Wolfgang Van Halen opens up about dad's 'really rough' final days, emotional new song 'Distance'

On Monday, Wolfgang Van Halen, the son of late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen, released a stirring new dedicated to his dad.

The song, titled "Distance," is credited to Wolfgang's new solo band Mammoth WVH. The propulsive, drums-driven track is described as an "open letter" to father Eddie, whose death from cancer at age 65 last month sent shockwaves through the music world.

"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 said in a statement. "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 added. "This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop."

The tear-jerking "Distance" video compiles home video of a young Wolfgang and his dad laughing, playing music and spending time together. "No matter what the distance is, I will be with you," Wolfgang sings in the chorus, with other poignant lyrics about loss, grief and memory.

"I’m so happy
You found a place
That’s better for you
Than this rock we’re living on.
I’m so nervous
Don’t know my place
A life without you, I’m not ready to move on."

In an interview with ET, published Tuesday, Wolfgang, 29, offered an update on how he's been since his father's death.

"I'm terrible. I'm trying to stay positive, but, man, it's been the worst month of my life," he said. "I don't have a dad anymore and I have to figure out how to process that and deal with it."

The musician also offered insight into the end of his father's life.

"It was really rough," he said, when asked about his his dad's final months. "It just seems like he never got a break. I was really happy I was able to spend every second with him that I could."

Wolfgang added that he cries "every time" he watches the music video and that his mother, Valerie Bertinelli, has watched it "countless times."

"All I had to do was walk into her house and say, 'Hey, I have the video,' and she started crying, before she even watched it," he said. "She's actually probably downstairs on the couch right now, watching it."

Wolfgang was the first to announce his father's death on social media early last month, 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. My heart is broken and I don't think I'll ever fully recover from his loss."

He joined his dad's band Van Halen in 2006 at just 15 years old, replacing bassist Michael Anthony. He is featured on the band's 12th and final studio album "A Different Kind of Truth," released in 2012.

Contributing: Charles Trepany

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wolfgang Van Halen opens up about dad's 'really rough' final days