By Charlie Carmichael-
Jeff Beck, one of the most influential and outstanding rock guitarists of all time, has died at the age of 78.
The British musician rose to prominence as part of the Yardbirds, where he replaced Eric Clapton, before forming the Jeff Beck group with Rod Stewart.
Beck ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone and other magazine’s list of 100 greatest guitarists and was referred to as a “guitarist’s guitarist”.
Rolling Stone described him as “one of the most influential lead guitarists in rock”.
The super talented guitarist recorded two hit albums in 1975 and 1976 as a solo act, and did not establish or maintain the sustained commercial success of many of his contemporaries and bandmates. He was a class act with a unique talent that transcended the art of excellent guitar playing of his day.
His unique style and tone revolutionized guitar music in the 1960s, and influenced movements like heavy metal, jazz-rock and even punk.
He established his own band, the Jeff Beck Group fronted by vocalist Rod Stewart, soon to become a solo star, putting a second, more R&B-oriented edition of his group, amalgamating with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice of Vanilla Fudge and Cactus.
He attained the summit of commercial success with a pair of mid-’70s all-instrumental albums, “Blow by Blow” and “Wired,” which thrust him into jazz-fusion terrain. The latter LP was recorded with keyboardist Jan Hammer.
His death was confirmed by his family on his official Twitter page.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing,” the statement said.
“After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
Grammy Winner
He was an eight-time Grammy winner, recipient of the Ivor Novello for outstanding contribution to British music and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame both as a solo artist and as a member of the Yardbirds.
After a brief attendance at art school in London, Beck began playing with Screaming Lord Sutch until, after Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds, Jimmy Page recommended Beck as his replacement. Although already successful by that time, the Yardbirds had many of their biggest hits during Beck’s short tenure in the band, including the 1966 album Yardbirds and the No 3 single Shapes of Things.
Beck was only in the Yardbirds for 20 months, leaving the group in 1966 due to inter-band tensions that had arisen during a US tour. (Later, he would say that “every day was a hurricane in the Yardbirds”.)
In 1970, after recovering from his skull fracture, Beck formed a new incarnation of the Jeff Beck Group, and released two records – 1971’s Rough and Ready and 1972’s Jeff Beck Group – which exhibited his earliest forays into the jazz fusion sound he was renowned for.
In the mid-70s, Beck supported John McLaughlin’s jazz-rock group Mahavishnu Orchestra on tour, transforming his experience about music. motivating him, achieving a platinum-selling hit in the US which peaked at No 4.
Musicians and longtime friends began paying tribute minutes after the news broke.
Jimmy Page wrote on twitter: “The six stringed Warrior is no longer here for us to admire the spell he could weave around our mortal emotions. Jeff could channel music from the ethereal. His technique unique. His imaginations apparently limitless. Jeff I will miss you along with your millions of fans.”
“With the death of Jeff Beck we have lost a wonderful man and one of the greatest guitar players in the world,” Mick Jagger wrote. “We will all miss him so much.”
Kiss bassist Gene Simmons was among those paying tribute, saying: “Heartbreaking news to report the late, great Jeff Back has sadly passed. No one played guitar like Jeff.”
Paul Stanley, the frontman of Kiss, also called Beck “one of the all time guitar masters”, adding: “From The Yardbirds and The Jeff Beck Group on, he blazed a trail impossible to follow. Play on now and forever.”
Singer Paul Young added in a post on Twitter: “He was loved by everyone in the know; the guitarists’ guitarist!”
Born Geoffrey Arnold Beck in Wallington, Surrey, the musician fell in love with Rock and Roll as a child, and built his first guitar as a teenager.”
After a short stint at Wimbledon Art College, he left to play with shock-rocker Screaming Lord Sutch and the Tridents.
An outstanding guitarist, Jeff Beck achieved great heights in his profession, setting him apart from most of his contemporaries in an art filled with competitive talent among whom he shun bright.