Wolfgang Van Halen reacts to The Grammys' much-criticised Eddie Van Halen tribute
The Grammys honoured EVH with a short 15-second segment
Wolfgang Van Halen says he is “hurt” by The Grammy Awards’ fleeting tribute to his late dad Eddie Van Halen on Sunday night (14th March).
During the In Memoriam segment of the three-hour Grammys show, the Recording Academy honoured Eddie Van Halen by placing one of his iconic guitars on stage and playing a 15-second clip of Eddie performing on the screens.
American broadcaster Eddie Trunk led the criticisms to the “pathetic” tribute, writing on Instagram: “So in a more than 3 hour show this is all the @recordingacademy #grammys could muster for an ICON?! I am beyond outraged and disgusted. New lows even by Grammy standards!!”
Extreme singer and brief Van Halen frontman Gary Cherone also blasted the homage to Eddie Van Halen, saying: “Maybe an Artist that reimagined how one plays an instrument, who continues to influence generations of musicians and, literally changed the course of rock ‘n’ roll deserves more than fifteen second at the Grammys? #LongLiveTheKing”
Living Colour’s Vernon Reid and Fozzy’s Chris Jericho were among the many on social media who also lambasted The Grammys.
Taking to Twitter last night (15th March) to address the controversy, Wolfgang Van Halen revealed he turned down the Recording Academy’s offer to perform ‘Eruption’ during the ceremony, but he was “hurt” by their very brief tribute.
He wrote: “The GRAMMYS asked me to play Eruption for the ‘In Memoriam’ section and I declined. I don’t think anyone could have lived up to what my father did for music but himself.
“It was my understanding that there would be an ‘In Memoriam’ section where bits of songs were performed for legendary artists that had passed. I didn’t realize that they would only show Pop for 15 seconds in the middle of 4 full performances for others we had lost.
“What hurt the most was that he wasn’t even mentioned when they talked about artists we lost in the beginning of the show. I know rock isn’t the most popular genre right now, (and the academy does seem a bit out of touch) but I think it’s impossible to ignore the legacy my father left on the instrument, the world of rock, and music in general. There will never be another innovator like him.
“I’m not looking to start some kind of hate parade here, I just wanted to explain my side. I know Pop would probably just laugh it off and say “Ehh who gives a shit?” He was only about the music anyway. The rest didn’t matter.
“I’d love to get the opportunity to speak with The Recording Academy not only about the legacy of my father, but the legacy of the Rock genre moving forward.
“Thank you.”
Released under his solo band moniker Mammoth WVH, Wolfgang Van Halen’s debut album ‘Mammoth WVH’ is released on Friday 11th June 2021. Behold the astonishing artwork:
Eddie Van Halen: The legend in photos:
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in 1978
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth, Michael Anthony, and Alex Van Halen in 1978
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen striking a pose at the Kouseinennkinn-kaikan, Tokyo, June 1978
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen performs onstage at the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, April 6, 1979.
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen doing a trademark jump on stage in 1980
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Michael Anthony, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth and Alex Van Halen in 1981
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen on stage in 1982
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Eddie Van Halen in his live element in 1984.
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in the mid-1980s
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar in 1986
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Eddie Van Halen in 1991
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen during Van Halen III Live in Chicago at Rosemont Horizon in Rosemont, 1998
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen in 2012
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen with his son Wolfgang Van Halen in 2012
Eddie Van Halen RIP
Eddie Van Halen and David Lee Roth in 2015