Alvin Lee

[TheCheapGuitarist]

I'm not an Alvin Lee fan, never really thought about him. I only knew that one big hit that they had, and didn't really even like it. But this video popped up in my feed. It's not the most articulate playing, but it's fun to watch because he's obviously enjoying himself and he is taking risks on the fretboard without a care in the world, even if it doesn't come out quite clearly sometimes.

Back in the '80s I was reading either Guitar Player or Guitar World magazine, and they're interviewing two musicians in a band that was famous at the time. They criticized Alvin Lee's playing as "mindless nonsense". Watching this video, I can't completely disagree. But then it dawned on me that I didn't know who those two guys were, I still don't know who they were. I couldn't tell you their names, but I know who Alvin Lee is. There's something to be said for that.



(UPDATE: I watched the Woodstock footage of Ten Years After. I would not call that "mindless nonsense" - it's all over the place but it's on fire.

 

[suthol]

I don't like his shredding at all but his blues playing is a whole world of good taste

 

[dogmeat]

I was impressed in 1969.... not so much now

 

[bottlenecker]

So you're saying you don't like his playing, but you're impressed that he's famous?

 

[burtonfan]

I like Alvin Lee, even though he's not "Elvis" famous.

 

[flathd]

That's what you get with guitar mags and forums, lots of opinions and little fact.

 

[Churchjack]

I'm not an Alvin Lee fan, never really thought about him. I only knew that one big hit that they had, and didn't really even like it. But this video popped up in my feed. It's not the most articulate playing, but it's fun to watch because he's obviously enjoying himself and he is taking risks on the fretboard without a care in the world, even if it doesn't come out quite clearly sometimes.

Back in the '80s I was reading either Guitar Player or Guitar World magazine, and they're interviewing two musicians in a band that was famous at the time. They criticized Alvin Lee's playing as "mindless nonsense". Watching this video, I can't completely disagree. But then it dawned on me that I didn't know who those two guys were, I still don't know who they were. I couldn't tell you their names, but I know who Alvin Lee is. There's something to be said for that.



(UPDATE: I watched the Woodstock footage of Ten Years After. I would not call that "mindless nonsense" - it's all over the place but it's on fire.

I’m so glad you caught that Woodstock vid! They captured a great set.

 

[TheCheapGuitarist]

So you're saying you don't like his playing, but you're impressed that he's famous?

No. You know what I'm saying, though, so I'm not going to explain it.

 

[24 track]

I like alot of Mr. Lee's playing, he was loud in concert , very very loud , I was extremely sad at the way he went during a routine operation., Saying he only had one hit is incorrect he had several fine albums , like Cricklewwod Green , SHHH, etc. yes he was sloppy at woodstock but he put on a show that was up front and center. At the time was right inplace. Clapton was equally sloppy while doing the wheels of fire concert live missing his cue on cross roads, still oustanding recording , or hendrix singing the wrong verses live , no one cared , it was too magical for the moment .
either you liked Alvin Lee, Eric Clapton , or Hendrix I certainly am glad they did what they did , made growing up inspirational .

and yet I have not seen one member here surpass what these guys did , so I can only conclude that its a matter of taste.

 

[Killing Floor]

Do you think he would have earned more notoriety if Dave Seville was a better manager?

 

[NoTeleBob]

Alvin was great. That's all I have to say about him.

 

[Stubee]

I saw him live in Detroit before Woodstock and didn’t even know who they were. If you’d been there I pretty much guarantee you’d be a fan, no matter what happened before or after. A simply stunning performance.

 

[24 track]

Do you think he would have earned more notoriety if Dave Seville was a better manager?

intersting thought ,

I know or read that Alvin took to going to spain to study flameco, Towards the end ,but from what I can gather flamenco is a life style not a process , I dont know how far he got on the studies. I was looking forward to hear what he had learned from it

 

[Tarkus60]

I saw him in the early 80's I was impressed. Live he is good, his records not so much.

 

[Lynxtrap]

His playing was very lick-centered, meaning that if you've heard a couple of his solos you have pretty much heard them all.
I'm saying that as a fan.
"I'm Going Home" at Woodstock is one of the most iconic moments in rock guitar history.

 

[suthol]

"I'm Going Home" at Woodstock is one of the most iconic moments in rock guitar history.

That I have to agree but hearing/seeing it a second time was for me one time too many

 

[KeithDavies 100]

Well, call me simple but the second he starts to play that I've just got a big grin on my face!

 

[TheCheapGuitarist]

That I have to agree but hearing/seeing it a second time was for me one time too many

I like it except for that long stretch in the middle where he's not playing.....

 

[posttoastie]

I saw Ten Years After around 1971 at the L A Forum. "Yes" opened the show and "J Geils Band" was next and were amazing. Ten Years After closed with a decent show but J Geils Band was on Fire that night!

 

[OlRedNeckHippy]

He sure had a really cool guitar.
Every time someone mentions "stickers on a guitar", I think of him.
He was one of my early influences & heroes, and yes, he put on one-hell-of-a-show.