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The “magic” 1963 song that set Eddie Van Halen on course to rock stardom
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.
In short
- ‘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.
Explained simply
Eddie Van Halen became one of rock music's most influential and innovative guitarists, shaping the sound of rock for decades. This article explores how an early musical influence helped set him on that path, rather than following the classical training his family had initially pursued.
Eddie and his brother Alex grew up in a musical household after their family moved from Amsterdam to the United States. Their father was a skilled musician who played piano and woodwind instruments, and both boys received formal training in those instruments from a young age.
In the early 1960s, the brothers heard the Dave Clark Five's 1963 hit 'Glad All Over' and were inspired to pursue rock music instead. Alex switched to drums whilst Eddie took up the guitar, marking the beginning of the musical direction that would eventually lead to his revolutionary approach to the instrument.