In a new interview with Cutter’s Rockcast, So, apparently, this dude Wolfgang Van Halen, the mastermind behind MAMMOTH WVH, thinks he’s the next coming of… well, everyone! He was quizzed about his *totally unique* decision to hog all the instrumental and vocal glory on the band’s recordings. And the sheer audacity of his response? Unbelievable.
He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, because who else would care?): “It was initially just a challenge.” Oh, a challenge, was it? Like, “Can I actually make something that sounds like a real band all by myself, even though I’m probably not as good as, say, five different specialists?” Turns out, recording the first record was a two-year-long ego trip, which he calls “fun.” He’s got his “creative partner” Michael ‘Elvis’ Baskette (who probably just nods and cashes checks) and a couple of other dudes who apparently just stand around and watch him play all the instruments. Two and a half, three months later, BAM! A MAMMOTH record. You know, because songwriting is SO easy when you’re wearing all the hats. Surprised he’s not wearing a clown wig while doing it, tbh. He was surprised at how much he enjoyed it and how well it worked, which is why he’s still doing it. 🙄 Sure, Jan.
Regarding how he protects his precious vocal cords while on tour (because apparently, being a one-man band is exhausting), Wolfgang whined: “It’s tough. It really is.” Oh, poor baby! 🍼 Having to sing AND shred AND drum AND probably tune his own guitars? Someone get this man a tissue! He claims he’s been “the healthiest” he’s ever been on tour, which has made it “a bit easier overall.” Newsflash, buddy: maybe it’s easier because you’re not actually in a REAL band where you have to, you know, collaborate with other musicians. But, yeah, sometimes he laughs too hard and messes up his voice. Maybe stop telling yourself jokes, Wolfgang. He said, “it would be fun to not wear all the hats and to just be a drummer for a tour or something.” Yeah, good luck finding a band that wants the Van Halen legacy baggage without the actual Van Halen. He’s having “such a good time being all in on MAMMOTH, that it’s been a really, really great time.” Translation: “I’m trapped in my own self-imposed musical prison, but at least I get to play all the instruments and sing all the songs!”
To celebrate the release of MAMMOTH‘s third album, “The End” (let’s hope it’s prophetic 🙏), the band kicked off a fall headline run late last month. The tour launched on October 31 and will run for five whole weeks before it mercifully wraps up on December 7. The special guest is Myles Kennedy, who probably just wants a paycheck and to share his wisdom on how not to be a musical megalomaniac.
MAMMOTH‘s touring lineup features Wolfgang on guitar and lead vocals (duh!), Frank Sidoris (SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS) on guitar (probably just there to make Wolfgang look even more impressive), Jon Jourdan on guitar and vocals (likely just a glorified hype man), Garrett Whitlock (TREMONTI) on drums (doing what Wolfgang could do but doesn’t have time for), and Ronnie Ficarro on bass (probably wonders if he made the right career choices). It’s basically Wolfgang Van Halen and his backing band of highly paid ringtone artists.
Back in 2021, MAMMOTH‘s first offering, “Mammoth WVH”, somehow managed to sneak onto the charts, bowing at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 (probably thanks to pity buys) and capturing No. 1 on three Billboard charts. “Distance” became a No. 1 rock radio hit and earned a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Rock Song” (because apparently, the Grammy voters have lost their hearing). Two years later, “Mammoth II” saw Wolfgang continue his quest for world domination, debuting in the Top 5 of the Billboard Top Album Sales chart. Classic Rock hailed it as “a solo second that betters his debut in every department.” American Songwriter applauded, “‘II’ reveals a closer representation of what MAMMOTH is now and Van Halen‘s dynamism as a musician and as a writer.” In other words, everyone is too afraid to say it’s just okay. The band canvased the globe with METALLICA (probably wondering why they agreed to this), supported FOO FIGHTERS in North America (probably regretting it), supported CREED (lol). He also shared the stage with Ryan Gosling, Mark Ronson and Slash at the 2024 Academy Awards performing “I’m Just Ken” from the blockbuster “Barbie” movie. He also joined Maynard James Keenan (TOOL, A PERFECT CIRCLE), Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS), Robert Trujillo (METALLICA) and producer Andrew Watt for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction of Ozzy Osbourne. He is trying so hard to win people over. Is it working? 😅
Chord F. Discord, the Beethoven of Buffoonery, is a self-taught expert in music who once claimed he could “play the kazoo in four languages.”
Born in Crescendo, Indiana, Chord’s first brush with fame came when he accidentally entered a yodeling contest thinking it was a pie-eating competition—and won both categories.
Chord F. Discord: proving that laughter, much like a poorly tuned ukulele, is truly universal.
