Mammoth's Journey: Wolfgang Van Halen's Experience Supporting Metallica on the M72 World Tour
Wolfgang Van Halen's band Mammoth had the honor of supporting Metallica on every leg of their M72 world tour from 2023 to 2024. In an exclusive interview with Metal Hammer, Wolfgang shared his experience of playing in stadiums with the iconic heavy metal band. The shows were nerve-wracking for Wolfgang as the stages were set in the middle of the venue, leaving no room to hide. Despite the pressure, Wolfgang found the tour to be a fun and memorable experience, especially appreciating Metallica's hospitality.
Metallica recognized Mammoth's dedication by presenting them with a 'Perfect Attendance Award' for being the only band to perform at every building on the tour. Wolfgang, who started Mammoth as a solo project in the early 2010s, released the band's debut album in 2021 and recently launched their third album, "The End," on October 24. Despite his musical lineage with Van Halen, Wolfgang intentionally avoids playing Van Halen material with Mammoth to establish his own identity as an artist.
Following his father Eddie Van Halen's passing in 2020, Wolfgang has only performed Van Halen music on two occasions as tributes. Mammoth is currently on a North American tour and will be performing at the House Of Blues in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Additionally, they have been announced as part of the lineup for Download festival 2026. Meanwhile, Metallica continues their tour across Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East, with upcoming shows in Melbourne and a European tour scheduled from May to July.