Imagine being so good that people sit and thoroughly enjoy watching what little snippets you played at a soundcheck 19 years later. Allan was and is in a league of his own.
I met him in a pub in Abertillery in Wales many years ago. He got a pint in and Chad Wakkerman, who was with him, sat there cleaning his spectacles. I blubbered a bunch of platitudes to Allan and he was very gracious. And all us real music-lovers miss him very much.
Allan's technique was as unique as he was. Everyone marvels at Allan's speed, clarity and tonal control combined with his vast array of scales and chord voicings is more than enough to make placing Allan's playing and compositions among Jazz enthusiasts own "Best Saxophonist's" works by "Coltrane" and "Parker". As a guitarist and from what I've observed Allan is 'one of a kind.' People can transcribe, copy, emulate and sound like Allan did, but they will never 'see' music the way Allan did, especially on the fingerboard.
Steve Vai said it best "Alan won't fully be appreciated or understood till the rest of us catch up" (not word for word) He's on a completely different level of expression,you either get it or you don't!
I can imagine the conversation at 02:00... "Sound bloke, "What yoo sayin maan?" *Allan* "Shuv that mic darn theeyer sither, a dun't put mics theeyer, do wot a sey like!" HAHA! *West Yorkshire Accent*
Allan's melodies contain information from other universes and dimensions. Entities that want to tell us "everything is going to be okay". That's why Allen existed.
I was at this gig with some friends. It was fun. It was sticky and humid and it was hot. Any gig anywhere with Allan was a treat. Tibbs and Joel Taylor were the other fellows in the band. Again it was an afternoon gig, not a night gig. It was at the School of Rock in NJ. So there was no food or beer. It was unusual to say the least. I had fun.
God Bless you, man! This was such a great opportunity for you to hear Allen performing live! I never heard him live, although he is one of my greatest heroes! Cheers from Russia!
I was a tech for Allan while he was in Chicago doing a gig, and I got a chance to play the Delap he was using. The thing that surprised me was how light the strings were and how high the action was. Good times!
I thought the same thing, low action for legato. But the string height did surprise me. During the warm up Jimmy Johnson suggested they play some blues, Chad Wackerman kicked it off and Allan groaned. We all laughed while Allan played some blues while trying not to sound like Allan, it was a great moment to witness.
@@peterallen1041 that's an interesting story! i loved None Too Soon, so hearing Allan on a blues would be super interesting! Light strings & high action, interesting combination! I think he was probably using 9's, which would definitely make playing with a higher action much easier.
Allen was just amazing such a breath of fresh air in the world of Guitar players when I first heard his work in Tempest in the early 70's it was such a refreshing change along with Ollie Halsall who were in Tempest at the same time for a short moment so so different from the smoke on the water P haze shite...Well done Allen and especially comimg from the North of England where Londoners etc thing we're thick in the head Allan ended up the best exponent of the electric Guitar I think we will see!oe Lucia on the Acoustic side of things all the rest approaching good to outstanding will always be also rans Allan achieved at least one thing in his life!!! to be able to improvise God bless..
@@metalheadblues Allan and I got along great. He really liked being just another bloke at the bar. I told him about my old waste pack stuffed with his albums on cassette, Once he called me and I heard my own music playing in his studio. I got my props from Allan and I guess it's all down hill after that. On many nights in NY after I broke down the gear and he finished signing autographs, the both of us would hit the Manhattan night life. I told him which streets I was on when I first heard Hard Hat Area, Metal Fatigue, Road Games etc. I changed strings on his guitar and looked after things. We were always treated like rock stars but he just wanted to be low key, but I told him at any given moment that his music is changing lives any where in the world. He finally accepted that compliment. We were friends but I always spoke for the fans. I did my best not to be star struck and I reminded him I was in total awe. He appreciated it but the beers made it extra fun. Great times. Unbelievable.
+Michael Williams Not odd when considering Allan ought to choose the horn instead of the guitar, the man doesn't consider himself a guitar player, yet he blows 99,9% out of the water in this world.. Yes his lines always sounded like a horn with a high sense of harmony in them, he chose the best of both worlds I guess..
