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Jeff Beck dies aged 78

Rest in Peace

By Paul Sinclair

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23

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck died yesterday at the age of 78.

Beck started out with the Yardbirds in 1965 (replacing Eric Clapton) before forming The Jeff Beck Group a couple of years later whose initial line-up included Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. A brilliant collaborator, the ‘guitarists guitarist’ went on to release a series of solo albums spanning various genres ranging such as blues rock, hard rock, jazz fusion and more.

Beck’s death was confirmed late last night 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.”

Rest in Peace Jeff Beck. Leave your tributes in the comments section.

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23 Comments

23 thoughts on “Jeff Beck dies aged 78”

  1. Would love a 4 or 5 cd career retrospective now with rarities, album cuts, live tracks, etc. Trace it from Jeff Beck Group through his most recent collaboration with Depp. I’d prefer they leave Yardbirds out as his time in that band wasn’t a good representation of his prowess.

  2. Another of the great names passes away. Becks guitar playing was so fluid, and so dynamic, he was easily one of the greatest of all time. His choices in terms of musical direction meant he never reached the commercial peaks of Hendrix, Clapton or his former bandmate, Jimmy Page, but that was a strength, not a weakness. From sixties blues flecked pop on Truth and Beck-Ola, through jazz fusion (Blow by Blow is a masterpiece) and back to the blues, his playing was always of the highest standard. RIP Jeff, thanks for all the great music and great memories.

  3. Growing up a young teen in Detroit in the seventies we had a great rock station WRIF. Jeff Beck w Jan Hammer Group Live got heavy rotation plays with FREEWAY JAM, SHE’S A WOMAN, and the epic BLUE WIND. those tracks played throughout the summer of 1977 and while I knew Jeff Beck’s name from Yardbirds… the live album was my first exposure to his solo career and forever became a big fan. God Bless JB.

  4. Yes a very big loss to the music industry an incredible guitar player who wasn’t afraid to experiment in sounds and tones, He easily knocked his peers such as Hendrix, Clapton and Page out of the ball part by a mile, Unfortunately he didn’t really have the commercial success of those 3 but that didn’t take anything away from how great and technically proficient he was on the guitar and as a lot have said he was guitarists guitar player…RIP Mr. Jeff Beck.

  5. After witnessing Jeff Beck’s set at the Crossroads festival one year, a guitar-playing friend sitting next to me blurted out, “He is a FREAK!” And that was meant as the highest compliment. On a day of 100 fine guitarists, it was him that stood way out from the pack.

    Beck’s passing is a very painful thing. He always appeared so physically strong and nimble. Beck was not only gifted beyond words, but bloody-minded to be his own man, and that’s what made him so special. There isn’t a musician on earth who could not learn from him.

    When the ARMS concerts were taking place in 1983, Musician magazine (as I recall) reported that Eric Clapton was down the hall from the stage as Beck was rehearsing his band. The writer said that Clapton stopped mid-sentence to listen to Jeff play, and then could only say, “Man… He is the best.”

  7. This is a real loss. I was 11 years old when I first heard ‘Shapes of Things’ and ‘Over Under Sideways Down’ on this over-sized transistor radio I lugged around whenever I could sneak it outside of our house. Those only vaguely familiar with Jeff Beck can check out his take on ‘She’s a Woman’ on Youtube for a quick teaser. And his take on Charles Mingus’ ‘Goodbye Pork Pie Hat’ (‘Wired’)? Wow. He was capable of expressing in just a few notes what legions of guitarists have usually needed to stretch out into extended jams. This weekend I think maybe I’ll listen to ‘Truth’ and ‘Beck-Ola’. It’s been a while. RIP, Mr. Beck….

  8. Especially sad because he hadn’t been sick. Still playing live at the highest level.

    The year’s off to a bad start having recently lost Alan Rankine.

  9. I’m sorry to hear it. His recent collaboration with that actor was a terrible waste of time but typical Beck – doing what he felt like doing. The two mid-70s albums remained the cornerstone of his live repertoire and his artistic pinnacle, in my view – a mercurial blend of Mahavishnu-influenced fusion with toe-tapping backbeats and sublime production. I was always surprised those albums were never expanded in any form in later years, but maybe it’s a statement in itself to leave them as they are.

  10. Had the pleasure of seeing Beck on the Guitar Shop tour, with SRV as co-headliner. That outro solo on Ambitious never fails to drop my jaw to the floor. So difficult to put into words how gifted this man was. For me, he was untouchable.

    1. I saw the same tour, the stop in San Francisco where Santana showed up for the final portion. One of the most memorable concert experiences of my life.

      Truly a sad day.

  11. Woke up this morning and was devastated by this news, so unexpected as he always looked in full health, just shows you s***n happens. Saw Jeff with EC and Page at the Guildford Civic Hall in the late 70’s and couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Jeff Beck had a catalogue that was very diverse so for me a series of highs and lows but overall a legend in the truest sense. Just listen to Truth and you sort of wonder how Zeppelin managed to get ahead of them but that was how Jeff was, never one to repeat himself. His guitar was his artists brush and he painted masterpieces, RIP.

  12. Sad to hear this news, Jeff set the blueprint for Led Zeppelin to follow Jimmy Page is known to have been at a few JBG concerts and the “Truth” album set the tone.
    My favourite is “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” From “Blow By Blow”
    RIP Jeff you’ve been a constant all my life in my listening.

  13. He’s sound was so unique on everything he played on and I for one loved it .
    His sublime sound on The Ballad Of Bill Hubbard (Amused To Death) was amazing.
    Thank you Jeff for what you’ve left us to listen to forever.

    1. Jeff’s work on that album is just astounding, especially given he was using a brand new guitar picked up on the way to the studio. His solo in ‘What God Wants Pt.III’ is one the greatest I’ve ever heard.

    2. I had no idea he played on amused to death, l will buy it today, right after l play his version of ‘sleepwalk’ (AGAIN), it is an astonishing work of genius, no one can display control like that, masterful. He was the best. A great loss

  14. Fantastic guitar player. Unique, exciting, soulful & could play any style always with great technique. Lucky enough to see him play 3 times and wish it had been more. For me, his stuff with the Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group & his first few solo albums are especially a must listen. RIP Jeff & thanks. Inspiring.

  15. Playing from another level compared to every other guitarist – a complete one off, his use of the tremolo bar was masterful and his finger style playing could unleash such gentleness and ferocity in equal measure sonically Jeff was a true innovator of the instrument. He will be missed by everyone who enjoys perfection and unbelievable musicianship. RIP.

  17. His solo on “Gets Us All In The End” from the Flash album is extraordinary. You really feel that he is fighting the restrictions put on him by Nile Rodgers & Arthur Bakers production. A unique talent.

  18. I saw him numerous times live guesting for other artists. A pure talent as good as anyone there has been who made anything he was associated with the better. He had taste and restraint and depending on your current mood there is always something he was playing on you could listen to, I played Roger Waters “What God Wants” very loud after I had heard the news. Will give the brilliant “Blow By Blow” a listen later. R.I.P.

    1. Played “Blow By Blow” this morning… I really liked the documentary about him called ‘Still On The Run’ which I have on blu-ray. Perhaps BBC4 may re-show it on Friday, worth checking if they make a late change to their schedule.

  19. The Jeff Beck / Jan Hammer combination on several of his albums was always, in my opinion, one of the best duelling guitar / keyboard combinations in rock. The albums which feature them both contain some of my all time ‘go to’ tracks, even up to a couple of days ago when I had ‘Star Cycle’ on at max volume. RIP Jeff, I’ll keep on blasting those tracks out.

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