Saddening to hear that the great guitarist Jeff Beck is dead – at a respectable age (78), but it still comes as a shock, like most of the deaths of those who were part of the music world of our youth (which was at times pretty much the whole world of our youth). Beck was born in the same South London/Surrey suburb where I went to school, adjacent to the Suburban Demiparadise, and in the days of his fame we would see him from time to time on visits home, usually in an expensive car, sometimes accompanied by an expensive woman, or sometimes his producer Micky Most. Those of my friends more serious about such matters than I was, worshipped him for his guitar skills, some ranking him superior even to Jimmy Page (who said no to joining the Yardbirds and recommended Beck for the group).
Jeff Beck never had any sustained big-time commercial success, probably because he was too protean, forever changing his style, always exploring what the guitar could do. However, in 1967, he did have a big hit single, with this irresistible floor-filler. When this platter hit the turntable, even the most achingly cool (or pathologically self-conscious) among us might find ourselves on our feet and punching the air – even, in extremis, wigging out to the guitar solo – before resuming our state of cool inertia...
Thursday 12 January 2023
Silver Lining
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I was the First owner of his LP Blow by blow in Brazil. A long time ago...
ReplyDeleteParabéns, Ricardo!
DeleteThanks Nige. I’ve been a lifelong fan. He played guitar like no other, and to quote that much-overused phrase, he truly was the greatest of all time. His technique was un-copyable; an extraordinary way of seemingly wrestling the notes out of the instrument with both hands. It became his voice, loaded with emotion. His natural style was closest to jazz but he knew a good tune when he heard it and borrowed from everywhere. His version of Nessun Dorma brings me to tears every time. In complete contrast, at the New York ‘Rock’n’Roll Party’ tribute to Les Paul, he covered ground from Les Paul himself (with Imelda May doing a wonderful multi-tracked Mary Ford), through Gene Vincent to the Shadows. I saw Jeff at the Royal Albert Hall a few years back and in a box just behind us were Hank Marvin and the rest of the Shadows. He was called the guitarists’ guitarist and we all just adored him. The tributes from fellow musicians pouring out across the internet have been extraordinary. A great loss, RIP.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ron. He does seem to have been born to play (electric) guitar, doesn't he? A perfect fit with the instrument, as if it was an extension of himself.
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