Wolfgang Van Halen recently opened up about experiencing panic attacks during his band Mammoth’s tour opening for Metallica. He shared his struggles with anxiety and mental health in an interview with Louder Sound.
The musician described a particularly intense panic attack he experienced during the stadium shows. He detailed the physical and emotional impact it had on him.
“I’d never in my life been freezing but completely drenched in sweat. It f*cked me up. It felt like it was forever, but it was probably about a ten-minute thing. In hindsight it’s hilarious, but during, very traumatic,” Van Halen said. “I think that headspace – I’m already an anxious person – bled into the whole writing process.”
Van Halen also discussed his ongoing struggles with anxiety and self-doubt, particularly in performance situations.
“When I get like that it doesn’t really matter. At any time, I can just freak out because something’s gonna go wrong, or I’m gonna make an ass of myself, or I’m gonna ruin it, I’m gonna mess up, or, you know…” he continued.
The musician reflected on how growing up in the public eye has contributed to his mental health challenges and his approach to addressing them.
“I guess I am my toughest critic. And growing up in the scrutiny of the public eye, since I was fourteen, I think might have a lot to do with that; issues that I’ve got to work on,” Van Halen said. “I’ve been to therapy a couple times, I’m medicated, all that. So it’s just a matter of working your way through it, being more comfortable in yourself, not needing that approval from others.”
Van Halen’s candid discussion about mental health comes during a significant period for his musical career. He continues to establish his identity beyond his famous family name.
Antimusic reported that the musician recently simplified his band name from Mammoth WVH to just Mammoth. This honors his late father Eddie Van Halen’s first band where Eddie sang. The name change represents a meaningful connection to his father’s musical legacy while allowing Wolfgang to forge his own path in the industry.
The Metallica tour that triggered Van Halen’s panic attacks was particularly demanding. Louder Sound noted that Mammoth was the only support act to play every show on Metallica’s 2023-2024 stadium run. The band earned a “Perfect Attendance Award” plaque with picks from each gig. This grueling schedule likely contributed to the intense pressure and anxiety Van Halen experienced during the tour.
The emotional turmoil from these experiences has directly influenced Van Halen’s creative output. Loudwire revealed that the panic attacks influenced his latest album “The End,” Mammoth’s third release on October 24, 2025. He channeled anxiety from 2025 Los Angeles wildfires into lyrics exploring “the end” in multiple ways. This demonstrates how Van Halen has learned to transform his struggles with mental health into meaningful artistic expression.
Van Halen’s openness about therapy and medication reflects a broader conversation about mental health in the music industry. Blabbermouth highlighted that Wolfgang has talked about what it has been like to be embraced for his own music. He released the third Mammoth album while continuing to honor his father’s legacy. His willingness to discuss these personal challenges publicly may help other musicians and fans who face similar struggles with anxiety and mental health issues.
