Remember Van Halen
- Wolfgang Van Halen lost his father, music legend Eddie Van Halen, to throat cancer in October at 65 years old.
- The late artist’s son has been following in his father’s footsteps and just released two new tracks ahead of his forthcoming album Mammoth WVF, debuting a new track today that he says was his father’s “favorite.”
- Music is therapeutic for people healing from loss or dealing with emotions while going through cancer, and two survivors tell SurvivorNet how they use music as their outlet.
Wolfgang’s forthcoming album, Mammoth WVH, is out in June, and he just debuted two new tracks, one of which he says was his dad’s favorite.
Read More
View this post on Instagram
In the video, “Wolfie” as his friends and family call him, is playing every single instrument in the song as it cuts back and forth to drummer Wolfgang, guitarist Wolfgang, singer, and so forth.
“I always thought that it would be a fun thing to do a series of videos, maybe not just this one, where it’s just a whole bunch of Wolfs playing together,” he said.
View this post on Instagram
Not only has Wolfgang’s music been received very well by fans, but prominent artists are digging his music skills. Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy, who also sings with Guns ‘N’ Roses guitarist Slash in another project, gave the new rocker some mad props in a recent interview.
“It’s very exciting,” Kennedy said. “I mean, it’s true he’s just this force of nature. He can do it all.”
Wolfgang’s first single hit #1 on the rock charts, and he will undoubtedly continue to make waves in the music business, carrying on the legacy of his father.
Tongue and Throat Cancer
Eddie Van Halen was diagnosed with tongue cancer for the first time in 2000. He had part of his tongue removed as a result of his treatment and was in remission in 2002. But some of the cancerous cells traveled from his tongue to his throat, and Van Halen was diagnosed with throat cancer around 2014.
Unfortunately, there are no annual screenings for throat cancer like other types of cancer. However, there are signs to look out for and consult your doctor on if they happen often. Symptoms of throat cancer may include vocal changes, coughing, trouble swallowing, ear pain, a lump or sore in the throat that won't heal, unexplained weight loss and a persistent sore throat.
Get the Facts What Do We Know About HPV-Linked Throat Cancer?
Healing Through Music
It is common to struggle with loss and sometimes people fall victim to isolation, or alcohol/drug abuse to numb the pain. A healthier way to heal is through art, like Wolfgang Van Halen. Although we do not know what feelings Van Halen struggles with privately, what he has chosen to show to the world regarding his healing process in the form of music is quite beautiful. And what better way to connect with his dad then follow in his footsteps, doing what he loved to do … what they both loved to do together. Plus, it’s a great outlet to get out your feelings of frustration. As Wolfgang said, his new song is a “fighting” anthem and most of us fight every day to keep emotions over lost loved ones.
People going through cancer also often use music to help comfort them and to process their emotions. "I have found music and rock 'n' roll to be transformational," survivor Joel Naftelberg tells SurvivorNet. "Without air guitar, my treatment would have been incredibly sad," says another music-enthusiast Marquina Iliev-Piselli to SurvivorNet.
Letting Out Emotions with Music
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
