Wolfgang Van Halen recently opened up about his admiration for Tool’s Maynard James Keenan and his unusual approach to meeting musical heroes in an interview with Rick Beato.
The musician explained his philosophy of avoiding certain artists he deeply respects. He wanted to preserve his fan experience rather than risk disappointment through personal interaction.
“It’s funny. Somebody asked me a question like who is on your Mount Rushmore of like each instrument? I was like, I think every member of Tool is on every single, you know, Maynard was one of those people,” Van Halen said. “He’s one of my favorite singers of all time. He was one of those guys where I was like, I love you so much. I will never ever bother you. Just keep me in yourself, you know. Sometimes I just I’m too big a fan to introduce myself or to just bother them with my presence.”
Van Halen recalled a specific moment at Download Festival when he deliberately avoided meeting Keenan.
“And uh, he was one of those guys. I remember we were at Download. Puscifer was playing the same day we were and John my guitar player was like, ‘Dude, Maynard’s over there.’ I was like, ‘Cool, I’m not going over there,'” he continued.
However, fate had other plans when both musicians were invited to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony for Ozzy Osbourne.
“But then Ozzy called all of us to do the Hall of Fame thing and then I was forced to be like when I couldn’t believe it when my manager was like, ‘Dude, guess who’s singing the song with you?’ Maynard. I couldn’t believe it. And so meeting him and you know we actually we hit it off. He’s just an awesome dude. He’s really really cool. I guess it’s just funny how the way that happens. He’s the best man,” Van Halen concluded.
Van Halen’s concerns ultimately proved unfounded. The two musicians connected positively during the Hall of Fame performance.
The 2024 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony honoring Ozzy Osbourne brought together an impressive lineup of musicians for an all-star tribute. Revolver Magazine reported that Wolfgang Van Halen performed on bass while Maynard James Keenan handled vocals for the iconic track “Crazy Train.” Other notable artists joined them, including Billy Idol, Zakk Wylde, Metallica’s Robert Trujillo, and Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith.
The performance held special significance for Van Halen, who admitted to feeling nervous about the high-profile event. Blabbermouth noted that Wolfgang said he was “incredibly nervous” but honored to perform at the event. He described the rehearsals as important for the band to gel together before taking the stage.
The ceremony also provided Van Halen with a memorable opportunity to meet Ozzy Osbourne himself. Louder Sound detailed that Wolfgang met and spoke with Ozzy backstage for about 10 to 15 minutes. They shared a brief but meaningful conversation that would become even more poignant following Ozzy’s passing in July 2025.
The collaboration between Wolfgang Van Halen and Maynard James Keenan appears to have sparked potential for future projects. Metal Head Zone revealed that Wolfgang has expressed interest in collaborating with Keenan beyond the tribute performance. This highlights a mutual respect between the two musicians that could lead to exciting creative endeavors.
