Alvin Lee (1944 – 2013)

Alvin Lee, the fleet fingered guitarist best known for fronting the band Ten Years After, passed away from complications from a recent surgery. 

Lee formed Ten Years After in 1966 and quickly gained a reputation for their high octave live shows.  When the Newport Jazz Festival began incorporating rock bands in the program, Ten Years After were a featured act.  But it was the band’s appearance at Woodstock that shot them to stardom.  Their blistering performance of ‘I’m Going Home’ was one of the film’s many highlights.

Ten Years After would score several hits including, ‘I’d Love To Change The World’ and ‘Love Like A Man’ before Lee left the band in 1973 to focus on a solo career.  Though his combination of speed and precision laid the groundwork for speed metal, Lee always considered himself more of a picker than a ‘rock guitarist’

Alvin Lee was 68 years old.

Read more at npr.com.