Guitar pioneer Allan Holdsworth dies

Progressive rock and jazz fusion guitar pioneer Allan Holdsworth, who Eddie Van Halen called “the best, in my book,” has died of unknown causes at the age of 70. Holdsworth's daughter Louise confirmed the news on Facebook.

Holdsworth first appeared on a record in 1969 with the group 'Igginbottom. After '70s stints in groundbreaking progressive rock and jazz fusion acts such as Soft Machine, the New Tony Williams Lifetime, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Bruford and UK, he released his first official solo album, “I.O.U.”, in 1982. Later in the decade he became an early proponent of a synthesized guitar known as the SynthAxe, and his experimentation with the instrument would define much of his work over the next decade and a half.

Holdsworth's 11th and most recent studio album was 2001's “Flat Tire: Music for a Non-Existent Movie”. In 2009 he released the live album “Blues for Tony” – a tribute to drummer and former bandmate Tony Williams.

Upon hearing of his death, Holdsworth's guitar playing peers were quick to sing his praises on social media, with Toto's Steve Lukather saying he “changed the game” and Peter Frampton describing him as “brilliant, unique.”