The Life Of Wolfgang Van Halen After His Father’s Death

As one of the greatest guitar giants in rock history, Eddie Van Halen will always be recognized, and his son Wolfgang is carrying on his legacy. Due to his youth and the fact that he took Michael Anthony’s place as the band’s adored bassist, Wolfgang caused a stir when he joined them for their 2007 reunion tour. In any case, watching a father, son, and uncle (Alex) perform together on stage was an event that will never be forgotten.

Wolfgang and his mother, Valerie Bertinelli, were by Eddie’s side when he died in October 2020 at the age of 65. Later, Bertinelli relayed Eddie’s heartfelt parting remarks, which had a profound effect on the fans. Wolfgang announced that Van Halen was no longer a band during an appearance on The Howard Stern Show in November 2020, saying:

“You can’t have Van Halen without Eddie Van Halen.”

Wolfgang hasn’t abandoned music, even though his days with Van Halen are over. He has had significant life and professional turning points, such as being married to his longtime fiancée and adjusting to the death of his father. Let’s examine Wolfgang’s life after Eddie’s passing in more detail.

Struggled with Anxiety and Depression

When it comes to Eddie Van Halen, few people spoke with as much admiration for him as his son, Wolfgang. The younger Van Halen has always praised his father both as a musical icon and as a parent. After Eddie died in 2020, Wolfgang opened up about how deeply it affected him, telling People that it was “really tough.” He shared:

“What really helps me keep going is my dad because if I just gave up and stopped and crawled in a hole, which I feel like doing every day, I know he’d be really pissed off at me. He’s the only thing that keeps me going.”

Wolfgang’s struggles didn’t stop with grief. In 2023, he told Classic Rock that he’s battled anxiety and depression since the early 2000s, admitting that he’s still working through it. Despite the weight of the Van Halen name, he often feels like “just an extension of the name.” The pressure became even more real when he played his first show with his solo band, Mammoth WFH, in 2021. He admitted, “I was sitting there in the little dressing room, going: ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’” The first-time jitters were especially intense for him, as he often finds anxiety hardest to control in new situations.

Released His Debut Album

Before Eddie Van Halen passed away, Wolfgang was already well-established in the music scene. After 13 years with Van Halen and collaborations with artists like Clint Lowery and Tremonti, he was no longer a newcomer. Wolfgang had already started working on Mammoth WFH, a solo project where he not only wrote all the songs but also played every instrument on the 2021 album.

Wolfgang opened up to Overdrive in December 2022 about how his father had listened to a few tracks before he died and how he even considered having Eddie feature on the album. However, he always saw this project as his own, emphasizing that it was “a sacred experience for me. It’s my project and an artistic outlet for me and my mental wellbeing.”

Mammoth WFH, Wolfgang said, is similar to how Trent Reznor works with Nine Inch Nails—writing and recording the music solo before bringing in the live band to perform it. He’s proud of the live shows his band brings to life, but at its core, this project is deeply personal.

Toured with Guns N’ Roses

After releasing Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen hit the road in 2021 to support his debut album. One of the highlights of the tour was opening for the legendary Guns N’ Roses. While Wolfgang had years of experience playing with Van Halen, this was a whole new challenge. He shared with Consequence:

“It was a wonderful way to start because it’s a trial by fire…You’re being thrown to the lions every night…when it started going really well, it was like, ‘Oh, s***, we’re actually doing it!’ It was kind of a dream.”

The tour got even more exciting when Axl Rose asked Wolfgang to join Guns N’ Roses on stage for “Paradise City” during the final two nights. Though excited, Wolfgang admitted he was nervous and spent every free moment preparing to nail the track, making sure he could take everyone down to Paradise City when the moment came.

Joined the Friends Fandom Experience

Wolfgang Van Halen is a huge fan of the iconic sitcom Friends. In a chat with The New Yorker, he shared how he and his mom, Valerie Bertinelli, would watch episodes together after school. Interestingly, Bertinelli was once offered an audition for the role of Carol in the ’90s but turned it down.

In 2021, Wolfgang proved his Friends fandom when he went on a private “Friends” Experience tour in Gramercy Park. He aced the trivia and confidently declared, “Nobody can beat me at ‘Friends’ trivia.” He even credited Chandler Bing with shaping his own sarcastic personality.

However, when Matthew Perry passed away in 2023, Wolfgang took to social media to criticize TMZ for their insensitive reporting, claiming they obtained the news before it was officially confirmed. He drew a parallel to when his father, Eddie Van Halen, died, accusing the publication of paying hospital staff for private information before his family had time to grieve.

Nominated for a Grammy Award for “Distance”

Wolfgang Van Halen’s debut album with Mammoth WVH made an impact beyond what anyone expected. Not only did the album reach number 12 on the Billboard 200, but the song “Distance” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song. For Wolfgang, the nomination was especially meaningful because of the emotional story behind the track.

In a 2021 interview with Variety, Wolfgang explained that “Distance” came from a tough time during his father’s illness. He shared, “The song was based on those feelings of what it would be like without someone as important in my life as my father or mother.” Wolfgang also revealed that when he played the song for Eddie around 2015, his father wept. “It was a really special moment that I’ll never forget.” Though “Distance” didn’t win the Grammy, the experience of recording it was deeply cathartic for Wolfgang, especially after his father’s passing.

Played at the Taylor Hawkins’ Tribute Concert

In March 2022, the music industry was rocked by the unexpected death of Taylor Hawkins, the adored drummer for the Foo Fighters. In September, Wembley Stadium hosted a tribute concert in his honor, which included appearances by legendary musicians Wolfgang Van Halen, Lars Ulrich of Metallica, and Brian May of Queen. The occasion was an emotional remembrance of Hawkins’ outstanding musical talents.

Wolfgang admitted to being anxious about playing at such a large event in an interview with Spin in November 2023. According to him, “there were 90,000 people in the audience, plus millions more watching the broadcast,” and he expressed concern that any error would be more obvious than usual. The fact that Wolfgang was going to perform Van Halen’s songs live for the first time without his father, Eddie, added to the emotional intensity. He was first reluctant to perform, but in the end, he felt it was the ideal opportunity to pay tribute to Hawkins and his father.

Still Played His Dad’s Famous Guitar

Eddie Van Halen’s legendary guitar, known as Frankenstein, is famous for more than just its unique look—it’s a symbol of his groundbreaking musical creativity. The story goes that Eddie bought a cheap guitar and, through his own modifications, turned it into a one-of-a-kind instrument that would go on to shape Van Halen’s iconic sound. For many guitarists, Frankenstein is considered the Holy Grail—something to admire but never touch. However, Wolfgang Van Halen had the rare chance to play it. He used it to record tracks like “Mammoth” and “Feel” for his 2021 debut album.

Wolfgang told Guitar World in 2023, “You can feel the history sort of emanating out of the Frankenstein. Picking up that guitar is almost a religious experience, even if you’re not a religious person.” He also shared a funny story of how Eddie once casually tossed the guitar at a couch, causing everyone to panic while he remained completely unfazed.

Collaborated for The Barbie Movie’s Most Famous Track

The Barbie movie was a huge sensation in 2023, dominating both the box office and pop culture. One of its standout moments came with Ryan Gosling’s Ken singing the unforgettable ballad “I’m Just Ken,” which quickly became a catchy earworm. But the magic behind the track goes beyond Gosling’s performance. The song was crafted with some serious rock talent, including contributions from Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, drummer Josh Freese, and none other than Wolfgang Van Halen.

In a March 2024 interview with Billboard, Wolfgang shared how the collaboration came about. He explained:

“Mark Ronson and I hit it off, and he reached out and hit me up and it was just a really good time. I spent two days in his studio and we just played around with ideas and it was a really good time.”

Tied the Knot with Andraia Allsop

October 15, 2023, was a truly special day for Wolfgang Van Halen, as he tied the knot with his long-time girlfriend, Andraia Allsop. The couple celebrated their wedding at their Los Angeles home, surrounded by 90 of their closest family and friends. Wolfgang walked down the aisle with his mother, Valerie Bertinelli, to the tune of Van Halen’s “316,” a song Eddie wrote for him. Valerie shared with People how proud Eddie would have been of Wolfgang, saying:

“Ed would’ve been absolutely beaming and so, so proud of the man Wolfie has become… and so happy that he has found Andraia.”

A year later, Wolfgang posted on Instagram to mark their anniversary, sharing photos from their big day and a heartfelt message:

“One year married, nine years together, eternally lucky and grateful. Love you more than anything, [Andraia]. Here’s to forever.”

Continues to Honor Eddie Van Halen

The loss of Eddie Van Halen left a big hole in the hearts of his family, particularly his son Wolfgang, as well as his followers. Eddie’s lasting legacy is demonstrated by the ongoing search for his unreleased music. On social media, Wolfgang frequently shares his feelings with admirers about the void he feels in his father’s absence.

On what would have been Eddie’s 69th birthday in January 2024, Wolfgang sent a touching statement along with a photo of the two of them. Writing, “I miss hearing you laugh,” Fans flooded the comments, wishing Eddie a happy birthday and demonstrating to Wolfgang the love his father left behind.

“I miss laughing with you. It’s the little things. I’ll do my best to keep a smile on my face and think of you today. But then again, that’s not very different from any other day so far without you. I love and miss you more than you could ever know.”

Seeing Michael Anthony Again

There was some controversy surrounding Wolfgang Van Halen’s role with Van Halen in the 2000s, as many fans were unhappy that Eddie’s son had taken Michael Anthony’s place as bassist. Wolfgang never harbored animosity toward Anthony despite the turmoil. Wolfgang posted an Instagram picture of himself and Anthony cuddling during a gig in December 2023, referring to him as “an old friend.” In an interview with Ultimate Classic Rock in March 2024, Wolfgang discussed their reunion after a 20-year breakup, saying “People try to make it seem like there’s some animosity, hatred or competition between us, [but] it’s never been that way.” He added:

“I’ve literally always loved Mike. He’s a wonderful person, wonderful guy and a wonderful musician. Man, it was such a pleasure and joy to reconnect with him. It was like a family reunion.”