Alvin Lee
b. 19 December 1944, Nottingham, England. Guitarist Lee began his professional career in the Jaybirds, a beat-trio popular both locally and in Hamburg, Germany. In 1966, an expanded line-up took a new name, Ten Years After, and in turn became one of Britain's leading blues/rock attractions with Lee's virtuoso solos its main attraction. His outside aspirations surfaced in 1973 with ON THE ROAD TO FREEDOM, a collaboration with American Mylon Lefevre, which included support from George Harrison, Steve Winwood and Mick Fleetwood. When Ten Years After disbanded the following year, the guitarist formed Alvin Lee & Co. with Neil Hubbard (guitar), Tim Hinkley (keyboards), Mel Collins (saxophone), Alan Spenner (bass) and Ian Wallace (drums). Having recorded the live IN FLIGHT, Lee made the first of several changes in personnel, but although he and Hinkley were joined by Andy Pyle (bass, ex-Blodwyn Pig) and Bryson Graham (drums) for PUMP IRON!, the group struggled to find its niche with the advent of punk. Lee toured Europe fronting Ten Years Later (1978-80) and the Alvin Lee Band (1980-81), before founding a new quartet, known simply as Alvin Lee, with Mick Taylor (guitar, ex-John Mayall/ Rolling Stones), Fuzzy Samuels (bass, ex-Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young) and Tom Compton (drums). This promising combination promoted RX-5, but later split. In 1989, Lee reconvened the original line-up of Ten Years After to record ABOUT TIME. Lee released ZOOM in 1992 with Sequel Records, after finding the majaor companies were not interested. Although the record offered nothing new, it was a fresh and well-produced record, and featured George Harrison on backing vocals.