I'd love to see a film about holdsworth. Musical genius goes on his own lonely path. Is adored by his peers. Never comprises or backs down. Will be remembered in the halls of musical history and widely acknowledged in 200 years.

What a top bloke...no ego.. just a down to earth genius! ....criminal he's not recognised as one of the best ever by a wider audience

The king of Guitar, no one touches, harmonic, sensibilities, and improvisation skills and composition he had it all RIP maestro

He had that "natural grumpy" face but, actually, he was the sweetest man and a cheerful, loyal companion. We can see here, while he's playing, that very serious look (because he was tremendously serious about his passion for music) but then he stops and the moment after his face break out to a catching smile and a joke about his playing that "sucks"... whaaaaat?? Holy shit! 😱😱 A gigantic artist, a sweet soul, a true, humble gentleman. 💖

Allan is so introverted and intellectual that I'm so glad he found an outlet for his feelings and thought in his music! While he speaks of his father with some reverence and certainly modeled his father's pursuit of music and practical maker skills, there is a sense that his father may have been someone aloof himself or distant in some way, perhaps with his own depressive personality. Allan seemed always so hard on himself and almost never satisfied with his performance, as though he sought an acknowledgement that was beyond his reach. I hope he has found peace now.

A good friend of mine and guitar technician is a spitting image of Holdsworth. His birth name is Kevin but is affectionately known to a larger number of people as Allan. Seeing these old interviews is like seeing an old friend haha what a pleasure. Thanks for everything, Allan. Cheers.

respect is oozing out of the interviewer,,props to him! as for alan, what a GREAT person (never mind his virtuosity)...RIP...

The irony and pain in Holdsworths eyes about not getting a saxophone kills me but he became easily top 3 greatest guitar players to ever live! You can still see he really wants to go back in time and play saxophone!

I sat 6 ft from his hands at The Horn in Houston. Unreal. We talked after. Humble guy, highly approachable, and should be at the top of the heap in rankings by rags like Rolling Stone. Genius is often overshadowed by hype.

I was lucky enough to spend some pre-gig time with Allan before one of his shows. I recall he was almost crippled by stage fright... so much so his hands were shaking uncontrollably. He self medicated with alcohol on that occasion which I'm certain was his ritual. I just thought, "For goodness sake you're Allan Holdsworth, why are you scared?". His mastery of the electric guitar was superhuman.

The fact that Alan went his own way is great, but that he could pull such beautiful phrases off so masterfully and emotionally was awesome.

I had the pleasure of meeting Allan backstage in 1987. Even though he was not in a great mood because he had technical problems that night with his Synthaxe, he was very nice to my friend and I. He also took a photo with us. I cant say enough nice things about Allan. He was a genius no doubt and a very nice, down to earth man. RIP Allan.

His music is indescribable. A true force of nature itself. Beyond the technical facilities the emotional heft of his songs are otherworldly. He is one of the very few high level players that can literally wrench a tear from my eyes. That to me is something special...

Great human and a true visionary..never compromised or strayed from HIS music,,what a gift it is to be such an individual in sound, playing, ideas and composition..the list is short with those types of musicians..UK was the 1st time I heard of him, after that, I checked out all his stuff, he made some great records in the 80's, Atavachron, Sand, Secrets etc etc..Met and got to hang out with him after a gig in 2014 I believe when he was on tour with Virgil Donati and Jimmy Haslip..one would be hard pressed to meet a nicer guy..we drank together most of the night/morning until I had to split as I made my way (very slowly) home by bicycle...Mostly talked about bikes, music of course (asked about ALL his records/players he played with), previous gigs I'd seen of his in various parts of the world and family..He was kinda going through a tough time with a divorce in progress and his X taking him to the cleaner's..he was planning to enter rehab after the tour finished and returning home to California..I thanked him for the chance to spend time with him and commented how much his music meant to me and the lasting impression it has made..we planned to re-connect the next time he'd pass through my general area and he even passed his # along if by chance, I ever found myself in S. Cal..unfortunataly this never happened..what a great guy..he is missed..

The second that you convince yourself that you're the best, your learning stops. Anyone great at any job, is always very critical of themselves. Allan was a gift to the world and the world thanks him. I was lucky enough to see I.O.U. in 1983 at The Bottom Line in NYC. Rest in peace and thanks for leaving us with all the great music to keep your spirit alive for ever.

The guitar virtuoso genius from another galaxy, discover and brought to mainstream awareness by none other than Eddie Van Halen. RIP Guitar Gods.

So grateful for extended moments like these with Allan. He is so truly missed. No other musician like him. Before or after. What a wonderful, humble human. Especially being one of the most formidable musicians ever. I cherish the moments over the years I had the opportunity to meet and speak with him. He was the real deal. Rest easy maestro. ❤️

He was so hard on himself. Which is partly what pushed him to the amazing level he was at. I just wish he knew how much his fans loved what he did. Maybe he did :)

Being in my early 20s in the 80s was a great thing. I remember my friends and I going to the Backstage in Ballard (in Seattle) to see Allan who'd we'd never heard of and were just blown away. It was such a great time to be young: a few friends going out on a Friday night fordinner, a few drinks, and see some really fantastic music. Music was everywhere and tickets were cheap.

What a class guy. For some reason, Allan has really come into focus for me of late. One of the greatest of all time. I had no idea he was regarded by great guitarists as one of their main influences. How many of them spoke of him with wonder, that the things he did were done by him first. That this man had to sell his gear at least once to make ends meet is beyond mind boggling. How did he not get the recognition he deserved? God Bless you, Allan.

Indeed, a genius and a gentleman. 'love that man!!!

RIP Allan. I can sing (sort of) all of his solos from Metal Fatigue, heard it for the first time in 1986, have not stopped since...

Wow. His mind is like a constant stream of musical ideas. He can pick up the guitar and start improving and create captivating melodies endlessly.

The best interview of Allan, so good. We're so lucky that such a great musician gave us so much.

Enigmatic Ocean is a monumental piece of work. That was my first exposure to Holdsworth.

Listening to Mr. Holdsworth for 25+ one can actually hear a maturity in where he is playing from and where it lands.. The overall layout.. Thank You Allan Holdsworth for making the soundtrack of my life and helping me through it all.. 🌞

I don't pretend to understand his runs or the level of musicianship he is on... but I've never heard more beautiful noodling in all my life.

Lots of guitarists can play "fast," but I've always said that Holdsworth's playing was not only fast, but had a deep feeling to it that many others' playing lacks (I won't mention names!). To hear him describe how his first experiencing of music was how it made him FEEL makes perfect sense.

Ive never heard his music ive just recently heard of him, but you can tell just from this interview that hes a really nice humble guy

He was well ahead of his time. Microscopically rare these days.

Allan was such a humble man and at the same time a legit musical genius. I believe that his music and musical harmony will be studied and, hopefully, appreciated more.

Just a genius guitarist. I am constantly humbled by his greatness. I discovered him in the mid-1980s because Eddie Van Halen, who was my idol at the time, kept mentioning him in interviews. I have been playing for 43 years, yet that is the kind of bar that will be always unattainable to me, even if I had the chance to practice ten hours a day, every day for ten years....

I still have this old Carvin DVD. It was great, interviews with these amazing musicians and a look at how stuff was built at the time. Plus it was free! I miss Carvin 😕

The first time i i've listened to AH i was terrified yet excited! One of a kind musician and guitarist.

all this musical complixity we have the most humble musician what a joy just listening to him talk .

A monster guitar player.

This man is the "John Coltrane" of guitar and a special kind of person

His harmonic approach to music was so unic....when I heard that he passed away I felt so sad...R.I.P Allan..you gave to music & harmony new elements, tremendous treasure for us the younger musicians to study for a lifetime....

His fluidity of movement, his enormous vocabulary, and his lightning speed and dexterity, made this man a deserving legendary figure amongst amplified guitar aficionados. His ability to manipulate and juggle musical theory put him in the same paragraph as the Medieval Master J.S. Bach.

I recall the moment I discovered Allan. I was in a dorm at Berklee in '76 and heard this incredible guitar coming from a room across the hall. It was a drummer, listening to Tony Williams LIfetime. I was stunned. Now...Allen is gone...but his recordings remain. It's such a shame Warner did not work with Allen....Letting him do his thing, and put some marketing behind it.

Only just heard about Allan today in a Vai interview... I can already tell that I'll be listening to everything I can find from him for the next few months. He was incredible!

Thank you for this, he deserves more notoriety, love hearing his story!

In the Dead of Night on the UK record has the greatest guitar solo in the history of recorded music.

Complete and unique monster. His influence is on pretty much everything we love. I remember hearing UK for the first time and his playing was so haunting and beautiful. I think we’re learning his playing was more diatonic than we expected within the chord changes. RIP

He was a genius!!

Beautiful in so many ways ...

Alien Holdsworth

The effect of parenting on children cannot be overstated. Alan had exposure to the arts and the creative process early on.

Epic vid! Getting to meet and film Holdsworth Changed my life for the better

Frank Zappa said he was a favourite of his

A fantastic interview and revealing insights into one of the greatest and original guitarists ever to play the instrument!!! Some outstanding guitarists may be able to imitate Allan but he will never be duplicated! Taking a line from the movie Highlander, "There can only be one."

So Warner screwed over Jaco and Holdsworth. Let geniuses do their thing for goodness sake!

And he came reluctantly to guitar - wonder what kind of sax player he would have been. Wow.

According to John Paul Jones, who booked, arranged and played bass on the '68 "Hurdy Gurdy Man" sessions, Alan Parker was the electric (lead) guitarist.

I had the distinct honor of shaking his hands when he played at Mexicali in NJ.. will forever treasure the moment..

A great person and a guitarist from another planet altogether. A phenomenal musician.

I love how English he is. Just one of very very greatest of all time, a top lad and legend. R.I.P no one will ever be anywhere near this guy

WOW! What an amazing interview... although it could have been way longer! Allan was simply both a wonderful guitarist and musician - and even the interviewer had some very relevant and interesting questions and remarks!

Such a phenomenal player! You know when Shawn idolizes you you're doing something right. R.I.P to two of the greatest.

VERY unique player. I like all his albums from Atavachron till he passed. Excellent engineer/producer too, the sound quality of his records is amazing.

a truely great humble but yet intence complex genious . there will never be another guitar god like allen

I'd say Allen's the best guitarist that's ever graced the planet

I ran into holdsworth before a show at the Iron Horse in Northampton Massachusetts. He was coming out of the bathroom and I said, oh my God, Alan I can’t believe I got a ticket to the show because I just returned from Vietnam where I was teaching and I told him how psyched I was to see him play again. He looked at me like a man suffering from terrible depression and he said well I hope you feel that way after the show. I told him I was going to feel the same way I feel after all of his shows. Over the moon.!!!!!!! my brother served as his guitar tech for two shows this is a High Point

Allan Holdsworth and Gary Moore seems to always get overlooked on various best guitarist list.

i can describe how much i love this true divine spirit

comment 182. Thank You Mr. Holdsworth!!

Allan was recognised as a great man by guitarists when he was alive, but it's only now he's gone that 'ordinary' people (!) are discovering his music. It's sad, but that kind of posthumous recognition happens with a lot of thoughtful, shy, intensely creative types - whether they're composers, musicians, artists, writers, or even philosophers. It's nice that his music lives on, still instantly recognisable from the very first chord. And what a delightful, humble, down-to-Earth man he was. "Eeeh, tha's done all right for a Yorkshire lad. Bradford, eh? Aye, tha'll do fer me!" :-) I'm grateful to the many KZfaq peeps who are uploading videos of Allan's work and bringing him to a world audience. Thanks to all. ♥

Holdsworrh was the fucking man.. no one played like him. Later I think people started biting his style but he really is a one of a kind legend.. rip

Enigmatic ocean was big for me in 8th 9th and 10th grade I would always go back to it and listen again Great stuff On another note I saw Allen Holdsworth at the palace court in 1984 Small club great show chad wackerman was playing drums

He took the guitar to the outer limits. So many different ways to play the guitar. All to be appreciated.

Funny guy and epic guitarist! Thanks Allan!

God bless him. Miss the man.

It's interesting how often he mentions when someone was nice to him & how much it meant. Truly brilliant "other" people can struggle to function in the world & are often misunderstood. It was other brilliant folks who recognized him for who he was & treated him as a peer & friend.

He was awesome! I love different, and that is exactly what he was and brilliant.

I cant thank you enough for this upload. Allan is my all time Master of the master's master musician. The quintessential genius and the creator and channeler of this divine language of his. His humble personality and playful quips are exactly what you would expect from a Leo born. He has the mind, heart and soul of a genuine noble. This sort of achievement transcends time as we know it. Most of the crop just want their cut of the pie and dance to the tune of what is in demand for the day. Allan is such a musician that defies logical explanation, no one is going to best him, technically or musically. Plenty musicians who have perfect pitch, playing multiple instruments and a commercial career, all that is good in both musical and business context and is also admirable for sure, but even then Allan leaves everyone in the dust far behind with his contribution and abilities. Everyone would wish they have the 10 percent of his genius, and of course none of the hardwork that went behind it. You can only sweat so much. Allan is a musical savant and a miracle. Far beyond just excelling within certain parameters, he is a universe in his own. RIP Allan, I love you and I wish to meet you sometime in future, for now your music takes me to that source. Thank you so much.

Awe inspiring beyond words.

Chops...those chords...that finger stretch ..he is BRILLIANT

Fantastic, just a guitar Jedi master, one of the best ever

RIP Master.

GREAT GUITARIST with unique style that can be recognised at once!!!

ahhh, Carvin... a name synonymous with a time when custom guitars weren't flippantly given to the mostly overblown instagram/tiktok horde.

I've heard people playing on KZfaq that sound like Holdsworth and they come close, but there's nothing like the real thing. I understand how he constructs everything, but I'll never be able to play like him. I love how his solos and chords always transposes from major to minor (or whatever), it sounds so sad and mysterious.

Playing in Heaven now with Hendrix , Zappa , S.R.V , Eddie V. Halen ,R.I.P ...

I saw Allan in Boston. The club probably had 100 people all there to see him. He didn't come out for what seemed an awfully long time. Someone nearby said Allan sometimes had emotional issues. Finally he came out with Gary husband and Jimmy Johnson to perform the men of twain album. I'm glad I was able to see them. It was a unique musical experience.

Even if i wasnt a fan of his playing which i absolutely am,i absolutely love how down to earth he is. Theres so many people who say such and such is so down to earth but you can tell they still think of themselves as someones. This is literally that sound guy you meet down the pub and have a craic on to then end up having 10 more,absolutely brilliant lovely fella

Listen to that tone, alone. I am so thankful that I saw him play at the Spectrum before it closed. I guess there is a serious jam going on somewhere between fathers and sons.

What a superb record of the great man’s history, from the man himself! A unique talent. RIP and God bless him.

Excellent interview ... R.I.P Mr Holdsworth.

Genius humble and sadly no longer with us RIP Allan

The first time I heard Eric Johnson was the first time I heard Allen Holdsworth.

Great interview

Lovely bloke Allan and a fellow Yorkshireman, met him a few times and he's up there with Johnny McLaughlin, another fine guitar playing Yorkshireman.

I Would have loved to have met up with him in a pub , can imagine talking to him for hours , and with plenty of laughs ..Glad i got to see him live in Penzance , Cornwall .

great interview and a monster guy !!

'My dad made me my first record player'. Anyone else, wow, Alan - yeah that makes sense.

Well done, sir. Thank you.

His solo on In The Dead Of Night, from the UK first album is a masterpiece.There are still many guitarists of today who can not play anything of that quality, and that was from 1969

Hope this quarantine I get this good at guitar

Most original musician ever and i agree with you marin what a top bloke.

Wish we could of had a Holsworth/Lane album with Selvaganesh and Helborg