MAMMOTH WVH, the band led by Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the late guitarist Eddie Van Halen, will release its sophomore album, “Mammoth II”, on August 4 via BMG. The 10-track record was recorded at the legendary 5150 studio and was produced by Wolfgang‘s friend and collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette. The official lyric video for the third single from “Mammoth II”, a song called “Take A Bow”, can be seen below.
“Take A Bow” is the longest track on the record and in the Mammoth WVH catalog clocking in at 6:54. The song is anchored by Wolfgang’s memorable lyrics, driving rhythm section and unforgettable guitar solo that was played on the original Frankenstein guitar and through his father’s original amps. The song is available via all digital service providers and anyone that pre-orders the album digitally will receive the track as an instant download.
“It was the last song we finished. It’s officially the longest song I’ve released to date, and I feel the guitar solo is really special. I played the solo on the original Frankenstein guitar and through Dad’s original Marshall head and one of the original cabinets. It’s straight up what he used on the earliest Van Halen records. It makes me happy to capture some of dad’s history on this song forever,” explains Wolfgang.
“Mammoth II” is available for pre-order in multiple configurations HERE.
Continuing the tradition of writing all of the songs and performing all of the instrumentation and vocals himself, Wolfgang set out to challenge himself to expand his sound beyond what people had already come to know him for. From the rocking opener “Right?” to BEATLES-esque fade on closer “Better Than You”, “Mammoth II” showcases the growth of Wolfgang as a songwriter, musician and especially vocalist. Songs like “Like A Pastime”, “Take A Bow” and “Waiting” are all sonically different from each other but unique to what mastermind Wolfgang Van Halen and MAMMOTH WVH is.
“Mammoth II” track listing:
1. Right?
2. Like A Pastime
3. Another Celebration At The End Of The World
4. Miles Above Me
5. Take A Bow
6. Optimist
7. I’m Alright
8. Erase Me
9. Waiting
10. Better Than You
MAMMOTH WVH is planning to tour around the globe in support of “Mammoth II.” The live band – comprised of Wolfgang Van Halen (vocals/guitars/keyboards), Frank Sidoris (guitars), Jon Jourdan (guitars), Ronnie Ficarro (Bass) and Garrett Whitlock (drums) – is getting ready to head over to Europe in support of Metallica on their M72 World tour and other dates with Alter Bridge along with select headline dates and various festival appearances overseas. MAMMOTH WVH will return to the US and Canada for more touring in August alongside friends Alter Bridge and Sevendust as well as dates with Metallica and Pantera. More dates will be announced in the near future tickets for all MAMMOTH WVH appearances can be found HERE.
MAMMOTH WVH‘s debut album was released via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. Featuring Wolfgang on vocals and all instruments, “Mammoth WVH” was met with positive reviews and topped Billboard‘s Top Hard Rock Albums and Top Rock Albums charts.
MAMMOTH WVH‘s first single, “Distance”, reached No. 1 on the MediaBase and BDS Active Rock Radio charts. A tribute to Wolfgang‘s father, the song was not originally intended to be on MAMMOTH WVH‘s debut album, but due to the overwhelming response to its accompanying video, which has been viewed over six million times on YouTube, it was added as a bonus track. All of Wolfgang‘s proceeds from “Distance” are being donated to Mr. Holland’s Opus.
MAMMOTH WVH made its television debut in February 2021, performing “Distance” on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and running through an exclusive acoustic arrangement on “Today”.
“Distance” is an open letter to Wolfgang‘s father, declaring “no matter what the distance is, I will be with you.” The video for the song is created from a collection of family home movies through the years and offers an inside look in to one of music’s most notable personalities. Chronicling the family through the years, the video ends with a touching voicemail left from Eddie to his son.
In November 2020, Wolfgang confirmed that he asked his father for permission to use the MAMMOTH WVH band name for his solo project. MAMMOTH WVH is a nod to family history — Eddie and Alex Van Halen‘s band was called MAMMOTH when singer David Lee Roth first joined it in 1974.
Last November, MAMMOTH WVH released a digital deluxe edition of the debut album via EX1 Records. The new digital deluxe features the bonus track from the Japanese version of the album, “Talk & Walk”, as well as two previously unreleased tracks, “As Long As You’re Not You” and “Goodbye”.
