Jeff Beck, the legendary rock guitarist who many consider the greatest of time has died. Earlier today a statement was posted to his official social media accounts. He was 78 year old.
“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.”
The British guitar virtuoso who has been a major influence in the rock music scene for over five decades. He was born in Wallington, Surrey, England in 1944 and began playing the guitar at a young age. Beck’s early musical influences were American blues and R&B music, which would later inform his unique style of playing.
Beck’s professional career began in the 1960s as a member of the Yardbirds, a British rock band known for their hit songs “For Your Love” and “Heart Full of Soul.” Beck’s tenure with the Yardbirds was short-lived, but it was during this time that he developed his distinctive guitar playing style, which blended elements of blues, jazz, and rock music.
In the late 1960s, Beck released his first solo album, “Truth,” which featured his backing band, the Jeff Beck Group. The album was a commercial and critical success, and it included the hit single “Beck’s Bolero,” which has since become one of Beck’s most recognizable songs. The album also featured the vocal talents of Rod Stewart, who would go on to have a successful solo career of his own.
In the 1970s, Beck released several more albums with the Jeff Beck Group, including “Rough and Ready” and “Blow by Blow,” which were both well-received by critics and fans. The latter album was a particularly notable success, reaching #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and earning a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.
Throughout the 1970s, Beck continued to tour and record, experimenting with different styles of music and collaborating with a wide range of artists. He released the album “There and Back” in 1980 and “Flash” in 1985, which was a collaboration with the Jan Hammer Group. He also released the album “Guitar Shop” in 1989, which featured the hit single “Guitar Shop” which was a collaboration with the vocalist Terry Bozzio.
In the 1990s, Beck released several more albums, including “Crazy Legs” (1993) and “Who Else!” (1999). He also collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Kate Bush, Tina Turner, and Morrissey.
Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009 as a member of the Yardbirds. He has also been honored with numerous other awards and accolades throughout his career, including several Grammy Awards and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
Beck’s music continues to be celebrated and appreciated by fans and critics alike, and he is widely considered to be one of the most innovative and influential guitarists of all time. His guitar playing style is known for its use of feedback, distortion, and unconventional techniques, and it continues to inspire new generations of musicians.
Some of Jeff Beck’s most famous songs include:
• “Beck’s Bolero”
• “Heart Full of Soul”
• “For Your Love”
• “Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers”
• “The Pump”
• “Where Were You”
• “Guitar Shop”
• “People Get Ready”
• “Freeway Jam”
• “Blue Wind”
Beck’s music continues to be celebrated and appreciated by fans and critics alike, and he continues to tour and perform to this day. He is widely considered to be one of the most innovative and influential guitarists of all time, and his contributions to the music world will always be remembered.
Here is a great documentary from 2018 on Jeff Beck – Still On The Run – The Jeff Beck Story
