Exclusively Van Halen: Wolfgang on dad’s Tapping, EVH ’78 Flannel, Hagar 2026, New 5150 Amp! 9/21/25

On this episode of Exclusively Van Halen, we dive into a brand-new Guitar World feature where Wolfgang Van Halen breaks down the art of Eddie’s legendary tapping technique — and shows us how it’s done! 🎸🔥
Wolfgang, carrying on the Van Halen torch, sat down with Ola Englund for a Mammoth masterclass while demonstrating his explosive new single, The End. And when it comes to tapping, Wolfgang says there are two schools of thought straight from his father’s playbook: Eruption and Hot for Teacher.
👉 The Eruption style? Clean, straight, and precise.
👉 The Hot for Teacher style? Rolling, rhythmic, and full of groove.
Wolfgang explains that The End is powered by that Hot for Teacher school of tapping — blending rhythm, fire, and his drummer’s instincts into a run that sets the song ablaze. And yes, the music video even nods to Van Halen’s classic.
But that’s not all. Wolfgang also sheds light on the track’s attention-grabbing slap riff, recorded on Eddie’s original Frankenstein guitar! While many fans compared it to Van Halen’s Mean Street, Wolfgang reveals it actually started as a bass slap idea — until producer Elvis Baskette suggested, “Why not do it on guitar?” The result? A unique riff that blends thumb slaps, pops, and harmonics for a sound only Wolfgang could deliver.
As he demonstrates the technique, Wolfgang breaks down every move — from trapping the pick to percussive hits to perfectly syncopating with the drums. It’s jaw-dropping to watch in action.
And in other Wolfgang news, he’s also opened up about the risk of covering Van Halen songs with Dave Grohl… and why he’s stepped back from listening to his dad’s music.
Next up, we head over to the Van Halen News Desk, where there’s some killer updates for all of you! First, DIXXON has dropped a brand-new EVH Super ’78 flannel, paying tribute to Eddie Van Halen’s legendary guitar design. I’ve actually got the red, black, and white version right here—huge shoutout to Bay Area Rich for hooking me up! These shirts are not only sharp-looking, but they’re also limited edition collectibles that every Van Halen fan is going to want.
From there, big news from the Red Rocker himself—Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds Las Vegas residency is officially coming back in 2026! The lineup is stacked with Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, Kenny Aronoff, and Rai Thistlethwayte . If you’ve seen them live, you already know—they bring the fire every single night.
And finally, EVH has been teasing something serious: a 5150 Iconic Series 15-watt EL34 head. Now, I’m not sure if this little beast made its debut at this year’s NAMM or if it’s about to drop at NAMM 2026, but either way—you better believe I’ll be there with full coverage, bringing you the inside scoop.
You won’t want to miss this episode — it’s all about tapping, tone, and the next chapter in the Van Halen legacy.
If you’re a Van Halen fan, this is the spot you wanna be—don’t miss out! Hit that subscribe button for more episodes of Exclusively Van Halen: The Van Halen Show on YouTube and podcast. 🔔🔥
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