Jeff Beck Dies Aged 78 After Contracting Bacterial Meningitis
At the age of 78, Jeff Beck passes away from bacterial meningitis.
The guitar maestro Jeff Beck, renowned as the guitar player's guitar player for pushing the limits of blues, jazz, and rock 'n' roll and inspiring generations of shredders in the process, has passed away. He was 78.
According to his reps, Beck passed away on Tuesday after "suddenly getting bacterial meningitis." It was not immediately clear where it was.Tony Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath, commented on Twitter, "Jeff was such a kind person and an excellent iconic, brilliant guitar player - there will never be another Jeff Beck.
When Beck left the Yardbirds, he launched a solo career that included hard rock, jazz, funky blues, and even opera. Beck originally gained notoriety as a member of the Yardbirds. He was renowned for his improvisational skills, love of harmonics, and the whammy bar on his Fender Stratocaster guitar of choice.
Joe Perry, the main guitarist for Aerosmith, declared to The New York Times in 2010 that Jeff Beck was the world's greatest guitarist. He is head, shoulders, and feet above all of the rest of us and possesses a gift that only comes around once every generation or two.
Beck was a member of the legendary group of rock guitarists from the late 1960s, which also featured Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, and Eric Clapton. Beck was elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: once with the Yardbirds in 1992 and again as a solo artist in 2009. He also earned eight Grammy Awards. He came in at number five on the list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" published by Rolling Stone magazine.
Jeff was able to channel otherworldly music, Page tweeted on Wednesday.
Beck has shared the stage with a wide range of vocalists, including Macy Gray, Chrissie Hynde, Imelda May, Cyndi Lauper, Wynonna Judd, Buddy Guy, and Johnny Depp. He recorded two records—Truth (1968) and Beck-Ola (1969)—with Rod Stewart and one—Emotion & Commotion—with a 64-piece orchestra.
Beck's career highlights include touring with Brian Wilson and Buddy Guy, recording the Les Paul tribute album Rock 'n' Roll Party, and forming the power trio with drummer Carmine Appice and bassist Tim Bogert in 1973. (Honoring Les Paul).
Geoffrey Arnold Beck was educated at Wimbledon Art College after being born in Surrey, England. His mother worked at a chocolate factory, while his father was an accountant. He made his first instrument as a young child out of a cigar box, a picture frame for the neck, and a piece of radio-controlled aeroplane string.
Before joining the Yardbirds in 1965 and taking Clapton's place, he was a member of several bands, including Nightshift and The Tridents. A year later, Page replaced him. The band produced the iconic hits Heart Full of Soul, I'm a Man, and Shapes of Things during his time.
The instrumental Beck's Bolero, released in 1967, was Beck's debut hit record and included future Led Zeppelin members Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, as well as future Who drummer Keith Moon. Later scheduled to perform at the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival with Stewart on vocals, The Jeff Beck Group's participation was postponed. Later, Beck said that the band was in disarray.Hendrix and Beck played together and became buddies. Prior to Hendrix, the majority of rock guitarists focused on a similar aesthetic and lexicon. Hendrix shattered that.
Beck collaborated with renowned producer George Martin, also known as "the fifth Beatle," to create the jazz-fusion masterpieces Blow by Blow (1975) and Wired (1976). In addition to working with Seal on the Jimi Hendrix tribute Stone Free, he also founded the jazz-fusion band Jan Hammer and paid tribute to rockabilly guitarist Cliff Gallup with the album Crazy Legs. In 2016, he published "Loud Hailer."
Films like Stomp the Yard, Shallow Hal, Casino, Honeymoon in Vegas, Twins, Observe and Report, and Little Big League feature the guitar playing of Beck.
Beck's career was never as successful commercially as Clapton's was. He was a perfectionist who loved to create instrumental music that earned positive reviews and who frequently stepped away from the spotlight to spend time fixing classic vehicles. Early on, he and Clapton didn't get along well, but they subsequently became friends and went on tour together. Beck said to Rolling Stone in 2010: "Because we were all wanting to be huge bananas." I didn't, however, have the luxury of Eric's popular tunes.
