RIP Allan Holdsworth

Lodious

Incredible innovator and player. I like his Syntax stuff, but TBH, I prefer him when he was ripping the shit out of it in his early days...

https://youtu.be/VrxLL69C718?t=3m48s

Kebabkid

bigjon said:

The greatest musician of my lifetime. Guitar solo at 4:50 but the whole track is beautiful.

This is sad news.

I can't say this was my sort've thing and actually enjoyed his highly developed and rich chordal work instead but listening to this piece, I can hear all the guitarists that he influenced and who I'm familiar with but there must be lots of others - Alan Murphy, Bill Connors, Brett Garsted and the 2 Franks (Dunnery and Gambale).

And further proof that being an innovator, creative artist, genius means diddly squat when it comes to earning a living from your craft as what a sad state of affairs to be in when the family doesn't have sufficient funds for his funeral. I'm glad that's been rectified and may he RIP

Voxman

I know that with true artists its much more about the art than the remuneration.  But for such a famous & highly regarded guitarist with a career spanning over 50 years, I was saddened to read that after all that work & brilliance, Allan's net worth at the time of his death was a mere $260,000 (around £205,000).  

ChuckManual

A few years ago I tried my hand at gig promotion. I wrote a list of all the people I wanted to book. Allan's name was at the top of that list and he turned out to be the second artist I managed to put on.

He, along with Gary and Jimmy, played a hell of a set - he was the most approachable and friendly chap you could wish to meet (as were the other two) and he was completely happy to chat and engage about his gear before the show (for example: he instantly handed me his Bill DeLap guitar to play when I made a very casual inquiry about it) - I had the band of an old friend (who was also a long-term fan of Allan's) play the support slot - Gary Moore turned-up ...and we all drank into the early hours after the gig.

It was an astonishing night that I will never forget - and his untimely death has only served to put the events of that night into very sharp focus.

RIP Allan. You will be missed.

stonevibe

Such sad news. 

A true musician and artist, in every sense of the words, such a creative person, he will be missed. 

But, what a fantastic musical legacy he left for us all to enjoy!

Moominpapa

The Holdsworth family just closed the gofundme account. Greg Beaton set it up with a goal of $20K and in 4 days it raised $114,275. I think that says everything about how many people were touched by his music.

GuyBoden

Two legends RIP