In a brand new interview, Wolfgang Van Halen displays on his musical upbringing, and the bands and soundtracks which have formed his profession as a musician.

Chatting with Basic Rock, the Mammoth WVH vocalist/ guitarist reveals that he bought his first music lesson from the good Eddie Van Halen on the age of 9.

“The primary track I ever discovered find out how to play on the drums was Freeway To Hell,” Wolfgang recollects. “That’s how my dad taught me to play drums. He put magazines on a desk and was like: ‘Right here’s the hi-hat, right here’s the snare.…’”

He provides that as a lot he considers his dad to be his “guitar hero” — “After we began enjoying collectively, we have been bonding on a unique stage,” Wolfgang explains — he “by no means wished to be him or be one other model of him”.

“I wished to attempt to play as properly. I used to be additionally a giant fan of Paul Gilbert rising up, which is humorous as a result of I do know he’s a giant fan of father as properly,” he says. “There’s additionally a guitarist named Aaron Marshall. He has a band known as Intervals. I really like his enjoying.”

Through the chat, Wolfgang additionally names emo legends Jimmy Eat World because the “most underrated band ever”, saying “I feel they’re considered as a one-hit surprise, with The Center. However there’s a lot greater than that.”

“They’ve such intricate, lovely songwriting. Jim [Adkins] is a superb singer. The entire band is so splendidly succesful.”

And talking of songwriting, Wolfgang names Foo Fighters main man Dave Grohl as “the songwriter” for him, noting how the latter “influences the whole lot that I do in Mammoth”.

“Trent Reznor, too. These two are very huge for me by way of songwriting and lyricism,” he provides.

Elsewhere, the musician additionally reveals his one-pick for biggest album of all time, a range he apparently shares together with his dad.

“AC/DC involves thoughts. If I needed to choose one album, it’s in all probability Powerage,” says Wolfgang. “That was my dad’s favorite. I keep in mind seeing that album cowl of Angus with the cables popping out of his sleeves and sort of being creeped out by it, but additionally actually liking it.”