There is Jeff Beck then everyone else.

God’s guitar player and now sadly for us … that is fact.

I got to spend time with him over the years. He was my hero and friend since 1986 when I got to play with him and then we became friends.

I will miss him. We just hung out last July.. You never think you are saying goodbye to someone for REAL!

 

People use the word legend very freely.

Sometimes they are right. Sometimes not.

Jeff defines the word.

This one hurts and also the real fact is that NO ONE will ever come close.

ONE note is all he had to play and it was game over.

His one of a kind playing-talent and work cannot be overstated!

I am still processing like we all are.

Steve Lukather

_________________________________

My band was lucky enough to play the 2007 Clapton Crossroads concert in Chicago. It was, as one might expect, nonstop guitar demigods all day, and everyone brought their A game. Just before Clapton’s big finale it was Jeff Beck, Vinnie Colaiuta and the debut of 17 year old Tal Wilkenfeld who didn’t look to be a day over 12. Jeff sauntered out with no pedals, no fanfare, one amp and just a single Strat that he didn’t bother to tune once in an hour of what could only described as extreme ritual violence to his strings, and proceeded to burn the place down. I happened to be standing  side stage between Vince Gill and Sonny Landreth, and I could hear them cursing constantly thru his show. He was by a light year the baddest motherfucker there and for all time. RIP Jeff.

Steve Berlin

_________________________________

1982-1983 the Allman Brothers Band broke apart again. BHLT was formed by Dickey Betts, Jimmy Hall, Chuck Leavell, & Butch Trucks. As they were gigging in clubs jelling with a succession of bassists and a fiddle player, Chuck was flirting with his start with the Stones and Jimmy was excited by the cassette he had just gotten of some tracks of an Arthur Baker produced Jeff Beck project that Rod Stewart had contributed People Get Ready, and Jimmy was singing most of the other vocal tracks.  Jimmy was keen to hear the tape and gathered a few of us to listen as he was proud of his contribution. Blasting the tape with the Holiday Inn room door ajar, Dickey Betts came sauntering by. He sticks his head in the door and asks what we are listening to. Jimmy proudly says something he just did vocals on. Dickey says “Well I hope that’s Jeff Beck playing guitar because if it is some new kid, I quit and am going home”. He plopped down on the bed and just sat and listened to the amazing rough mixes. A delightful hour before soundcheck and a grinding show for a new band.  Dickey played amazingly inspired that night with some signature Jeff Beck licks sneaking in. Alas BHLT did not last but they played some fiery live shows, including a few fueled By Jeff’s new record.

Well Jeff quit first but goes out as a winner and still champion.  That’s the Truth.

Bert Holman

Allman Brothers Band

_________________________________

Bob-  I saw Jeff and Paul Rodgers on the same show a few years ago.  Both of those guys were as good as they ever were.  Maybe better.

In my last days with Spirit, Cozy Powell did a short tour with us after his final days with Jeff.   Cozy told me that on one of their U.S. tours Jeff didn’t even bring a guitar.  He used a different guitar in each town they played.  What lead guitar player do you know that would be that casual and confident?  Only a guy that knows he can make any guitar bend to his will.

Al Staehely

_________________________________

Thanks for this great remembrance, Bob —

I had the good fortune and privilege to be with Jeff at his home,

at his shows, at a few dinners, in the studio, and over a Snooker table.

He was an easygoing, soft-spoken, modest, considerate and humorous craftsman —

as exceptional an artist as I’ve ever met.

He gifted us with some very special music.

Tom Werman

_________________________________

Thank you

A great read

Peter Noone

_________________________________

Though I’ve read your e-mails for years, I’ve never reached back to thank you but this piece about Jeff Beck’s passing gives me no choice.  I’m a bit older than you, born 1949,  but as a guitar-playing , music-obsessed teenager in the early ’60’s, we share so many of the same memories from that time, a time which you describe so well and so often in your letters in a way that no one else I have read can do. It’s about the importance of music to us back then, and the giants who roamed the earth in those years.  Jeff Beck was surely one of them.  I was fortunate to see the Jeff Beck Group at the Filmore in 1969, an unforgettable night, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood in the group, after having listened to “Shapes of Things” about a hundred times.

I woke this morning and searched my 1500 LP collection for my Jeff Beck “Truth” album,  only to find it gone. Spotify to the rescue, but isn’t that exactly what you often speak of.  The LP was a precious commodity, if you didn’t have one, you couldn’t hear it. How primitive!!!  How precious those LP’s were, and how precious were the friends who had all the great albums, and the parties and shows we went to. I could go on and on, but won’t, you do it far better. But you know, you really know, and I so much appreciate it.  Let’s hope we get a nice long break before losing another one of our heroes.

a long-overdue thank you to you for all you do,

Greg Calbi

Sterling Sound

_________________________________

Thank you Bob. Having worked with, and more importantly, being friends with Jeff for nearly 25 years, since Who Else on Epic, I am

devastated. There was no one like Jeff and there won’t be another anytime soon.  So, so many memories. Heartbroken and devastated.

Melissa Dragich

_________________________________

I’ts 1988 , I’m 17 years old at NAMM in OC and THERE’S BECK

I spotted him just as he entered , before anyone.

“ Jeff can I get a photo “ ?

He says nothing but stops walking and let’s me stand next to him. CLICK and I get my camera back ( see attached pic )

Now a crowd is forming , guy walks up to him and says

“ Excuse me , are you –

Jeff cuts him off – “ NO “ and is GONE

R.I.P. brother and thank you for all of it

Mark Flores

_________________________________

My favorite guitarist of all time.

He was not the fastest, but the most expressive player.

He will be missed.

Nora Kelly

_________________________________

You’re right.  It’s the end of an era.

I’m only a few months older than you Bob.   We came up on the same radio so to speak.

By the time the British Invasion was happening, I knew what I wanted to do.  My uncle was a sax player.  He played with Miles Davis in the 50’s , Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich & many others.    Music was in the family.

I’ve had a great run with drumming for Bowie , Julian Lennon , John Waite (and back with John right now) and too many others to write down.
The Jeff Beck Group Truth lp was the template for Zep.  Cream & Jimi set the standard.  As the years flew by , Jeff kept improving .  Clapton went in a more laid  back direction never learning anything new but mastering his particular style.
I’m saying Jeff wins in the end.
I saw Jeff at the Fillmore East , Carnegie Hall and the last time was in Orange County way before the pandemic with a triple bill of Ann Wilson from Heart , Jeff and headlining was Paul Rogers.  Jeff was still AMAZING.
The tears I shed today for Jeff and memories associated with his music, got me thinking; we’re in that line towards the end.
At this point you have to decide to go on like it’s any other day in your life.  Otherwise you’d be depressed.

Thanks Bob. I look forward to your emails .  Please eat healthy

Alan Childs

_________________________________

I could go on and on (as I just did in a radio interview) but I’ll share this tidbit that made me love him all the more. I had the chance to have a conversation with Jeff following an afternoon of press.  I told him that he was the reason I started playing guitar in the first place.  When I told him that, while he was the reason I picked up the instrument, I didn’t dare learn how to play like him.  He just chuckled and said “What would be the point?” Indeed.

Steve Waxman

_________________________________

Thanks for that beautiful tribute to the original guitar genius. My teenage ears couldn’t get enough of  “Heart Full Of Soul” and I wore out the grooves on “Blow By Blow”. That album and the mournful “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers”  soothed me every time my youthful heart was broken. In later years “You Had It Coming” hooked me back in and this track, “Nadia”, became my most favourite ever piece of music. It’s melancholy has a transcendental quality. I loved the Nitin Sawhney original back in the day and couldn’t believe it when I heard Jeff’s note for note version.  Totally transports me and lifts every dark cloud, every time. There is a jaw-dropping brilliance to his virtuosity.

Thanks again, Bob. If only we didn’t have to get old…

Peter Bain-Hogg

_________________________________

You made my eyes water. So true. I thought of  two things when I heard the news. All my opinion, of course.

1. Jeff Beck has been the finest guitar player on the planet for most of my life. I was born in 1956, Jimi Left in 1970 and ever since Jeff Beck has clearly been the musician closest to what Jimi may have evolved into. Can you think of anyone (other than Jimi) that could have played that guitar part in Stevie Wonder’s 1972 tune “Lookin’ For Another Pure Love”… Stevie was moved to say “Do it, Jeff” and keep it on the record. Literally thousands of spins and it still gives me a spine tingle.

2. If he didn’t have that accident, Beck, Bogert and Appice would have happened instead of Cactus. By the time they were able to get together, it was too late.  Regardless, Jeff would have still been the best guitar player on the planet until January 10, 2023.

Mike Marrone

_________________________________

Surprised no mention of Jeff’s sweet lick in Stevie Wonder’s “Looking for another Pure Love”. It is one of the most tender and expressive electric guitar solos in Rock history. You can even hear Stevie’s warm “do it Jeff” approval. He pioneered/perfected finger style in Rock, think Derek Trucks.
It’s a great loss.

David Murphy

_________________________________

I walked into the soundcheck at our Jeff Beck show at The Riverside in Milwaukee with my big black and white pit bull, Sam. Sam often hung out with me at shows and he was used to the sounds and the lights.

I walked down the aisle quietly to listen to Jeff play as it was dark in the theater.  For some reason, and out of the ordinary, Sam barked at Jeff while he was playing alone on stage.  I thought Jeff was going to be really angry at me being there and of course with my dog barking. But instead, he looked up and smiled at Sam and proceeded to make his guitar sound exactly like a bark… and he barked back twice at Sam.  Sounding exactly like Sam’s bark. No pedals.  No effects.  Just Jeff Beck. Those incredible hands. Was amazing.

Gary Witt

_________________________________

Shapes of Things

When I was a kid and just learning to play I received  a copy of,”The Best of Jeff Beck”. The solo on,
“Shapes of Things” really knocked me out; it sounded other worldly, eastern, psychedelic subcontinental fuzz blues from another realm. I discovered that the guy playing it  used a fuzz tone from a pedal and an Esquire to help get that sound.
Fortunately I already  had a Japanese copy of a Telecaster (the 2 pickup version of an Esquire)and I bought an Electro Harmonix Muff Fuzz-a cheap little box that plugged directly into your guitar- for $15.
I also  had  a little Fender Princeton Amp that I had bought off a classmate for very little money, maybe $200 in 1981, saved from doing a crappy paper route for a year.
I was also bursting with audacity and determination; two things that will carry one far in life. Sometimes.
But I digress: I was able to slow the record down and play along with it and after about two thousand hours of doggedly determined deep dive idiocy had some minuscule success in emulating it. The noise must have driven my parents crazy but I think they appreciated my determination.
I was a Jeff Beck devotee from then on. Of all the British guitar gods, he was the end all-be all to me. No one came close to possessing his touch, taste, tone and musicality.

Fast forward 30 years:
I’m living in London and playing with some great musicians; one was a sax player named Frank Mead who was also a member of a great jump blues band called the Big Town Playboys. They had just recorded an album with Jeff called, “Crazy Legs”, a tribute to Gene Vincent. Great band, killer record.
My band is playing the 100 Club on Oxford Street on a Sunday night ; Frank is playing sax with me, wailing away. I’m still full of audacity and determination.
On the break, I see a guy standing near the bar chatting to other people. Frank walks over to me and says,”Oi! Jeff is here, go say ‘allo ya c.**t!” Frank always had that hilarious cockney thing going on; very funny and endearing even when calling me a c**t, which was often.
I’m sh..ting myself: my hero has come to MY gig and says,”Hello mate, you’re sounding great!”
I’m like…”Thank you sir. Great new record!”
He sticks around for the rest of the show, just another lad hanging out the gig and having fun.
Absolutely a bonafide legend, gentleman, unbelievable talent and will always be my hero.
As a result of him existing in our lifetime, I’ll always be that ridiculous kid with a fifteen dollar fuzz box and tons of enthusiasm, audacity and determination.
Rest In Peace Maestro

Colin John

_________________________________

Jeff stayed at it. But there was no hit single. so the hoi polloi didn’t know his name. But those who did…

I beg to differ – at least in the UK – ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ may have become a cross to bear for him over the years, but just about every bugger knew who Jeff Beck was back home, even if that was the only damn song of his they ever heard! It was a big hit, twice in ’67 and then in ‘72, and was the shout-out-the-chorus staple at school dances and town discos for decades after.

He used to drink at a pub down in Kent near the hop farm we used to work at in the summer holidays, he was known for taking of the drink. You knew when he was there – the chopped Model T Ford would be outside. It growled even when it wasn’t running. My brother stole his car keys one night…I think I can say it publicly now; but people were after “the c*nt who done it” for a long time.

This s..t’s becoming almost a daily thing, now. Christ, we’re getting old.

-Hugo Burnham

_________________________________

I’ve been spending the evening listening to music from throughout his career. He was my favorite. So many memories. Here’s a few of my faves.

Filmore East, July 1969. Short set, audience freaking out with the old “We want more” chant.
He finally comes out and says “You want more?” And the audience goes nuts with the “Yeah”s ringing out. He says “Well come on up to Newport.”, which was the following night, and he walked off stage!

Same summer, Central Park-maybe the best show I ever saw by anybody. He used feedback so musically it just amazed me.

Then a no show at Woodstock. Disappointing, as he was one of the main draws for me

And my last time seeing him live, in the 90s at The Garden State Arts Center he did a version of Where Were You that had me actually crying, it was so beautiful.

He was a true genius and will be missed. I give thanx that he left such a wonderful legacy of music to listen to. RIP

Kevin Kiley

_________________________________

Jeff Beck was without peer on the electric guitar. Right up there with Hendrix. Page was great, Clapton was good. But Jeff Beck was, for my money, the best there ever was.

emiltonmyers

_________________________________

Thank you for this, Bob.

The loss of Jeff Beck brings tears. Jeff Beck was second only to Hendrix among  rock guitarists, in my opinion.

Sometimes you don’t realize the extent of the influence of someone until they’re gone. Jeff Beck is in the DNA of probably every guitarist who ever heard him. I know he’s there somewhere every time I take a solo.

Try to listen to Definitely Maybe right now without crying. I certainly can’t.

Jeff Beck “Definitely Maybe” on YouTube https://youtu.be/lhrsDEnUlJM

I saw Jeff Beck live 7 times. He was one of those rare artists, along with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea, who never got old, never went downhill, seemed to always be getting better and better.

One of the times I saw him was at the Woodlands Pavillion in Houston. I was on the second row, and in front of me on the first row was an older female fan who was waving at Jeff between songs. Even though he does not play with a pick, he carried some, I guess to throw into the audience, because he threw her one. I asked her if I could see it. It was a plain white pick with an inscription that said, and I shit you not, “I can’t believe she’s a geezer.” Cracked me up.

Mark Towns

_________________________________

It’s stunning that Jeff Beck is gone. He just played LA in November. I did audio post on His Iridium Show and also his Hollywood Bowl Show. This version of “Walking In The Sand” from the Iridium show just never fails to give me goosebumps. The solo starts at 3:21 and there is a lick at about 3:36 that is just jaw dropping. I remember when I was working on this and seeing it for the first time I was like WTAF!! With all due respect to Clapton, Page, and Van Halen I do think he was the greatest rock guitarist of them all. What a loss!

Peter A Barker

_________________________________

My first big concert was at age 15.

Jeff Beck, 1975, Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto.

REO Speedwagon opened, and they rocked then, before the money making ballads.

There were just a few of us in town that knew of Jeff.

And we went to the show and were blown away.

Sad loss.

Glenn Glass

Dundas, Ontario

_________________________________

There is an AM talk radio station in Kalamazoo that currently plays “Freeway Jam” under their traffic report during the local news segment, but I doubt that any of their listeners understand why whoever at the station chose that piece of music.

Back in the early to mid 1980s, I worked in an office around the corner from the WNEW-FM studios in Manhattan. Scott Muni was the after lunch host, and he always had guests come in to be interviewed or play DJ for an hour. As soon as their segment was done, we’d run over to the station and try to get autographs (cell phones with cameras had yet to be invented, so there were no selfies). I walked up to Jeff Beck, asked for his autograph, and we talked music for a bit before his ride showed up. What a nice guy. My first (and maybe only) guitar hero, and now he’s gone.

Thanks,

Stuart Taubel

_________________________________

Thanks  Bob.
A fitting tribute.
This one seems to hit differently. As a guitarist (and over 50 years old) I have always known what you just relayed to be true. That Beck was atop the guitar pyramid. But without “the hits”, few will understand. I know “Clapton is God” made the rounds – but that was just good marketing (although EC didn’t want it). But Clapton wasn’t even close. He is stuck in the pentatonics. Jeff was a virtuoso, who in my opinion didn’t get his due. And I think that was fine with him. He achieved what he sought. To bring unique sounds and tones and to connect with those that could feel it. I don’t think there’s EVH without Beck.
When I heard the news of Beck’s passing I was in the car. I tried multiple stations, both satellite and terrestrial radio, looking for tributes. But sadly found none. The greatest there was and not enough cred. For those who are mourning this great loss, I salute you for understanding.
Goodbye, Pork Pie Hat!

Paul Habert
Toronto, Canada

_________________________________

“what I’m saying is depending upon where you lived and what time of year it was, you could completely miss a record. If it was during the summer and you were at camp…”
So true! I remember vividly summer 1984. For 9 weeks from May to August I travelled with 2 friends around Europe. We were 18. Eurail- Paris all the way to Corfu. I still remember hearing Wake Me Up Before You Go Go for the first time in a night club in Switzerland. When we got home to Montreal, everyone was talking about someone called Madonna. Never heard of her. We completely missed her first single, Lucky Star. Never heard the song until I bought the album. Borderline had taken over by then.  I was the right age at the right time, so Madonna became huge for me for the next 10 or more years, and I was lucky enough to see her live once – the Whose That Girl tour – but I still remember that I missed the beginning. It came, it went. We weren’t there, and it wasn’t happening everywhere all at once as it is now (on TikTok).
Thanks for the memory,
Shirin Petit

_________________________________

It did feel sudden. In 1968 he began his US tour in support of the release of “Truth”  at the Boston Tea Party. Except by the time he was to arrive the album hadn’t hit the stores. They were so nervous no one would show they were passing out flyers at a free Poco concert the week prior. But that was never to be the case. Boston audiences knew what to expect from the former Yardbird

The place was filled to the rafters. We’d never seen anything like the likes of Rod Stewart before.  After their third encore he told the audience they’ve  run  out of songs. Someone from the audience yelled out “Beck’s Boogie” and they went at again and again.

One of my most memorable evenings of music ever.

Barry Schneier

_________________________________

Right the f..k on.  Beck is the ultimate guitarist of them all.  I saw him first when he and Rod were doing the Truth tour with a stop in Boston.  He was ferocious as an instrumentalist and demanded your attention.

Many rock fans, would pick Clapton or Page, but Beck had something they didn’t.  The ability to evolve as a musician.  Screw the hits, he never sold out.  It was up and down for him and he could be difficult, a perfectionist to a fault but Clapton is almost a journeyman player by comparison, albeit a great one. Page’s exceptionalism was his vision for LZ and driving that train, but Jeff…mmmm.

When I hear People Get Ready from ’85 with Rod again, I get lost in it.  So seemingly simple and sparse it betrays the power it wields.  One of my all time favorites.

We’ve lost a legend and sadly, there are a few more to come.  Maybe we’ll be here to see it happen, maybe we won’t, but you were spot on, ‘music IS life itself’.  Lucky us.

He was the BEST 🙁

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k38RXWa_Ezo –

Quintessential Beck. Like the Arms concert, he wipes the floor w Clapton.

RIP Jeff. 🙁

David Vito Gregoli

_________________________________

Bob, I still have my original copy of Having A Rave Up which I bought new as a grade schooler. I have  my older sister’s as well. When I auditioned on bass for Lenny Kravitz, I was directed to choose a CD from his collection and play along – Lenny wasn’t in the room, he was having everything videotaped. I looked at “Lenny Cam” and I said to Lenny’s people, “…any song  off of Jeff Beck Group “TRUTH.” They selected track two, “Let Me Love You.” Lucky me – that one I know most of Ronnie’s bass lines note for note.

I didn’t get the gig but that’s not what matters…those of us who know, know.

Peace and Love,

Paul ILL

_________________________________

He is irreplaceable. As a husband, a friend, and yes, as a guitarist.

 

We began our adventure together in 1975 when I did the Blow by Blow show as a 20 year old promoter. He and Mahavishnu, who opened, were paid $8000, a considerable sum in those days. It was in an old exhibition hall in downtown Phoenix, not the best place but it was A place and he was on fire. Almost 48 years, my best run with anyone.

 

We have had a healthy relationship over the years, filled with lots of laughs, great food and drink, plus all the great music played at great shows. I couldnt ask for anything more from anyone.

 

There are many great stories that will come out, but I am here to say Jeff made me very happy and proud to have had a hand in his recent western November swing of dates, promoting the majority of them and getting a great opener, Max Gomez, to appear with him as his opener each night.

 

I am still tickled to have gotten a bunch of dates on this run, including my first booking at the Orpheum in LA with my friends at Nederlander, Alex Hodges and Mike Goldsmith. For me to be able to book a bunch of dates with the likes of Jeff in California, along with Arizona, made me a very happy guy. Robert Norman at CAA with Ken Ashely, Jared Martin and the rest  of the gang there were great to work with on this tour. Robert did a great job for jeff over the years and we shared our affection and admiration for him. I was so gassed to get these shows, only to be struck down by cancer after they were booked. I barely got to see any of the shows or get my time in with Jeff and his sidekick Johnny, but we did get to see one another for a few precious minutes during the tour. Unfortunately, I was unable to be there in all my glory for the 2 weeks these dates ran, as I had so many fun plans for us. I am happy to say I am again cancer free, which I was informed day before last, and wanted to let Jeff know, as he was concerned.

 

Having been in the business for a long time, I am fortunate to meet a lot of people, and if lucky, make some really good friends. This guy was a friend. He will never be forgotten, but will be missed daily. I am so sad for his beautiful, Sandra, who he loved so much.

 

Irreplaceable.

 

Danny Zelisko

_________________________________

Appreciate your kind words on Jeff Beck. Like you, I met him,talked to him and saw him more than once. And you’re right—he was without question the absolute best.

I’ve never seen anyone play like that; have never seen anyone effortlessly exude such casual musical command as that, and now he’s gone. I mean, I just saw him in Reno a couple months ago, and while his onstage demeanor was sort of playfully nonchalant, what he did with a Strat was utterly supernatural. I don’t know a better way to describe it. I left the show that night the same way I did the other two times I saw him—thinking how extraordinary it was to be in the room with that for a couple hours.

I work for a major guitar maker, and we’re not supposed to fan out on artists and pester them for autographs and photos and all that. I’ve only willfully ignored that edict once, in 2006 at the Tempe Music Festival, where Jeff Beck was headlining. He signed my yellow notepad and asked if I enjoyed the set.

Right now on the day when we all got the sad news, I’m listening to my favorite guitar solo ever. “Evil Hearted You”. Yardbirds with Jeff Beck, 1965. Short slide solo; not that many notes. But let me tell you, the solo on that piece is the spookiest goddamn thing I’ve ever heard come off a fingerboard, and it gives me the shivers every time I hear it to this day. He did something to those notes—I don’t know what or how; I watched up close a couple months ago and doing so only made it even more mesmerizingly mysterious. Routine for him I suppose, but completely mind blowing for us.

He was the absolute best, and on his terms. He played a game with which I am not familiar.

Many thanks,

Jeff Owens

_________________________________

My second job in music was graduating from nobody beats the wiz’s music dept to my local mom and pop store Street Sounds in bay ridge brooklyn when I was still in highschool. My boss Rocky (if that was not his real name I never got the one he was given) had maybe been in a band with someone in Kiss and loved two musicians : Jeff Beck and Paul McCartney.

Over a few years of working for him I had the yardbirds and a strange Led Zeppelin mythology drilled into my head. I was playing guitar at the time and rocky would occasionally tutor me and try to mimic Jeff Beck’s touch on the guitar.

Tonight when I saw he passed I thought about Rocky for a second and had this desire to reach back 25 years and hear what Rocky might have to say about this moment which was very impractical at best but then this email came to my inbox and great insightful and heartfelt eulogy.

Thanks
Richard Zerbo

_________________________________

I wanted to acknowledge one of my favorite Jeff Beck performances. His solos for “Looking For Another Pure Love” on Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book were like sunshine, and so melodic.

I think that’s what set Beck apart from guys like Clapton who were basically playing variations on blues licks. He took chances, often played more diatonically than others in his league, playing freer and looser than most of the guitar gods of the era with the exception of Hendrix.

Thanks for the deep dive into Jeff Beck’s contributions to guitar history.

Best,

Gary Stockdale

_________________________________

Excellent recap, thank you. Jeff was as much the nicest man as he was one of the greatest guitarists. I worked with him on the Clapton Crossroads and then at the Grammy Museum show in 2010, where he was interviewed and the band played. I think that may be the Grammy show you referred to. It was originally an exclusive but is now on Spotify. You should check it out if you’ve not heard it. I think you would enjoy it.

David May

_________________________________

Completely with you on “Brush With The Blues.” Jeff’s tone, creativity, chops, and sublime domination of his instrument on full display.  As a die-hard fan for nearly 50 years it may be his crowning achievement. Otherworldly.  So sad he’s gone.

Chris Herrmann

_________________________________

Hi Bob — I was on national staff at Epic in New York throughout much of the 1970’s.  I did not really know Jeff, never worked with him directly, but I can say we never knew when he would deliver an album, they came when he was ready.  But every one was special, important, became a priority for the company.  Very few talents across the arts can continue to produce at the very highest creative level decade after decade. Jeff truly is one of the few.  God bless the man.  An extraordinary talent.  He truly will be missed.

Jim Charne

_________________________________

I was underage when I saw Jeff Beck at UCSD in 1980, it was in support of “There and Back”. I always felt a little smarter than my peers for being a Jeff Beck fan, although sneaking alcohol into the venue threw that theory right out the window.

IMHO…Hendrix, Van Halen and Beck, with emphasis on Beck for seemingly becoming MORE creative with age.

Jason Whittington

_________________________________

“I’m Going Down”

Jon Scott

_________________________________

I was at the A.R.M.S show at Madison Square Garden. I hadn’t really thought about how good Beck was….. that night for me the big surprise was Jimmy Page coming out. He looked so gaunt and no one had seen him in years and the rumors were all about opiates etc. etc. And then there he was in the flesh.

Now I’m gonna have to go and find that video.

With Gratitude,

Matt Peyton

_________________________________

Check out “ Looking for another pure love” Jeff’s playing and solo on the Stevie Wonder mid tempo ballad from “Talking Book“ Great song, great solo. Stevie calls out Jeff’s name. RIP JB

Bob Morelli

_________________________________

I am flattened by the news of Jeff Beck dying. I met him in 1968 when Rod Stewart was fronting the Jeff Beck Group. Jeff was the headliner on a bill with Muddy Waters and Otis Spann. Jeff arrived at the Rockpile club in Toronto and was displeased k that he was to follow his hero onstage. “No way am I going to follow the great Muddy Waters,” he barked. “However, Muddy stoically considered the situation and said, “No we’ll go on first, Jeff. By 10 o’clock we will be back at the the bar in the hotel enjoying ourselves.” Interestingly, Rod the Mod was so shy he never faced the audience while performing.

Larry LeBlanc

_________________________________

One of your best and that’s saying something…I saw Jeff once…A.R.M.S Concert..86 Cow Palace… all I can say is people’s say “he blew em off the stage” all the time but this time? He absolutely blew them off the stage… this show changed me from casual fan into mega fan…

Going to Subway later… it’s always fine but today? I’m gonna enjoy the sh.. out of it…

Tom Clark

_________________________________

you hit the nail on the head… my heart breaks a little more each time someone passes. it’s hard to take… thank you for writing this. hope you’re well

Denise Mello

_________________________________

Thank you Bob.  I, like so many others, hurt today.

Your graceful story about the artist is a much needed appreciation and salve.

I think I’ll give ”Brush …” another turn.

Gary Selick

_________________________________

Excellent tribute!

Jim Crawford

_________________________________

Jeff was THE BEST!!!! This one hurts a lot.

Eric Gross

_________________________________

Jeff Beck was an original. After Hendrix, he was the most innovative of the ’60s guitar gods. He took an early exit off what Santana has called “the B.B, King Highway,” and he didn’t look back. His cover of Charles Mingus’s “Goodbye Porkpie Hat” put him in company with John McLaughlin and Joni Mitchell. Those were his peers: the pathfinders.

Thanks.

Matt Kohut

_________________________________

Jeff Beck had the soul of time emanating out of his fingers to the guitar strings and totally agree - “Moodfood” by “Moodswings” is one of my favorite albums of the nineties”

Eddie Gordon

_________________________________

Jeff Beck was one of those musicians who reached that ‘institution’ stage of life, and rightfully so. I don’t think he ever made a bad record, but he did make better; “Truth” is one of my all-time DWI (Die With It) records, with relative continuous play for over fifty years. God may come out ahead on this one, but nobody down here will.

Dave Recamp

_________________________________

There are no grand masters any more.  He was still getting better, even a few months ago.  As you surely know, in the Still On The Run documentary Dave Gilmour and others proclaim a song of his (Where were you) as “impossible to play”.

Saw him a dozen times live.  As great as his albums were, they were souvenirs.  Live you had the chance to hear guitar licks that had never been heard ever, anywhere, and that went straight through the roof such was their originality and spectacular excellence.   I am selfishly hurting that I will never hear that again.

Michael Alex

P.S. Interviewing Beck touring with Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1989, Jeff was quite modest and self-effacing.  Later while interviewing SRV I asked if he was struck by how humble Beck seemed.  Stevie laughed warmly, said “YEAH BUT” and proceeded to tell me how two nights earlier during the finale they played together (“Going Down”) Beck put a solo through the roof, looked at Stevie and said “top that!”

 

P.P.S.  Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell and his wife Dee shared a story with me about how their friend Jeff would sit in their sun room with an unplugged Strat and play to their meowing cats.  A cat would meow, Jeff would meow back with the guitar, another cat would meow etc.  The cats appeared to love it.   What hearing, what technique.

_________________________________

Jeff’s sounds made me feel glad to be alive.
The first we saw him my wife was 8 months pregnant.
Our daughter is 42 now and is brilliant.
She was dancing in the womb.
dw davis

_________________________________

Shout out to George Martin, the fifth Beatle, for steering Jeff through “Blow by Blow.”

Peter Duray-Bito

_________________________________

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​I don’t know if this was as big a lift to his career as much of his classic stuff, but I do know that for me and for many teenage hair rock guitar lovers, it was this most improbable collab with Jon Bon Jovi that blew my brains out and got me to look back and get into Beck.

Arguably one of the best guitar solos of the 80s.

Young Guns:

Solo only:

Dan Millen

Ps: I was yesterday years old when I discovered he did not use a slide to play that. Just a whammy bar and his magic fingers!

Xoxo

_________________________________

Oh man,

I just missed a chance to see him here in Helsinki. I found out about it too late. And I was hanging out with someone who knew his manager. He was here with Johnny Depp.

We used to play Freeway Jam when I was in college. What a great song. Just learning the riff and trying to get the phrasing the same… And then later, when Beck and Stevie Ray were on the same bill. I should have gone to that show. I had gigs and couldn’t do it. But I heard the stories. The story is that Stevie sat there on the side of the stage watching Beck for EVERY SHOW. He would just shake his head.

And the lore is that Beck never practiced. He only went on the road so he could buy more cars to work on in his garage.

And now I’m mentoring young artists. I introduced a young singer to Beck’s playing. And I went down a rat hole on YouTube finding examples of Beck playing. He played on the Young Guns soundtrack. There are a few videos of him playing the solo for Blaze Of Glory.

R.I.P. Jeff

Tracy Lipp

_________________________________

I am sure Jeff would love to read your words.

Great point about what’s music, no matter what you do for a living, you want to be a player. Period.

Thanks for sharing. Mentioning Pelé was a nice touch, cheers from Brazil.

Caio Wendel

_________________________________

I saw Jeff Beck play in 2018 after you wrote about the tour he was doing with Paul Rodgers.  Apart from the album with Jan Hammer that came out when I was in college I don’t know much about his career but your review of the show was so enthusiastic that when they were coming to Long Island I got myself down there.  The moment the show started I turned to my friend in something like awe. I had seen a lot of the greats but in that one moment I realized I was seeing the best.  He and Vinnie Colaiuta put on one of the shows of my life.  I’ll always be grateful I got to see Jeff Beck.

Regards,

David Larkin

_________________________________

RIP, Jeff…Saw him in Charlotte, NC on his tour with the Jan Hammer Group in 1976. Incredible show and to this day, the loudest show I’ve ever been to

bfletcher28

_________________________________

Great column. Very, very glad that despite being in middle of crushing work deadline last October took my 23 year old musician son to see Jeff Beck at the MGM Music Hall in Boston. Crowd was largely boomers and Berklee kids, with a smattering of people there to see Johnny Depp. Even at 78, his tone was spot on and he looked in great health. Agree with you, Beck was the best.

Mike Wyatt

_________________________________

Thank you for the brilliant tribute to Jeff Beck.

As a 50+ years professional guitarist, I can’t even begin to say I was influenced by Jeff because most of the time it was impossible to even tell how he made those sounds with what I was seeing.

But no other electric guitarist played with the expressiveness and freedom, and he just kept getting better with every project.

Seeing him just 3 months ago in D.C., it felt like he was immortal and has just always been and always will be.

The way he worked the tone and volume knobs, the whammy, the fingers on strings, and like Michael Hedges on acoustic played every inch of the guitar even below the bridge and above the saddle.

It was all in the fingers and it just dripped out of him with so much space (for the Papa) to let the music breathe.  A novel concept.

I saw him 3 times and wish I had seen him 300.

Each time was like going to church and it made me giggle like a kid from the very first note.

R.I.P. Mr. Beck

Mike Lille (VA)

_________________________________

Beside still being in absolutely top form today, Jeff Beck was foundational.

In establishing rock ‘n roll as a popular art form.

And the electric guitar as the most expressive instrument ever invented.

He is seriously missed.

And will be for a long long time.

Hank Neuberger

_________________________________

Jeff Beck was simply the best. Capable of the most amazing things, rose to any challenge, was truly on another level. He always chose fantastic bass players and drummers, and he was a hero to millions of players.

Jeff really toured for the last few decades when he wanted hot rod parts and estate maintenance, ha. As you and others have written he still rose to unbelievable heights on stage even this past year. The world has lost a master.

 

Ask C.J. Vanston about the pants…

 

Best-

Jonathan Pines

_________________________________

He was one of one on so many levels.Always one step ahead of it whatever it was. We have the music.

Anthony Lombardo

_________________________________

I only saw Jeff Beck twice…once at Woolsey Hall in New Haven on May 9, 1969 during the Truth tour with a young Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood, Nicky Hopkins and Tony Newman and a second time forty-one years later in New Orleans at Jazz Fest on May 2, 2010. His guitar sounded like a freight train both times and he looked exactly the same. I always thought he was imperishable. It’s not easy to have an original voice on an instrument but he sure did.

Bob Anderson

_________________________________

I am heartbroken that Jeff Beck is gone.  Like Tom Petty, his music was part of the soundtrack of my life and even though all that music still exists, the fact that its creator no longer does makes me desperately sad.  Like you, I saw Jeff play many times.  I guess he was never so big, commercially, that he could afford to stop, most of his stand-out tracks having been written by others.  My first LP was Live with the Jan Hammer Group, mostly because a mate had played Wired for me and, obviously, I couldn’t go out and buy the same record.  The first gig was at the Hammersmith Odeon in the early 90s: Guitar Shop with Terry Bozzio and Tony Hymas.  Outstanding.  So much so that I went back the following night by myself to get blown away a second time.  My guess is that Jeff was so good that only the very best would play with him.  I’d have to go online to check my memory on personnel, but one stand-out was Jeff duelling with Jennifer Batten at Shepherds Bush Empire.  The last gig was at the Royal Albert Hall in May 22 when we had to put up with 30+ minutes of Johnny-f..king-Depp doing his pub-singer routine, a mis-step that contradicted the ‘only plays with virtuosos’ principle.  On stage Jeff was a man of few words, mostly mumbled, but nobody was there to hear him chat; it was all about the noises he could coax from (mostly) that Stratocaster.  No pick.  God knows what his right thumb must have looked like.  Early on, most of my contemporaries only knew Jeff Beck via the execrable Hi-Ho Silver Lining, a money-making anomaly for which Mickie Most shoulders all the blame.  But it probably kept the royalties coming in and allowed Jeff to do whatever the f..k he liked thereafter.  In our downstairs loo there is a photo of Jeff and Ronnie Wood, on stage at Ronnie Scott’s in November 2018.  It was the second of two charity gigs organised by Ben Waters and I was there.  Ronnie was MC, Imelda May sang and the first night Rod Stewart came on after the interval.  We all knew there was a special guest scheduled for our night too, but nobody knew who.  When the first half ended I went to the gents.  As I was heading past the bar I looked up and there was Jeff Beck being manoeuvred through the throng towards the stage. I might have brushed his arm.  Close enough.  It will do.

All the best,

Stephen Ferns

_________________________________

Thank you Sir.

This one really hurts (& plenty more to come, as 8-oh looms large for the lot of them/us).

Glad I caught JB, not 8 weeks ago, here in NoCal.

I marveled as he just had every facet of his skills on display, seemingly effortlessly, at 78.

He had lost nary a step.

(Even a questionably talented Johnny Depp couldn’t sabotage the enterprise! Jeff’s playing is all that mattered during Depp’s ill-advised star-turn)

I vowed that, as always, if he came back around, I would travel for it.

Nice job capsulizing his monumental career, & how he encompassed everything we ever cared about in a player.

1 note, is all it takes to know, that’s JB!

Cheers Mang.

RIP JB

Jerry Horn

_________________________________

He was my second favorite rock guitarist. He made his guitar sound like a violin in the mid 60s and was a pioneer in psychedelic feedback while in the Yardbirds. Saw Beck play at the Shrine in LA on the Truth tour: Rod Stewart on vocals, Ron Wood on bass and Mickey Waller on drums. Beck had three Marshall stacks. He would place his guitar against the amp and play feedback melodies with just his left hand. No-one approaches playing the guitar like him. He became a solo act after a while and his concerts were like recitals. One more memory from the 90s, I was in a young lady a+r person’s office and she was giddy about signing Beck. For about 10 minutes I thought she was raving about Jeff. May he Rest In Peace with his hot rods.

With Love,

Danny Holloway

Ximeno Records

_________________________________

beck’s bolero is where it’s at!

rsands

_________________________________

Killer tribute.

The Wizard. RIP.

I saw him play one time with the Stones. It was November 2012, and I was living in London. The Stones were playing two shows to celebrate their 50th anniversary. I went to both.

They had guests each night, including Wyman and Taylor joining them again.

Beck guested on “I’m Going Down.” He was overpowering. He was playing at 1/4 speed and still was spraying notes and sonics everywhere. Keith is my hero. Beck’s thing isn’t Keith’s bag. And Beck was respectful of his slinger comrade – but he dazzled just the same. I can hear his solo in my head now… it was vibrating. Martian Blues.

… Every time I play Rice Pudding it feels like thunder claps in my chest, and I love it.

Judd Marcello

p.s. nice Zevon reference. We can’t let him fade.

_________________________________

Thanks for that great tribute to Jeff Beck. And the playlist. Man this was a shock today. Luckily I saw him a couple of years ago thinking it might be my last chance. Glad I did.
I truly loved his guitar playing. Even as a teenager in the early 70s I would argue that he was the best guitarist of the big 3 back then, Clapton, Beck, and Page. People thought I was crazy but time proved me right.
I first saw him in 1972 in Carnegie hall.  He made it look so easy. A true virtuoso and will always be remembered by guitarist as one of the best ever.

Charlie Vanture

_________________________________

I’m 67 and was lucky to see him for the first time this past November at Pechanga Casino in Temecula, CA.

He was spectacular. Can’t believe he’s gone now. Glad I got to see him!

Randy Schaaf

_________________________________

Did not one this one coming.

I’m still reeling from his excellent performance in Sacramento this past November.  Jaw dropping solos.

I was at ARMS.  I sat 10th row center at the Cow Palace, and yes, he blew the others off the stage.

He was the best of the best. I knew that after I caught him for the first time at Berkeley Community Theater in 1972.

The Jeff Beck Group was one of his finest outings, ever.

Never forgotten.  A true innovator.

Russ Dugoni

_________________________________

Exactly Bob….

Jeff Beck was unparalleled!

An innovator.

One of the inventors of modern fusion music.

Blow by Blow and Wired…if those were the only records he had made, it’s arguable his position would be still be unchallenged.

But he did so much more.

I don’t know that there can be another at his level—ever.

As Tony Williams was to drummers (and how horrible that he died at 53?!) Jeff Beck will forever be to guitarists. RIP.

Regards,

Mark Feldman

_________________________________

The solo that changed my world was the one Jeff Beck played on “Mr. You’re A Better Man Than I”. It was 1966 and my freshman year in college. I had just acquired an old telecaster and paired that with a Vox treble booster and my Fender Tremolux amp. I studied every aspect of that solo; every pull, every vibrato, every cut.

It was a master class in rock soloing in one solo. Switching from pentatonic major to minor within the same solo, pulling the string up a full step and then catching the string below to hit the octave, then goosing it one more time.

And then the tone; beautiful sustain with a touch of grit and distortion, without ever being harsh.

Of course the dynamics were amazing! Jeff starts slow, playing behind the fret (as he was wont to do).The lead starts to move up and you think it’s about to takeoff but then he goes back down. What! he’s going back down again; is it over? Hardly. he then puts the pedal down; working his way up the neck with intensity until finally blowing the top of your head off at the end …but that it wasn’t enough! One final screaming pull brings it back down to the gently strummed chords, where the rest of the band is waiting to catch him when he lands.

I liked it so much that when we performed it with The Malibooz, I played the solo again at the end of the song.

Call it whenever you like; ego, bravado, machismo…when you finish performing that solo, you feel like you’re really a lead guitarist.

Many of you know Jeff Beck was also a vintage car gearhead. He had a great collection of hot rods, some of which he had painted with the exact same paint as his Stratocasters. I was fortunate enough to meet him during an exhibition at the Petersen Automobile Museum in Los Angeles. The exhibition was called the “Cars and Guitars of Rock ‘n’ Roll” One of Jeff’s hot rods was paired with one of his Strats. This event led into the annual Petersen fundraising dinner. One highlight of the dinner was the silent auction. Jeff donated one of his Strats to the Silent auction. Not only had he autographed the guitar but on the flipside of the pick-guard, he listed the tracks he had used this guitar on. Luckily for me this was about 20 or so years ago and Beck’s recognition factor had waned. Eric Clapton was always in the forefront and then Jimmy Page. Both of these guys had paired themselves with lead singers early on (until Clapton developed enough of a vocal style to handle vocals himself). Once Jeff Beck parted ways with Rod Stewart, he never really came back to the average rock listener’s attention until much later on. But Beck was in a whole other league from his Yardbird mates.

Fortunately, for me most of the car guys at the Peterson didn’t know who Jeff Beck was and I immediately snapped up the guitar. Of course as soon as I got it home,I fired up my Tremolux (yes I still have it.) and launched into “Mr. You’re A Better Man Than I”. I played it so many times that Jeff’s autograph started wearing off the guitar body. So I put the guitar in a glass display case on my wall to protect it. Tonight I realize what a mistake that was and I’m pulling it out again and firing up the Tremolux.

Good night Jeff and thanks for making me into a lead guitarist.

 

Best,

John Zambetti

The Malibooz

_________________________________

The death of Jeff Beck will send shockwaves across the entire Lefsetz/ Woodstock diaspora.

This one hurts more than I could have imagined

For sure the hundreds comments will pour out. How many times someone saw him play, who he played with, his greatest albums his best shows….

This is a cathartic moment

I saw his first Jeff Beck group show at the Fillmore East when Rod had to be forced to get onstage.

2 more times at the Fillmore a ft ter that.

Then after the motorcycle accident he played the Academy of music. In a pure act of astonishing virtuosity, to prove a point and lay to waste that his chops were affected after his motorcycle accident

he stood center stage during a solo and played with just his left hand letting the strat slide down from 12 the fret to first. I’m sure he was thinking “fuck you all if you think this could ever change me!!

I took my brother to see him at Carnegie Hall in 1972 and my brother had no idea who he was but was blown away.

I took my wife to see him with Clapton. She turned to me and said “Wow that guy is amazing” as he played “A Day in the life”. “He makes Eric seem boring”.

When Beck played the Iridum at the Les Paul tribute I brought my Fillmore East program, sat with him and he stared at the the ticket prices (3,4&5 dollars)  and signed it for me holding it up to show friends nearby how much had changed since those days

It’s impossible to know how Jimi would have evolved but we know what Jeff did.

He revolutionized playing in ways that nobody does.  He is/ was a singular creative force that amzingly, was still improving!!

I expect to wake up one day to hear that Keith is gone

Somehow, I never expected Jeff Beck to go first

I thought he would be around forever

RIP Jeff Thank you for making my music  world a better place

Jay Jay French

_________________________________

If you’ve been to New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, you’ll understand when I say there’s something in the air:  It’s an invisible element of smells and sounds that is unique to that experience.  Its gritty, earthy, funky, joyous, non partisan and color blind.  It’s a place that serves the experience of music so that its texture is unobscured….you just take it in.

In 2010, my buddies and I took the City of New Orleans from Chicago overnight to NOLA.  We camped at a nondescript hotel in the French Quarter where that sound and that smell were baked into the walls and streets.   I saw so many artists I had never heard of: John Cleary, Big Chief Bo Dalis, Trombone Shorty….and then the headliners Van Morrison and Jeff Beck.  This is not about who was better: they were all different, but there was something unexpected about Jeff Beck.

There may have been 5-6000 of us standing in the late afternoon sun and watching. Tal Wilkenfield on Bass, Narada Michael Walden on a white and gold kit the size of Alaska, and Beck with that white Strat.  It was that funk rock groove thing that he’d been sculpting for 40 some years:  Going from super intense thunder to the yawn of a butterfly.  We all just moved with it:  it all seemed formless.  Skinny dude w metal armbands like a spaceman from the antiquities with lots of space on stage.  I remember thinking, how old is this guy….but that question diminished never to return.

Super clean, nothing to distract from the tone and that invisible thing they created that killed us all.  I could see his pinky resting on that whammy bar: subtle dips and pulls imprisoned all of us on his ride, their ride.  They all played so well, masters of their craft for sure, but it was how they transcended that music into raw emotion, that wet tension and release that slayed the crowd…I realized standing there that this was what I wanted out of music. Lofty god damn goal for sure: The question I was trying to answer was how to transcend the instrument, the venue, the song, the players and lift everyone.  Fuck.  His records were great, but live?…..RIP and thank you JB.

Brad Cole

_________________________________

This news sucked badly. I’d heard the Yardbirds stuff but it was the Truth album that really got me into Beck and all that followed. I finally saw him for the first time in Halifax a few years ago and met him after the show. As you said, completely down to earth, charming and funny. What’s also struck me is his care in showcasing new, deserving players – in his band and his choice in opening acts. The show I saw was opened by a young (18 at the time, I think) Texan guitarist named Tyler Bryant, who was astounding and his most recent rock album, Loud Hailer (brilliant) features Rosie Bones and Carmen Vandenberg from Bones UK, who also co-wrote the material. If you haven’t listened to that album, blast it, it’s great. We’ll not see – or hear – the likes of him again.

Mike Campbell
Programming Director

_________________________________

As the decades wore on and we watched our guitar heroes decay into former shells of themselves having peaked early, Jeff would just get better and better at his instrument. No one can play like him because they aren’t him, and his point of view, spirit, and personality shine so bright and unadulterated in his playing..

Thank you for sending this letter, I enjoyed the read

Andy Steinway

_________________________________

Sad day for all of us who worshipped him.

Eron Epstein

_________________________________

His version of Goodbye Porkpie Hat on “Wired” is a guitar masterclass.

Mitch Cohen

_________________________________

Beautiful tribute, Bob. As always.

This one cut as deep as Bowie.

Dammit.

Alex Lopez Negrete

_________________________________

Bob you have written a very heart warming story of the past. I also grew up in those days and loved it all. Music is life. Best of health

Tom Riviere

_________________________________

Bob
Great tribute!
Stan Goman

_________________________________

Bob:  Met Jeff at our beloved Pinecrest (Shelton, CT) in late August 1976 when touring “Wired” with Jan Hammer Group. Interestingly, we only spoke about guitarist Tommy Bolin, as Tommy was a key influence/inspiration to his creating “Blow By Blow” and was to be the opening/co-bill act (Tommy Bolin “Private Eyes” Columbia/CBS) on Jeff’s December/Winter leg. Jeff exuded 70’s rock star cool both on and offstage.  One of the greats and a very nice, humble chap.

Scott Hazlewood

_________________________________

It’s an incalculable loss. And he appeared so healthy that we all thought he’d live to 100

Maybe NOW someone will find us some footage of that first JEFF BECK Group…how is it possible there’s really NO good footage of them playing?

Jesse Lundy

_________________________________

One of Jeff Beck’s early band mates, Ronnie Wood once told a story about he and Jeff having a guitar talk. Beck, forever coming up with new ideas for the electric guitar showed Woody a couple new finger-flinging lick combinations. “Hey, I just figured this out. Do you ever do this?” Wood, laughing out loud stated the obvious, “No, I don’t do that, YOU do that!”

 

To your point Bob, it was Beck’s playing that made those Yardbird songs iconic. Let’s remember, none of these kinds of sounds and phrasings had been invented yet, Jeff invented them. The end chord to Beck’s solo on the Yardbirds “Shapes of Things,” rocked the guitar world. It was probably the first power chord ever played and rattled us to our core. All us kids learning how to play the electric guitar were trying to figure out what he was doing.

 

I was fortunate to meet Jeff a few different times in my life and even worked with him on one of our Live By Request television specials featuring B.B. King. Both B.B. and I found Jeff to be very kind and ultra-respectful. At sound check he was very subdued in his playing. He didn’t want to outshine B.B. on guitar knowing that B.B.’s style was very laid back and sparing when it came to the amount of notes played. B.B. looked at him and said, “Jeff, I thank you for your caring in not wanting to upstage me. But I’m fine. I’m B.B. and everyone knows me and how I play. We asked you here to be Jeff Beck, so please don’t lay back on my account, light it up son!” And, he did! Available on YouTube if anyone wants to check it out.

 

In 2015 I and my wife Sharon were invited to Bob Geldof’s wedding held in the south of France. It was at a club located in a gorgeous setting on the beach. A bunch of Bob’s friends attended including Jeff Beck. At the time I was doing indie promotion and working Jeff’s latest offering Live +. It’s a terrific album and for me, the standout track is Beck’s cover of Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “You Know You Know.” Beck takes the electric guitar to a completely other planet. If you didn’t know it was a guitar you were hearing you might think the sounds were coming from a clarinet or another instrument.

 

Anxious to talk with him, I re-introduced myself as the executive producer on the B.B. King show and now promoting his new record. I was so moved by his guitar playing I started to gush when he stopped me cold.

 

“You think I’m good on that? Did you check out the drummer?! The guy is on fire!!” Once again Beck proved to be a class act. A musician’s musician, he wanted to talk about the outstanding job the drummer did!

 

He has been such a personal inspiration and such a force it’s hard to believe he got taken down so quickly. But rather than cry about it, I think I’ll go put on Blow by Blow and Wired, crank them to the max, and smile. That’s what he’d want.

 

Paul Rappaport