Wolfgang Van Halen, the talented bassist of Van halen and frontman of the band Mammoth WVH, has been vocal about his reservations regarding artificial intelligence in music. In a recent interview with Q102, a radio station based in Springfield, Missouri, he reiterated his critical stance.
“I believe generative A.I. is overrated. I find it tedious and a waste of time,” Wolfgang expressed candidly. “A.I. should focus on practical applications like improving car exhaust systems rather than creating art for us. Though, others may have different opinions; that’s just my outlook.” (Source: Blabbermouth)
The interviewer pointed out that record labels seem eager to adopt A.I., to which Wolfgang provided a straightforward explanation: “It’s disappointing as it allows them to reduce costs by hiring fewer people. The executives at the top see their profits rise as they pay less for more output—it’s unfortunate but true across many industries today.”
This isn’t the first instance where Wolfgang has raised concerns about technology’s role in music creation. During an August 2023 discussion with Primordial Radio, he acknowledged that certain tools might have limited benefits but maintained that A.I.’s creative capabilities are lacking: “While some features can assist in production—like those ‘smart’ drumming tools from Logic—they don’t hold up when it comes to genuine artistic value or processes,” he stated emphatically.
Despite his criticisms, Wolfgang recognizes that not all uses of A.I.are without merit. In an interview with Finland’s Chaoszine, he supported Paul McCartney’s efforts to recover John Lennon’s vocals for what McCartney referred to as “the ultimate Beatles album.”
“There was significant misunderstanding surrounding this topic due to social media soundbites where people can’t grasp the full story,” Wolfgang explained further. “The project involving Paul McCartney using A.I.—many assumed he was fabricating John Lennon’s voice when actually they were isolating vocals from an old demo recording.” He lamented how few take the time to read beyond headlines and tweets before forming opinions.
For Wolfgang, it’s clear: while A.I. may offer useful applications in technical restoration tasks, it cannot replicate human creativity or imagination at its core.
The Future of mammoth WVH
Ahead of their upcoming release, Mammoth WVH is set to unveil their third studio album titled *The End* on October 24 through BMG Records. This ten-track collection spans 39 minutes and was recorded at the legendary 5150 studio under the guidance of long-time collaborator Michael “Elvis” Baskette.