Last Updated on May 6, 2025 by Angel Melanson
A quiet club sits nestled in a strip mall on an unassuming weekday afternoon. That is, until I open the doors and step from the sunny Southern California day into the darkness where a mad monster party awaits. As my eyes adjust, zombies roam around, chat amongst one another, and casually sip on sodas. A vampire walks by, and I also see a werewolf in the distance for good measure. This is the set of Mammoth's latest music video for their new single, “The End.” The mastermind behind the band is GRAMMY® Award-nominated songwriter, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Wolfgang Van Halen.
Mammoth has fans who are very familiar to FANGORIA readers, including From Dusk Till Dawn director Robert Rodriguez. Rodriguez is directing this music video based on a concept created by Wolfgang and Rodriguez, with monsters created by FX legend Greg Nicotero. They're currently between takes, and as I grab a seat with a good view of the stage, Rodriguez calls, “Action!”
As the band wails on stage, Rodriguez stands aboard a camera rig, gliding back and forth to get the shot. When they break for lunch, various types of vampires make their way through the dimly lit club, carefully balancing their pizza slices on paper plates. Amid the gnashing of prosthetic fangs digging into pepperoni, I get some time to sit down with Wolfgang for a chat.
This is very much a family affair. Wolfgang's mom, Valerie Bertinelli, and her adorable pup are seated in the green room with us, and she laughs and tells me about how she got in on all the monstrous action during yesterday's shoot. And she's not the only one. A zombie who introduces herself as Wolfgang's aunt comes over to say hello with his Uncle Pat.
Lots of friends have come to help out as well. Some with names you'll recognize, like Danny Trejo, Myles Kennedy, and Slash. The whole thing is a labor of love, with friends and family turning up to support Mammoth. Wolfgang lights up when talking about all the friends and family who have helped out with this shoot, including some lifelong childhood friends who are playing zombies today.
When I asked him how Rodriguez got involved, he was almost bashful and in disbelief as he told me that Robert was a fan of the band. “He somehow liked my music, which was insane for me to discover. He came to our show at Emo's in Austin, and we struck up a friendship.”
After becoming friends over the past couple of years, they often discussed collaborating on something, and this was the perfect opportunity. “I was always a big fan of From Dusk Till Dawn, the whole bar scene has a very rock band sort of vibe. The last few music videos we've done have an overarching story, I thought it would be fun to somehow tie it to that.”
With the 30th anniversary of From Dusk Till Dawn coming up, this is a very fitting (and very cool) unofficial reunion celebration. Dusk fans will see plenty of nods to the Rodriguez cult classic (I won't spoil them all for you here), but with Rodriguez at the helm, Nicotero on creatures, and Trejo making an appearance, it's already one hell of a recipe.
“I introduced the concept,” Wolfgang continues. “We brainstormed about it, and Robert ended up writing a whole script and legitimizing it in a way I couldn't ever have imagined. And now we're here!” Rodriguez and Nicotero join us as the three squeeze in together on the couch. Rodriguez describes the impromptu Dusk reunion as “It's just a dream for all of us.”
Greg shares how he first learned about the concept: “Robert originally called me, I think it was on my birthday, and said, ‘hey I got a good birthday present for you. We're gonna shoot a video with Wolfgang Van Halen, and it's gonna be Dusk Till Dawn style.' That's a great birthday present!“
“I never thought I would have Danny Trejo staring me directly in the eyes,“ laughs Wolfgang. “It's spooky, it's hard to look at!“ Rodriguez adds before reminiscing on the early morning call times for Dusk: “I'm not a morning person. On Dusk Till Dawn, I'd get to set grumpy then realize we were going to rip off Tom Savini's head, roll it across the floor, and put an arrow in his eye. If you have to get up early… that puts a spring in my step! That's how this is. Every setup is fun, and then you go to the performance footage, and the performance is awesome.”
The band performance element is slightly different from the sets Nicotero is usually on: “The first time the music was playing, everybody stopped to watch. That's very different for me, and I was like, ‘This is great!‘ Then Robert said cut, and I was like, wait! I want to see!”
The video features a cornucopia of monsters. “I know Robert was really stoked when he was making the initial pitch,“ Wolfgang explains. “He said, ‘we're going to get the trifecta: vampires, zombies, and werewolves.‘” And it's not just one type or singular design for each monster.
Nicotero and his team created various creature looks, including some hero designs to be more prominently featured in the big finale. For the vampires in particular, it varies from the Dusk Till Dawn and Lost Boys style vamps to more of a full body Bat Boy vibe. “I always loved the vampire interpretation that's part animal, part bat,“ Nicotero shares. “We didn't just pull it off the shelf. I wanted a fresh new custom just for this, so we sculpted a bunch of new fangs to make it feel a little more personal.”
In addition to crafting some custom monsters specifically for the video, Rodriguez says there will be some on-screen transformations as well, “You see a zombie actually transform into a zombie, his face shrinks, and you realize you can transform into a zombie in this world like a vampire or a werewolf would transform. Why couldn't a zombie attack then go back to normal once he's done eating?”
As lunch comes to an end, it's time for the band members to hit the stage and battle an unholy trifecta of monsters. Things are about to get bloody. Aside from the incredible monsters, the video features plenty of in-jokes/Easter eggs for fans of Mammoth, like Wolfgang ignoring the warning picks being thrown by his bandmate – a sight fans will recognize from their live shows and a nod to previous Mammoth videos.
After a series of fun on-stage deaths, the monsters assemble for the big finale at the end of a long, makeshift catwalk Wolfgang is going to strut down for a guitar solo (ignoring Danny Trejo's warnings!). Greg Nicotero directs the zombies and monsters like a crash course in Monster School. He occasionally reminds a zombie to stay in zombie mode and not to rise too quickly before snapping back into undead movements.
A massive werewolf towers over everyone, the head is partially animatronic, controlled off-screen by a member of Nicotero's team. It's hot as hell and hard to see from inside the animatronic head. Between takes, a battery-powered fan offers a bit of relief for the creature performer inside. Nicotero directs the werewolf on how to make the movement more ominous as he watches the monitors, “Stand up with chin down, then lift chin.”
At one point, I was asked if I'd like to jump in. You know my answer. I was quickly ushered into a spot in the crowd, sandwiched between a vampire and a zombie. After the first take, I was repositioned to be eaten by a well-dressed werewolf in a suit (who happens to be played by Nicotero's son). There are worse ways to go. We quickly plan how he will come in for the attack, then we're off to the races. I watch (and take part in) some beautiful carnage as the monsters feast upon the crowd.
Who survives, and what's left of the band? Are the ultimate victors the monsters or Mammoth? Check out the full video premiere of “The End“ to find out.
Stay tuned for our exclusive upcoming behind-the-scenes video taking you on set for “The End” with Wolfgang Van Halen, Robert Rodriguez, and Greg Nicotero!
Want more Mammoth in your life? The band is heading out on a Fall headline tour! The End Tour kicks off on October 31 with stops in Las Vegas, Atlanta, Chicago, and more. Longtime friend Myles Kennedy (did you recognize Myles in full zombie prosthetics?) will be the special guest. Tickets are on sale May 5 via artist presale and on sale to the public on Friday, May 9. For more information on all tickets and VIP passes visit www.mammoth.band.
