Wolfgang Van Halen says it’s “unfair” to brand every offspring of celebrities “nepo babies”.
The son of the late Van Halen axe-slayer, Eddie Van Halen, and his ex-wife, Valerie Bertinelli, says some stars’ children have “no artistic merit or talent” and use their name to make it in life, but not him.
He told Metal Hammer magazine: “I’m one to talk, but I think the term ‘nepo baby’ is a bit unfair.
“I think it takes the individuality of the person away.”
The 34-year-old rocker might have toured with his legendary father, but he insists he has carved out his own path in the music business and deserves to take credit for it.
He went on: “I’m not going to name names, but in some cases, it does apply: the idea of people getting a leg up when they have no artistic merit or talent.
“All I’m trying to do is be myself and have my own artistic integrity and my own voice. I hope that people can see that.”
In fact, Wolfgang says he actually got mocked for touring with the Hot For Teacher band.
He said: “When it comes to high school, I was almost a loser.
“I had a tutor when I took off for the first Van Halen tour in 11th grade, and when I came back for senior year, it was almost a dig.”
He recalled: “People would be like [mockingly], ‘Oh, look! It’s the bass player for Van Halen!'”
Wolfgang insisted: “I’m certainly trying to forge my own legacy.
“That’s my goal every day.”
The musican performs all the instruments and vocals in his solo project Mammoth, and he would love to emulate his father’s success by selling out the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
He said: “I’d be like, ‘You know what? We made it’ if we’re able to sell out a show at the Hollywood Bowl, because that was the last place I ever played with my dad.
“If Mammoth are ever able to sell out a show at the Hollywood Bowl, I could die the next day and be like, ‘Job well done!’”