Jeff Beck Artistfacts

Jeff Beck song list

Jeff Beck Artistfacts

June 24, 1944- January 10, 2023
A very innovative guitarist, Jeff Beck was just 20 when he replaced Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds. He had been recommended by Jimmy Page, Yardbirds bassist at the time and future Led Zeppelin guitarist. Beck left the Yardbirds in 1966 due to illness.
He's a founding member of the Jeff Beck Group, formed in England in 1967. It included Rod Stewart on vocals and future Rolling Stones guitarist Ron Wood on bass.
Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty told Songfacts about how Beck compared to Jimmy Page. "Jeff was very good to work with in that he was a very spontaneous, very wild player; very creative, and he would never play anything twice," he said. "But you never really quite knew what was going to happen with him. So he could go into a mood at a gig and lose his temper. So although he was spontaneous, you never really knew. But Jimmy Page in those days was much more grounded. And much more business-like. I know people laugh when I say that. And he was good to work with, because you more or less knew how a gig was going to be. But maybe he wasn't quite as creative and spontaneous as Jeff."
Beck was in three car crashes. A fractured skull in one of them prevented him from joining a band with two members of Vanilla Fudge. He was also out of commission for months when he got his thumb trapped under a car.
In the mid-1970s, he started playing an all-instrumental format and would often collaborate with keyboardist Jan Hammer (writer of the Miami Vice theme song). They issued a live album in 1977 called Jeff Beck With The Jan Hammer Group Live, which includes a popular version of Beck's "Freeway Jam."
When Mick Jagger launched a solo career in 1985 with his album She's The Boss, Jeff Beck was his primary guitarist. Beck also played on Roger Waters' 1992 solo album Amused To Death.
He played on Stevie Wonder's Talking Book track "Lookin' for Another Pure Love." Wonder was supposed to reciprocate by writing a song for Beck, but the song he came up with, "Superstition," Wonder ended up keeping for himself.
His music was always very experimental. He has played blues, funk, heavy metal, jazz, rockabilly, and even explored electronic music.
Beck was offered the opportunity to replace Mick Taylor in the Rolling Stones, but he declined, saying the group wasn't funky enough. The job went to his former bassist, Ron Wood.
Beck is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame a member of The Yardbirds and as a solo artist. He also inducted Les Paul and Rod Stewart into the Hall.
Beck nearly created Led Zeppelin. His 1968 single "Beck's Bolero" was recorded by the lineup of Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, John Entwhistle and Keith Moon. All they needed was a singer!

Continuing in the Zep vein, Beck most definitely gave Page some ideas. For instance, the first Jeff Beck Group album contains a cover of the Willie Dixon song "You Shook Me." Coincidentally (or not), the first Led Zeppelin album contains the same song (Jimmy claimed it as his own without giving proper credit). The first Beck Group album also has a song called "Led Boots" on it. Finally, the name of Page's future band was supplied by Keith Moon at the "Beck's Bolero" session when he said that his and Entwhistle's participation in the project would "go over like a lead zeppelin" with The Who's management. >>
Suggestion credit:
Don - Rapid City, SD
The Jeff Beck Group was supposed to be a part of the 1969 Woodstock Festival but they disbanded the week before. >>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
Beck was active well into his 70s, releasing an album with Johnny Depp called 18 when he was 76. His death came suddenly in 2023 at 78 when he contracted bacterial meningitis.

Comments: 17

Lou from New London CtBest Guitar player I have Ever heard Anywhere, Anytime.
RIP Jeff Beck
Rob from Phoenix, AzJeff Beck is in the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame twice.
John from Montclair, NjJeff Beck is a member of the Rock Hall, though as a member of the Yardbirds and not solo.
Ben from Baltimore, Mdthe thing above that says that Jimmy Page was the bassist for The Yardbirds at the time is wrong. When they were looking for Claptons replacement they went to Page who was a studio musician at the time. Page enjoyed being a studio musician and the money it made so he recommended his friend Jeff Beck instead. Then later on Beck told Page that he thought it'd be cool if the two of them were in a band together since they were friends. Page decided that even though a studio musician paid well he wanted some recognition so he decided to. Chris Dreja at the time was their other guitarist and was asked to learn bass so Page could play guitar with Beck. While Dreja was learning bass Page played bass on one tour. After Dreja learned bass, Page played guitar. Beck and Page were both lead guitarists. After Beck was kicked out of the band, Page became the lead guitarist.
Warrinder from A Town, CanadaHe did form a band with two members of Vanilla Fudge. Beck Bogart Appice released released one self-titled album and a live album called Beck Bogart Appice Live Japan Tour. They did one of my favourite songs, "Lady," which is often mislabeled saying it's by John Mayall and Jeff Beck, called "Lady (Great Bass Riffs)"
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScThe story I heard about the Led Zeppelin name was that Entwistle came up with it. When Led Zeppelin had been formed and the line-up had plant, page, Jones, and Bonham in it, one of the members came up to the Who at a party, and thanked Moon for the name, not knowing it was Entwistle. Apparently, Entwistle was pretty upset about. Can anyone verify this?
Andrew from St. Louis, MoJeff Beck is one of my favorite guitarists (second to David Gilmour). He is very overlooked compared to other greats from the same time (Hendrix, Clapton, Page), and he is easily more skilled than all of them. He's explored so many different styles throughout his career, and been successful with all of them. He definitely should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Stefanie Magura from Rock Hill, ScI always thought that led Zeppelin was Keith Moon's idea, but I huess it was John Entwistle's.
Antonio from Brugge, BelgiumJeff appeared as a guest star in the last Ziggy Stardust concert: They played a medley: "The Jean Genie/Love Me Do", which after some vynil and CD editions, can only be found in bootlegs.
Mason from Greenville, NcJust a correction on don's post: "Led Boots" doesn't appear on Jeff Beck's first album ("Truth"), it's on "Wired". Also, technically Beck is in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame with The Yardbirds, but why he's not in there himself, I don't know. He should be. How could they ignore one of the greatest and most influential guitar players of all time?
Ray from Portland, RiHow could Jeff Beck not be in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame? He should be in there already, for a handful of reasons.
Grace from Liverpool, United StatesJust a random word...My dog's brother's name is Beck. He's owned by another English family. I guess I'm sort of proud in a way...
Phil from Tempe, AzAccording to John Entwhistle, He was talking to the manager of the group'The New Yardbirds' and telling him about his concept of a heavy band with players other than the Who, calling it 'Led Zeppelin' and having a picture of the Hindenberg burning on the front. To add insult to injury, he was at a party with The Who and Led Zeppelin and one of the members of Led Zeppelin came up to Keith Moon and said "thanks for the name" which didn't set well with Entwhistle.
Also Jimmy Page said he used to watch Beck play in total amazement of him. Eric Clapton said "Jeffs always been the best,you know". When Jimi Hendrix was in England, he would tell people that they should check out Jeff Beck!
Jeff Beck has always grown, transformed, and progressed with each project and decade.
A rock pioneer, institution and inspiration.
Ryan from Edmonton, CanadaOn Beckology it says that the Beck's Bolero session is Beck, Page, Moon and John Paul Jones
I always thought it was Entwistle not Jones
Don from Pittsburgh, PaJeff Beck is simply an amazing player. Not only could he be considered the best technical guitarist ever, but he plays with feeling and emotion. Always searching for something new to create and explore. Other musicians are in awe of Beck, and rightfully so with his jaw-dropping leads and runs. Truly one of the "British" originals and seminal players who is thankfully still with us.
Manatosh from Limassol, GreeceSurely Jeff Beck has been rated by producers and marketting money makers as the worst person to work with.
While as an artist he is the best personally acknowledged by the worlds best rated guitartists them selves.
Listen to his guitar and "...enjoy a time when you feel rock is still about making music
for fun, and not money making for corporations."

While Jimmy page, Eric clapton made a money with pop licks and acts encouraged by producers..jeff beck still now rocks the soul with his fingers in his 6 string stratocaster.
Ryan from Edmonton, CanadaJeff Beck is one of the most under rated guitarists today, IMO he is the second best guitarist behind his friend Jimmy Page

m/ Rock On m/

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