Alvin Lee began his career as a musician while still a teenager in Nottingham, England in the late 1950s. He joined various groups with titles like, Vince Marshall and the Square Caps, Alan Upton and the Jail-Breakers, Atomics, Jaybirds and others. He played small venues from London to Hamburg for many years.
He met drummer, Leo Lyons in 1960. Bassist Ric Lee in 1965 and Keyboardist Chick Churchill in 1966. Ten Years After was formed in 1967.
The name was pulled by Leo Lyons from a magazine advertising a book, “Ten Years After The Suez”, (referring to the Suez Canal). The title’s ambiguousness appealed to the band because it didn’t pin them down to one style or another.
In 1969 they played at Woodstock and their performance of “I’m Going Home” was featured in the film and soundtrack. This catapulted them to superstardom. They broke up in 1975 after failing to reach the same sort of success and not being able to escape the limitations that their fame brought them.
Alvin Lee recorded a somewhat country style album with Mylon LeFevre in 1973. He then formed a new band titled Alvin Lee & Co. in 1974, with ex-members of King Crimson and Stone The Crows. They released a live album, “In Flight”.
He toured once more with Ten Years After in 1975 before branching out into various solo and collaborative ventures. Alvin Lee died March 3, 2013.
My friends and I saw Ten Years After perform at the
Cow Palace, near San Francisco, in 1974.
We also saw Alvin Lee & Co., in 1975,
at Winterland in San Francisco.
To see photos of the Winterland show
My photo of Ten Years After taken at
the Cow Palace June 13, 1974.
I met Alvin Lee and got his autograph
after performing as Alvin Lee & Co.
at Winterland, San Francisco,
February 14, 1975
A history of Ten Years After from
"The Harmony Illustrated Encyclopedia
Of Rock" by Mike Clifford.
© 1986 Salamander Books, Ltd.
From "The Rolling Stone
Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll"
© 1983 The Rolling Stone Press
From "Rock Family Trees"
by Pete Frame. Published by
Omnibus Press. © Pete Frame 1993.
Detailed views.
A review of their third album, "Ssssh"
October 18, 1969.
A review of their fifth album,
"Cricklewood Green"
June 11, 1970.
A review of their sixth album, "Watt"
February 4, 1971.
Alvin Lee is interviewed and
talks about TYA's image troubles.
He also talks candidly about
his early life and
musical interests.
February 1, 1973.
A review of their
"Recorded Live" album,
August 2, 1973.
A review of "On The Road To Freedom"
April 11, 1974.
A review of
Chick Churchill's solo
album, "You & Me"
April 11, 1974.
A review of their
eleventh and last album,
"Positive Vibrations"
July 18, 1974.
Alvin Lee is interviewed and talks about
disbanding TYA, "On The Road To Freedom"
and working with his new band, Alvin Lee & Co.
February 13, 1975.
A review of "in Flight"
April 10, 1975.
A review of
"Pump Iron"
November 20, 1975.
The albums in my collection.
Chick Churchill released his only
solo album in 1973.
Mylon LeFevre began as a gospel
singer and recorded a number of
solo albums.
Alvin Lee died March 6, 2013.
Related links
Thanks for your tribute to a great artist!
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