Op woensdag 6 maart vertrok de Britse gitarist en zanger Alvin Lee naar de eeuwige jachtvelden. Alvin Lee vergaarde roem met zijn band Ten Years After en was ook op de podia van Nederlandse clubs veelvuldig te gast. Ten Years After werd in 1966 opgericht en werd wereldwijd bekend na hun optreden op Woodstock in 1969. De band scoorde bescheiden hitjes met I’m Going Home en Love Like A Man, maar was toch meer een albumband dan een singlesband. Hun bekendste albums Ssssh, Cricklewood Green, A Space in Time en Recorded Live stammen allemaal uit de periode eind jaren zestig/begin jaren zeventig. Lee maakte ook veertien soloplaten waarvan In Flight uit 1975 de bekendste en succesvolste was. Lee bleef zijn hele leven actief in de muziek en leverde vorig jaar zijn laatste album, in retrospectief zijn zwanenzang, Still on the Road to Freedom af.

Lee stierf nadat complicaties waren opgetreden na een operatie. Lee is 68 jaar geworden. Naast Ten Years After bandleden hebben tal van muzikanten hun medeleven betuigd. Hieronder een greep uit de reacties.

Ric Lee (Ten Years After drummer): “We are all stunned. All of us. I don’t think it’s even sunk in yet as to the reality of his passing. We are all thinking of his family and friends today, and offer our own condolences.”

Leo Lyons (Ten Years After bassist): “I heard about Alvin’s passing and it came as a complete shock to me. I still haven’t taken it in. I feel very sad. He was the closest thing I had to a brother. We had our differences, but we shared so many great experiences together that nothing can take away. I will miss him very much. He was an inspiration for a generation of guitar players. Keep on rockin’, Alvin!”

Joe Bonamassa: “Rest in peace, Alvin Lee… Another hero gone this week… This is becoming too regular… A very sad night.”

Geezer Butler (Black Sabbath): “Shocked and saddened to hear of Alvin Lee passing, one of the true greats and a major influence on Sabbath. The fastest guitar in the west. He was one of the few people that believed in Sabbath when we started out, and he got us our first major London gig, at the Marquee. A true gentleman and lovely bloke. RIP Alvin.”

Slash (ex Guns N’Roses): “I just heard about Alvin Lee’s passing. He was the 1st badass, super fast lead guitarist I remember hearing as a kid. legend. RIP.”

Bill Ward (ex Black Sabbath): “Thank you, Alvin, for all that you were. For all that you gave. You were one of a kind. Your music rocked with passion, force, excitement; brave in risk, bringing this listener to the point of ‘wowism’. In short, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Our condolences go to Alvin’s family. Heartfelt sympathy at this time of loss.

Joe Satriani: “Alvin Lee was a big influence on my playing. He was a great musician and a gentleman too. I still have the pick he gave me a few years back… R.I.P. Alvin Lee.”

Glenn Hughes: “RIP Alvin Lee…so very sad to hear of another friend passing…”