Wolfgang Van Halen 'hurt' by how Grammys handled Eddie Van Halen tribute

The 63rd Annual Grammy Awards took time to honor artists and industry professionals who have died in the last year, but Wolfgang Van Halen did not feel his late father, Eddie Van Halen, was adequately honored.

The 30-year-old described "what hurt the most" on Instagram:

"The GRAMMYS asked me to play Eruption for the ‘In Memoriam’ section and I declined. I don’t think anyone could have lived up to what my father did for music but himself.

It was my understanding that there would be an ‘In Memoriam’ section where bits of songs were performed for legendary artists that had passed. I didn’t realize that they would only show Pop for 15 seconds in the middle of 4 full performances for others we had lost.

What hurt the most was that he wasn’t even mentioned when they talked about artists we lost in the beginning of the show. I know rock isn’t the most popular genre right now, (and the academy does seem a bit out of touch) but I think it’s impossible to ignore the legacy my father left on the instrument, the world of rock, and music in general. There will never be another innovator like him.

I’m not looking to start some kind of hate parade here, I just wanted to explain my side. I know Pop would probably just laugh it off and say “Ehh who gives a s***?” He was only about the music anyway. The rest didn’t matter.

I’d love to get the opportunity to speak with The Recording Academy not only about the legacy of my father, but the legacy of the Rock genre moving forward.

Thank you."

It's very possible that Van Halen was asked to perform "Eruption" in the same way Lionel Richie performed the late Kenny Rogers' "Lady"—which Ritchie wrote and produced for Rogers—Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak honored Little Richard with "Long Tall Sally (The Thing)" and "Good Golly, Miss Molly," Brandi Carlile played John Prine's "I Remember Everything," or Brittany Howard was joined by Chris Martin for a rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone."