I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad's Benny Goodman records. Alvin Lee More Quotes by Alvin Lee More Quotes From Alvin Lee I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do Alvin Lee changing-the-world knows world So if you see Ten Years After, it's not me anymore. I'm very happy with what I am doing now. Alvin Lee ten very-happy years I began to learn a lot of chords and rhythms. It was a bit boring at the time but came in very handy later on. Alvin Lee chords guitar boring They have decided to tour under the name of Ten Years After which I don't think is very cool. To be honest, they have had to do that as it's the only way they can get any work. Alvin Lee journey years thinking Strangely enough, through all those school years I decided at 13 or 14 I was going to be a musician and so school was just something to get out of the way, a waste of time and not to bother with it. Alvin Lee way years school I just play to the people I can see. So it's almost like you are playing to the first few rows of the crowd. You can see the faces of the first hundred people, but then it becomes a blur as the crowds disappear over the hill. Alvin Lee crowds play people I think I'll continue to work as a solo artist. Alvin Lee solo artist thinking It was by listening to Goodman's band, that I began to notice the guitarist Charlie Christian, who was one of the first musicians to play solos in a big band set-up. Alvin Lee guitar christian play The chances of a reunion now are less likely. I was thinking of having a 40th anniversary of the band, but now they are really another band, so it's all a bit weird. Alvin Lee band anniversary thinking ... I'm not conscious of the speed ... it's not my motive ... my motive is displaying a voice through the fingerboard ... it can get to the point where I don't have control over what I am playing ... I never end the gig until I can't sing anymore Alvin Lee gigs music voice It will be the first time I've played live with a double bass. Alvin Lee double-bass double-standard firsts There is a big age gap between my sisters Janice and Irma and myself so I didn't know them that well when I was younger although they have been very supportive in later life. Alvin Lee sister supportive age Anywhere you go in the world is what you make of it, not what you read in books. Alvin Lee book world George Harrison was also a pleasure to work with. He was one of the most famous people I've ever known, but in spite of that fame, he was such a nice and friendly guy. Alvin Lee guy nice people I went to see John Mayall at the Marquee, with Peter Green on guitar, and that was a particularly good gig. Alvin Lee gigs green guitar I think a lot of modern day guitarists start off playing like Eddie van Halen, and they don't take the time to learn the basics. Alvin Lee modern guitar thinking I just couldn't take school seriously: I had this guitar neck with four frets which I kept hidden under the desk. It had strings on it so I would practice my chord shapes under the desk and that's about all I did at school. Alvin Lee guitar practice school Strangely enough, I wasn't into fast guitarists. I preferred Peter Green's subtle touch. I saw him with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers at the Marquee Club in London and was very impressed. He was the only guitarist I've ever seen to turn the volume control on his guitar down during a solo. Alvin Lee control down green guitar We used to play the underground clubs like the UFO, and Middle Earth, and they were great because they would have on things like a poet, string quartets, and then a rock band! It was kinda cool! Alvin Lee great cool earth play We also did something called the Texas Peace Festival, which was actually a better gig both musically, and in the way it was organised. Alvin Lee something better peace way
