One Of My Favorite Guitarists Has Died
I woke up to news this morning that one of my favorite guitarists has died.
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. pic.twitter.com/4dvt5aGzlv
— Jeff Beck (@jeffbeckmusic) January 11, 2023
Whether today’s guitarists know it or not, Jeff Beck made them.
The British rock and blues guitarist, widely considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time, passed away Tuesday. He was 78.
Jeff Beck first rose to fame in the 1960s as a member of the Yardbirds, a British rock band that also featured guitarists Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Beck’s innovative and influential style, which combines elements of rock, blues, and jazz, has earned him numerous accolades throughout his career.
Beck was known for his virtuosic guitar playing (I call it “stunt guitar”), which incorporates a wide range of techniques such as finger-tapping, vibrato, and feedback. A lot of folks think Eddie Van Halen invented that stuff.
Jeff Beck is enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has been inducted TWICE. First as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992, and again as a solo artist in 2009. He was also a six-time Grammy winner.
If you’d like to dip a toe into Jeff Beck’s music, I recommend his 1989 studio album “Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop.” I still have this one on cassette!
