The influential guitarist whose career spanned over five decades died yesterday of meningitis.
From the moment he joined the Yardbirds in 1965 Jeff Beck led the way in playing the guitar. Self taught on a self made guitar he was always the ultimate Innovator. He was one of the first to master feedback. He dallied with bands such as The Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart before striking out on his own. Since 1975 he has mixed instrumental albums and concerts with a variety of collaborators including the Jan Hammere Group, Nile Rogers, Joss Stone, Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Roger Waters, Bon Jovi, Brian Wilson, Imogen Heap and many more.
His prestigious output encompassed many styles from his origins in the Blues to rock, jazz, funk, techno and other styles that don’t have a name.
His mastery of dissonance is jaw dropping. Combine that with perfectly controlled feedback and the whole sound is on another planet.
I had the pleasure of watching him perform in Birmingham a few years ago. It was an evening of transcendental perfection which is par for the course with a musical genius.