Jeff Beck, Legendary Guitarist, Dies at 78
Jeff Beck, the legendary guitarist best known for his work with the Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group and as a solo artist, has died. He was 78. Beck’s death was…
Jeff Beck, the legendary guitarist best known for his work with the Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group and as a solo artist, has died. He was 78.
Beck's death was confirmed in a statement to his social media channels, which said the following:
"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."
Beck's influential career began in the 1960s where he hopped from band to band and did work as a session guitarist. His big break came when he joined the Yardbirds in 1965 replacing Eric Clapton on the recommendation of his friend, Jimmy Page, who was initially offered the spot in the band. Beck's time with the Yardbirds was brief and he was fired from the band in 1966 over no-showing a number of dates on their U.S. tour.
In 1966, he recorded the instrumental "Beck's Bolero," which was his first solo track. Beck was backed on the song by a murderers' row of musicians including the aforementioned Page, John Paul Jones, Keith Moon and Nicky Hopkins.
In 1967, Beck formed The Jeff Beck Group. A number of musicians were part of the band, but the best-known lineup was its first iteration which included a pre-Faces Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. The band's first album, 1968's Truth, was billed as by Jeff Beck, but three albums bear the name The Jeff Beck Group: 1969's Beck-Ola; 1971's Rough and Ready; and 1972's Jeff Beck Group.
The Jeff Beck Group broke up in July 1972. Shortly thereafter, Beck would join forces with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice to form the aptly named Beck, Bogert & Appice. Together, they released one self-titled album in 1973.
The bulk of Beck's career came as a solo artist during which he won eight Grammy Awards. In 2022, his final studio release was 18, an album he recorded with Johnny Depp.
Over the years, Beck has been named to countless "Best Guitarist" lists and has long been regarded as one of the best, most influential players of all time. He's a two-time inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Beck was first inducted in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds and as a solo artist in 2009.
Lyrics-shmyrics! Who needs words to rock out anyway?! In honor of Jeff Beck’s birthday (June 24), here is a handful of some of our favorite classic rock instrumental tracks.
Jeff Beck – “Beck’s Bolero”
Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe b-side to Beck's first solo single, "Hi Ho Silver Lining," "Beck's Bolero" features a stacked lineup of musicians including Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Nicky Hopkins.
Edgar Winter Group – “Frankenstein”
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesReleased in February 1973, "Frankenstein" was the Edgar Winter Group's lone number one hit.
Black Sabbath – “Rat Salad”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images"Rat Salad" is featured on Sabbath's classic album 'Paranoid.' (Fun fact: Rat Salad was the name of an up-and-coming band out of California that would eventually become Van Halen.)
Van Halen – “Eruption”
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesThe second track off of Van Halen's self-titled debut, all it took was this epic 1:42 track to signal the arrival of Eddie Van Halen to Guitar God status.
Led Zeppelin – “Moby Dick”
Evening Standard/Getty ImagesThis drum-solo track from the late, great John Bonham only added to the greatness that was 'Led Zeppelin II.'
Rush – “La Villa Strangiato”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images"La Villa Strangiato" is the closing track on 1978's 'Hemispheres.' It clocks in at 9:35 and is somehow only the second-longest track on the album behind "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres," which takes up all of side 1 and is 18:08.
Jeff Beck – “Beck’s Bolero”
Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesThe b-side to Beck's first solo single, "Hi Ho Silver Lining," "Beck's Bolero" features a stacked lineup of musicians including Jimmy Page, Keith Moon, John Paul Jones, and Nicky Hopkins.
Edgar Winter Group – “Frankenstein”
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesReleased in February 1973, "Frankenstein" was the Edgar Winter Group's lone number one hit.
Black Sabbath – “Rat Salad”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images"Rat Salad" is featured on Sabbath's classic album 'Paranoid.' (Fun fact: Rat Salad was the name of an up-and-coming band out of California that would eventually become Van Halen.)
Van Halen – “Eruption”
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesThe second track off of Van Halen's self-titled debut, all it took was this epic 1:42 track to signal the arrival of Eddie Van Halen to Guitar God status.
Led Zeppelin – “Moby Dick”
Evening Standard/Getty ImagesThis drum-solo track from the late, great John Bonham only added to the greatness that was 'Led Zeppelin II.'
Rush – “La Villa Strangiato”
Kevin Winter/Getty Images"La Villa Strangiato" is the closing track on 1978's 'Hemispheres.' It clocks in at 9:35 and is somehow only the second-longest track on the album behind "Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres," which takes up all of side 1 and is 18:08.
