Allan Holdsworth Tribute 1946-2017

Comments · 840

• CR

  @Crossdrums · 9 years ago

  So here's my Allan Holdsworth story... It begins with beer, no joke, sometime around the spring of 2000. I had just moved to San Marcos, Ca. and was interested in the local watering holes. One of the only local breweries at the time was a restaurant pub San Marcos Brewery, this is all way before San Diego became the beer mecca it is today. Anyways, a little backtracking is in order... I first heard Allan's playing in my late teens on a Bill Bruford greatest hits compilation called Master Strokes. Being a student of the drums I was listening to all the greats and after that album, I became a Holdsworth fan. So fast forward a decade and change, and I roll into San Marcos Brewery to check the place out. I walk in and pony up to the bar and I see a person underneath it, much like a plumber would be underneath your sink installing some contraption. I couldn't make the person out as they were clanging away on what looked like an installation of some odd shaped beer tap. After realizing there was a customer, the person wrangles his body up and low and behold I'm staring at Allan Holdsworth. The look on my face must have been priceless, I couldn't believe it. After pulling my jaw off the floor, I said something to the effect of "You're Allan Holdsworth, right? What the hell is Allan Holdsworth doing underneath a bar in my town?" He proceeds to tell me he's friends with the owner, Dave and that he was installing a proper English-style hand pump for cask beer because there was nowhere around that had what he was used to getting back home. Something of his own design mind you. So let it not be said, Allan DID love his beer. So much so that he wanted his favorite style to be made to his exacting specifications. Kind of like his guitars, but we'll get to that a little later. At this point I'm pulling my jaw off the floor again because I'm chilling with Allan Holdsworth rapping about his music and he's giving me a lesson on cask beers. Turns out, at the time, Allan was living in the next town over in Vista and he just got done installing this hand pump and was heading home and he invited me over to his house to continue the conversation. Needless to say, it wouldn't have mattered what I had planned that day, it was getting canceled. I was going over to Allan Holdsworth's house! For those that don't know, Allan lived in a geodesic dome home. Very bohemian, very Allan, right!? We go in and he proceeds to show me prototype versions of the hand pump that he just got done installing. Of course they were hooked up to a keg and fully functional, so I wasn't going to be rude when he offered me a pint. It's about this time that one of his friends walks through the front door. Now I need to explain something about Allan's house, there were guitars everywhere. Not on stands, not in cases, nope, they were just laying around. On a chair, on the couch, on the table. Turns out they were all prototypes of the new Alan Holdsworth model that Carvin was making for him and he was testing a bunch out. Making sure they were to his exacting specifications, see a theme here. So Allan's friend comes in and picks up one of the guitars and starts strumming away on it. He mentions that he really likes the feel of it and no sooner than the guy finishes his sentence, Allan gives him the guitar. I couldn't believe it! This was the most down to earth, generous man I ever met. We continue on and wind up in Allan's home studio listening to live tracks from the Japan tour he just got back from. Greatest day ever, right!?!? It's getting late and I'm probably not ending this story with enough justice, but I'm gonna wrap it up now and just say that that day was one of the best days of my life. Thank you Allan Holdsworth, your genius, generosity, and kindness will never be forgotten by this fan.

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• DI

  @DiegoPujolT · 7 years ago

  If Eddie van Halen, Guthrie Govan, and Shawn Lane look up to you, it means you’re THE man.<br><br>RIP Allan Holdsworth.

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• PO

  @poodlepublishing · 9 years ago

  I was in Arizona for my high school day&apos;s when I was 19 he came to Tempe AZ to play at a place called Chewy&apos;s. I went there to see him with no money I was going to watch from the front window ,, then he walk right by me and I told him that I came just to see him and I had no money ,, he took me right &nbsp;to the front row and I watched him, chad and Jeff. the music has so amazing and the show was so cool. He was so cool and I never forgot what he did for me .. Love you love you love you love you :) RIP

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• AL

  @Al59redux · 9 years ago

  I think you might like this, Rick, from Graham Bennett&apos;s book &apos;Soft Machine. Out-Bloody-Rageous&apos;: &apos;The (1974) tour also provided a moment that gave Roy (Babbington) an insight into Allan&apos;s complex personality. «We were doing a gig in Belfast and we couldn&apos;t find Allan. So we all went looking for him because we wanted to get on with the rehearsal. The roadies were playing Holst&apos;s The Planets on the PA. Straight music used to affect Allan, and I found him sitting in the loo downstairs crying. He said, «That music just gets me». That was Allan»&apos; (p. 278).

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• AR

  @artrock5741 · 6 years ago

  Little known story: Frank Zappa first heard Allan at the very first studio playback of the completed &apos;UK&apos; album at Trident Studios in London. &nbsp;Eddie Jobson, who had recently left Zappa&apos;s band to form UK with Bruford and Wetton, invited Frank to come check out his new post-Zappa project, as Frank happened to be in England. &nbsp;Apparently, Frank was a little late and walked into the studio control room after &apos;In The Dead of Night&apos; had started, but just in time for the guitar solo - making Zappa one of the first people in the world to hear both Jobson&apos;s composition and Holdsworth&apos;s classic solo. &nbsp;We already know he had a deep respect for Jobson&apos;s musicianship (as Zappa formed his only 4-piece band with him), but that&apos;s the exact moment he also became a life-long Holdsworth fan.

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• JH

  @jhardycarroll · 9 years ago

  Really moving. I saw him playing with Vinnie (and Steve and Jimmy) back in 1986 or so at a shitty bar in Tucson, AZ.. He was hanging back, obviously very nervous. I approached him and told him how much his music meant to me, especially his song Funnels. He seemed genuinely touched that I liked it so much. He played it that night, nodding to me before he started. It was one of the greatest things I ever saw.

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• WA

  @WaveRyeDer99 · 9 years ago

  Allan&apos;s music was/is so advanced; in 1991 my jazz guitar teacher told me Allan was supposed to play Vancouver in the late 80s &nbsp;but his drummer (Chad or Gary?) couldn&apos;t make it. His charts for the set list were sent to the promoter in Vancouver who tried to get a local drummer to sit in. No jazz or session players in Vancouver could learn the songs or were too scared to perform them. Allan had to cancel the gig. Allan Holdsworth the legend!

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• TA

  @talkingbasslessons · 9 years ago

  A lot of guitarists study the playing of other instrumentalists like horn players and pianists. Allan Holdsworth is one of a select &nbsp;few guitarists that you see studied by other instrumentalists. RIP Allan. Lovely heartfelt tribute Rick.

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• DA

  @davidlungu446 · 5 years ago

  Iam from lusaka zambia. &nbsp;.i discovered allan holdsworth posthumously. I was completely heartbroken at hearing of his passing.but i met allan.i met him via his music. He spoke to me.things.things that words cant express.fortunately. he was a genius. He completely transported me.allan was so great he was almost useless.he was on the border of&quot; the end .&quot;if he had played any better hed have been at 0.the starting point.there where exists nonsense.he had to stay there therefore.right where he was.he was unbelievable. Totally unbelievable. I will miss him.although again i wont.because he is right here with me .in his favourite words &nbsp;.&quot;guys. .carry on &quot;

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• SG

  @SGxPERIMENT · 6 years ago

  I went to see him live in a little village in Wales called Abertillery. I went on my own. I popped in a tiny pub for a beer before the show and in walks Allan Holdsworth. I jumped up like a jack-in-the-box to say hello and shake his hand. He was so gracious, and talkative, and introduced me to the guy who was with him. He said &quot;this is Chad Wackerman,&apos;... and me being a Zappa fan I was like &apos;Yes I know....&apos;.<br>None of my mates believe my story, but it&apos;s a cherished memory for me.<br>And it was a wonderful gig.

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• DE

  @debussy2002 · 2 years ago

  Hello, <br>I was a very close pal of Allan. He visited my house, I stayed at his house in Tustin.<br>He visited another house of mine, after his gig at &quot;Band On The Wall &quot;, Manchester.<br>He played &amp; liked my guitar, We went to Haworth, where he bought beer pumps parts.<br>I took many photos in pubs. When I stayed in is house in Tustin LA, I took pics of his guitas and amps &amp; outboard gear, <br>We never discussed music until I mentioned Debussy, &amp; later Michael Brecker - <br> we waffled on for Hours....

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• AU

  @auddoc99 · 1 year ago

  My Holdsworth story: From 1980 to about 2000, I owned and ran a pro-audio service biz in Vancouver, Canada called The Audio Doctor where we looked after all the studios, music stores, PA companies,and musicians equipment servicing. One day a bunch of stuff was sent over from The Commodore ballroom, a classic venue, in downtown Vancouver. The person delivering the gear gave me no name, just the venue and that they were playing there, that night. A G&amp;K bass amp, Lexicon delay, Eventide Harmonizer, and two other pieces, probably processing gear. I fixed and tested the stuff, threw in in the car, delivering the gear, bringing it to the stage. Imagine my surprise- the Allen Holdsworth show. I bring the stuff up onstage, helping the road crew, only one guy, &nbsp;install it and test it. Just before sound-check, late afternoon. I turn around and Holdsworth wearing a guitar and plugged in, asks me about what was faulty in each piece and surprisingly knew a little electronics engineering lingo. &nbsp;I tell him and he goes &quot;cool&quot;, then rips off this insane legato lick, while standing about 2 feet away from me and seemingly effortlessly, that almost made me fall over. When you work in the biz you are not allowed to be &quot;fan boy&quot; so I pried my chin off my chest and shut up. Holdsworth asked me if I was going to the show. I said &quot;yes, of course&quot;. He said, get Tommy to give you a backstage pass and we can have a beer or three after the show. That&apos;s what went down post-show. And Chad Wackerman also a very nice lad, and killer drummer, probably had a few too. The conversation was mostly about living in LA, pluses or minuses and not geeking out about guitars, gear, etc. Allan was a really, really nice guy to hang with, as you might imagine and this is a true past story that still makes me smile. A busy day and a great night! His playing at that gig was unbelievable. And so different. &nbsp;I fully agree with Senor Beato.

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