# The “magic” 1963 song that set Eddie Van Halen on course to rock stardom

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-magic-1963-song-that-set-eddie-van-halen-on-course-to-rock-stardom/
- Published: 2026-07-20T14:53:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-30T08:15:35+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/1963-song-that-set-eddie-van-halen-on-course-to-rock-stardom/
- Topics: Celebrity, Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- ‘Glad All Over’ helped inspire Eddie Van Halen’s turn towards rock.
- The Van Halen brothers initially trained in piano.
- Alex chose drums, leaving Eddie to pursue guitar.

## Summary

The article argues that the Dave Clark Five’s 1963 hit ‘Glad All Over’ helped steer Eddie Van Halen towards rock music, encouraging him and his brother Alex to move away from the piano training they had received. It presents the song as an early catalyst in the path that eventually led Van Halen to become one of rock’s most influential guitarists.

Eddie and Alex Van Halen had grown up surrounded by music, including their father’s piano and woodwind playing, after moving from Amsterdam to the United States. The article says the brothers’ enthusiasm for the Dave Clark Five prompted them to pursue rock, with Alex taking up drums and Eddie ultimately focusing on guitar; Van Halen later developed a distinctive, highly innovative playing style.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.