No Clapton? No Cream!
Allan Holdsworth is awesome, but it’s not apples-to-apples to make this comparison, as Clapton preceded him by 50 years here.
Clapton was The Guy who skyrocketed the use and popularity of the electric guitar back in the 60’s. There would be no Allan Holdsworth without Eric Clapton.
Interesting nonetheless. Thanks for posting.
Cream was Clapton, Bruce, and Baker. Period.
That said, Alan Holdsworth was a phenomenal guitar player, head and shoulders above pretty much everybody; really nobody to compare to him. Unfortunately, his music was— while loved by a lot of guitar players (me, for one)— largely incomprehensible to the average listener. Sadly, he died in poverty; not even enough money for his funeral.
What about if Rory Gallagher was in Cream? IMHO a better player and singer.
Imagine if Ritchie Blackmore were Cream’s guitarist. They’d have to call the band “Sour Cream”, right?