Page 64 - ION Indie Magazine NovDec 2021 Issue

LIVE MUSIC REPORT

Story & Photography by Marty Haviik
https://azthunderphot9.wixsite.com/azthunderphoto

The very first time I saw Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli
together was at a Van Halen show on September 3rd, 1984, at the infamous
Zeppelinfeld, Nuremberg, Germany (look that one up, great history!). Who would have
ever guessed that I would be at their kid’s concert 37 years later? Wolfgang Van Halen
has gone out on his own and created his own band under the name Mammoth WVH.

Mammoth WVH is currently out supporting Guns N’ Roses on their stadium tour, however,
they are performing a few headlining club gigs between the stadium shows. I've seen
Wolfgang perform before a couple of times after being the bassist for Van Halen since
2007, with Sammy Hagar and then with David Lee Roth. As soon as I saw that Mammoth
and Wolfgang Van Halen was coming to Phoenix with Guns N’ Roses on September 30th,
I immediately started making my calls. And every single time I got denied. Then I got notice
that they would be performing at the historic Rialto Theatre on September 29th in Tucson.
I made several calls to my friend Mark at the Rialto and I finally got in! Long story short, it
was such a process with COVID…showing a vaccination card and finally needing to take
a COVID test before entering the building. When I got there, it ended up that I only needing
to show my card. I was relieved! No probing for me (COVID protocol was a Guns N’ Roses
tour requirement).