Jeff Beck R.I.P.

[Bajo Clarkko]

I don’t know if it’s been posted here yet, but quite a few years ago, Jeff was on a TV show called “Car Crazy”. If you Google “Car Crazy TV show Jeff Beck” it’ll come up. (At least it did a few minutes ago.) He’s interviewed at length about his Hot Rods, and how he got into them.

Some 30+ years ago, an acquaintance of mine went to a car show in Las Vegas (it might have been the SEMA Show) and he and his wife met Jeff and his girlfriend as they were mutually admiring a ‘32 Ford Coupe. Cy had quite a bit of experience building Hot Rods, and before long, they were in a booth having a drink. Cy knew who Jeff was, but wasn’t into rock, or Jeff’s music. Which suited Jeff just fine, because he wasn’t in a situation in which he’d be answering fan boy questions. He said they talked for about an hour before they went there separate ways.

Truth be told, Jeff was probably happier talking about Hot Rods, than anything else.
(I always thought it was ironic that Jeff played music to subsidize his interest in cars, and I worked on cars to subsidize my interest in in music.)

 

[climber]

I enjoyed this composition of yours very much. I think it's very, very good. A very fitting tribute to Jeff - albeit one written when he was still with us - and your friend's playing is phenomenal.

thanks so much. I really appreciate that. I’ve always loved his playing.

 

[Hot Rats]

thanks so much. I really appreciate that. I’ve always loved his playing.

Yea, very cool toon and a nice tribute.

 

[climber]

Yea, very cool toon and a nice tribute.

Thank you very much.

 

[sylvanbass]

Best concert I ever saw was Jeff Beck at the Ryman in Nashville in 2001. It was a who's who kind of night to say the least. I sat in the same row as Vince Gill, Steve Cropper, AND Duck Dunn!!! After the show I saw John Paul Jones in the lobby. JPJ was in town to play with King Crimson earlier in the week, but I didn't get to go to that show and heard that Jeff Beck was there and sat in.

 

[ElectroVibe]

It would be funny if someone did a detailed analysis of everyone claiming him to be their favorite guitarist, compared to the number of times they mentioned him frequency wise during the calendar year 2022

 

[Bassinthemudd]

It would be funny if someone did a detailed analysis of everyone claiming him to be their favorite guitarist, compared to the number of times they mentioned him frequency wise during the calendar year 2022

I've mentioned Jeff Beck exactly zero times since I joined TB (3 years ago,) but he is my favorite guitarist none the less. Here is my favorite song that he recorded:

RIP Jeff Beck

 

[nick4bass]

Sorry such a long story.

When I was a high school senior in 1975 I took a girl to see him at Music Hall in downtown Cleveland; I think Blow By Blow had just come out. First Mahavishnu Orchestra blew me away, I had never heard anything like that before! Then after an intermission and the next band was all set up, a skinny guy with THAT hairstyle came out and picked up a white Strat, flipped on the amp, and started messing around. The crowd went nuts! Then Jeff Beck sauntered out and the guy handed him his guitar. After some laughter the crowd REALLY went nuts!
I can't remember for sure, but I think it was the very first tune. He was unhappy with feedback or something, got mad and launched the Strat into the air. Some roadie scrambled out to cleanup, and the Beck lookalike ran out and handed Jeff a Les Paul. He used this for the rest of the show, not sure if it was the same one from the album cover.
Many years later when my kids were little, I took them to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and we saw that (broken) white Strat.

And for the record, I don't like to assign 'best' status to musicians, but he always was (and still is) my favorite guitar player. At least since that night.

 

[ElectroVibe]

I've mentioned Jeff Beck exactly zero times since I joined TB (3 years ago,) but he is my favorite guitarist none the less. Here is my favorite song that he recorded:

RIP Jeff Beck

Thank you. That makes sense that fans wouldn't need to discuss him on a bass forum.

 

[Wisebass]

The epitome of a musician's guitarist!

A sad loss.

No one ever controlled the electric guitar the way Mr. Beck did.

RIP sir, you are being sorely missed already.

One of my all time favs!... The reason why electric guitars should have a volume knob and a whammy bar!

So sad. Jeff was still undiminished at 78, to go so suddenly.... This is a big loss.

His control of his instrument and his imagination, made him unique and uncopiable. His tone and the feelings he could wring out of a Strat were/are unmatched. Such a generous person towards other musicians too. For Jeff it was always about the music, not the fame and he was always willing to share and appreciate others. Just look at his reactions to Tal's solo in the clip bellow.

Audience: Jeff you're the greatest!

Jeff: Watch my band!!!


RIP!!!


Wise(b)ass

 

[TyBo]

I always enjoy Otis Gibbs "running his mouth" on things. RIP Jeff Beck.

 

[zombywoof5050]

Oh man, such sad news of Jeff's passing....RIP, Jeff.

The first band my friends and I ever formed, we named it Truth, after Beck's first album.

Been a huge fan since the 70's, just missed the Blow By Blow tour in '75, but finally saw him for the first time on the There & Back tour, and I don't think I've missed a show here since then, the last show I saw was just a few months ago, and here is a great video of that show:

 

[Michedelic]

Little known of, as it was edited out of subsequent versions(there was some sort of legal drama which I don’t have the details), Bowie’s farewell Ziggy show featured an encore with Beck doing, what else, “Jean Genie”, which of course was an homage to the Yardbirds’ version of “I’m A Man”. Mick Ronson was obviously a Beck disciple(his earlier band, The Rats, was almost a Truth tribute), but went on to forge his own style. Beck had said something to the effect that his decision to move further into a funkier fusion direction and leaving the blues rock behind, was due to Ronson having that sort of thing covered and then some, plus a need for a change...

 

[JOEP054]

Never saw Mr. Beck as just a musician. Every time I saw him, he impressed me more as a magician. Houdini with a guitar.
What appeared to be impossible, was only so for ordinary souls such as mine.
I have laughed, wondered, been amazed and mostly confused at his ability to convey notes that were to him alone.
Now finally, I cry as he has gone.
Thank you Mr. Beck for the good times bestowed upon us.
Peace in the after life.

 

[MarshallAC50Stack]

Jeff Beck plays at Glen Oak Park, Peoria, Illinois, June 26, 1976

 

[tvbop]

The musicians musician....not really famous per se but huge in the minds of musicians the world over. Makes you wonder which of our heroes is next. Guess its not cool to speculate.

 

[ElectroVibe]

I just watched the 1984 movie, the Wild Life. It stars Christopher Penn and Eric Stoltz. There is one scene at the bowling alley where two younger kids are trying to impress the same girl. One of them burns a cigarette in his hand and throws it to the other boy, and the second boy eats it. I can remember I always thought that kid looked exactly like Jeff Beck.

 

[Bassinthemudd]

I just watched the 1984 movie, the Wild Life. It stars Christopher Penn and Eric Stoltz. There is one scene at the bowling alley where two younger kids are trying to impress the same girl. One of them burns a cigarette in his hand and throws it to the other boy, and the second boy eats it. I can remember I always thought that kid looked exactly like Jeff Beck.

 

[Peterson]

Rip Jeff Beck

 

[pdbass]