Wolfgang Van Halen has performed several Van Halen classics live in recent years, including “Panama,” “On Fire,” and “Hot for Teacher” at the 2022 Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts with Dave Grohl, Justin Hawkins, and Josh Freese. He also joined Foo Fighters at Welcome to Rockville last month to perform “Eruption” and “Hot for Teacher.”

Wolfgang stated that the Hawkins tributes provided him with a sense of closure, serving as a tribute to his father in the absence of a Van Halen tribute or reunion tour. This experience inspired him to intensify his efforts on Mammoth II. In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, he mentioned feeling the need to elevate his performance because of heightened expectations, while emphasizing his primary identity as a songwriter who enjoys incorporating fun songs.