“It’s not about having a guy jumping around on stage… It’s about playing the fuck out of your instruments”: Wolfgang Van Halen on what really matters onstage
What really matters when you watch a band live? Is it the stage antics, the pyrotechnics, or the sweat and skill of musicianship? For Wolfgang Van Halen, the answer is simple: it’s all about “playing the fuck out of your instruments”.
In a recent chat with Classic Rock, the Mammoth frontman lays out his philosophy for life on the road, arguing that the thrill of a live show comes not from over-the-top theatrics or “jumping around on stage”, but from simply playing a killer set.
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“At the end of the day that’s what matters to me more than anything,” says Wolfgang. “It’not about having a guy jumping around on stage and saying [adopts boorish rock star boom] ‘Are you fucking ready!’ It’s about playing the fuck out of your instruments.”
“Bands like Tool and Meshuggah, they will stand right there and they will destroy. That’s what I aspire to be.”
As Wolfgang explains, Mammoth’s live show is a tightly knit operation. The band rehearses for roughly two weeks ahead of a tour, using soundchecks to polish their performance while keeping it feeling alive and spontaneous. And while Van Halen leads the band, he maintains a hands-off approach.
Asked if he’s a demanding boss, Wolfgang replies: “No, not at all. I don’t think I’ve ever actually said: ‘Hey, you’re playing that wrong.’ I think it’s important that they feel themselves in the material.”
Beyond the stage though, Wolfgang’s responsibilities carry a heavier weight. The 34-year-old musician, who recorded Mammoth’s third album, The End, in Eddie Van Halen’s legendary 5150 studio, says protecting the space is now a lifelong duty.
“I live in my childhood home now, so the studio’s right there,” he tells Classic Rock. “Yeah, I feel very protective over 5150. It’s what I need to watch and protect, for the rest of my life now.”
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
