Wolfgang Van Halen has opened up about the albums that shaped his musical style and shared a candid moment with Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, speaking on Garza Podcast.
Van Halen was asked to name three records that inspired him most. He explained what drew him to each one and how they affected his approach to writing and playing music.
Question: “What are the three albums that have inspired you?”
“_Sound Awake_ from Karnivool for sure. The one I’m absolutely sure of is _Sound Awake_ just because it’s one of my favorite records of all time. That record is very special to me. I don’t know if it shows too much in my writing, but it’s just a masterpiece,” Van Halen said.
He also credited the first Foo Fighters record as a key influence. “It’s not my favorite record by them, but it is the reason why I wanted to [play all the instruments] and that is the first Foo Fighters record. It’s not my favorite. There are some great songs on there, but I would pick like Wasting Light is my favorite Foo Fighters album … it’s really fun how messy that album is.”
Van Halen recalled meeting Grohl when he was invited to perform at the Taylor Hawkins tribute. “When he called me to do the Taylor Hawkins tribute, he was super nice. He was like, ‘I listened to your stuff. It’s cool. You’re doing everything?’ And I just said, ‘I’m ripping you off,’ and he laughed.”
Van Halen discussed his inspirations during a conversation about his musical development and the influences behind his work.
Van Halen’s approach to recording all instruments himself on his albums traces back to his admiration for Grohl’s work with Foo Fighters in their early years. After Van Halen disbanded in 2020 following his father Eddie’s death, Wolfgang transformed his solo project Mammoth into his full-time musical focus. His 2021 debut album Mammoth WVH saw him playing every instrument and writing all 14 songs, an ambitious undertaking that earned critical praise and a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song on the single “Distance.”
Beyond Grohl’s influence, Van Halen has drawn inspiration from a wide range of artists including his father, AC/DC, Nine Inch Nails, TOOL, and Jimmy Eat World. The Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium on September 3, 2022, brought Van Halen and Grohl together on stage, where Wolfgang played bass guitar alongside Grohl, drummer Josh Freese, and vocalist Justin Hawkins from The Darkness as they performed two classic Van Halen songs to honor the late Foo Fighters drummer.
Since his debut, Van Halen has continued to evolve as a solo artist and bandleader. Mammoth released its second album in 2023, followed by The End in 2025, a 10-track, 39-minute record that once again featured Wolfgang performing all instruments and vocals. The album was recorded at 5150 studios and produced by longtime collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette, cementing Van Halen’s role as both a multi-instrumentalist and creative force in his own right.
