Watch Mammoth WVH (Wolfgang Van Halen + Band) Perform an Acoustic Version of ‘Distance’ on ‘Today’

Friday morning, The TODAY Show featured a special performance from Mammoth WVH, a.k.a. Wolfgang Van Halen and his backing band, who delivered a special acoustic performance of “Distance,” Wolfgang’s emotional tribute to his late father, Eddie Van Halen.

It was a powerful rendition of the song, which has garnered a ton of attention since it was first premiered in November:

This was the band’s second televised performance of the song, joining last week’s performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live:

Also debuted recently was another new song, “You’re To Blame,” an aggressive rocker that further previews the upcoming full-length album from Mammoth WVH that will be out on June 11:

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The album track listing:

1. Mr. Ed
2. Horribly Right
3. Epiphany
4. Don’t Back Down
5. Resolve
6. You’ll Be The One
7. Mammoth
8. Circles
9. The Big Picture
10. Think It Over
11. You’re To Blame
12. Feel
13. Stone
14. Distance (Bonus Track)

This is truly a solo project for Wolfgang Van Halen, as he wrote all the music and performed all of the instrumentation and vocals throughout. As far as a live version of the group is concerned, Mammoth WVH will perform “Distance” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and TODAY on Feb. 19, with Wolfgang backed by Ronnie Ficarro (bass/vocals), Jon Jourdan (guitars/vocals), Frank Sidoris (guitars) and Garret Whitlock (drums).

This project had been in the works for a while, but news of his father’s cancer progression halted it for the time being:

Wolfgang Van Halen has been preparing to release music from his solo band Mammoth WVH for some time. That plan was altered when his father and guitar icon Eddie Van Halen called him and told him his cancer had returned. Wolfgang decided to put everything on hold to be with his father through his battle.

Explained Wolfgang Van Halen in a statement:

“As my pop continued to struggle with various health issues, I was imagining what my life would be like without him and how terribly I’d miss him. While the song is incredibly personal, I think anyone can relate to the idea of having a profound loss in their life.”

“I never intended ‘Distance’ to be the very first piece of music people would hear from me, but I also thought my father would be here to celebrate its release. This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop.”