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Former Ten Years After Guitarist Alvin Lee Dead at 68

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  • Former Ten Years After Guitarist Alvin Lee Dead at 68

    We lost one of the great ones


    Former Ten Years After guitarist Alvin Lee died today at age 68.

    A statement posted on his official website today reads: "With great sadness we have to announce that Alvin unexpectedly passed away early this morning after unforseen complications following a routine surgical procedure.

    "We have lost a wonderful and much loved father and companion, the world has lost a truly great and gifted musician."

    Lee, whose career started in the early '60s, became a star after Ten Years After's 1969 performance at the Woodstock festival, which showcased his lightning-fast, fret-burning runs and mastery of the blues-rock idiom.

    "I'm Going Home," the Ten Years After song that appeared in the 1970 Woodstock film, is a full-on, blues-rocking experience. The adrenaline-fueled performance, a nod to vintage blues and '50s rock, put Lee's name among a short list of elite guitarists — at least for a while.

    "The solo on the movie sounds pretty rough to me these days," Lee told Guitar World last summer. "But it had the energy, and that was what Ten Years After were all about at the time."

    The performance led to more festivals, a label change and their biggest hit, 1971's "I'd Love to Change the World." Although a version of Ten Years After still tours today, they've been doing it without Lee for several years.

    When Ten Years After originally split in 1973, Lee released several solo albums, including On The Road To Freedom, which included guest spots from George Harrison and Ron Wood. His last release was 2012's Still On The Road To Freedom. Lee and Harrison would record together several times over the decades; Lee appears on Harrison's Dark Horse album, and Harrison and Lee take turns soloing on "The Bluest Blues" from Lee's I Hear You Rockin' disc. Harrison also appears on Lee's Zoom LP.

    Guitar World conducted one of the last interviews with Lee, and you can check it out here.

    Former Ten Years After Guitarist Alvin Lee Dead at 68 | Guitar World
    sigpic"If your plan is for one year, plant rice. If your plan is for ten years, plant trees.
    If your plan is for one hundred years, educate children."

  • #2
    A flawed but still underrrated band that was overshadowed by the likes of Led Zepplin, but produced some truly magnificent blues-inspired rock. Alvin probably didn't achieve his potential, but he gave us some bright, shining moments. Guess he is finally going home. I imagine St Peter will be tapping toes to this one as he opens the pearly gates.

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    Win nervously lose tragically - Reds C C

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    • #3
      Alvin Lee was well before my time. But I've watched Woodstock a number of times and the raw energy of Ten Years After always impressed me.

      Rest in Blessed Peace
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