Allan Holdsworth, Influential Prog-Fusion Guitarist For Soft Machine,Gong, U.K., Passes At 70

Allan Holdsworth

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH, called "one of the most innovative and influential electric guitarists of the past 50 years," was found dead SUNDAY (APRIL 16th) at the age of 70 at his home in VISTA, CA.. HOLDSWORTH's most recent performance was APRIL 20th at TEN TWENTY PRIME in SAN MARCOS, CA

His death was announced on his FACEBOOK page by his daughter, LOUISE.

“It is with heavy hearts that we notify everyone of the passing of our beloved father. We would appreciate privacy and time while we grieve the loss of our dad, grandad, friend and musical genius... We are undeniably still in shock with his unexpected death and cannot begin to put into words the overwhelming sadness we are experiencing. He is missed tremendously.”

The U.K. native had lived in SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA since 1980.  He moved to VISTA because of its hilly terrain, which allowed him to pursue his other passion -- bicycling. 

HOLDSWORTH drew from jazz, rock and classical music for his style, cleanly "articulating every note and on ballads, gently swelling chords which made ingenious use of space and silence," according to music critic GEORGE VARGA's extensive obit in the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE. HOLDSWORTH was known to be EDDIE VAN HALEN's favorite guitarist and a noted influence on his style.

HOLDSWORTH just released two new albums for indie MANIFESTO RECORDS on APRIL 6th, the two-CD set "Eidolon: The ALAN HOLDSWORTH Collection," and “The Man Who Changed Guitar Forever,” a 12-CD box set.

FRANK ZAPPA once hailed HOLDSWORTH for "single-handedly reinventing the electric guitar.”

Born AUGUST 6th, 1946, in BRADFORD, a small town in YORKSHIRE. HOLDSWORTH was Inspired by jazz greats CHARLIE PARKER and JOHN COLTRANE. He originally wanted to play saxophone but his family could not afford one.

HOLDSWORTH made his recording debut in 1969 on “Igginbottom's Wrench,” the sole album by the English band IGGINBOTTOM.

In the 1970s, he gained acclaim as a guitarist in bands such as TEMPEST and SOFT MACHINE, and on albums with JEAN LUC PNTY and the ANGLO-FRENCH band GONG.  He joined the jazz-rock fusion quartet TONY WILLIAMS LIFETIME, then collaborated with GEORGE BENSON on the '76 album, "Velvet Darkness."

HOLDSWORTH co-founded the successful progressive jazz-rock supergroup U.K.in 1977, with former YES drummer BILL BRUFORD, former ROXY MUSIC violinist and keyboardist EDDIE JOBSON, and former KING CRIMSON singer and bassist JOHN WETTON, who died JANUARY 31st at the age of 67.

“My music is written with one goal in mind: to improvise," he told the SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUTE. "It's like explaining a great story in words, but without words, much faster than you could with words. It's like a direct line of instantaneous communication where you don't have to wait for the end."

HOLDSWORTH recorded his second solo album, “I.O.U.,” in 1980. He made at least 13 more albums over the next two decades, including 1985’s “Metal Fatigue.” Its title track has been credited by fellow guitarist TOM MORELLO as the single most influential piece of music that shaped his own style.

HOLDSWORTH also had a major impact as a guitar designer, helping develop his best-selling signature HOLDSWORTH H2 semi-hollow electric guitar model.

He is survived by his daughters, EMILY and LOUISE, his son, SAM, and his granddaughter, RORI. Funeral services and a memorial are pending.

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