80 Years After - Rediscovering Alvin Lee

Graham Anthony Barnes was born in Nottingham 19th December 1944. Graham's father, Sam, used to collect chain-gang songs, delta blues and the Mississippi blues. Blues men visited Nottingham in the late 50s and early 60s - notably Champion Jack Dupree, Roosevelt Sykes, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee and Jesse Fuller. Big Bill Broonzy, whose songs became anthems for the civil rights movement, visited Nottingham a number of times. After attending one of these blues nights, Graham's parents hosted afters at their house - inviting Big Bill Broonzy to play in their living room. At just twelve years old, Graham remembered sitting on the floor looking up at this giant man stomping away playing the blues.

"I played the clarinet and then through listening to Benny Goodman I heard Charlie Christian and I decided I liked what Charlie was doing much more than what Benny Goodman was doing, so I definitely had a feeling for the guitar. It’s difficult to say, all those years ago but the guitar to me, I think it’s the Big Bill Broonzy thing that really clinched it, I just went and swapped my clarinet for a guitar in fact." Alvin Lee

Inspired by Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and his father's record collection - Graham avidly taught himself guitar before adopting the name, Alvin Lee.

In the Jaybirds, Alvin followed the Beatles' footsteps performing at the Star Club in Hamburg. They recorded with the legendary producer Joe Meek. Joe unsuccessfully invited Alvin to join the instrumental band, the Outlaws (featuring Chas Hodges of Chas & Dave and Richie Blackmore of Deep Purple). Alvin acquired his cherished 1958 Gibson ES-335 for £45 in Nottingham. He called it his best investment. By 1967, Alvin Lee was gaining recognition on lead guitar and vocals in Ten Years After (TYA). With Leo Lyons, Ric Lee (unrelated) and Chick Churchill - TYA established a residency at the legendary Marquee club, 90 Wardour Street - the site is presently marked by a blue plaque to Keith Moon of the Who. TYA toured relentlessly sharing the bill with Jimi Hendrix, the Nice, Chicken Shack and Traffic and countless other bands synonymous with the 60s. In 1968, their young manager aged just 22 years old, Chris Wright, co-founded Chrysalis - subsequent Ten Years After albums would be put out on the label. The band's Chrysalis output was recorded with their friend and producer Chris Kimsey at Olympic Sounds Studios in Barnes.

None of the band had a clue what locations they were getting themselves into as they just focussed on getting as many shows as possible wherever they might be. Once their rousing version of ‘I’m Going Home...’ at Woodstock in 1969 hit cinema screens, Ten Years After found international success. Alvin's Gibson guitar with CND sticker became an icon of the era. After the success of Woodstock, Alvin Lee tired of 'concrete obelisks' (his reference to stadiums), preferred to focus on just being a musician. Alvin Lee did not court celebrity.

Alvin joined the wave of rock stars to set up home studios - ordering up one of Dick Swettenham's Helios consoles and set up his own Space Studios at Hook End Manor. In 1973 Alvin left Ten Years After to record ‘On The Road To Freedom’ (1973) with American singer Mylon LeFevre. The record features some beautiful collaborative work with George Harrison and is a testament to George's friendship with Alvin. Alvin would only pursue solo endeavours briefly reuniting with Ten Years After for a show or two.

Hook End was sold to David Gilmour of Pink Floyd and subsequent studio and family home, Wheeler End, would become best associated with Oasis. Alvin relocated to Spain but continued to perform live. He was billed to perform a rare double bill with Johnny Winter at L'Olympia in Paris 7th April 2013. Unfortunately, 6th March 2013, Alvin Lee died unexpectedly, aged 68, during routine surgery. The Paris concert went ahead as a memorial. Today the Gibson showroom sits opposite L'Olympia hidden in a hotel, demonstrating guitars like the ES-355 to touring artists and hotel guests.

“I was extremely saddened to hear of Alvin’s death,” the Sabbath star said. “It was a great shock. I had not known that he was ill. Alvin was a really great guitar player but, more importantly, has been a good friend of Black Sabbath over the years. In the early days, when we were still going by the name of Earth, it was Alvin who helped us get some gigs. He’d been out there a bit before us, and knew the ropes. We’d sit and talk the night away at a flat in London. I remember telling him that we were thinking of changing our name to Black Sabbath. He was horrified! He told me we’d never do any good with a name like that.” Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

My favourite Alvin Lee related fact is that in 1975, Roger Huyssen created the sleeve art for Pump Iron! - Alvin Lee's first solo album by painting an Alvin Lee tank top onto the chest of Lou Ferrigno - THE Incredible Hulk.

Had Alvin Lee survived his surgery, he would have been 80 today.

Alvin Lee's origin story leaves a legacy of the importance of those pioneering men and women of blues. Alvin's story is about the importance of fatherhood. Alvin's daughter, Jazz, continues to be a passionate advocate for music at the helm of Dean Street Studios in Soho, London.

Here's some musical moments to celebrate the life and work of Alvin Lee.

I'd love to hear from anyone with favourite tracks, anecdotes or any sense of Alvin Lee's legacy in other music.

Cinetronica's Top 10 Alvin Lee Recordings

Click here for nearly all the selections in a playlist

1. I'd Love to Change the World - Ten Years After
2. I'm Going Home - Live at Woodstock - Ten Years After each version is like a medley of Alvin's influences
3. Love Like a Man - Ten Years After
4. So Sad (No Love of His Own) - Alvin Lee & Mylon Le Fevre written by George Harrison he gave it to his friend Alvin in 1973. George released his version of the song a year later on the album Dark Horse.
5. Burnt Fungus - Alvin Lee
6. Take the Money from the album 'Free Fall' by the Alvin Lee Band (1980) appears on the 1979 Gerry Rafferty release Night Owl as 'Take the Money and Run'.
7. Let the Sky Fall - Ten Years After
8. Hear Me Calling performed by Slade Originally by TYA on their February 1969 album Stonedhenge. Slade's cover is exceptional - 1972. [Ten Years After version]
9. Help Me Baby - Alvin Lee
10. A little Bit of Love - Alvin Lee - I don't know why I love this album Zoom but there's something. It gives me Huey Lewis, Back to the Future tingles. I'm an 80s baby. My shoulders can't help themselves but shoogle to this tune.
11. Anything for You - Alvin Lee - This song makes me think 90s Tina Turner but I don't know why. The backing vocals and rhythm are fierce. It's an air guitar track. Lean into it. Sadly I could not find this on YouTube - you'll have to go buy the CD. I was trying to find out who did the backing vocals and was lead to Diane Margaret "Deena" Payne - best known for playing Viv Hope in Emmerdale. This also lead to some notes on her doing BVs for Alan Price (Animals keyboard player) so this adds up as he used to use Olympic Sound Studios for his work and occupied a similar universe to Alvin. I did not know this fact until I wrote this article and I love this song even more now. Go find it and let me know if you enjoy it to.
12. Ding Dong, Ding Dong - New Year singalong recorded by George Harrison at his Friar Park studio with friends including Alvin Lee. This has a promo video which has a few famous friends - I can spot Neil Innes nose. Perhaps someone can tell me who the other gnome like pals are.

Recommend you also listen to Ric Lee's sensational drum solo in Shantung Cabbage from the first Ten Years After album Undead.