Allan Holdsworth

British guitarist Allan Holdsworth achieved a signature sound, especially from 1975 onward, by challenging the unwritten rules of his instrument. Very few guitarists in any genre have approached Holdsworth's fluidity, a liquid sound composed of his accurate mimicry of everything from keyboards to violin, and a two-handed attack that influenced future tapping specialists from jazz (Stanley Jordan) to rock (Eddie Van Halen). Holdsworth actually played some violin in his formative years, spent with influential British groups like Igginbottom, Tempest, and the Soft Machine (a band that also propelled the career of future Police guitarist Andy Summers). Later known for his work on the guitar synthesizer, Holdsworth's early career was strictly non-synth, and he built his reputation with a mid- to late '70s sideman career that arguably ranks as the most impressive stretch in session musician history.