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Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson apologises to Wolfgang Van Halen for his comments about EVH

“No disrespect was meant to your father, an extraordinary musician.”

Steven Wilson / Eddie Van Halen

Photos: Frank Hoensch / Redferns, Ross Marino / Getty

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Porcupine Tree mastermind Steven Wilson has publicly apologised to Wolfgang Van Halen for the comments he recently made about Eddie Van Halen.

Wilson recently divulged that he was “never a fan” of the late guitar great nor of the “so-called shredder mentality” that he considered EVH to have instigated.

In response to Wilson’s comments, which seemed to downplay the significance of the guitar legend’s career, Wolfgang tweeted: “Damn this bums me out hard. Been a huge fan of his for years. [Porcupine Tree’s] Deadwing is one of my favourite albums of all time.”

Wilson’s apology, shared today (4 February), came in the form of several tweets addressed to Wolfgang.

“Dear @WolfVanHalen, apologies, no disrespect was meant to your father, an extraordinary musician,” he wrote. “I personally never owned any @VanHalen records and didn’t ever get into the style of playing, but he was clearly an incredible innovator.”

The tweets continued: “So when asked about his passing I couldn’t honestly say I was affected deeply by it, at least not in the way that my heroes Bowie or Prince’s passing had affected me.”

“This statement was given in honest humility. Forgive me for any offence unintentionally given, and I offer my deepest condolences. SW.”

Wolfgang accepted the apology in a tweet of his own, which read: “Incredibly kind of you to say, @StevenWilsonHQ. I meant no ill will in my previous tweets. As I said, the internet was exacerbating what you had said, as the internet tends to do. Still very kind of you. Be well, friend.”

See the tweets below:

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