This one really hit me hard. He was my guitar god.

 

ok

 

Isn't he the one who did the guitars on Micheal Jackson's Thriller?
Beat It was a killer solo that sounded like Eddie Van Halen but better.

 

Yeah he was indeed a great guitar player!!!

Info:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Holdsworth

 

Last edited: Apr 19, 2017

Very sad ... to quote Marshall Harrison " A musical miracle" RIP

 

RIP.


No, Eddie did it, but rumors are he did use his amp for that solo.
> It was Marshall (not his) and an Echoplex EP-3……thats it. EP-3 = subtle but effective overdrive/boost pedal [not used for echo].

> The recent book “Everybody Wants Some, the Van Halen Saga” says Ed used a “hot-rodded Hartley Thompson amp borrowed from Allan Holdsworth” [for Beat It]. This is backed up by Pete Hartley’s son here (see the comments at the bottom of the page).

> The Hartley Thompson is an obscure, British-made solid-state amplifier, and one person noted: “Allan Holdsworth was the only one with that amp in LA at the time of the Thriller recording in 1982 and he was playing with Ed at the same time.”

 

Last edited by a moderator: Apr 19, 2017

RIP Allan, a true Genius, here if you want to know more abt him:

 

Haha, my mind immediately said "Rick Derringer!", but he's the one who did the solo on Weird Al's "Eat It".

 

No it was Van Halen playing that lead, but Ed did mention that he did like Alan playing.
I am confused as to why you said sounded like Van Halen, but better?

Van Halen guitar is really hard to replicate.

 

It is definitely one of Eddie's best solos for sure. I heard or read somewhere that it was Allan that played all guitar on the Thriller album.
Must be an alternative fact or some sh!t like that.

 

The lead on beat it was Ed the other guitar was Steve lukather. To me I would defiantly say his lead was good. I know he has other good ones also that is just me though. Also from what I know it was his first take that was the one that went on the record.

Micheal Jackson always used Toto band members on several albums.

 

Thanks for the info midi-man and the Midisport 2x2!!!!!
I knew it was someone other than EVH on that song.

 

he was an amazing inspiration to me. i love him! a fantastic artist , he will be remembered!

 

Saw him here in New York many times, including a double bill with The Dixie Dregs back in the day.
He will be missed.

 

"tarkus
Saw him here in New York many times, including a double bill with The Dixie Dregs back in the day.
He will be missed."


bet that was superb

 

Yeah really sad news
Phenomenal musician in every sense.
Got to be the most amazing guitarist I've ever heard state that he didn't actually like or really ever want to play the guitar.
He was unique in every aspect and will be hugely missed

 

Yes, R.I.P. Master Allan !

Another real 'Guitar Hero' is gone... (even if this man didn't care at all about the term 'Guitar Hero' ! as all these great 'Guitar Masters').

An innovative, explorer, experimental, modern, pioneer,..., Guitar player and musician who undoubtedly influenced the most recent Guitar generations ! (and even the non less extraordinary 'Eddie Van Halen' as rightly mentioned above).

About 'Beat It' (even if is not the main topic of this article), 'Master Eddie' was responsible for that majestic solo which will remain in the history of the electric guitar until the end of time for sure !!! , and this fantastic result is the 'mix' (or 'blend') of 3 different 'takes' (according to the Great 'Bruce Sweden' which done the final mastering).

For the anecdote :
'Bruce Sweden' himself didn't recorded 'Eddie' directly (mainly due to the sound power of his gear !!!), thus be forced to hire another sound engineer for that task !!! (All this according to the words of 'Bruce Sweden' himself !).

All the 'Rhythm Parts' have been done by another 'Guitar Master', the prolific 'Steve Lukather' (as also rightly mentioned above), all these tasks supervised by the 'Guru' 'Quincy Jones'... what a 'Great Team', isn't !?!


P.S: Thanks to you, 'Panther5', for this sad announcement...

 

On my anniversary edition of Thriller, Quincy Jones talks about the Beat It solo and says he edited, and put together the best parts from multiple takes. No wonder that solo is amazing.

 

I reckon Eddie may have done that with a few solos
Was watching solo in Jump the other day and sort of gave me that impression like you've just mentioned.
Like he'd pieced together all the best bits in a short really elegant solo. Would be an interesting approach I guess.
Sometimes forget how good he is

 

nobody will ever be like him again either