For a 24 year old from Nottingham, England, it had to be pretty heady stuff performing at Woodstock, effortlessly playing his lightning fast guitar runs, which guitarists many years later still attempt, referring to it as shredding. Alvin Lee continued playing until the end, continuing to achieve success as a solo artist and then again with Ten Years After.
Here are a few of the tributes I found:
BBC March 6, 2013: Alvin Lee, rock guitarist in the band Ten Years After, dies at 68
New York Times, by William Yardley, March 6, 2013: Alvin Lee, British Blues-Rock Guitarist, Dies at 68
Billboard Magazine, by Marc Schneider March 6, 2013: Alvin Lee of Ten Years After Dead at 68
CBS March 6, 2013: Guitarist Alvin Lee of Ten Years After dies at 68
Stereoboard March 6, 2013 by Jon Stickler: Ten Years After Singer And Guitarist Alvin Lee Dies Aged 68
Associated Press March 6, 2013: Alvin Lee Dead: Guitarist For Ten Years After, Dies At Age 68
Dangerousminds March 6, 2013: Alvin Lee of Ten Years After, R.I.P.
There were a boat load of singer, song writers from the 1960’s and 70’s that had a very sound Christian upbringing.
They seemed to understand the cultural challenges facing our country and wrote lyrics that could be interpreted either way.
In the early 70’s I shared a ‘sacrament’ with Alvin Lee during a “10 years after” concert at a SUNY basketball arena. It was between sets as he was in the mens room with like 7-8 groupies (the thought of his female entourage still brings tears to my eyes) . The guy was cool to all the strangers waiting to use the can and he was quite fried. But his guitar work was impeccable that night. GOIN HOME. SEE MY BABY.
Oooh, forgot about his Carl Perkins/Jerry Lee Lewis tribute in the middle of "I'm Goin' Home" - effortlessly swing from blues to rockabilly and back - mmmmm