I meet Alan in the summer of 1982 during the I.O.U. Tour. I saw them at a small club in Berkeley, Ca. He was autographing the I.O.U. albums and when I got to him we were the only two in the dressing room. He was very laid back, a really nice guy! We talked and he gave me a couple beers. He was really depressed about trying to make it in the music business. He was talking about going back to the U.K. and getting a factory job in London. We talked and a lady came in from a magazine to do an interview. I just sat and listened. I was in the Marines at the time and a little while after that I did a deployed overseas and when I came back Road Games came out. I didn’t know all of this went on, what a mess!
Hard to get over that the then 22 yrs old Wackerman were playing with my heroes Holdsworth and Zappa at the same time…! Great video, nice to get the whole story. More please!
Thank you for your work and for sharing. I knew most of the story, gathered over the years, but you filled in a lot of holes. If we could only thank Allan for sticking to his principles. What a model musician and seemingly a man of integrity. I consider it a blessing to have passed through history while Holdsworth was alive and to have his legacy of music to enjoy.
Thank you my friend! I was only 16 when he passed and too young to really know him or his music but I would’ve LOVED to ask him about these albums and just about his life and playing and stuff
I talked with allan for fifteen minutes in San Francisco at Yoshi's in 2006. He told me how his wife had left him and taken his studio, and that he was afraid to go out into public from 2001-2007. I was surprised that he opened up to me. I cofounded allan's official facebook group (allan told me , in LA, that he hated facebook, and computers, lol) 'the unreal allan holdsworth'. i was friends with his bandmates and management on that group. Allan was a liberal, politically and was also an atheist. I saw his ex wife's facebook page. SHe became a full on evangelical christian nutter. That really messed with his mind, I think. I know it would mess with my mind...
Wow thanks for putting this together for us! Please go ahead and MAKE MORE Holdsworth videos. Love the insight into Holdsworth's world, process and tribulations. Really insightful.
Great overview, thank you Ruby! Any plan to explore other Holdsworth-related albums? Would love to see one on Bruford's One of a Kind, which has some of my favorite Allan solos ever (5G and Hell's Bells--I'm looking at you!!!)
Thank you my friend! Eventually I hope to make one of these mini documentaries about all his albums and maybe some important side albums he was involved in!
Thank you for another essential Holdsworth deep dive. Like everyone else, I anxiously anticipated the IOU follow-up. A 21 year old kid in Tennessee, I was completely unaware of all the Holdsworth happenings in California. I was pleased to see Paul Williams remain, and Jeff Berlin come into the mix; but not being a Zappa fan, I didn’t know Chad Wackerman. And I knew nothing about Ted Templeman’s Warner Brothers’ and Van Halen’s involvement until years later. In 1983 I played in a Holiday Inn cover band that traveled down to Tampa FL for a two-week gig. The Holdsworth group opening for the Steve Morse group were playing just a few miles down the road, and I COULD NOT GO SEE IT!! Heartbroken! To this day, I search for live recordings of that period with Jeff Berlin on bass, and I believe even a couple dates with Gordon Beck sitting in. VERY RARE - IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!
Absolutely splendid telling of what happened. I didn't know that a lot of this happened. So crazy, Allan struggled a lot harder than I realized, especially towards his vision of releasing music without the looming direction of a corporate label. Well done 👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you so much for this effort! Along with Coltrane and Bartok , Holdsworth is a fave. Very informative and well put together mini doc,I recognize the effort,much appreciated.
Well, Thank You for this very interesting insight of 'Road Games'. I believe as a serious musician artistic fulfilment is paramount. Alan is right when he says ' what's the point being a commercial slave to big music labels and let Your creative ideas fall by the wayside. Eddie Van Halen said 'Alan just needs direction' ??? Who's direction? Alan always had his own direction and definitely did not need Warner Bros's direction. Big labels are just big money makers and don't give a sh!t about music. I have followed Alans music since he was with 'Soft Machine' and have seen him play in Germany and Australia and I never thought he needed 'Van Halens' direction.
1 second ago Another great creative display of intense descriptive journalism worthy of significant praise. For a brief moment we all shared Alan’s experience of frustrating adventures leading into a glorious tragedy. Well done. Again you have proven yourself to be quite a fine raconteur. Regards. G
Such a sad situation to hear about, but one that is masterfully recounted here. Thanks again, Ruby! I'm guessing that, even though Allan didn't like the resulting presentation of his album, he at least considered the compositions on Road Games to be good ones. He still played many of them for years to come.
Hi! Almost, but, a few added comments are in order. I was there. I was a partner and managed The Country Club and reluctantly agreed to manage Allan at that point. Allan said that because I didn’t want to manage him, he thought I was honest and for him. I managed him for the next 5 years because I felt he needed and deserved better. At the time I had The Agora Ballrooms and booked a whole 28 dates allowing new English acts to come here for a first tour. I was there when Allan walked in and saw the engineer holding up the telephone so Ted could tell him what to do ( coked out of his head) Allan was tearing up so I ripped the phone out of the wall and barred him from the studio. WMMS and the Agora were important to all the labels and WB’s could not intimidate me. I walked into Lenny Warnackers office and got them to pay us to leave. Lenny couldn’t confront his top producer or lose me, so he gave Allan what I asked and Allan left. He toured all the Agora’s and we promoted sellouts everywhere. Then I got Allan to Japan, but that’s another story!❤
Hey Gary, wow, thanks for writing in, please could I interview you for the next video on the making of metal fatigue! My email is reuben785@gmail.com I’d love to get the inside perspective on the Japan tour and next album from you, thank you so much
It's unfortunate, Eddie Van Halen and Templeman value fame and fortune, they don't understand the pursuance of art in the same way that was important to Allan. It's like they were speaking different languages. They're like corporate guys who are trying to understand the art that is actually jazz (fusion).
To me, Templeman is just a giant ass; a corporate dude who assumed he knew exactly what to do because he had successfully produced rock. He was just a user who wasn't big enough guitar fan to realize that Alan's solos were extraordinary, But completely failed to understand the musicality behind them, and his dismissing of Holdsworth's brilliant songwriting, as him not knowing how to write songs, shows the real pearls before swine core of the relationship; neither Eddie nor Ted understood or appreciated fully what a privilege they were given, and instead treated it as if Allen owed them control of his music. I never gave a s*** about templeman but it is pretty disappointing for a fan of Eddie's, to see how little he really appreciated his superior and inspiration. He said some nice things about Allan's playing, and I always appreciated that, but man, the gall of trying to force his way onto Allan's record shows a side of Ed that it's sad to see.
I think it's fair to say they understand that making records is a business -- not a documentation of an art, but an expensive venture which major labels see as profitable investment. Labels don't sign for art, they sign to make money -- the more, the better, and stick it in the face of the other labels. Just how The Machine worked
@@Jobotubular True enough about the machine, but therein lies the problem; the cynical business of music has nothing to do with the actual intrinsic value of the music, and far from the meritocracy Eddie assumed it to be (conveniently enough when you're on top of the world, to assume that only the best rise to the top), it never was about finding and supporting the best most promising talent, but making as much money as possible. When Ed was dissing his hero in interviews for not falling in line, he demonstrated that the business of music brings out the worst in people. His ego was so bloated that he imagined he was doing Allan a huge favor, offering to pull him up onto the gravy train he assumed everyone should want to ride. He got all butt hurt and lashed out over the fact that Allan was far too strong a musician to fall into the trap. The very thing that probably attracted him (and all of us) to Allan's music; it's unique and untamed nature, became the sticking point that blew up the relationship. His ego blinded him to the fact that not everyone is driven by dreams of the rock star lifestyle, babes, mansions, and hot cars in exchange for shredding hot solos over catchy radio friendly R&R. He foolishly, ridiculously convinced himself he was good enough to demand to be Allan's musical partner, talked about reigning him in, said in a stupid interview "even I need direction", as if Allan Holdsworth needed an Eddie Van Halen and a Ted Templeman to rid him of his silly notions of making gorgeous complex tunes that came from his own creative mind, as vehicles for improvisational journeys, and get him on the right track of being a hit making rock shredder. The "even I need direction" was his idea of a humble statement, but was actually his assuming that he actually had a better perspective on his genius hero than the GOAT himself; ridiculously egotistical, and sad to see from the point of view of EVH fans discerning enough to realize Eddie was never remotely on Allan's level. It's fair to say that the business of making records, for a true artist, is secondary to the documenting of the art itself, selling the output is for the purpose of supporting the artist to create as well as possible. Putting the importance of maximizing profits over the importance of making as beautiful a recording as possible is the way business ruins art, and your statement not only elevated the profits above the art; it was completely dismissive of the function of documentation of art. It was dismissive therefore of the value of the people who are inspired by the idea of making music for the sake of music. That's why for the greatest artists like Allan, the business with it's greedy vultures, will always be repulsive.
@@Gregorypeckory - “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.” (attributed to Hunter Thompson)
I'm quite thrilled to have Allan's music AND Van Halen the band and the guitarist just as they were. Edit: I typed the above before hearing Templeman's idiotic analysis. (Or Eddie's.) So funny, it's totally different than every other of his albums (rocking (and, yes, accessible) and totally awesome. WTH were they expecting with Berlin & Wackerman??
Thank You so much for this video. I’m a Brazilian guitarist, Allan’s big fan, and could never imagine that Allan had been through this and that Eddie would agree with the opposite side. Allan made his choice and that’s how he ended, sadly for us that suffered contributing to the funeral of our genius and family after he passed away, but happily for him to live and play his musical dreams, opening a new pathway for music and guitar lovers. Long live AH’s legacy 💥🎸🎶✨
Thanks very much! Very interesting although saddening to learn of the struggles Allan had in making his music. I can't imagine what Templeman and VanHalen envisioned the record to be. Surprised that AH didn't like the record very much. This story illustrates to me just how difficult the music business was during those times, especially for a true artist like AH.
Eddie? Allan? Ted? Wtf! This is one of my favorite Holdsworth albums. I like every song! I saw this lineup many times tin concert! And enjoyed every minute! I am listening to it now and sounds incredible! Let the fans speak! We know best anyway 😅😊. Thanks for uploading!
the production is great. IOU is my fav, but road games definitely has better production. i think metal fatigue has even better production, if memory serves, allan produced that one himself
It's quite likely that Bill Bruford discovered Jeff Berlin via the bassist's fantastic playing on Patrick Moraz' album "The Story of i", which is an essential listen, and was one of the Yes solo albums released in 1975.
The Doobie Brothers. Montrose. Sammy Hagar. Carly Simon. Aerosmith. Allan Holdsworth. Which of these musicians / bands are not like the others? Templeman produced all of the above, but thought his hit-maker magic was a match for Holdsworth? He really had no business producing Allan. A shame Allan wasn't signed by ECM - Manfred Eicher would have appreciated Allan's vision and produced him accordingly. It IS curious that Templeman apparently produced an album by Capt. Beefheart. I would think if Templeman tried to pull rank on the Captain, Beefheart would wrap a mic cord around Templeman's neck and use it to drag him down Mulholland Drive.
Allan didn't need a producer. Let alone a dictatorial jerk like Templeton who obviously didn't understand Allan's music. Rather as hendrix didn't need chas chandler or any other producer.
Another humongous undertaking of a history lesson, Ruby ! The first time I saw Allan play was in 1989 with Jimmy Johnson on bass, Chad on drums, and that's it. A power trio of monsters. This was at New George's in San Rafael, CA. The usual suspects were all sitting in the front row with me with their jaws on the floor - Neil Schon, Jeff Watson, and a few others I don't remember. WOW, I had no idea Geddy was considered for vocals. I also hated Paul's vocals at first, so I'd be fine with Mr. Lee !!!
I love Holdsworth. I have most of his albums and albums he has played on, and if I had to choose to keep one piece, it would definitely be Road Games. As someone with high functioning autism, I get the "one of us" feeling when I see interviews with Holdsworth. Is there any information on this? His age most likely kept him from diagnosis. The science (and cultural acceptance) wasn't there in his generation. He was probably too immersed in special interests to worry anyway. Thank you so much for the great video.
Thank you! I agree, I feel as an album it’s his best produced sonically and every track flows so well together, and the playing on it is absolutely killer from all involved! I can’t comment for sure on a possible Autism diagnosis but Allan definitely seems like an “outsider” in interviews, in the sense that you can tell he just wants to play his music his way. As a teenager I know Allan wrote down every single possible scale and grouping of 12 notes that it was possible to play on the guitar and gave all these scales his own names, which must’ve taken him ages to catalogue and put together!
As an engineer/ musician with autism in my family, (maybe me?) and having worked with probably a few high functionings, I do agree that Allan did possibly come across that way in video interviews. He had a lovable charm IMO, but I do love these kind of folks preliminarily.
Thanks for giving us a deep dive into Allan's career and the frustrations he had just trying to do his own music, his own way! I met Chad Wackerman a few times at a Jazz club & I asked him to sign my copy of Road Games, he was a true gentleman just like Allan!
oh good -- after the IOU video, I definitely wanted to hear what happened after that -- and wow, did you cover it well! ... of course, there's still one more album with Paul Williams, and I do want to hear how a keyboardist finally ended up on a Holdsworth album :)
Really good video, and RUclips channel in general! I really liked the videos about Allan Holdsworth’s IOU album and the one about Mike Oldfield’s missing tubular bell’s!!! It sounds like you researched the subjects well! So, thanks for quality videos!
My wife and I were able to meet and hang out with Allan at the Arlington, TX guitar show (aka Guitarlington) in the mid 90s. A friend who knew Allan had a booth at the show and was hosting Allan being there for a guitar seminar on that Saturday and Sunday. We went in early on Saturday as Jim (the aforementioned friend) and Allan were getting ready for the day/setting up. Allan brought his Carvin guitar and some guitar effects with him, and was using a Mesa rectifier head and 4x12 Jim had at his shop. I remember thinking the rectifier was a pretty metal affair for Allan. Anyway, he was unbelievably nice. Completely, totally and absolutely down to earth. You'd never know the guy was a living legend. I had a hard time speaking to him, being a bit awe struck. I'd been listing to him since Metal Fatigue came out in the 80s. My wife isn't affected by that sort of thing, at all, ever. So she was talking to him like they were old friends. They were cracking jokes and being funny with each other, my wife had him laughing pretty heartily quite a bit. It was really something to see. After he was done setting up, he just sat there on a stool and very casually played his guitar. He talked openly and easily with everyone who approached him. He kept talking with my wife in between fans and adulators who were coming by. I think the humor between them was an anchor for him. I sensed he wasn't really at ease with crowds or people approaching him awe, reverence or what have you. He handled it well, but I think he would have rather not have had to play that role. I think it was safe to say that to himself he was *not* the great Allan Holdsworth, but just another guy. Anyway, really great guy, probably the most honestly humble and down to earth of the great musicians I've met, and I've met a few (I have some SRV stories, too!). That he was the musician he was, and also invented the Harness/Harness II (the absolute *best* load resistor for guitar, ever) as well as a number of other really clever inventions just tells us what a creative and original mind he truly was.
I listened to that record obsessively the summer it came out. He might have hated it but it inspired me to get more seriously into music. It caused me to triple my guitar practicing because it was so interesting. I totally get it - big record companies jobs are to force you to do hyper commercial music that will make them a lot of money but Allan's music and sensibility was way too good for that. Years later I kicked into the Holdsworth crowd-funded "Tales from the Vault" project and the neat thing about that that is you got to hear multiple outtakes from that Road Games record: the Mark Pinski mixes for "Material Real", "Three Sheets to the Wind", and "Tokyo Dream" (he should have done the entire thing in my opinion) as well as outtakes of those songs with Joe Turano - a more refined tenor voice on vocals for "Material Real", "Was There" and "Water on the Brain" as well as the Paul Williams version of "Water on the Brain". Then two Synthaxe pieces that have never been heard on record as well as the new piece "Earth" with Virgil Donati, Jimmy Johnson and Allan on guitar and Synthaxe.
What a great video! Road Games contains many of my favorite Holdsworth tunes. Allan himself has inspired me to strive for a more fluid and hornlike sound, and to reach for un orthodox chord voicings in my own writing. Keep it up. I look forward to looking at more of your vids.
I was a huge fan of AH before I was lucky enough to see him play the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA in ‘86 or so as a budding guitarist. I saw him another time in Noho and later in the 90’s at the Cubby Bear in Chicago, of all places. I loved the Road Games record and the only song of Allan’s I can come close to playing is Tokyo Dream. He is such a legend and still sounds wonderful to this day. He is one of the few soloist on any instrument who can bring a tear to my eye. As an audiophile I can’t image how those masters must have sounded. What a shame! Great job on the documentary. I learned a lot about the artist, human, and process. Please bring on Metal Fatigue!
Kind of gutted learning that roads games was such a miserable experience. I cant even remember exactly how I got into holdsworth maybe an old zappa interview mentioned him or something. Road Games was the first album of his I got in to. Really it was so melodically overwhelming and complex I really just listened to the first track for probably a year before dipping my toes in deeper. Its since become one of my favorite albums. I did notice the lackluster mixing and not great audio quality at the time I just chalked it up to the era. Thanks for the well researched video.
I've only heard bits and pieces of the back story to this album so, I thank you for filling in so much of that story. I've always liked the album myself. It has more sonic presence than the "I.O.U." album which I also liked very much. Personally, I agree with Allan's vision of what he wanted to do and I would have liked to have heard the original tracks. Either way, this album stands as a fantastic part of the Holdsworth discography. I also had the distinct pleasure to have heard Allan play at NYC's "Bottom Line" venue around 1985/1986 just as "Metal Fatigue" came out. That band line up included Jimmy Johnson, Chad Wackerman and Alan Pasqua. I saw them twice in consecutive years and man, did they burn up that stage. Now that Allan has passed, we still have an amazing amount of music that he left us with and it's as fresh and amazing as the first time I heard it. Best to all.
Allan spent years working on his singular vision. He knew what he wanted and would rather have packed it in, than sell out. Such an uncompromising viewpoint cost him dearly on so many levels. But musicians of his calibre are rare and thank goodness he managed to produce such an amazing body of work. RIP Maestro.
Great video once again. I look forward to your Making of Metal Fatigue! Jaco had the same problem with Warner Bros. They should just let artist release their vision, not a managed version of it. It's like asking Monet to add an upside-down tree to one of his landscapes....
Again, we're talking major labels here; their business model functions in units of hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Art can happen, but how well it sells is always the first consideration. Meanwhile, anyone can self-release their own projects just as they like -- but they'll have to set up their own distribution/promotion, which is mainly what the majors offer
Thank you again, Ruby. This was very good to hear I knew that it was a trainwreck. Eddie good guitar player, but trying to mold Allan GTFOOH. The music on it is still some great stuff. I miss him so much. So this is food for me and my music and life. Peace and Love Jesse.
Excellent Job on the documentary. I loved the album. I don't agree that it tanked. I first heard him solo on "Return to Forever" thinking who is that guy? Best guitarist I've ever heard.
For people who really appreciate Allan's unbelievably great and unique talent, this video is a great gift; thanks a million for the work you put into this! 👏👏👏👏
@@rubyjones01 I have to add that I'm a huge EVH fan, but the ego on him and Templeman, just assuming that they could "steer" Holdsworth in a different direction, knowing as they did, that he was a genius, but completely failing to see how brilliant his overall vision was; they wanted to make him a hired guitar virtuoso, and a freaky great soloist was all they got about him; pretty clueless on both of their parts. Ed was horny to put his mark all over the album of the far superior player, and got butt hurt that Allan rightly turned him down. This is a sad reminder that as great a force as Ed was, and often a genuinely personable guy, he could be a giant insecure assh*le when things weren't going his way. They were hearing a genius composer but all they knew was rock, and wanted him to dumb down his music to sell more albums. Utterly clueless, and utterly an a-hole move, dissing him in public, even with the disclaimer about "I hate to do this because he's a friend and an amazing guitar player...but all his records sound like Holdsworth records and I can't tell them apart!" Well if Ed couldn't hear the difference, he just don't really get what was great about Allan; he apparently just heard a lot of notes and untouchable soloing chops, and got excited about the guitar porn, never understood what gems Allan's songs were; every one of them! Templeman and Ed both showed that they weren't there to help Allan get his vision out' they wanted to exploit him and take over his career, steering him in directions Allan had no interest in. Idiots.
Material Real is up there with Shallow Sea, and Pud Wud as some of my all time favorite songs. PLEASE do a video on the making of SAND... (easy for me to ask, harder to do )
I can easily see both sides of this and don’t begrudge Van Halen or Templeton but…. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s obvious now that the level of genius that Alan was expressing should’ve been supported 100% and without restrictions. The commercial pressures of the moment are real and have to be addressed but it’s too bad that some visionary didn’t step in and say, here just do what you want to do, and supported Alan and his dream. He might still be with us today if that happened. We can’t even imagine the things he might’ve discovered. And, really great job putting this together. Top tier reporting and storytelling. Concise and gripping.
Excellent overview of one of my favorite albums. I do wish that Holdsworth would have done more with Wackerman and Berlin. Such a potent band! You have to admire Allan's purity of his pursuit. I wish he hadn't died poor.
Good work so far, and not an easy feat choosing a musician that was non your typical run of the mill jazz-fusion virtuoso. However, since you decided to immerse yourself in the world of Allan Holdsworth, it would be honorable to see it all the way through, as Allan unfortunately passed not long ago, so make this into a tribute to honor his legacy. If you’re having a hard time with the musical and gear used by Allan, I’ll help you out as a) I was a musician from mid 80s to 1998 in which I left America and the studio scene, and b) I met Allan and remained on friendly terms with him for about 8 years but talked with Gary Husband a lot. Their stint with Level 42 in 1992 was one big mess, but if you need help putting it together let me know and I’ll help as much as possible.
I'd always heard this was the most drama-filled production of an album of his. Great mini documentary! Seems like the rest of his albums allowed him a lot more creative control- warner brothers would never have approved a masterpiece like Sand or Hard Hat Area, they delve too far into modern classical territory
I recall that Guitar Player had a column at the time where they featured a transcription of Jeff's incredible Water on the Brain solo, along with commentary and a bit of his usual exhortations to learn the notes not licks, and all that. But also in it he lamented that the mix was unsatisfactory, I think he wrote to the effect of "the notes are peachy keen, but where's the beef?". He also had recollections of making the album, a nod to his affection for Allan, and an allusion to a longer story, untold, as to why that lineup didn't persist. Perhaps some of what is in this excellent video is that story.
A worthy followup to your splendid history of IOU. Ted Templeman needed to be taken out back and (metaphorically) shot. Eddie VH, too, sad to say. You don't "mold" a one-of-a-kind genius like Allan Holdsworth. You either honestly take a chance on them or leave them be. You don't tweeze everything that makes Allan Allan out of him.
Wow..Thanks for all this history I did not know. As a big A.H. fan "Road Games" is my favorite "Three sheets" especially. You must have busted your but to get all this info. ...Thanks again
Thanks very much! I didn’t want to make this documentary until I started reading about the album and thought the story needed to be told! Hopefully this summer I’ll be able to release “The Making Of Metal Fatigue by Allan Holdsworth”
I always wondered why the album is so short. Its like 25 minutes. I heard it was because of the strife between Allen and Ted/Warner music. I love the album. The more commercial music got me into Holdsworth.
It's definitely the album I'd recommend to non fusion fans who want to check out Allan's works, as the Road Games material has a more easily accessible and discernible structure
Eddie VH's patronizing comments are infuriating. "He lacks direction." Which direction is that? You mean *your* direction? Being a big rock star, where talent, originality, skill, expression are all just the means to the end of vast wealth and screaming teenage fans? EVH has some nerve calling himself Allan's "friend," sheesh.
Such a brilliant album. Three Sheets to the Wind is my absolute favorite Holdsworth comp. I do have to agree with Ted Templeman though. I hate Paul Williams' vocals. I don't mind him on the song "Metal Fatigue" itself but, that's about it.
wow Allan had a great attitude towards art and Life . I've been a fan almost all the way through I never listened to soft machine much or knew who he was when he played with tony Williams but starting around Bill Bruford records and Gong I was noticing him , also my uncle Joaquin Lievano, Peter Manu and Jamie Glasser replaced him for Jean luc Ponty , By the time he did IOU debut I was blown away and He has been in my top 5 ever since, I loved Road games although I would have liked to hear him let go and do something with Eddie van Halen ,Warner with Templeton and maybe the whole thing with Jack Bruce. This would have been nice for him to get a large pay check and simultaneously do a record at Zappa's studio in full with Berlin another favorite of all time and Wackerman ! and be Loyal to Paul Williams and do an organic record. I don't think Allan related to or understood those Corporate values to reason like a scenario like I just imagined , I's great Road games is a fan favorite despite of all the chaos ! , I think he hated it because of the stress associated to that time period. I liked his tone and playing best around then of course there is other great records !! I saw that tour and the one before Wow! what ED Van Halen, Templeton and Warner Bros probably didn't get is that Allan was already fed up with doing things in bands with democracies and not having complete freedom . I remember being excited about the exposer and possibilities when I heard about Ed VH and them working with him, I never really heard about all this crap Lol crazy I watched a lot of interviews. he never revisited that in any thing I've heard ! magazines or RUclips. Very informing Vid Thanks !
Interesting video. Thank God Van Halen never got his grips on Allan to give him 'direction'! Personally I always preferred Paul's vocals on Road Games to Jacks.
Thx for these Holdsworth videos, I would steal your Dalek if given a chance. PS: Ted is everything that's wrong about the music biz. Unadulterated evil pos.
I meet Alan in the summer of 1982 during the I.O.U. Tour. I saw them at a small club in Berkeley, Ca.
He was autographing the I.O.U. albums and when I got to him we were the only two in the dressing room. He was very laid back, a really nice guy!
We talked and he gave me a couple beers. He was really depressed about trying to make it in the music business. He was talking about going back to the U.K. and getting a factory job in London. We talked and a lady came in from a magazine to do an interview. I just sat and listened. I was in the Marines at the time and a little while after that I did a deployed overseas and when I came back Road Games came out.
I didn’t know all of this went on, what a mess!
Hard to get over that the then 22 yrs old Wackerman were playing with my heroes Holdsworth and Zappa at the same time…! Great video, nice to get the whole story. More please!
Thanks for this great documentary. I too hope that you continue exploring his catalog. I find Holdsworth's string of 1980s releases fascinating.
I like his and Gambales 80s stuff the best
I absolutely agree, hope to see your take on more of his work.
Thank you for your work and for sharing. I knew most of the story, gathered over the years, but you filled in a lot of holes. If we could only thank Allan for sticking to his principles. What a model musician and seemingly a man of integrity. I consider it a blessing to have passed through history while Holdsworth was alive and to have his legacy of music to enjoy.
Thank you my friend! I was only 16 when he passed and too young to really know him or his music but I would’ve LOVED to ask him about these albums and just about his life and playing and stuff
I talked with allan for fifteen minutes in San Francisco at Yoshi's in 2006. He told me how his wife had left him and taken his studio, and that he was afraid to go out into public from 2001-2007. I was surprised that he opened up to me. I cofounded allan's official facebook group (allan told me , in LA, that he hated facebook, and computers, lol) 'the unreal allan holdsworth'. i was friends with his bandmates and management on that group. Allan was a liberal, politically and was also an atheist. I saw his ex wife's facebook page. SHe became a full on evangelical christian nutter. That really messed with his mind, I think. I know it would mess with my mind...
Oh wow!! what a nice guy! Also the Facebook group is awesome!
This is one of the best, most informative vids I've ever seen on Holdsworth.
Wow thanks for putting this together for us! Please go ahead and MAKE MORE Holdsworth videos. Love the insight into Holdsworth's world, process and tribulations. Really insightful.
Great overview, thank you Ruby! Any plan to explore other Holdsworth-related albums? Would love to see one on Bruford's One of a Kind, which has some of my favorite Allan solos ever (5G and Hell's Bells--I'm looking at you!!!)
Thank you my friend! Eventually I hope to make one of these mini documentaries about all his albums and maybe some important side albums he was involved in!
Thank you for another essential Holdsworth deep dive.
Like everyone else, I anxiously anticipated the IOU follow-up. A 21 year old kid in Tennessee, I was completely unaware of all the Holdsworth happenings in California. I was pleased to see Paul Williams remain, and Jeff Berlin come into the mix; but not being a Zappa fan, I didn’t know Chad Wackerman. And I knew nothing about Ted Templeman’s Warner Brothers’ and Van Halen’s involvement until years later.
In 1983 I played in a Holiday Inn cover band that traveled down to Tampa FL for a two-week gig. The Holdsworth group opening for the Steve Morse group were playing just a few miles down the road, and I COULD NOT GO SEE IT!! Heartbroken!
To this day, I search for live recordings of that period with Jeff Berlin on bass, and I believe even a couple dates with Gordon Beck sitting in. VERY RARE - IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND!
Ahh what an amazing story! Sadly I was only 16 when Allan passed so was too young to appreciate or ever see him live!
Absolutely splendid telling of what happened. I didn't know that a lot of this happened. So crazy, Allan struggled a lot harder than I realized, especially towards his vision of releasing music without the looming direction of a corporate label. Well done 👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks so much
Thank you so much for this effort!
Along with Coltrane and Bartok , Holdsworth is a fave. Very informative and well put together mini doc,I recognize the effort,much appreciated.
Well, Thank You for this very interesting insight of 'Road Games'. I believe as a serious musician artistic fulfilment is paramount. Alan is right when he says ' what's the point being a commercial slave to big music labels and let Your creative ideas fall by the wayside. Eddie Van Halen said 'Alan just needs direction' ??? Who's direction? Alan always had his own direction and definitely did not need Warner Bros's direction. Big labels are just big money makers and don't give a sh!t about music. I have followed Alans music since he was with 'Soft Machine' and have seen him play in Germany and Australia and I never thought he needed 'Van Halens' direction.
1 second ago
Another great creative display of intense descriptive journalism worthy of significant praise. For a brief moment we all shared Alan’s experience of frustrating adventures leading into a glorious tragedy. Well done. Again you have proven yourself to be quite a fine raconteur. Regards. G
Great job of researching the background to this work of art! Please do more videos on Holdsworth´s music.
Such a sad situation to hear about, but one that is masterfully recounted here. Thanks again, Ruby! I'm guessing that, even though Allan didn't like the resulting presentation of his album, he at least considered the compositions on Road Games to be good ones. He still played many of them for years to come.
Hi! Almost, but, a few added comments are in order. I was there. I was a partner and managed The Country Club and reluctantly agreed to manage Allan at that point. Allan said that because I didn’t want to manage him, he thought I was honest and for him. I managed him for the next 5 years because I felt he needed and deserved better. At the time I had The Agora Ballrooms and booked a whole 28 dates allowing new English acts to come here for a first tour.
I was there when Allan walked in and saw the engineer holding up the telephone so Ted could tell him what to do ( coked out of his head) Allan was tearing up so I ripped the phone out of the wall and barred him from the studio. WMMS and the Agora were important to all the labels and WB’s could not intimidate me. I walked into Lenny Warnackers office and got them to pay us to leave. Lenny couldn’t confront his top producer or lose me, so he gave Allan what I asked and Allan left. He toured all the Agora’s and we promoted sellouts everywhere. Then I got Allan to Japan, but that’s another story!❤
Hey Gary, wow, thanks for writing in, please could I interview you for the next video on the making of metal fatigue! My email is reuben785@gmail.com
I’d love to get the inside perspective on the Japan tour and next album from you, thank you so much
Another brilliant and detailed album documentary. I hope you do one of every album, but realise it must be a great deal of work! Thanks so much 🙏
It's unfortunate, Eddie Van Halen and Templeman value fame and fortune, they don't understand the pursuance of art in the same way that was important to Allan. It's like they were speaking different languages. They're like corporate guys who are trying to understand the art that is actually jazz (fusion).
To me, Templeman is just a giant ass; a corporate dude who assumed he knew exactly what to do because he had successfully produced rock. He was just a user who wasn't big enough guitar fan to realize that Alan's solos were extraordinary, But completely failed to understand the musicality behind them, and his dismissing of Holdsworth's brilliant songwriting, as him not knowing how to write songs, shows the real pearls before swine core of the relationship; neither Eddie nor Ted understood or appreciated fully what a privilege they were given, and instead treated it as if Allen owed them control of his music.
I never gave a s*** about templeman but it is pretty disappointing for a fan of Eddie's, to see how little he really appreciated his superior and inspiration. He said some nice things about Allan's playing, and I always appreciated that, but man, the gall of trying to force his way onto Allan's record shows a side of Ed that it's sad to see.
I think it's fair to say they understand that making records is a business -- not a documentation of an art, but an expensive venture which major labels see as profitable investment. Labels don't sign for art, they sign to make money -- the more, the better, and stick it in the face of the other labels. Just how The Machine worked
@@Jobotubular True enough about the machine, but therein lies the problem; the cynical business of music has nothing to do with the actual intrinsic value of the music, and far from the meritocracy Eddie assumed it to be (conveniently enough when you're on top of the world, to assume that only the best rise to the top), it never was about finding and supporting the best most promising talent, but making as much money as possible.
When Ed was dissing his hero in interviews for not falling in line, he demonstrated that the business of music brings out the worst in people. His ego was so bloated that he imagined he was doing Allan a huge favor, offering to pull him up onto the gravy train he assumed everyone should want to ride. He got all butt hurt and lashed out over the fact that Allan was far too strong a musician to fall into the trap. The very thing that probably attracted him (and all of us) to Allan's music; it's unique and untamed nature, became the sticking point that blew up the relationship.
His ego blinded him to the fact that not everyone is driven by dreams of the rock star lifestyle, babes, mansions, and hot cars in exchange for shredding hot solos over catchy radio friendly R&R.
He foolishly, ridiculously convinced himself he was good enough to demand to be Allan's musical partner, talked about reigning him in, said in a stupid interview "even I need direction", as if Allan Holdsworth needed an Eddie Van Halen and a Ted Templeman to rid him of his silly notions of making gorgeous complex tunes that came from his own creative mind, as vehicles for improvisational journeys, and get him on the right track of being a hit making rock shredder. The "even I need direction" was his idea of a humble statement, but was actually his assuming that he actually had a better perspective on his genius hero than the GOAT himself; ridiculously egotistical, and sad to see from the point of view of EVH fans discerning enough to realize Eddie was never remotely on Allan's level.
It's fair to say that the business of making records, for a true artist, is secondary to the documenting of the art itself, selling the output is for the purpose of supporting the artist to create as well as possible.
Putting the importance of maximizing profits over the importance of making as beautiful a recording as possible is the way business ruins art, and your statement not only elevated the profits above the art; it was completely dismissive of the function of documentation of art. It was dismissive therefore of the value of the people who are inspired by the idea of making music for the sake of music. That's why for the greatest artists like Allan, the business with it's greedy vultures, will always be repulsive.
@@Gregorypeckory - “The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side.”
(attributed to Hunter Thompson)
I'm quite thrilled to have Allan's music AND Van Halen the band and the guitarist just as they were.
Edit: I typed the above before hearing Templeman's idiotic analysis. (Or Eddie's.)
So funny, it's totally different than every other of his albums (rocking (and, yes, accessible) and totally awesome.
WTH were they expecting with Berlin & Wackerman??
Thank You so much for this video. I’m a Brazilian guitarist, Allan’s big fan, and could never imagine that Allan had been through this and that Eddie would agree with the opposite side. Allan made his choice and that’s how he ended, sadly for us that suffered contributing to the funeral of our genius and family after he passed away, but happily for him to live and play his musical dreams, opening a new pathway for music and guitar lovers.
Long live AH’s legacy
💥🎸🎶✨
Loved this! Great capture of Allan's struggle with the world's requirement of compromise.
Thank you.
Hope to see more of these Allan videos in the future, Ruby!
Thanks very much! Very interesting although saddening to learn of the struggles Allan had in making his music. I can't imagine what Templeman and VanHalen envisioned the record to be. Surprised that AH didn't like the record very much. This story illustrates to me just how difficult the music business was during those times, especially for a true artist like AH.
Eddie? Allan? Ted? Wtf! This is one of my favorite Holdsworth albums. I like every song! I saw this lineup many times tin concert! And enjoyed every minute! I am listening to it now and sounds incredible! Let the fans speak! We know best anyway 😅😊. Thanks for uploading!
the production is great. IOU is my fav, but road games definitely has better production. i think metal fatigue has even better production, if memory serves, allan produced that one himself
That was a fantastic look at the making of an epiphnal album by a virtuoso extraordinaire, very well done, thank you, be blessed
Thanks so much! I plan to create the making of metal fatigue soon
@@rubyjones01oh, please, i love that album ❤
wow, what a great find! Thanks, I enjoyed this very much.
It's quite likely that Bill Bruford discovered Jeff Berlin via the bassist's fantastic playing on Patrick Moraz' album "The Story of i", which is an essential listen, and was one of the Yes solo albums released in 1975.
The Doobie Brothers. Montrose. Sammy Hagar. Carly Simon. Aerosmith. Allan Holdsworth. Which of these musicians / bands are not like the others? Templeman produced all of the above, but thought his hit-maker magic was a match for Holdsworth? He really had no business producing Allan. A shame Allan wasn't signed by ECM - Manfred Eicher would have appreciated Allan's vision and produced him accordingly. It IS curious that Templeman apparently produced an album by Capt. Beefheart. I would think if Templeman tried to pull rank on the Captain, Beefheart would wrap a mic cord around Templeman's neck and use it to drag him down Mulholland Drive.
Allan didn't need a producer.
Let alone a dictatorial jerk like Templeton who obviously didn't understand Allan's music.
Rather as hendrix didn't need chas chandler or any other producer.
Another humongous undertaking of a history lesson, Ruby ! The first time I saw Allan play was in 1989 with Jimmy Johnson on bass, Chad on drums, and that's it. A power trio of monsters. This was at New George's in San Rafael, CA. The usual suspects were all sitting in the front row with me with their jaws on the floor - Neil Schon, Jeff Watson, and a few others I don't remember. WOW, I had no idea Geddy was considered for vocals. I also hated Paul's vocals at first, so I'd be fine with Mr. Lee !!!
your work will live for years. thank you so much
I love Holdsworth. I have most of his albums and albums he has played on, and if I had to choose to keep one piece, it would definitely be Road Games.
As someone with high functioning autism, I get the "one of us" feeling when I see interviews with Holdsworth. Is there any information on this?
His age most likely kept him from diagnosis. The science (and cultural acceptance) wasn't there in his generation. He was probably too immersed in special interests to worry anyway.
Thank you so much for the great video.
Thank you! I agree, I feel as an album it’s his best produced sonically and every track flows so well together, and the playing on it is absolutely killer from all involved!
I can’t comment for sure on a possible Autism diagnosis but Allan definitely seems like an “outsider” in interviews, in the sense that you can tell he just wants to play his music his way. As a teenager I know Allan wrote down every single possible scale and grouping of 12 notes that it was possible to play on the guitar and gave all these scales his own names, which must’ve taken him ages to catalogue and put together!
As an engineer/ musician with autism in my family, (maybe me?) and having worked with probably a few high functionings, I do agree that Allan did possibly come across that way in video interviews.
He had a lovable charm IMO, but I do love these kind of folks preliminarily.
Thanks for giving us a deep dive into Allan's career and the frustrations he had just trying to do his own music, his own way! I met Chad Wackerman a few times at a Jazz club & I asked him to sign my copy of Road Games, he was a true gentleman just like Allan!
oh good -- after the IOU video, I definitely wanted to hear what happened after that -- and wow, did you cover it well! ... of course, there's still one more album with Paul Williams, and I do want to hear how a keyboardist finally ended up on a Holdsworth album :)
Really good video, and RUclips channel in general! I really liked the videos about Allan Holdsworth’s IOU album and the one about Mike Oldfield’s missing tubular bell’s!!! It sounds like you researched the subjects well! So, thanks for quality videos!
My wife and I were able to meet and hang out with Allan at the Arlington, TX guitar show (aka Guitarlington) in the mid 90s. A friend who knew Allan had a booth at the show and was hosting Allan being there for a guitar seminar on that Saturday and Sunday. We went in early on Saturday as Jim (the aforementioned friend) and Allan were getting ready for the day/setting up. Allan brought his Carvin guitar and some guitar effects with him, and was using a Mesa rectifier head and 4x12 Jim had at his shop. I remember thinking the rectifier was a pretty metal affair for Allan. Anyway, he was unbelievably nice. Completely, totally and absolutely down to earth. You'd never know the guy was a living legend. I had a hard time speaking to him, being a bit awe struck. I'd been listing to him since Metal Fatigue came out in the 80s. My wife isn't affected by that sort of thing, at all, ever. So she was talking to him like they were old friends. They were cracking jokes and being funny with each other, my wife had him laughing pretty heartily quite a bit. It was really something to see. After he was done setting up, he just sat there on a stool and very casually played his guitar. He talked openly and easily with everyone who approached him. He kept talking with my wife in between fans and adulators who were coming by. I think the humor between them was an anchor for him. I sensed he wasn't really at ease with crowds or people approaching him awe, reverence or what have you. He handled it well, but I think he would have rather not have had to play that role. I think it was safe to say that to himself he was *not* the great Allan Holdsworth, but just another guy. Anyway, really great guy, probably the most honestly humble and down to earth of the great musicians I've met, and I've met a few (I have some SRV stories, too!).
That he was the musician he was, and also invented the Harness/Harness II (the absolute *best* load resistor for guitar, ever) as well as a number of other really clever inventions just tells us what a creative and original mind he truly was.
Great documentary, I've got an autographed copy of Road Games on my wall here in my living room. Love it, really sad he's gone.
Thanks Matt! I only got into him after he passed and I’m gutted I won’t have the chance to see him live 😭
I listened to that record obsessively the summer it came out. He might have hated it but it inspired me to get more seriously into music. It caused me to triple my guitar practicing because it was so interesting. I totally get it - big record companies jobs are to force you to do hyper commercial music that will make them a lot of money but Allan's music and sensibility was way too good for that. Years later I kicked into the Holdsworth crowd-funded "Tales from the Vault" project and the neat thing about that that is you got to hear multiple outtakes from that Road Games record: the Mark Pinski mixes for "Material Real", "Three Sheets to the Wind", and "Tokyo Dream" (he should have done the entire thing in my opinion) as well as outtakes of those songs with Joe Turano - a more refined tenor voice on vocals for "Material Real", "Was There" and "Water on the Brain" as well as the Paul Williams version of "Water on the Brain". Then two Synthaxe pieces that have never been heard on record as well as the new piece "Earth" with Virgil Donati, Jimmy Johnson and Allan on guitar and Synthaxe.
Absolutely brilliant, thanks so much
You are amazing Ruby ! These videos are just great ❤ the amount of research you did was phenomenal 🎉
Wonderful video, a very deep dive in the history of the album. I need to listen to it with this new information in mind. Thanks a lot!
Thank you for this superb video.
What a great video! Road Games contains many of my favorite Holdsworth tunes.
Allan himself has inspired me to strive for a more fluid and hornlike sound, and to reach for un orthodox chord voicings in my own writing.
Keep it up. I look forward to looking at more of your vids.
Thanks so much!!
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT Docco!!
Nice production, well researched and thanks!!
Thank you so much for putting so much work and passion into this doc.
Stellar stuff once again. Thank you.
I was a huge fan of AH before I was lucky enough to see him play the Iron Horse in Northampton, MA in ‘86 or so as a budding guitarist. I saw him another time in Noho and later in the 90’s at the Cubby Bear in Chicago, of all places. I loved the Road Games record and the only song of Allan’s I can come close to playing is Tokyo Dream. He is such a legend and still sounds wonderful to this day. He is one of the few soloist on any instrument who can bring a tear to my eye.
As an audiophile I can’t image how those masters must have sounded. What a shame!
Great job on the documentary. I learned a lot about the artist, human, and process. Please bring on Metal Fatigue!
Leave the Genius that was Allan Holdsworth ALONE, and let him do EXACTLY what he wants musically. Ok Mr. Templeman and Warner Bros.????
Agreed! It’d be like Warner buying the Mona Lisa then Eddie Van Halen and Te Templeman slapping some green paint in the middle of the canvas 🤣
Great video, Allans last quotes made me cry a little bit, such a legend.
Yep. Sad. But such integrity concerning his art. I am truly thankful for both his vision and integrity that allowed his art to reach us.
Kind of gutted learning that roads games was such a miserable experience. I cant even remember exactly how I got into holdsworth maybe an old zappa interview mentioned him or something. Road Games was the first album of his I got in to. Really it was so melodically overwhelming and complex I really just listened to the first track for probably a year before dipping my toes in deeper. Its since become one of my favorite albums. I did notice the lackluster mixing and not great audio quality at the time I just chalked it up to the era.
Thanks for the well researched video.
Thank you my friend! The making of Metal Fatigue is coming soon 😎
I've only heard bits and pieces of the back story to this album so, I thank you for filling in so much of that story. I've always liked the album myself. It has more sonic presence than the "I.O.U." album which I also liked very much. Personally, I agree with Allan's vision of what he wanted to do and I would have liked to have heard the original tracks. Either way, this album stands as a fantastic part of the Holdsworth discography.
I also had the distinct pleasure to have heard Allan play at NYC's "Bottom Line" venue around 1985/1986 just as "Metal Fatigue" came out. That band line up included Jimmy Johnson, Chad Wackerman and Alan Pasqua. I saw them twice in consecutive years and man, did they burn up that stage. Now that Allan has passed, we still have an amazing amount of music that he left us with and it's as fresh and amazing as the first time I heard it. Best to all.
Allan spent years working on his singular vision. He knew what he wanted and would rather have packed it in, than sell out. Such an uncompromising viewpoint cost him dearly on so many levels. But musicians of his calibre are rare and thank goodness he managed to produce such an amazing body of work. RIP Maestro.
This was really good.
Thanks very much!!!
Great video once again. I look forward to your Making of Metal Fatigue!
Jaco had the same problem with Warner Bros. They should just let artist release their vision, not a managed version of it.
It's like asking Monet to add an upside-down tree to one of his landscapes....
Exactly!
Again, we're talking major labels here; their business model functions in units of hundreds of thousands, if not millions. Art can happen, but how well it sells is always the first consideration. Meanwhile, anyone can self-release their own projects just as they like -- but they'll have to set up their own distribution/promotion, which is mainly what the majors offer
Thank you for doing this ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you again, Ruby. This was very good to hear I knew that it was a trainwreck. Eddie good guitar player, but trying to mold Allan GTFOOH. The music on it is still some great stuff. I miss him so much. So this is food for me and my music and life. Peace and Love Jesse.
What a story. Jeeez on a big, bad Harley... Thanks for sharing.
Excellent Job on the documentary. I loved the album. I don't agree that it tanked. I first heard him solo on "Return to Forever" thinking who is that guy? Best guitarist I've ever heard.
Humble genius Mr Holdsworth. Thank you for the video.
I learned a lot from this. Excellent music journalism. Thank you.
Can't keep looking but always the music is wonderful.
For people who really appreciate Allan's unbelievably great and unique talent, this video is a great gift; thanks a million for the work you put into this! 👏👏👏👏
Thank you so much!!
@@rubyjones01 I have to add that I'm a huge EVH fan, but the ego on him and Templeman, just assuming that they could "steer" Holdsworth in a different direction, knowing as they did, that he was a genius, but completely failing to see how brilliant his overall vision was; they wanted to make him a hired guitar virtuoso, and a freaky great soloist was all they got about him; pretty clueless on both of their parts. Ed was horny to put his mark all over the album of the far superior player, and got butt hurt that Allan rightly turned him down.
This is a sad reminder that as great a force as Ed was, and often a genuinely personable guy, he could be a giant insecure assh*le when things weren't going his way. They were hearing a genius composer but all they knew was rock, and wanted him to dumb down his music to sell more albums. Utterly clueless, and utterly an a-hole move, dissing him in public, even with the disclaimer about "I hate to do this because he's a friend and an amazing guitar player...but all his records sound like Holdsworth records and I can't tell them apart!"
Well if Ed couldn't hear the difference, he just don't really get what was great about Allan; he apparently just heard a lot of notes and untouchable soloing chops, and got excited about the guitar porn, never understood what gems Allan's songs were; every one of them!
Templeman and Ed both showed that they weren't there to help Allan get his vision out' they wanted to exploit him and take over his career, steering him in directions Allan had no interest in. Idiots.
Thank you so much for telling this amazing saga !!! ❤🎵🎶
Material Real is up there with Shallow Sea, and Pud Wud as some of my all time favorite songs. PLEASE do a video on the making of SAND... (easy for me to ask, harder to do )
Great documentary, thanks! More please :-) !!
I can easily see both sides of this and don’t begrudge Van Halen or Templeton but…. With the benefit of hindsight, it’s obvious now that the level of genius that Alan was expressing should’ve been supported 100% and without restrictions. The commercial pressures of the moment are real and have to be addressed but it’s too bad that some visionary didn’t step in and say, here just do what you want to do, and supported Alan and his dream. He might still be with us today if that happened. We can’t even imagine the things he might’ve discovered. And, really great job putting this together. Top tier reporting and storytelling. Concise and gripping.
gripping, well done! thanks
Excellent overview of one of my favorite albums. I do wish that Holdsworth would have done more with Wackerman and Berlin. Such a potent band! You have to admire Allan's purity of his pursuit. I wish he hadn't died poor.
Agreed! I love how the album sounds, would’ve loved for a full album with Williams on vocals with this lineup
Thank you for these videos - looking forward to watching more! @@rubyjones01
@@JimChlup thanks very much!
Good work so far, and not an easy feat choosing a musician that was non your typical run of the mill jazz-fusion virtuoso. However, since you decided to immerse yourself in the world of Allan Holdsworth, it would be honorable to see it all the way through, as Allan unfortunately passed not long ago, so make this into a tribute to honor his legacy. If you’re having a hard time with the musical and gear used by Allan, I’ll help you out as a) I was a musician from mid 80s to 1998 in which I left America and the studio scene, and b) I met Allan and remained on friendly terms with him for about 8 years but talked with Gary Husband a lot. Their stint with Level 42 in 1992 was one big mess, but if you need help putting it together let me know and I’ll help as much as possible.
I'd always heard this was the most drama-filled production of an album of his. Great mini documentary! Seems like the rest of his albums allowed him a lot more creative control- warner brothers would never have approved a masterpiece like Sand or Hard Hat Area, they delve too far into modern classical territory
Thank you my friend! I totally agree, I can’t imagine Ted Templeman being too thrilled with Atavachron 😅
Very informative video.... 👍👍👍
I recall that Guitar Player had a column at the time where they featured a transcription of Jeff's incredible Water on the Brain solo, along with commentary and a bit of his usual exhortations to learn the notes not licks, and all that. But also in it he lamented that the mix was unsatisfactory, I think he wrote to the effect of "the notes are peachy keen, but where's the beef?". He also had recollections of making the album, a nod to his affection for Allan, and an allusion to a longer story, untold, as to why that lineup didn't persist. Perhaps some of what is in this excellent video is that story.
Very interesting! Jeff is a great player, love his work, it’s a shame it didn’t work out and he didn’t stay on much longer
The story I heard was while Allan and Jeff get along great, Jeff and Chad did not.
Cheers, man, good video.
This was a facinating story, great job on the video!
Wow thank you so much Evan! Been a long time fan of your work with AH and solo stuff!
Bravo! This is an excellent essay on a terrific album.
A worthy followup to your splendid history of IOU. Ted Templeman needed to be taken out back and (metaphorically) shot. Eddie VH, too, sad to say. You don't "mold" a one-of-a-kind genius like Allan Holdsworth. You either honestly take a chance on them or leave them be. You don't tweeze everything that makes Allan Allan out of him.
Definitely,
Indeed a good album despite everything. The presence of vocals also helps to make it more accessible, compared to purely instrumental work.
Wow..Thanks for all this history I did not know. As a big A.H. fan "Road Games" is my favorite "Three sheets" especially.
You must have busted your but to get all this info. ...Thanks again
Thanks very much! I didn’t want to make this documentary until I started reading about the album and thought the story needed to be told! Hopefully this summer I’ll be able to release “The Making Of Metal Fatigue by Allan Holdsworth”
Please do Metal Fatigue!
Great video. Wow, I can see why Allan never dealt with major studios and the music industry much after this nightmare experience!
Ruby are you aware of the work of Fire-Toolz? You would love Angel's work i think!
Thanks for doing my main man some justice
I always wondered why the album is so short. Its like 25 minutes. I heard it was because of the strife between Allen and Ted/Warner music. I love the album. The more commercial music got me into Holdsworth.
It's definitely the album I'd recommend to non fusion fans who want to check out Allan's works, as the Road Games material has a more easily accessible and discernible structure
Hermoso trabajo de investigación. Gracias!
Eddie VH's patronizing comments are infuriating. "He lacks direction." Which direction is that? You mean *your* direction? Being a big rock star, where talent, originality, skill, expression are all just the means to the end of vast wealth and screaming teenage fans? EVH has some nerve calling himself Allan's "friend," sheesh.
Definitely, I wasn’t gonna make this video but when I read the story of it’s production I had to give it a go
This was freaking awesome thank you very much !
Such a brilliant album. Three Sheets to the Wind is my absolute favorite Holdsworth comp. I do have to agree with Ted Templeman though. I hate Paul Williams' vocals. I don't mind him on the song "Metal Fatigue" itself but, that's about it.
wow Allan had a great attitude towards art and Life . I've been a fan almost all the way through I never listened to soft machine much or knew who he was when he played with tony Williams but starting around Bill Bruford records and Gong I was noticing him , also my uncle Joaquin Lievano, Peter Manu and Jamie Glasser replaced him for Jean luc Ponty , By the time he did IOU debut I was blown away and He has been in my top 5 ever since, I loved Road games although I would have liked to hear him let go and do something with Eddie van Halen ,Warner with Templeton and maybe the whole thing with Jack Bruce. This would have been nice for him to get a large pay check and simultaneously do a record at Zappa's studio in full with Berlin another favorite of all time and Wackerman ! and be Loyal to Paul Williams and do an organic record. I don't think Allan related to or understood those Corporate values to reason like a scenario like I just imagined , I's great Road games is a fan favorite despite of all the chaos ! , I think he hated it because of the stress associated to that time period. I liked his tone and playing best around then of course there is other great records !! I saw that tour and the one before Wow! what ED Van Halen, Templeton and Warner Bros probably didn't get is that Allan was already fed up with doing things in bands with democracies and not having complete freedom . I remember being excited about the exposer and possibilities when I heard about Ed VH and them working with him, I never really heard about all this crap Lol crazy I watched a lot of interviews. he never revisited that in any thing I've heard ! magazines or RUclips. Very informing Vid Thanks !
Great video as always:)
Interesting video. Thank God Van Halen never got his grips on Allan to give him 'direction'! Personally I always preferred Paul's vocals on Road Games to Jacks.
Why the hell am I only discovering this now?!? Ruby Jones does an amazing homage to this Album.
Subscribe to the channel, I will❤️
Thank you friend! The making of Road Games is coming soon 😎
Thx for these Holdsworth videos,
I would steal your Dalek if given a chance.
PS: Ted is everything that's wrong about the music biz. Unadulterated evil pos.
Dope video Ruby !
I think Eddie VH really wanted to help Allan as far as getting a record deal. But Eddie didn't want to deal with all the BS.
really great video
Allan far superior human than Templeman or anyone at WB. Road Games ahnilates Diver down, and im a VH fan.
Interesting account of these events.
Great video!
Well done Sir! Nice job man! Way to go dude!
Thank you.
7:55 I had no idea Oklahoma City bomber Tim McVeigh played drums on Road Games