Alvin Lee Quotes

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.

I'd love to change the world, but I don't know what to do

Strangely enough, through all those school years I decided at 13 or 14 I was going to be a musician and so school was just something to get out of the way, a waste of time and not to bother with it.

I began to learn a lot of chords and rhythms. It was a bit boring at the time but came in very handy later on.

I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad's Benny Goodman records.

They have decided to tour under the name of Ten Years After which I don't think is very cool. To be honest, they have had to do that as it's the only way they can get any work.

So if you see Ten Years After, it's not me anymore. I'm very happy with what I am doing now.

Anywhere you go in the world is what you make of it, not what you read in books.

... 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

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.

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.

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.

It was by listening to Goodman's band, that I began to notice the guitarist Charlie Christian, who was one of the first musicians to play solos in a big band set-up.

I think I'll continue to work as a solo artist.

I went to see John Mayall at the Marquee, with Peter Green on guitar, and that was a particularly good gig.

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.

There is a big age gap between my sisters Janice and Irma and myself so I didn't know them that well when I was younger although they have been very supportive in later life.

It will be the first time I've played live with a double bass.