R.I.P. Jeff Beck

[lbpesq]

One of the most iconic guitarists in rock history has passed.  Jeff Beck was 78 (though his hair looked more like 30).  I got to see him live once.  He was truly a monster on the instrument.

May the Four Winds Blow You Safely Home

Bill, tgo

[David Houck]

Just saw the headline.  I love watching his more recent concert videos, and his playing, for me, continues to be an inspiration.

[xlrogue6]

I got to see him a few years ago with Buddy Guy opening. I love that he never rested on his laurels and kept pushing the boundaries. A true genius.

[jazzyvee]

R.I.P. He was a guitarist who always fascinated me with this music and his style of guitar playing.

[cozmik_cowboy]

By far the best guitarist the Yardbirds ever had - and that was the least of his accomplishments.
This sucks.


Peter

[StephenR]

Certainly wasn't expecting this. What a loss! I always felt Jeff to be the best of the 60s British blues-rock guitarists. Peter Green had the magic touch and was the best at pure blues but Jeff really moved rock music forward as he expanded his style. I haven't seen him play live since the late 60s with the Jeff Beck Group but always enjoyed hearing his music.

R.I.P Jeff!

[pauldo]

  Best wishes to his family and friends - a true virtuoso on the 6 string.

[David Houck]

... the best of the 60s British blues-rock guitarists.

It's been a very long time, but I recall from back when I was in high school, that there was a song on a John Mayall Bluesbreakers album (I don't remember which one) where Mick Taylor played a wonderful solo that I thought at the time ranked him among "the best of the 60s British blues-rock guitarists".  It was a magical time.

[mica]

 :'( no words

[edwardofhuncote]

Just heard about it. Woah... that was a little bit untimely. He was a  one-off type of talent. Really had rethought the guitar.

[StephenR]

... the best of the 60s British blues-rock guitarists.

It's been a very long time, but I recall from back when I was in high school, that there was a song on a John Mayall Bluesbreakers album (I don't remember which one) where Mick Taylor played a wonderful solo that I thought at the time ranked him among "the best of the 60s British blues-rock guitarists".  It was a magical time.

Agree about the magical time and Mick Taylor's skills as a guitarist. I saw him play with John Mayall at the Fillmore East in 1968. A  couple of things about him were really impressive to me at the time. In an era where a lot of guitarists were using huge amps he played through a single twin-reverb set on a chair. He had an expressive style, beautiful tone and each note was picked and articulated clearly. No slurring or pull-offs, no matter how fast he played I could hear a separation between each note. Quite the contrast with Alvin Lee as Ten Years After were also on the bill. I liked that band until I saw them live and found them tediously one-trick and boring. The drummer did a solo where he crawled around on top of his drums... was not impressed.

I am about to listen to a recording of the Jeff Beck Group at the 1969 Newport Jazz Festival. I was there on the festival grounds but do not remember his set at all. Jeff was a real chameleon of a guitarist there is something for everyone in the music he created over the years.

[keith_h]

I only saw Beck play live once at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago. He was on tour with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. He always impressed me with his constant reinvention of his playing and musical styles. Not much else to say other than the music world is worse off for the loss.

[bigredbass]

A One of One.  He could simply play any style and sell it completely.  Whether his Jazz forays, his deep knowledge of the Blues, his forever homage to Cliff Gallup and rockabilly, he covered so many styles effortlessly, without thinking about it, totally unchained to any convention:  He played whatever he wanted to play fearlessly.  Amazing to think his garage shop and hot rods he worked on or built himself kept free of so many occupational hazards he surely steered around, happily married.

We will not see his like again.

Here he is at home in England with Barry Meguiar for an installment of the CAR CRAZY show.  WAY more fun than rehab.