Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee
Alvin Leewas an English singer and guitarist, best known as the lead vocalist and lead guitarist of the blues rock band Ten Years After...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionGuitarist
Date of Birth19 December 1944
band definitely following pushing record support trying
We're definitely pushing for everyone to do the band full-time, ... But right now, we're just trying to set everything in order, and I'm trying to do it so we have a big record out and have the bookings and the following to support us.
album almost best bigger engineer free good group guys half knew less nice recording studio three
We wanted to make something that represented what we were actually doing, ... The first album was OK, but that was almost three and a half years ago, and we more or less did that on our own. But with Arhoolie, we were able to go into a bigger studio -- it was a lot more professional -- and we did the whole recording in one day, because we already knew what we were going to do. And we had a good engineer that had a nice system, and he let us feel free to do what we do, and I think that's the best way to record a group of guys like us.
area bigger build definitely developing fan following good impression people push schedule south trying
Yeah, we're definitely developing a following. I mean, we had such an impression on the people here, they wanted us back again. And actually, in South Florida, we do have a good fan base. It's just that because of how our schedule is, we don't go back to the area a lot. That's what we're trying to push now -- we want to build a bigger following in Florida.
inspired lost music
I lost a big part of me. That's what inspired me to take our music outside.
acceptable believe change club deal mainstream music people receptive singing stick style touched trends
We want to go more mainstream but stick to what we do, ... Every place we go, the people are receptive with the style of music we're doing. And even if we go into a club setting, we're still singing about God. We want to be the people that change the trends of what's acceptable and what's not. We believe it's in our music, really. And I think it's the music that's touched everyone when they deal with us.
arenas baseball enjoy good hockey ice playing stadiums
We started playing ice hockey arenas and baseball stadiums which was not as good as the underground circuit. I didn't enjoy it as much.
school practice guitar
I just couldn't take school seriously: I had this guitar neck with four frets which I kept hidden under the desk. It had strings on it so I would practice my chord shapes under the desk and that's about all I did at school.
anniversary thinking band
The chances of a reunion now are less likely. I was thinking of having a 40th anniversary of the band, but now they are really another band, so it's all a bit weird.
music voice gigs
... I'm not conscious of the speed ... it's not my motive ... my motive is displaying a voice through the fingerboard ... it can get to the point where I don't have control over what I am playing ... I never end the gig until I can't sing anymore
book world
Anywhere you go in the world is what you make of it, not what you read in books.
nice people guy
George Harrison was also a pleasure to work with. He was one of the most famous people I've ever known, but in spite of that fame, he was such a nice and friendly guy.
dad listening records
I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad's Benny Goodman records.
play people crowds
I just play to the people I can see. So it's almost like you are playing to the first few rows of the crowd. You can see the faces of the first hundred people, but then it becomes a blur as the crowds disappear over the hill.
thinking modern basics
I think a lot of modern day guitarists start off playing like Eddie van Halen, and they don't take the time to learn the basics.