Wolfgang Van Halen: “I Think Generative A.I. Is Really Stupid”

As artificial intelligence continues to make waves in the music industry, not all artists are embracing the trend. Wolfgang Van Halen, former Van Halen bassist and current frontman of Mammoth, isn’t holding back when it comes to sharing his thoughts on A.I. in music—and he’s not a fan.

Speaking in a recent interview with Springfield, Missouri’s Q102, Van Halen was asked about the growing role of A.I. in creative processes. His response was characteristically blunt:

“I think generative A.I. is really stupid. I just think it’s dumb. It’s a waste of time. A.I. should be putting mufflers on cars, not doing art for us.”

While acknowledging that some people see value in A.I., Van Halen made it clear he isn’t one of them. “It’s just not my thing,” he added.

Labels Are Chasing Profits, Not Art

Van Halen’s criticisms weren’t just aimed at the technology itself but also at the broader industry shift that’s fueling its adoption. When the interviewer noted that many record labels are actively exploring A.I., Van Halen pointed to what he sees as a profit-driven motive.

“Yeah, it’s lame. It’s about paying fewer people to do more work for less money. The people at the top see the line go up—and that’s all they care about. Every industry ends up like that eventually. It’s not about the music anymore, it’s about how fast you can crank it out.”

His comments reflect a growing concern among artists who fear that creative integrity is being sacrificed for corporate efficiency.

A Tool, Not a Creator

Despite his strong stance, Van Halen isn’t completely against the use of A.I.—but only in certain contexts. In a 2023 interview with Primordial Radio, he acknowledged that A.I. tools can serve a supportive role in music production.

“When it’s used to assist—like the smart drummer in Logic—it can be helpful. But creatively? A.I. can’t compete. It just borrows from what already exists. Without us, it couldn’t create anything on its own.”

He echoed this nuance in a separate interview with Finland’s Chaoszine, where he addressed Paul McCartney’s use of A.I. to isolate John Lennon’s vocals from an old demo. The process helped McCartney complete what he called “the final Beatles record”—a project some initially misunderstood.

“People thought they were using A.I. to fake John Lennon’s voice, which wasn’t true. They used it to extract his vocal from an old recording. That’s a helpful tool—not a creative replacement.”

Van Halen criticized the social media culture that spreads misinformation through headlines and one-liners. “Nobody reads the article—they just read the tweet and get mad. Big surprise,” he said.

Mammoth Gears Up for New Album The End

While the debate around A.I. rages on, Van Halen is keeping focused on his own music. His band, Mammoth (formerly Mammoth WVH), will release its third studio album, The End, on October 24 via BMG. The 10-track album, recorded at the iconic 5150 Studio, runs 39 minutes and showcases the evolution of Van Halen’s songwriting since his solo debut in 2020. Longtime collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette handled production.

Mammoth’s touring lineup includes Van Halen on lead vocals and guitar, Frank Sidoris (Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators) on guitar, Jon Jourdan on guitar and backing vocals, Garrett Whitlock (Tremonti) on drums, and Ronnie Ficarro on bass.

As for the future of A.I. in music? Wolfgang Van Halen is clear: creativity can’t be coded. And in his world, the human touch still matters most.