Rock Guitarist Alvin Lee Dies Aged 68

Alvin Lee – the much loved guitarist who played with the band Ten Years After – has died aged 68 according to an announcement from his family on his official website.

The post, which was stylized in capitals, read: “With great sadness we have to announce that Alvin unexpectedly passed away early this morning after unforeseen complications following a routine surgical procedure. We have lost a wonderful much loved father and companion, the world has lost a truly great and gifted musician.” Lee rose to prominence after featuring at the Woodstock festival in 1969. The Nottingham-born musician’s 11-minute rendition of I'm Going Home was made famous by the 1970 documentary of the event. "I've still got the original Woodstock 335, but sadly I don't use it these days as it has become too valuable," he said in 2012. He worked with some of the world’s top artists, including The Beatles' George Harrison, Steve Winwood, Ronnie Wood and Mick Fleetwood on his first solo album, On the Road to Freedom, in 1973.

Still an active guitarist before his death, Lee was due to play a concert at Olympia Hall in Paris on 7 April with blues guitarist Johnny Winter. Ten Years Later found their way via illegal underground radio stations and won their first recording contract in 1967. They travelled to America a year later, and would tour the country 28 times over a seven-year period.