"... a rural estate in southern England. He was 78.
The cause was bacterial meningitis... During the 1960s and ’70s, as either a member of the Yardbirds or as leader of his own bands, Mr. Beck brought a sense of adventure to his playing that helped make the recordings by those groups groundbreaking.
In 1965, when he joined the Yardbirds to replace another guitar hero, Eric Clapton, the group was already one of the defining acts in Britain’s growing electric blues movement. But his stinging licks and darting leads on songs like 'Shapes of Things' and 'Over Under Sideways Down' added an expansive element to the music that helped signal the emerging psychedelic rock revolution...."
From the NYT obituary.
My son John, on his blog Music Is Happiness, goes into detail about Beck's musicianship.
"Shapes of Things” and “Over Under Sideways Down” — I had these as 45s when I was 15. And this album... I played it endlessly when I was 14:
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My best, oldest friend and sometime roommate, also a guitarist (a very good one), was a YUGE Jeff Beck fan and we listened to him a lot in the '70s. That really takes me back.
I, too, had 'Shape of Things', and loved the Yardbirds in that period. I ended up following Beck throughout his career. I am sure I saw him at some point, with one of his versions of The Jeff Beck Group. One of the greats.
Another Master of Space and Time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bddSJbj3VGA
Beck was young when he broke through and had a 57-year career. Glad he could keep playing in what turned out to be his last year.
The 1970s had some great music.
Having A Rave Up is my favorite Yardbirds album. First listened to it at Wallachs. Love the Jeff Beck Truth album with Rod Stewart. Ain't Superstitious and Beck's Bolero, I still have both albums.
I admire Beck's skill, but 'blues' are one of my least favorite forms of music.
Have you ever watched Jeff Beck play the guitar?? He's playing more than just the strings.
He was a master of sustain, and the tremolo bar. Nobody else really compared.
Yes, I still listen to "Blow by Blow" from 1974.
As I’d mentioned in the previous thread, my wife and I had seen Jeff B. just two months ago… he brought Johnny Depp with him (thankfully, Beck played for over an hour before Depp joined him on stage).
We had 3rd row seats, a birthday gift from our kids, and it was glorious. I sat there in awe, just thinking how I’d never expected to see - IMHO - the best guitarist in rock. 78 years old and playing it with the enthusiasm and fire of a young man. I followed this guy from his days in the Yardbirds on and I nearly wore out his group’s albums before he went solo. I just savored the special moment and I’m thankful for it.
You people are all ancient.
Sorry, I was missing Howard... He seems to have developed good sense and is avoiding the place. Either that or he has drowned on Walden pond. I'd be willing to settle for one or the other (for me, not Howard). I'm trying to be a decent person and it ain't easy...
You know, seems like the Althouse boomer generation (I precede them) needs to celebrate competent musicians as extraordinary because? Dylan being the most obvious! Anyway, for guitar skills there are inumerable Blues and CW musicians far superior. I just went thru the few Beck songs I have stored (non-cloud) and, no denigration nor no celebration, OK.
One of the true greats of the rock era, and one of the most fearless and versatile guitarists ever. He will be seriously missed.
I, too, admire his skill, but never cared much for his style. Word is he was briefly considered for Pink Floyd before they got Gilmour. I much prefer the latter's playing. But, Requiescat In Pace, dude.
Definitely Maybe is one of my favorites. RIP
Holy Smokes!! When did Rod Stewart become a knight of the British Empire??
The frenetic times of that album are brought to life with the Yardbirds (both Beck and Page) doing “Stroll On” in the movie BlowUp.
Best concert I ever heard was Jeff Beck at some long gone chicago theatre. ~1980
They say blues, maybe early, but I think of him more as jazz/fusion. He heard Tommy Bolin with Billy Cobham and said thats for me. He was touring with Bolin when Bolin OD'D
I think he ripped off Nigel Tufnels look. (I know Tufnel was modeled on him, at least the look) RIP
He had a house across the street from us in London. We didn't see him often, but we did see him. A neighbor told us of the time he walked by and heard Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck just kind of jamming together with the windows open.
Anyway, makes me so sad that he's gone.
We were listening to The Jeff Beck Group just last night.
My wonderful wife mentioned he sounded like x, y and z.
No, hon. They sounded like him.
Look. He was 78. But...
"Beck died on Tuesday after “suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis”, the representative confirmed. "
--
"The Kinks’ Dave Davies tweeted, “I’m heartbroken he looked in fine shape to me. Playing great he was in great shape. I’m shocked and bewildered … it don’t make sense I don’t get it. "
https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/12/legendary-rock-guitarist-jeff-beck-dies-aged-78
I never got to see the Yardbirds, but I saw the Jeff Beck Group play at the Boston Tea Party in 1967. I remember he played over Rod Stewart a couple of times, but Stewart needed that. Anyway, Beck was pure essence of guitar god, and I still listen to “Shapes of Things,” “You Shook Me” and “Beck’s Bolero.”
Saw him in '89 and '95 (still have the stubs) and maybe 2 other times (it's fuzzy). Wired was the first or second album that I bought with money from my first job ~'78 (along with Beatles 67-70). Blow by Blow was the third. Wired is etched into my brain.
The performance at Ronnie Scott's is epic.
Rock really is dead. That leaves me cold. It's very much of its moment, and that moment has passed. The world today doesn't have as much energy or the same kind of confident energy as the Boomers had in their glory days.
His knowledge and command of guitar matched Hendrix's. He had a much broader knowledge of chords than most rock players, and it fed his melodic inventiveness. A true giant. Page was probably a better songwriter and producer, Clapton more accessible, but Beck surpassed those two Yardbirds in technique, if not sales.
I was so young! 14 y/o at the Fillmore in SF I saw my first live music, and it was the Yardbirds. They were wearing jeans and T shirts. I was expecting cute outfits like the Beatles. People were passing around joints and Player cigarettes. The light show was a funky oil on top of water affair. Hippies.
Followed him from his time with the Yardbirds. And yes, Blow By Blow, lived with that daily for many years. An unmatched guitarist and experimenter. His mastery of harmonics was unreal. And on the side, he built hot roads from scratch.
Recently I reviewed about eight versions of "Train Kept a Rollin". It's easy to do on Youtube.
Still picked Beck's.
How many of us could instantly identify the single chord following the words "come tomorrow, may I be bolder, than today"?
Thanks again, Jeff:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZXIVMdXsVU
Ethical Skeptic ☀
@EthicalSkeptic
Meningitis Mortality signaling weakened immune systems, via a 15-sigma run since the vaccines were rolled out.
11:39 PM · Jan 11, 2023
https://twitter.com/EthicalSkeptic/status/1613410225687609346?cxt=HHwWhIC-saqD_uMsAAAA
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