Wolfgang Van Halen Says David Lee Roth Is Blocking Van Halen’s Final Album From Streaming: “He Doesn’t Like It”
Wolfgang Van Halen has shed new light on one of the most frustrating mysteries for Van Halen fans: why the band’s final album, A Different Kind of Truth (2012), still isn’t available on major streaming platforms. According to the bassist, the holdup isn’t technical, legal, or financial—it’s personal.
In a candid conversation during a recent interview, Wolfgang revealed that former frontman David Lee Roth is the primary reason the record hasn’t seen a digital release.
“It’s really simple—Dave doesn’t like it,” Wolfgang said. “That’s the reason it’s not on Spotify or Apple Music. He doesn’t want it out there, and until he changes his mind, it’s stuck in limbo.”
The Lost Album in Van Halen’s Catalog
Released in February 2012, A Different Kind of Truth marked Van Halen’s first studio album since 1998’s Van Halen III, and the only one to feature Wolfgang Van Halen on bass. The record reunited the band with Roth for the first time since 1984, delivering tracks like “Tattoo,” “She’s the Woman,” and “China Town,” many of which reworked unreleased demos from the group’s earliest days.
Despite mixed reviews, the album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and became a major commercial success, breathing new life into the band’s legacy. Yet more than a decade later, it remains an outlier in the streaming age—absent from platforms where younger generations often discover classic rock catalogs.
Why Roth Objects
Wolfgang stopped short of speculating on Roth’s personal reasoning, but he made it clear the singer’s disapproval is the only barrier.
“I don’t think it’s anything to do with the music itself—it’s just Dave being Dave,” Wolfgang added. “He’s particular about how the band is represented, and if he’s not comfortable with it, he’ll shut it down. That’s exactly what’s happening here.”
This revelation underscores long-standing tensions within Van Halen’s history. Creative differences between Roth and the Van Halen brothers were well documented, and while they managed to deliver one final album together, Wolfgang’s comments suggest those clashes continue to echo even after Eddie Van Halen’s passing in 2020.
Fans Left Waiting
The lack of streaming access has been a sore spot for fans, who often voice their frustration on social media. Bootleg rips of the album occasionally circulate online, but for many, a legitimate release feels long overdue.
For Wolfgang, the situation is especially frustrating.
“It was the last chapter of the band’s story, and I was proud to be part of it,” he said. “People should be able to hear it as easily as they can the rest of Van Halen’s music. But right now, it’s out of my hands.”
What Comes Next?
Unless Roth has a change of heart, A Different Kind of Truth may remain locked in the vaults of the digital world. With Wolfgang now fully focused on his solo project Mammoth WVH, and Roth largely retired from performing, the stalemate shows little sign of breaking.
Still, Wolfgang remains hopeful:
“Maybe one day it’ll happen. I’d love for more people to hear it the way it deserves. But like with most things in Van Halen, it’s complicated.”
For now, fans may have to dust off their CDs—or hope Roth eventually gives the green light for the album to finally take its place on streaming platforms alongside the rest of the band’s storied catalog.
