Wolfgang Van Halen debuts solo single and video tribute to his father, 'Distance'

Wolfgang Van Halen has shared the first single from his new solo project Mammoth WVH - including a video tribute to his late father, the legendary Eddie Van Halen.

‘Distance’ is the first solo offering from Wolfgang from his forthcoming debut solo album, written just before his father's death in October.

“I never intended ‘Distance’ to be the very first piece of music people would hear from me, but I also thought my father would be here to celebrate its release,” Wolfgang said in a statement.

He wrote the song while his late father battled cancer, “imagining what my life would be without him, and how terribly I’d miss him,” as Wolfgang explained in a statement.

Wolfgang plays all instruments and sings lead vocals in a mid-2000s active-rock style.

“I don’t think I’ll ever move on,” Wolfgang sings. “This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop.”

The video is compiled entirely from old home movies — some shot by Wolfgang’s mom, Valerie Bertinelli — and showcases Eddie as an adoring dad showing Wolfgang guitars and pianos before he could talk.

It concludes with an emotional voicemail: “I’m just so happy to have you as my son, man. I’m so proud of you. I love you so much. Call me if you get a chance. I just want to hear your voice.”

Wolfgang’s long-in-the-works solo album will be out next year. He delayed it in order to spend time with his sick dad.

Eddie and Alex Van Halen’s band was called Mammoth when David Lee Roth first joined it in 1974, so Wolfgang's new moniker has a special meaning. He also joined his dad’s band as bass player, replacing Michael Anthony, beginning with the band’s 2008 reunion tour with David Lee Roth.

He stayed in the band until what turned out to be its final tour in 2015.

Eddie Van Halen died of cancer on October 6th.

Listen to 'Distance' below, along with the beautiful video: