By Laura Zornosa

Los Angeles Times

A father’s love never dies.

Wolfgang Van Halen, bassist for the band Van Halen and son of the late rock god Eddie Van Halen, released his first solo song and its accompanying music video Monday.

“No matter what the distance is, I will be with you,” Wolfgang Van Halen sings to his dad in “Distance.” “No matter what the distance is, you’ll be OK.”

Van Halen wrote the track while his father was battling throat cancer and recorded the track under the name Mammoth WVH (a nod to the Van Halen band’s original name). Although he sings the raspy, emotional lead and plays all of the instruments, the song has the feel of a full band.

“I’m so happy you’ve found a place that’s better for you than this rock we’re living on,” Wolfgang Van Halen sings. “I’m so nervous. Don’t know my place. A life without you — I’m not ready to move on.”

The accompanying video was stitched together from tender home videos of a young Eddie Van Halen meeting, loving and raising his only son.

“As my pop continued to struggle with various health issues, I was imagining what my life would be like without him and how terribly I’d miss him,” Wolfgang, 29, wrote in a YouTube caption. “While the song is incredibly personal, I think anyone can relate to the idea of having a profound loss in their life.

“I never intended ‘Distance’ to be the very first piece of music people would hear from me, but I also thought my father would be here to celebrate its release,” he continued. “This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop.”

Eddie Van Halen died at 65 in early October. His son broke the news on social media, writing, “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift.”

All proceeds from “Distance” will go to Eddie Van Halen’s favorite charity, the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, which donates instruments to underfunded school music programs.