It wasn’t until the movie came out that it all changed for us. Some people say it was the start of Ten Years After, but in another way, it was the beginning of the end.

Meaning of the quote

The quote suggests that a movie's release greatly impacted Alvin Lee and his music group, Ten Years After. While some saw the movie as the start of the group's success, Alvin Lee felt it also marked the beginning of the end for the band. The quote implies that the movie's impact was significant, leading to both positive and negative changes in the group's trajectory.

About Alvin Lee

Alvin Lee was an English guitarist, singer, and songwriter best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the blues rock band Ten Years After. He was born Graham Anthony Barnes in 1944 and passed away in 2013.

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More quotes from Alvin Lee

I think I’ll continue to work as a solo artist.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

We also did something called the Texas Peace Festival, which was actually a better gig both musically, and in the way it was organised.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

So if you see Ten Years After, it’s not me anymore. I’m very happy with what I am doing now.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

George Harrison was also a pleasure to work with. He was one of the most famous people I’ve ever known, but in spite of that fame, he was such a nice and friendly guy.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

We used to play the underground clubs like the UFO, and Middle Earth, and they were great because they would have on things like a poet, string quartets, and then a rock band! It was kinda cool!

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

There is a big age gap between my sisters Janice and Irma and myself so I didn’t know them that well when I was younger although they have been very supportive in later life.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

It was by listening to Goodman’s band, that I began to notice the guitarist Charlie Christian, who was one of the first musicians to play solos in a big band set-up.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

I just couldn’t take school seriously: I had this guitar neck with four frets which I kept hidden under the desk. It had strings on it so I would practice my chord shapes under the desk and that’s about all I did at school.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

It wasn’t until the movie came out that it all changed for us. Some people say it was the start of Ten Years After, but in another way, it was the beginning of the end.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

Back in those days we thought we could change the world.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

I started off playing the clarinet, after I was inspired by listening to my dad’s Benny Goodman records.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

It will be the first time I’ve played live with a double bass.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

He saw us play a few times in fact. I did this song called I Can’t Keep From Crying Sometimes, and Jimi loved it. He paid me a huge compliment when he told me that he was thinking of doing something similar himself!

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

I think a lot of modern day guitarists start off playing like Eddie van Halen, and they don’t take the time to learn the basics.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

I just play to the people I can see. So it’s almost like you are playing to the first few rows of the crowd. You can see the faces of the first hundred people, but then it becomes a blur as the crowds disappear over the hill.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

The chances of a reunion now are less likely. I was thinking of having a 40th anniversary of the band, but now they are really another band, so it’s all a bit weird.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

Anywhere you go in the world is what you make of it, not what you read in books.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

Strangely enough, through all those school years I decided at 13 or 14 I was going to be a musician and so school was just something to get out of the way, a waste of time and not to bother with it.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

I went to see John Mayall at the Marquee, with Peter Green on guitar, and that was a particularly good gig.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)

They have decided to tour under the name of Ten Years After which I don’t think is very cool. To be honest, they have had to do that as it’s the only way they can get any work.

Alvin Lee

British guitarist, singer, songwriter (1944-2013)