Wolfgang Van Halen Remembers His Father Eddie in Touching Fifth Anniversary Message

On the fifth anniversary of Eddie Van Halen’s passing, Wolfgang Van Halen shared a heartfelt message honoring the memory of his legendary father. The tribute came via Instagram, where the younger Van Halen posted a poignant photo of the two together onstage, instruments in hand, capturing a moment of familial and musical connection.

“It’s been 5 years,” Wolfgang wrote. “The amount of things I wish I could share with you just keep piling up. I know you’d be proud… but I wish I could hear you say it. I’m trying to do the best I can. Love and miss you more than you know, Pop ❤️.”

Eddie Van Halen, who died in 2020 after a long battle with cancer, was widely regarded as one of the most innovative guitarists in rock history. In the years since, Wolfgang has both honored and stepped out from under his father’s massive shadow, emerging as a rising figure in modern rock.

Forging His Own Path with Mammoth

Shortly after his father’s death, Wolfgang launched his own musical project: Mammoth WVH—now simply Mammoth. His debut single, “Distance,” a moving tribute to Eddie, introduced audiences to a sound that blended personal storytelling with hard-hitting rock sensibilities. While the song touched on grief, it also marked a clear step toward Wolfgang’s own artistic identity.

Before embarking on his solo career, Wolfgang played bass in Van Halen’s final lineup, which included his father, Eddie, uncle Alex Van Halen on drums, and original frontman David Lee Roth. Despite the historic weight of the Van Halen name, Wolfgang has made it clear that he wants to carve out his own legacy—one that isn’t defined solely by his family’s past.

In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, he spoke candidly about his experience in the iconic band and how it shaped the way he now approaches leading Mammoth.

“With Van Halen, I learned a lot of how I didn’t want things to be with Mammoth,” he said. “Why do we need to be walking around on eggshells? Why is there a problem all the time? Like, why can’t we just get along and play music? Don’t we all love music enough to put our bullshit aside and actually have a good time having this be our livelihood? Shouldn’t it be easier than this?”

Wolfgang emphasized that one of his priorities with Mammoth was to build a solid foundation—both musically and personally—with people he trusts.

“That was one of the main things with Mammoth,” he added, “to build this healthy core of people on the inside. That can’t be swayed and that can weather any storm, throughout anything we need to.”

A Legacy Remembered, in Big and Small Ways

Wolfgang has continued to honor his father both publicly and privately. On what would have been Eddie’s 69th birthday in 2024, he again took to social media to share a glimpse of his grief—and humor.

“I wish you were here so I could give you a big hug, go to dinner, celebrate it with you and make a dumb joke about it being your 69th birthday,” he wrote. “Just regular shit. I miss hearing you laugh. I miss laughing with you. It’s the little things.”

Through music, memory, and unfiltered honesty, Wolfgang Van Halen is keeping the spirit of Eddie Van Halen alive—while also forging a path entirely his own.