Lets talk about Holdsworth today, read the GP interview.....

[degenaro]

As for Holdsy...Ralphie, he so isn't "avantgarde".
That said he isn't oing down like baby food that's for sure. However he has had his moments where he whored himself out. Level 42 comes to mind.

 

[degenaro]

I tried to listen to some of Holdsworth's music and i can't sit through it. IMHO it's a bore fest. He is probably one of the most technical guitar players in the world but he doesn't make the type of music i care about.

I think i would rather have the talent to come up with catchy 3 chord songs like AC/DC and play to sold out world tours and have sinky panties thrown at me instead of playing to 50 guitar nerds on a music store clinic tour.

i marvel at his mastery as i would an olympic gymnast but you are absolutely correct. he's too good for his own good. he relates to people like nicola tesla (ie wardencliff tower--great youtube search!)...independent thinking geniuses that are so far beyond anyone no one relates to them. detached from normalcy. ergo the "why can't you folks see just how brilliant i am?" tortured soul routine.

hitting the sauce doesn't help.

From my conversations with him I don't get that at all. But he defines a very clear border between player, entertainer and hobbyist.

 

[degenaro]

Why has he not hooked up with the likes of Stanley Clarke or a Tony Levin and created a killer fusion trio lately?? You would think there are cats out there that would DIE to play with Holdsworth

Because he's been there done that...
Tony Williams' Lifetime...even had Jaco for a second.

Look it's really simple. Ypu know I love Shawn, but take a look at Shea's comment. As long as this is the overwhelming take of folks there's really nothing left to say.
Yea Shawn is more accessible than Holdsy. But he was no Holdsy.

 

[Digital Jams]

Why has he not hooked up with the likes of Stanley Clarke or a Tony Levin and created a killer fusion trio lately?? You would think there are cats out there that would DIE to play with Holdsworth

Because he's been there done that...
Tony Williams' Lifetime...even had Jaco for a second.

Look it's really simple. Ypu know I love Shawn, but take a look at Shea's comment. As long as this is the overwhelming take of folks there's really nothing left to say.
Yea Shawn is more accessible than Holdsy. But he was no Holdsy.

Just seems that many of the fusion players hang out and stick together, either by guest appearances, trios, things like that and Holdsworth is not amount them. Just strikes me as odd unless something is up that I have no clue about.

Level42?????? Woah did not know that!

 

[Anonymous]

I tried to listen to some of Holdsworth's music and i can't sit through it. IMHO it's a bore fest. He is probably one of the most technical guitar players in the world but he doesn't make the type of music i care about.

I think i would rather have the talent to come up with catchy 3 chord songs like AC/DC and play to sold out world tours and have sinky panties thrown at me instead of playing to 50 guitar nerds on a music store clinic tour.

Right there with you brother.

Luckily you appear to be doing that already...

Shea, I finally went to your band's myspace page and I have to tell you how much I enjoyed the music. Just kick ass, down and dirty rock-n-roll and I think you are a great singer and I can definitely hear the Gibbons influence in your playing. I think the songwriting is top notch as well. Next time I'm in Austin, I'm making sure that it coincides with one of your shows so I can check the band out live...

Steve

 

[degenaro]

Why has he not hooked up with the likes of Stanley Clarke or a Tony Levin and created a killer fusion trio lately?? You would think there are cats out there that would DIE to play with Holdsworth

Because he's been there done that...
Tony Williams' Lifetime...even had Jaco for a second.

Look it's really simple. Ypu know I love Shawn, but take a look at Shea's comment. As long as this is the overwhelming take of folks there's really nothing left to say.
Yea Shawn is more accessible than Holdsy. But he was no Holdsy.

Just seems that many of the fusion players hang out and stick together, either by guest appearances, trios, things like that and Holdsworth is not amount them. Just strikes me as odd unless something is up that I have no clue about.

Level42?????? Woah did not know that!

Huh? You can find Holdsy on all kinds of stuff...Verheyen, Rik Emmentt, Tony Willimans, David Garfield, Jack Bruce, Jean-Luc Ponty, Gong, Gongzilla, Bill Bruford, Chad Wackerman, Derek Sherinian, Jens and Anders Johnasen, Steve Tavaglione, Jeff Watson, Gary Husband, Alan Pasqua, Steve Hunt.
Heck there's even the MVP thing with Gambale.
Strikes me as most folks aren't aware of what he's done.
And yes check out Level 42's Guranteed for inside Holdsy, or Johansen Brothers for Ralph approved Holdsy.

 

[degenaro]

I dont know, he seems bitter to some degree with how his life has progressed. His journey reminds me a little of another pure genius, Jaco. I read stories about Jaco bumming cab fare in NYC to meet guys like John Mc and just being jilted as hell. Plus Anton's story of sitting in with the bass god and he was just busy running across the street to buy a pint of cheap booze between sets. In the 70s Holdsworth would have to sell guitars to get airfare to europe or the usa, never had much money even though the man was regarded as one of the greatest.

IN the GP articule the best of the best just kept saying that he is from another planet, they could never sit in with da man but Holdsworth just seems like he does not care. I am guessing that though the years watching children of lesser gods become superstars and super rich has taken its toll on the master. MAybe he is a bad business man?? I just feel sorry for the guy, as a want-a-be guitarist I would kill to sit down with him for a few hours and just watch him play. Nobody can legato like this guy.

Why has he not hooked up with the likes of Stanley Clarke or a Tony Levin and created a killer fusion trio lately?? You would think there are cats out there that would DIE to play with Holdsworth

When you decide to go down the avante garde muscial path, you are going to be eating top ramen noodles. I hate to say this but the general public as well as the normal musician could give two fucks about that type of music. He either needed to embrace that FACT or switch musical gears or play more shows to the eclectic crowds per year.

With that said, Alcoholism is Alans Biggest problem IMHO. Im pretty sure that if he freed himself of that disease, his thinking would become clear and that alone would probably get his head out of his ass.

Just my opinions!!

~R~

I tried to listen to some of Holdsworth's music and i can't sit through it. IMHO it's a bore fest. He is probably one of the most technical guitar players in the world but he doesn't make the type of music i care about.

I think i would rather have the talent to come up with catchy 3 chord songs like AC/DC and play to sold out world tours and have stinky panties thrown at me instead of playing to 50 guitar nerds on a music store clinic tour.

And realistically speaking what is the likelihood of either happening?

 

[70strathead]

Allan is a modern day gypsy....similar to the great Django Reinhardt but not as extreme. He chose his own road and had opportunities ( given by our Eddie Van Halen) to sign on to Warner bros. that would gain him more visibility in the mainstream market. The result was "Road Games" which if you were to ask Allan ( and I did personally) what he thought about it and how come it's so hard to find, he simply doesnt give a shit and sad it was rubbish so why bother? He drinks like a fricken tuna but it never seems to impact his pure genius approach to the instrument. I like the newer stuff just as much as the older...Secrets, Atravachron, None to Soon, Sixteen men of Tain, Metal Fatique are my favs. But like many, when i see a Holdsworth show i can only gulp 30min tops, after that I'm done. Ornette Coleman and Bartok have the same effect on me.

oh well, I still feel priviledged that i've met/chatted the guy a couple of times and got to see the most original guitarist on the planet ( probably of the century) perform in my back yard.

Ant

 

[Digital Jams]

Why has he not hooked up with the likes of Stanley Clarke or a Tony Levin and created a killer fusion trio lately?? You would think there are cats out there that would DIE to play with Holdsworth :confused
Because he's been there done that...
Tony Williams' Lifetime...even had Jaco for a second.

Look it's really simple. Ypu know I love Shawn, but take a look at Shea's comment. As long as this is the overwhelming take of folks there's really nothing left to say.
Yea Shawn is more accessible than Holdsy. But he was no Holdsy.

Just seems that many of the fusion players hang out and stick together, either by guest appearances, trios, things like that and Holdsworth is not amount them. Just strikes me as odd unless something is up that I have no clue about.

Level42?????? Woah did not know that!

Huh? You can find Holdsy on all kinds of stuff...Verheyen, Rik Emmentt, Tony Willimans, David Garfield, Jack Bruce, Jean-Luc Ponty, Gong, Gongzilla, Bill Bruford, Chad Wackerman, Derek Sherinian, Jens and Anders Johnasen, Steve Tavaglione, Jeff Watson, Gary Husband, Alan Pasqua, Steve Hunt.
Heck there's even the MVP thing with Gambale.
Strikes me as most folks aren't aware of what he's done.
And yes check out Level 42's Guranteed for inside Holdsy, or Johansen Brothers for Ralph approved Holdsy.

I will have to refresh my memory, I know he shut it down several years ago for some reason but I am speaking of recent material.

I will do some research and report back.

I do enjoy me some Clarke, Ponty, Al D. though, great stuff. Screw this, time to close the door and break out the Clarke, Miller, and Victor Wooten jamming School Days

 

[degenaro]

Absofreakinlutely.
With my band I get ecstatic when I have 20 paying folks in atendance and sell 2 CDs.
With the Country band we sell 50+ CDs each gigs and get paid well.

Ed, my wife would love to go check out your country band any day, she would have killed me at the Tone Merchants gig during NAMM

Dude, I can't get MY wife to come to either.

 

[dstroud]

/quote]

Just seems that many of the fusion players hang out and stick together, either by guest appearances, trios, things like that and Holdsworth is not amount them. Just strikes me as odd unless something is up that I have no clue about.

Level42?????? Woah did not know that![/quote]
Huh? You can find Holdsy on all kinds of stuff...Verheyen, Rik Emmentt, Tony Willimans, David Garfield, Jack Bruce, Jean-Luc Ponty, Gong, Gongzilla, Bill Bruford, Chad Wackerman, Derek Sherinian, Jens and Anders Johnasen, Steve Tavaglione, Jeff Watson, Gary Husband, Alan Pasqua, Steve Hunt.
Heck there's even the MVP thing with Gambale.
Strikes me as most folks aren't aware of what he's done.
And yes check out Level 42's Guranteed for inside Holdsy, or Johansen Brothers for Ralph approved Holdsy.[/quote]

Dont forget Krokus !

 

[degenaro]

/quote]

Just seems that many of the fusion players hang out and stick together, either by guest appearances, trios, things like that and Holdsworth is not amount them. Just strikes me as odd unless something is up that I have no clue about.

Level42?????? Woah did not know that!

Huh? You can find Holdsy on all kinds of stuff...Verheyen, Rik Emmentt, Tony Willimans, David Garfield, Jack Bruce, Jean-Luc Ponty, Gong, Gongzilla, Bill Bruford, Chad Wackerman, Derek Sherinian, Jens and Anders Johnasen, Steve Tavaglione, Jeff Watson, Gary Husband, Alan Pasqua, Steve Hunt.
Heck there's even the MVP thing with Gambale.
Strikes me as most folks aren't aware of what he's done.
And yes check out Level 42's Guranteed for inside Holdsy, or Johansen Brothers for Ralph approved Holdsy.[/quote]

Dont forget Krokus ![/quote]
I had forgotten it...and am about to forget it again!

 

[Telephant]

Luckily you appear to be doing that already...

Shea, I finally went to your band's myspace page and I have to tell you how much I enjoyed the music. Just kick ass, down and dirty rock-n-roll and I think you are a great singer and I can definitely hear the Gibbons influence in your playing. I think the songwriting is top notch as well. Next time I'm in Austin, I'm making sure that it coincides with one of your shows so I can check the band out live...

Steve

Damn brother thank you very much for the kind words!!! Its comments like these that make me want to keep pushing forward!

The last few months since NAMM Ive been sort of waiting on some connections I made in Anaheim to go record, but Im tired of sitting around without a "real" product, so In the next few weeks Im paying for my band to go into a local studio and we're going to cut 8-10 tracks and put it out ourselves, and see where it takes us.

Not that recording in LA is out of the picture, just that I *need* a product now, and if it comes out sounding right, I can send it to my friends out there and they can use it to get us into a better studio (if need be) and/or help shop us to a label.

Anyways, again I truely appreciate the comments and sorry for thread hijack everybody.

 

[Digital Jams]

Holdsworth and Krokus?!?!?!?!?!?

Holy shit.................

 

[Anonymous]

The last few months since NAMM Ive been sort of waiting on some connections I made in Anaheim to go record, but Im tired of sitting around without a "real" product, so In the next few weeks Im paying for my band to go into a local studio and we're going to cut 8-10 tracks and put it out ourselves, and see where it takes us.

Well... you can count on me buying a copy... My kinda stuff, man...

Steve

 

[dstroud]

Holdsworth and Krokus?!?!?!?!?!?

Holy shit.................

It was really weak, don't waste you time checking it out!

 

[degenaro]

Luckily you appear to be doing that already...

Shea, I finally went to your band's myspace page and I have to tell you how much I enjoyed the music. Just kick ass, down and dirty rock-n-roll and I think you are a great singer and I can definitely hear the Gibbons influence in your playing. I think the songwriting is top notch as well. Next time I'm in Austin, I'm making sure that it coincides with one of your shows so I can check the band out live...

Steve

Damn brother thank you very much for the kind words!!! Its comments like these that make me want to keep pushing forward!

The last few months since NAMM Ive been sort of waiting on some connections I made in Anaheim to go record, but Im tired of sitting around without a "real" product, so In the next few weeks Im paying for my band to go into a local studio and we're going to cut 8-10 tracks and put it out ourselves, and see where it takes us.

Not that recording in LA is out of the picture, just that I *need* a product now, and if it comes out sounding right, I can send it to my friends out there and they can use it to get us into a better studio (if need be) and/or help shop us to a label.

Anyways, again I truely appreciate the comments and sorry for thread hijack everybody.

Anton flaking on you?

 

[Telephant]

Anton flaking on you?

Sort of I guess. Just kind of a hard dude to get ahold of. I know he's a busy guy though.

The guy that owns the Village was supposed to be out here in February and wanted to see my band before we came and recorded, and of course that fell through... And Im just tired of waiting on other people. I want to get this done myself and go on tour.

 

[Telephant]

The last few months since NAMM Ive been sort of waiting on some connections I made in Anaheim to go record, but Im tired of sitting around without a "real" product, so In the next few weeks Im paying for my band to go into a local studio and we're going to cut 8-10 tracks and put it out ourselves, and see where it takes us.

Well... you can count on me buying a copy... My kinda stuff, man...

Steve

Sheeeeit all my boys online will be getting free copies.

 

[Digital Jams]

The last few months since NAMM Ive been sort of waiting on some connections I made in Anaheim to go record, but Im tired of sitting around without a "real" product, so In the next few weeks Im paying for my band to go into a local studio and we're going to cut 8-10 tracks and put it out ourselves, and see where it takes us.

Well... you can count on me buying a copy... My kinda stuff, man...

Steve

Sheeeeit all my boys online will be getting free copies.

May get bashed for this but..............................................you should sell them. You work hard to create the disk and should make some beer money out of it.