WOLFGANG VAN HALEN AND MATT BRUCK DISCUSS THE FUTURE OF THE EVH BRAND AND THEIR DEDICATION TO KEEPING EDDIE VAN HALEN’S VISIONARY IDEAS ALIVE
By CHRIS GILL Photo by ANDRAIA ALLSOP
SHORTLY AFTER GUITARISTS got over the initial shock of Edward Van Halen’s passing on October 6, 2020, many wondered what would become of the EVH brand, which had been the guitar legend’s primary avenue of creative expression ever since the inception of EVH in 2004. The guitars and amps produced by EVH were truly the products of Ed’s imagination, innovation and drive for perfection. Many feared that without Ed, the EVH brand would cease to exist.
The announcement that EVH would continue under the leadership of Ed’s son Wolfgang alongside his partner in the brand, Matt Bruck — who played an instrumental role in EVH’s success from its very beginning — was a relief to those who had closely followed the company’s progress. Wolfgang and Bruck worked with Ed on a daily basis, and no one knew more about the guitarist’s preferences, ideas and standards of excellence or were as faithful to maintaining his vision. The highly dedicated and talented team that supported Ed and Bruck at EVH also remained intact. Equally importantly, before Ed passed he laid out a long-term plan to ensure that his vision would live on for many decades to come.
“Ed left a lot of ideas for us to develop,” Bruck says. “We are committed to delivering all of them. We worked with Ed for a very long time, and we know what he would want. Ed indeed lives on through his music and the brand, which lives in all of us now, and it’s up to us. It’s also up to every fan — everybody who is involved and appreciates it. We all are the flame now. I don’t see EVH or Ed’s legacy diminishing.”
OVER THE LAST two years since Ed’s passing, EVH has continued to thrive and grow. Core products like the Wolfgang guitars, 5150 III amplifiers and Striped Series guitars have become timeless modern classics, while new products like the 5150 Iconic series amps and 5150 guitars have helped EVH build a following with a new generation of players. Wolf Van Halen’s band, Mammoth WVH, has also given fans a sneak peek at upcoming EVH products like the SA126 semi-hollow electric (with the “126” paying tribute to his dad’s birthdate) and EVH Wolfgang basses, which are currently going through road testing just like Ed did with his signature gear.
Just a few days after Wolf’s exhilarating performance for the Taylor Hawkins Tribute concert at London’s Wembley Stadium, Wolf and Matt Bruck talked with us about what lies ahead for
