Fighters and Nine Inch Nails instead of copying his father’s iconic sound. His goal is to build a unique legacy based on his own creativity and hard work.
For Wolfgang, true success would mean selling out the Hollywood Bowl, which is the same venue where he last performed with his father. Reaching that milestone would symbolize both honoring his father’s memory and proving that he has earned his own place in music history.
“I’m certainly trying to forge my own legacy,” Wolfgang tells Hammer. “That’s my goal every day. The one way I’d be like, ‘You know what? We made it’ is if we’re able to sell out a show at the Hollywood Bowl, because that was the last place I ever played with my dad. If Mammoth are ever able to sell out a show at the Hollywood Bowl, I could die the next day and be like, ‘Job well done!’”
So we will have to wait and see whether Wolfgang will be able to make a name for himself on his own merits and not stay under his dad’s shadow, as fans feel he more than deserves to achieve a lot of success on his own.
