Allan Holdsworth

Allan Holdsworth was a British guitarist who played in the jazz fusion style. He started on guitar at age 11 in Yorkshire, and early on he listened to Wes Montgomery, Jimmy Page, and John McLaughlin. He got some notice playing with the band Tempest.

Holdsworth put out records like I.O.U. in 1982 and Metal Fatigue in 1985. His playing used fast arpeggios and legato lines, and he worked with musicians such as Gary Husband on drums and Jimmy Johnson on bass. Songs like 'The Things You See (When You Haven't Got Your Gun)' and 'Checking Out' show his approach.

He kept recording through the 80s and 90s with albums like Atavachron and Sand, and later ones like Wardenclyffe Tower in 2002. Holdsworth died in 2017.