Jeff Beck, the legendary British guitarist who succeeded Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds in 1965, led the Jeff Beck Group (which featured Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood in the early days) and forged a formidable reputation for his solo recordings and performances, died on Tuesday January 10, aged 78.
A statement issued on behalf of his family said, “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.”
An eight-time Grammy winner and recipient of the Ivor Novello for outstanding contribution to British music, Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Yardbirds and as a solo artist. Beck played on albums by Donovan, Stevie Wonder, Stanley Clarke and Rod Stewart in the 60s and 70s and Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Joe Cocker and many more in the 80s and 90s. He formed Beck, Bogart and Appice and released one album with that line-up in 1973. Beck also appeared on Dion’s 2020 album Blues With Friends and his latest collaboration was an album with Johnny Depp, with whom he appeared at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Dallas in 2019. Beck’s recordings crossed genres ranging from blues rock, hard rock, jazz fusion, and a blend of guitar-rock and electronica.
Ronnie Wood, who was a member of Beck’s group in the late ‘60s. posted: “Now Jeff has gone, I feel like one of my band of brothers has left this world, and I’m going to dearly miss him. I’m sending much sympathy to Sandra, his family, and all who loved him. I want to thank him for all our early days together in the Jeff Beck Group, conquering America for the first time. Musically, we were breaking all the rules, it was fantastic, groundbreaking rock ’n’ roll! Listen to the incredible track ‘Plynth’ in his honour. Jeff, I will always love you. God bless.”
Brian Wilson posted: “I’m so sad to hear about Jeff Beck passing. Jeff was a genius guitar player, and me and my band got to see it close up when we toured with him in 2013. One of the highlights we did was “Danny Boy” – we both loved that song. Love & Mercy to Jeff’s family.”
Black Sabbath guitarist Tommy Iommi posted on Twitter: “Jeff was such a nice person and an outstanding iconic, genius guitar player – there will never be another Jeff Beck. His playing was very special & distinctively brilliant! He will be missed.”
Australian musicians also paid tribute. Guitarist Jeff Lang posted: “Aw man, sad to hear that one of the greats has departed. I had the honour of opening for him on a tour around Australia a few years back, and every night he was astounding. He had an almost cavalier attitude in his playing, tossing outrageous phrases and sounds over his shoulder throughout his sets, following breathtakingly lyrical melodic lines with whatever noises occurred to him at that second. Mind meltingly great. He was a nice fellow too, said some lovely things to me which I cherish. He was one of a kind. RIP Jeff Beck.”
Sam See wrote: “Here’s a death that hurts. Jeff Beck gone. Thanks for 50 years of astounding, wonderful music.”