The former Yardbirds guitarist was innovative with his instrument of choice and set the bar for others to aspire to…
OBITUARY by Ian Woolley
The Yardbirds
When he replaced Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds in 1965, it was a rocky road that would lead him to play with the very best of his fellow musicians. To this day, most would hail Beck as of the greatest musicians that ever held an electric guitar…and boy didn’t he know how to use it.
After leaving the band two years later to form The Jeff Beck Group, he continued to have chart success. Coupled with the emerging Rod Stewart and Ron Wood on bass, the four egos were never going to last the course.
Their album “Truth” featured Rod, bassist Ron Wood, drummer Mick Waller, John Paul Jones on organ, pianist Nicky Hopkins. Even Who drummer Keith Moon made an impromptu guest slot on the timpani. Two albums later, Rod left to go solo, and Beck moved into the next decade with a more R & B sound from a new lineup.
In 1969, he declined an invitation to join the Rolling Stones to replace Brian Jones.
He was entered into The Rock And Roll of Fame twice. Firstly with the Yardbirds in 1992 and later as a solo artist in 2009.
Recently, he invited Johnnie Depp to guest on a few gigs and the popularity of the pair was cemented when they released the “18” album last year.
They embarked on a North American tour shortly after the public trial with ex-wife Amber Heard concluded in Depp’s favor.
Beck will always be regarded as one of Rock’s greatest guitarists. With his unique playing style and never being afraid to push the boundaries in every live performance.
In a statement released on social media his official Twitter account stated “On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing.”
“After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
He is survived by his second wife, Sandra, whom he married in 2005. He was 78 years of age.
UPDATE – Anthony ‘Top’ Topham, the first guitarist for The Yardbirds, has died just two weeks after Jeff Beck. He was 75 years of age. Although he founded the group with Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith, Chris Dreja, and Jim McCarty in London in 1963, he was replaced by Eric Clapton before they had chart success.