Concept “guitarist’s guitarist” It’s one of the most repeated clichés to circulate in the world of rock (a world where stereotypes grow like mushrooms, by the way). But according to Jeff Beck, the tag fits like a deerskin glove. you just have to see deep and sincere devotion emanating from all farewell messages Hearing the news of his death from bacterial meningitis on Tuesday, he said his peers were devoted to him. “The best guitarist on the planet”said Joe Perry of Aerosmith. “There will never be anyone like him,” said Black Sabbath’s Tommy Iommi. “His technique was unique. His creativity knew no bounds,” he wrote. Jimmy Page.
It was certainly Led Zeppelin’s guitarist who recommended Jeff Beck for the position that would lead him to the first division of British rock in the mid-’60s. This was no business. was about Replaced Eric Clapton as lead singer of The YardbirdsIn those days, they were a band that desperately sought a place on the pop charts without giving up their passion for the blues. Beck could play the blues like the best, but simplicity was never his thing and he led the Yardbirds on songs like “Heart full of soul”, “Evil Hearted you” and “Shapes of Things”. much less gimmicky and more interesting sounds. His peers rewarded his contribution with an ungrateful kick only 20 months later, shortly after Page agreed to become a member of the group.
ahead of its time
Born in Wallington on the outskirts of London in 1944, Geoffrey Arnold Beck became interested in the electric guitar after hearing Les Paul and playing an instrument he borrowed as a child. He joined the music group in 1962 after briefly passing an art school. Screaming Lord SutchHe put together several unlucky bands and worked as a studio musician until March 1965, when he was invited to join the Yardbirds.
His experience in the group was as short and stormy as it was fruitful (also, ‘Blow Up’ by Michelangelo Antonioni) and Beck came out with a reputation for being. a very creative guitarist ahead of his time. He even released his first LP under his own name, ‘Truth’ (1968) was almost six months before the debut of Led Zeppelin and mix of blues, epic and provocative virtuositythe path that rock will take in the following years.
Rod Stewart, who joined ‘Truth’ as a vocalist, took a new step forward with the contribution of Ronnie Wood and Nicky Hopkins. jeff beck banda group with their first record, claiming stability, “Beck” (1969) echoed the sonic successes of the previous LP and seemed destined to give its authors the status of world stars that the aforementioned Zeppelin or Who already had. If this did not happen, partially constant staff changes (Stewart and Wood switched sides to form Faces after the release of ‘Beck-Ola’ and Hopkins left shortly after) and, on the other hand, Style changes imposed by BeckIn the next two installments of the group, he ventured into fields such as funk, jazz and soul.
artistic search
By then, Jeff Beck had been amply proven to work. an artistic adventure with no room for pop success. This need to seek new paths marked both of his raids. with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice It’s a life-defining encounter, like John McLaughlin’s brief affair with the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Enthusiastic commitment to jazz fusion in ‘Blow by blow’The influential 1975 album produced by George Martin that Beck gave up.
From there, the guitarist appeared failing to settle into a species long enough to record two identical discs. He jumped from the pop and heavy metal mix of ‘Flash’ (1985) to the blues of ‘Guitar Shop’ (1989) and then from ‘Crazy legs’ (1993) to vintage rock and roll styled by Gene Vincent. and ‘Who else!’ (1999). A style carousel that alienates casual fans but reinforces prestige versatile instrumentalist; a full-fledged ‘guitar hero’ passionate virtuosity impressed a string of six-string warriorsFrom David Gilmour to Joe Satriani, from Brian May to Kirk Hammett and from Gary Moore to John Frusciante.
Beck’s latest project was a surprising change, but very consistent with its elusive trajectory: ’18’ is a with half cooked LP Johnny Depp, in which the actor’s original compositions alternate with versions from classic artists such as Marvin Gaye, the Beach Boys, and the Velvet Underground. The album was released right after Depp’s tumultuous defamation lawsuit with his ex-wife, Amber Heard, which contributed little to his business career. Pure Jeff Beck.