Mammoth, the powerhouse rock band fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen, has roared back onto the scene with a blistering new single, “The End,” accompanied by a visually stunning, horror-infused music video featuring rock royalty and a poignant tribute to the late, great Eddie Van Halen. In a bold move, the band appears to have shed the “WVH” moniker, signaling a potential new era.
Mammoth Unleashes “The End”
“The End” music video is a huge Robert Rodriguez retro horror meets Michael Jackson’s Thriller video and Van Halen easter egg hunt, immediately grabbing listeners with an unapologetically incendiary two-handed tapping intro that pays direct homage to Wolfgang’s legendary father.
Guitar virtuoso Slash of Guns N’ Roses fame makes a cameo in the video, looking on approvingly as Wolfgang unleashes his fretboard pyrotechnics. The track then explodes into a driving verse riff, underpinned by Ronnie Ficarro’s impressive slap bass.
Zombies, Werewolves, and Vampires!
The music video for “The End” is a cinematic experience directed by horror effects icon Greg Nicotero (renowned for his work on Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Sin City) and Robert Rodriguez. Drawing inspiration from films like From Dusk Till Dawn, the video sees Mammoth arrive at a seemingly ordinary club, warned by the enigmatic Danny Trejo about its unusual clientele.
Despite the warning, Wolfgang and his band deliver a rock show that quickly turns deadly as the audience transforms into a ravenous horde of zombies, werewolves, and vampires.
Wolf delivers his tapped riff on his EVH SA-126 signature guitar.
EVH SA-126 Special Electric Guitar in Stealth Black at Andertons
EVH SA-126 Special Electric Guitar in Stealth Black at Sweetwater
EVH SA-126 Special Electric Guitar in Stealth Black at Thomann
Myles Kennedy
Adding to the star power, Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge and Slash’s band also features prominently in the video, initially as a concertgoer who later joins the undead mayhem on a bloodthirsty rampage.
Beyond the thrilling horror narrative, the video is rich with subtle nods to Eddie Van Halen’s legacy.
As Wolfgang tears through a tastefully virtuosic guitar solo, filled with EVH-inspired tapping licks and melodic runs, his direct gaze into the camera while navigating the chaotic club mirrors his father’s iconic moves in Van Halen’s “Hot For Teacher” video – a clear and heartfelt Easter egg for fans.
Wolfgang himself commented on the track’s standout intro: “I’ve had the tapping idea on the intro for ‘The End’ since before Mammoth. I was able to fit it into this world. It’s still over-the-top and shreddy, but it’s also melodic and controlled. Overall, I was doing some different things on the record, and I knew this was going to be a big step. Once we finished ‘The End,’ it felt really special to me.”
WVH
The decision to seemingly drop the “WVH” from the band’s name marks a significant moment, potentially hinting at a more collaborative future for Mammoth, especially considering Wolfgang’s previous statements about being a drummer first and primarily handling all instrumentation on records.
Halloween US Tour
“The End” and its captivating video serve as a powerful launchpad for Mammoth’s upcoming U.S. tour in the Autumn, where they will be supported by Myles Kennedy.
The tour kicks off on Halloween (location to be announced) and concludes on December 7th (location also to be confirmed), making for a truly unmissable rock spectacle.
With a killer song, a visually arresting video packed with star power, and a touching tribute, Mammoth’s “The End” is poised to be one of the biggest rock releases of the year, solidifying Wolfgang Van Halen’s place as a formidable force in the music world.
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