SIMON: Now, your father built this guitar himself - right? - from rejected parts is the story. Like, if the whole building burnt down, it would be OK. When I brought it out for recording - you know, we keep it in - just, like, locked down, super-safe. For one of the guitar tracks, I played the original Frankenstein guitar. SIMON: And let me ask you about the song, 'Feel.' You're playing your father's guitar? And to be able to be on stage and play music with my uncle and my father every night, it was truly a blessing. You know, I was just there to support my father. You know, after soundcheck, I'd be doing math. SIMON: So what was it like to be on tour at the age of 15? It's just kind of imagining how tough life would be without him but also remembering that our relationship is too strong to let any one of us being apart from each other be an issue. And a tough thing to deal with emotionally, and I guess this song was just kind of a way of therapeutically dealing with that. You know, my father had struggled a lot health-wise - up and down for years for a really long time. No matter what the distance is, you'll be OK, oh. No matter what the distance is, I will be with you. VAN HALEN: (Singing) A life without you, I'm not ready to move on. I realize it might be difficult - but that's how some great songs come into being, too - if you could tell us about the song 'Distance.' SIMON: And we have to ask you about the first single that's been released from the album. WOLFGANG VAN HALEN: Thanks so much for having me. SIMON: He's a one-man band - singing, playing drums, guitar, bass and the keyboard. (SOUNDBITE OF MAMMOTH WVH SONG, 'DON'T BACK DOWN') Wolfgang Van Halen has his debut album out now. At the age of 15, he joined the family business, playing bass alongside his rock legend of a father. Wolfgang Van Halen was born to play music.

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