Allan Holdsworth: Letters Of Marque (Frankfurt '86 Experimental Remix)

Here are excerpts of Jimmy Johnson's comments on this gig, taken from the Alembic forum: JJ: “This particular gig was at the Frankfurt Musikmesse in 1986. That's the EU equivalent of our NAMM show here in the States but actually a larger exposition. I don't remember the exact circumstances which brought Kei Akagi into the band on keyboards, but this was his first and only tour with the band. He did an excellent job of dealing with the music but never had the chance to get very comfortable with it. Furthermore, I'm sure Allan and I got together with him in LA for a couple rehearsals but it's possible he had not yet played with Gary Husband until the day of this show.” JJ: “This was the very first gig of the tour - and likely funded our flight expenses to get to Europe. So we had flown in the day before, then spent almost all of this day jet-lagged and running around the Muskmesse collecting gear which had been offered from various manufacturers for use on the tour. But as I said, that convention is HUGE so picture us trying to find the Mesa Boogie booth (or whatever he was using at the time) on the floor of the show, then finding a handcart to wheel speaker cabinets the 2 miles to the venue, dealing with security to get the gear out of the building, etc... I have the feeling we had to chase down a drum kit that same way. That took all day leaving us precious little time for a soundcheck or a much needed rehearsal with the full band.” JJ: “So we had done what we could to get set up with the borrowed gear and get the monitors working so we could hear each other. We understood that we were contractually obligated to let the "festival" be recorded for a one-time tv broadcast. What we had NOT anticipated was that as soon as we started playing, 2 or 3 handheld cameramen and their cable wrangling assistants were running back and forth on stage basically in our faces. To the point where they were stepping on our pedals! Complete disregard for us trying to concentrate on the music. It was one of those situations where you needed to completely close your eyes and not see what was happening around you. But then my chorus effect would suddenly turn on. HA!!” Found here: club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=8041.1500

I dont think that non musicians and even some musicians will be able to understand just how good this really is....its the kinda thing that all us musos can only marvel at and hope to get maybe some where close to maybe some time in the far off future 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

100 years of practice in 15 minutes, everybody sounded amazing!

I met Allan countless times. I worked in a bank near to the Bruford rehearsal room in Kingston on Thames. He popped in every week to cash a cheque and we had a chat. This was 1978. Lovely man.

Gary Husband is a brilliant musician.

No one did it like ALLAN HOLDSWORTH 🖤

Every player on the stage is at the top of their game. Astounding!

My god, that keyboardist is a monster!

I saw Alan when he and his band pulled up in a VW bus to my uni commons stage in California in 1980- there were maybe 50 people watching. Paul Williams was on vocals. It absolutely changed my life and my vision of what music could be.

To be living on this planet together with such legendary musicians is already a great blessing for me. Thank you God.

Allan's lines come directly from his soul.

Insane masters of their instrument.

I was there, in the first row of the public, and was as anoid as Jimmy told, of the stupid camera-men, who were stepping in front us, disturbing the view on our musical heros....but the concert was brilliant ! 1986 I was 26, now I am 62 - I never was tired, to listen to Alans music and hope, to meet him in musicians heaven some day in the future - RiP ( by the way Gary Husband was a killer in this concert ! ) *

Holdsworth had good days and bad days like every great musician. This is definitely a good day...

this is one for the ages... unreal...

Allan was from another planet

What a wonderful video and what a wonderful job you've done! I enjoyed every second! Thanks for investing you time into making this legendary performance sound more distinct and perfect. And thanks to great Allan and the musicians for their talend! Allan is my latest discovery - and I fail to find anything and anybody close to him yet.

I don't think I've ever seen Allan this animated taking a solo. These guys were on fire that night. Incredible. !!!

JIMMY JOHNSON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish Kei Akagi played with Allan and the boys for more than one tour, he's so amazing.

Akagi sounds super in the groove and having fun