#rip evh

Wolfgang Van Halen’s Debut Single “Distance” is Number One on the iTunes Charts

Wolfgang Van Halen shared his debut solo single “Distance” yesterday, which immediately;y landed on the #1 spot on iTunes Top 100 Songs. Not just for rock, but all of music. The chart list countdown contains the hottest and most popular music hits and singles from all musical genres downloaded from the Apple iTunes music store, including today’s hot pop, rap, rock, and country songs. “Distance”…

Wolfgang Van Halen Releases Debut Single “Distance” From His Solo Band Mammoth WVH

Wolfgang Van Halen has shared his debut solo single “Distance” which is a tribute to his late father Eddie Van Halen, who passed away last month after losing his battle with cancer. Proceeds from the sale of the single will benefit the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation. Wolfgang was writing material for his upcoming solo album available via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records, which was put on hold…

I first heard about the death of Eddie Van Halen in the middle of the night Korea time. 

EVH was easily one of the best guitarists to ever walk the earth. He influenced millions of people to pick up the guitar, including myself. While I didn’t become a big famous Rockstar, picking up the guitar at the age of 15 game me something that I sorely needed at that time in my life: 

Confidence. Confidence in my guitar playing, and confidence in myself. 

Seeing how EVH flawlessly played the craziest stuff on the guitar with a smile on his face was something I thought was really cool. But when I saw that for the first time, there was something in my mind that said ‘You can do that, too!”

I even remember the first time I went into a guitar shop and picked up a guitar for the first time...I pulled a black Super-Strat with a whammy bar off the wall, and with the assistance of the store clerk, I plugged it in, turned it up, and hit my first power chord...

It was a revelation. In that moment, I felt a positive change in myself. The person that I was before was gone. 

I was this new person. A better, confident, cooler person. 

After a few years of practicing the guitar, I was able to get my chops up to the point where I felt comfortable entering the school talent show in my senior year. 

I remember I was warming up backstage, just going through all the regular stuff I play when I warmed up on the guitar. I was facing a wall, occasionally manipulating the amplifier I was playing. I was going through all my warm-up licks and riffs when I suddenly felt like a there were a bunch of eyes on my back. 

I turned around, expecting a bunch of people to tell me to turn it down or to STFU, but I wasn’t greeted with that...

Everyone was looking at me, but instead of a wall of hate, it was a crowd of faces with a “Whoa, that’s freaking awesome!” look on their faces!

Definitely a positive ego boost right before the big talent show! 

Also a total “Wayne’s World” moment, too. 

(If you’re curious, I got 2nd place with my guitar shredding. I lost out to a girl who became a really good friend of mine afterwards and sang an amazing song that she freaking wrote herself!)

The confidence and skill that I picked up at that time has been something that has served me in good stead ever since and has propelled me to the person that I am today. I learned to unwind my personality and be cool to everyone that I meet and come across. 

It has helped me make a lot of good friends over the years, many of whom I have been friends with for over a decade or more. 

Even in my current world travels, it has helped me to continually make friends throughout my time here in Korea and through this crazy journey called life. 

Again, while I didn’t become a big and famous Rockstar, it gave me that “Rockstar-style” confidence that has helped me out over the years. 

And just for that, I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to Eddie Van Halen. 

RIP EVH. 🎸