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.

If Eddie van Halen, Guthrie Govan, and Shawn Lane look up to you, it means you’re THE man.

RIP Allan Holdsworth.

I was in Arizona for my high school day's when I was 19 he came to Tempe AZ to play at a place called Chewy'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  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

Iam from lusaka zambia.  .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" the end ."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  ."guys. .carry on "

I think you might like this, Rick, from Graham Bennett's book 'Soft Machine. Out-Bloody-Rageous': 'The (1974) tour also provided a moment that gave Roy (Babbington) an insight into Allan's complex personality. «We were doing a gig in Belfast and we couldn't find Allan. So we all went looking for him because we wanted to get on with the rehearsal. The roadies were playing Holst'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»' (p. 278).

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.

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

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 "this is Chad Wackerman,'... and me being a Zappa fan I was like 'Yes I know....'.
None of my mates believe my story, but it's a cherished memory for me.
And it was a wonderful gig.

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

What Alan taught me was that SOUND HAS COLOR, and that infinity is REAL ; there are an infinite number of possibilities for playing the same scales and chords.  It all depends on your education, experience, and willingness to go that extra step, to study hard, to push the boundary, to BE unconventional.  Alan was the greatest guitar pioneer of the 20th century, and music will never be the same now that he has lived.  R.I.P. Alan, we will love you FOREVER.

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&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,  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.  I tell him and he goes "cool", 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 "fan boy" so I pried my chin off my chest and shut up. Holdsworth asked me if I was going to the show. I said "yes, of course". He said, get Tommy to give you a backstage pass and we can have a beer or three after the show. That'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.  I fully agree with Senor Beato.

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

Allan's music was/is so advanced; in 1991 my jazz guitar teacher told me Allan was supposed to play Vancouver in the late 80s  but his drummer (Chad or Gary?) couldn'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!

Saw Allan 4 times, always in England. The last time I saw him we helped load the gear out of the venue and he was telling us that they couldn't afford a crew. I spoke with him outside for a while and asked him about the synthaxe days and he told me that he recorded it to tape. So no midi tweaking possible after he had the take he wanted. He was also standing alone at the bar across the street prior to the show. All in all I think I spoke with him 3 times, and each time I mostly ranted and raved about the 4:15 Bradford Executive of the Sand album. His music was priceless and carried me through some of the toughest times. He was an authentic genius and the vast majority of the planet missed it completely. I'm glad I didn't, but he'll be missed. Thanks for the video, very heartfelt and sincere.

MY Allan Story ,- The very first concert , i attended , with Allan Holdsworth , was in "Monmartre JazzHouse" Copenhagen , Denmark , with Stanley Clarke , as "Main Event" (boy - did Clarke get that wrong ! ): Well- just before Allan started the third or fourth tune- i shouted - to Allan - to "Turn up the Guitar ! " .... which , he quietly , but firm , remarked - " What Guitar ?" ... he was .... ofcourse - playing the SynthAxe ....  ;-) - Now the most beautiful , and downright amazing thing happened , when i shared this story - on our "Unreal" forum - a dude , contacted me ... and told me he not only remembered
the diatribe - BUT - he -in fact - had ...the WHOLE , concert , straight out , from the Mixer ! ... and ... he SENDED me - the WHOLE goddam - beautiful concert

Holdsworth is the measure of where you are in your development of your musicality. When you appreciate it, you've crossed the threshold of what it means to be a musician or just someone who knows how to play a little. Generally speaking

Allan will be talked about for centuries to come

Allan literally changed my life. He set my music on a different trajectory and the album I’m best known for was my way of introducing a generation and a fan base within that generation that otherwise would probably never had been inspired to give him a listen and try to expand their aural pallets if you will. The Wackerman brothers are family friends which allowed me to meet Allan. My dad who is also a great guitarist and being the doting father told Allan about my music and what an inspiration he had been to me at a gig they did together. I’ve been blessed in life and have gotten to experience some incredible things and great honors, but the pinnacle for me was stepping off stage at The House of Blues Hollywood on a headline tour about 10 years ago and a guy about 25 years my elder walking up to me and saying “Michael I just wanted to say hello and I loved the show. I play keyboard for Allan Holdsworth. I can tell he’s an influence on your music. He’s here with me. He’ll be back from the bar in just a moment if you’d like to say hello”. My heart sunk into my stomach. My first thought was “I am SO glad that this is happening after the show and not before. Because I would have absolutely fallen apart up there if I knew Allan was in the building. He was very complimentary, absurdly humble (I mean he could NOT take a compliment) and he remembered meeting me at the LAX baggage carousel when I was coming back from a Europe tour and they were coming back from Australia. I saw Chad first and then it struck me that either Barbara Streisand or Allan was going to be walking up behind him as those were Chad’s two main gigs at the time. Chad urged me to say hello and said Allan would get a kick out of it. I said to him “I never do this, but I am such a massive fan that I couldn’t miss an opportunity to shake your hand and thank you for what you do”. He replied in Allan’s true humble fashion by saying “So you’re a guitar player then”. Implying that only a guitarist would recognize him. He remembered our interaction and my doting father telling him about my music. I think I was probably beaming for a week after that night at the HOB. I’ll remember that fondly forever. A true genius musician.

I saw Allan play live with level 42 back in 1990(my first live experience), such an amazing musician and inspiration!

Would love to hear a video with you and your brother chatting listening to AH records! MAKE IT HAPPEN!!