Steven Wilson Apologizes Wolfgang Van Halen For His Remark About Eddie
Steven Wilson has recently released his new album The Future Bites and talked to Face Culture about it among other subjects. Famous musician Eddie Van Halen‘s death was one of that subjects and right after, what he said kinda started a polemic between him and his son Wolfgang Van Halen.
During his conversation with Face Culture, Steven Wilson opened up and admit that he fell out of love with the guitar. This situation also affected his latest musical output, The Future Bites as well. He expressed himself by saying
“I think there was a couple of things. The main thing was when I was touring ‘To the Bone,’ which I did throughout most of 2018, even in the beginning of 2019 – I was becoming aware that I was falling out of love with the guitar as an instrument.
I found that every time I picked up the guitar and tried to write with it, which is what I’ve usually done for many years, I was kind of boring myself a little bit. I couldn’t play anything that excited me; it felt like everything had been done. And I think part of the problem is that almost everything I think has been done with the guitar.”
Following his confessions, he also talked about Eddie’s death and what he thinks about it
Wilson has been asked if Eddie’s death was something that affected him, so he responded
“Honestly, it didn’t. Because I was never a fan. I know he’s an extraordinary musician and it’s always sad when an extraordinary artist dies, but I was never a fan of the so-called shredder mentality.
And I think in many ways he was the father of that whole kind of movement. I never understood that playing as fast as you can think – and I know that wasn’t all he did, I know he was a more flexible musician than that.
But I think that the legacy Eddie Van Halen has is in creating the shredder phenomenon, which is something so vile to me, that kind of idea that you play music almost like you’re playing an Olympic sport is kind of an anathema to my kind of ideas on creativity and music.”
And after Wilson’s explanations, Eddie’s son Wolfgang Van Halen responded to him back through his social channels
“Damn this bums me out hard. Been a huge fan of his for years. ‘Deadwing’ is one of my favorite albums of all time.” Wolfgang said.
Wolfgang elaborated to further his clarification by talking about what really hurts him is he actually seems to see Pop as a ‘shredder’ while he thinks anything but.
“Sure, he COULD shred, but Pop had melody and finesse like NO other ‘shredder’ that swam in his wake ever had (in my opinion) and on top of that he was an incredible songwriter.”
Wolfgang expresses his opinions about Steven Wilson is not a fan of his father
“It’s absolutely OK that he’s not a fan. Not everyone is going to be a fan of everything. Does it just suck that he ‘blames’ Pop for shredding being a thing?
To make things CRYSTAL CLEAR, I’d like to add that this in NO way changes how I feel about Steven Wilson or his music. I guess it’s just a bummer that a stellar musician I hold in such high regard doesn’t see what I see when it comes to my father and his playing. End of rant.”
So following Wolfgang‘s responses to him, Steven Wilson has also made a statement on his social media to express himself. So he apologized to Wolfgang if any offense was unintentionally given with his ‘never a fan’ remark regarding the late Eddie Van Halen.
“Dear Wolfgang, apologies, no disrespect was meant to your father, an extraordinary musician. I personally never owned any VanHalen records and didn’t ever get into the style of playing, but he was clearly an incredible innovator.
So when asked about his passing I couldn’t honestly say I was affected deeply by it, at least not in the way that my heroes Bowie or Prince’s passing had affected me.
This statement was given in honest humility. Forgive me for any offense unintentionally given, and I offer my deepest condolences.”
Steven Wilson tried to explain his words by saying these. So it might seem a little like a polemic but one way or another, it also seems smoothed over, too. The two of the guys discussed their opinions respectfully and understand each other eventually. We also can understand that from Wolfgang‘s last share
“Incredibly kind of you to say, Steven. I meant no ill will in my previous tweets. As I said, the internet was exacerbating what you had said, as the internet tends to do. Still very kind of you. Be well, friend.”
So in the end, it is obvious that no offense has taken and there was no polemic going on gladly. You can watch Steven Wilson‘s previous interview with Face Culture down below.