Jeff Beck passed away at age 78

[JonMarsh]

The story is here-

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2023/jan/12/legendary-rock-guitarist-jeff-beck-dies-aged-78

And many other places. Bacterial meningitis. He recently finished a tour with Johnny Depp.


He was one of my top favorites from way, way back, starting with the Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart.

I have a Jeff Beck signature model Stratocaster in my guitar collection, the only Fender I've ever bought.

It's a sad day for me...

[technodanvan]

A sad day indeed. I know what I'll be listening to this evening.

[JonMarsh]

The first gigging band I was in, back when I was 14, though we played more conventional stuff like "Johnny Be Good", we also did some Brit stuff, including
"Shapes of Things" by the Yardbirds, featuring Jeff Beck. That was the first time I ever heard anything by him, and mind you, this was 1966, pre psychedelic era, but I knew he was likely to become a force of nature on guitar. Very musical, never speed for speed's sake.

Many years ago I bought a Jeff Beck Signature Stratocaster, because in my opinion at the time, it was the best built and sounding Strat you could get. Still have it.

[technodanvan]

I was introduced to Jeff Beck probably in my mid-20s when I was in the Air Force, and I'm pretty sure it was you, Jon, that posted a cover image in the 'what are you listening to' thread here at HTGuide for Emotion and Commotion. At the time the thread was reasonably active and I had only recently figured out I could afford to buy CDs (as opposed to alternative means of acquiring music I used during college). I'd use that thread to get an idea of what other enthusiasts listen to, as opposed to the standard Diana Krall and Steely Dan recordings some audiophiles can't get enough of.

Nothing against Ms. Krall of course, but I'm more of a Melody Gardot fan (also found in that thread, I think!).

Anyway, I now have most of Jeff Beck's discography and am working my way back through it today. I think the most surprising thing I've discovered is he tried playing over electronica (borderline techno!) for a few songs in the 90s. I think it's good to push those boundaries and see what works, even if sometimes it doesn't. You never know what's going to stick.