Summary.
Possibly the single most influential guitarist in the entire history of rock music,
Jeff Beck was the man who (as a member of the Yardbirds) divulged the science
of distortion and feedback. The group that he formed with
pianist Nicky Hopkins, bassist Ron Wood and vocalist Rod Stewart recorded
Truth (1968), which virtually invented hard-rock one year before the
Led Zeppelin. However, his masterpiece was probably the instrumental
jazz-fusion tour de force of Blow By Blow (1975).
(Translation from the Italian by Nicole Zimmerman)
Possibly the most influential guitarist in the history of rock music, it was through Jeff Beck that the distortions, the feedback, and many other techniques became part of the rock canon, including so many tricks that rock music still has to discover.
Jeff Beck left the Yardbirds in 1966 after experimenting with every type of dissonant technique.
He then put together a "supergroup" with pianist Nicky Hopkins,drummer Mickey Waller, bassist Ron Wood and singer Rod Stewart; the group got its start with Hi Ho Silver Lining (written by Scott English & produced by Mickie Most). The innovative album titled Truth (Epic Records, 1968), re-cast typical blues-rock as a harder, faster, more brilliant and syncopated sound (Beck's Bolero, with Keith Moon as drummer, John Paul Jones & Jimmy Page, Blues Deluxe, Rock My Plimsoul, I Ain't Superstitio!
us). A few months after the debut of Led Zeppelin, Beck did none other than insist on his vision of a blues-rock that is vigorous and captivating on Beck-ola (Epic, 1969), which became another placard of the rise of hard-rock (Spanish Boots, Plynth).
Beck was involved in an automobile accident and when he returned to the music scene, he was not quite the same. Rough & Ready (1971), with Bobby Tench on vocals, Max Middleton on keyboards and Cozy Powell on drums, still boasts a burning I've been Used, but its emotional core was represented by the sad and criptic Raynes Park Blues. The Jeff Beck Group (1972) still contains Ice Cream Cakes and the instrumental piece Definitely Maybe.
Masters of Rock is an anthology of the years 1969-1972.
After a hiatus, during which his time was wasted on the mediocre Beck Bogart & Appice, Beck crafted the instrumental "tour de force" of Blow by Blow (Epic 1975), which belongs more to jazz fusion than to rock music (Freeway Jam, Constipated Duck, You Know What I Mean).
The solo in Cause We've Ended As Lovers could be his best ever.
Wired (1976) made a valid post-script (but none of the songs were written by him). These two albums are milestones of the rock guitar, revolutionizing the pentatonic scale and the abused jazz-rock language. This period of artistic
success ended rather sadly with With The Jan Hammer Group (1977) and There and Back (1980), which contained many brilliant pieces, among them The Pump and Final Peace (both written by keyboardist Tony Hymas), and then Jeff Beck was forgotten by the public who preferred Eric Clapton.
After many years of silence, Flash (1985), was a disappointment.
Beck's guitar sounded
gagged and the the tracks (sung) were second-hand pop music and flirted with
dance music. Guitar Shop (1989) instead unleashed Beck's best guitar of his career: the epic Stand On It
and the speed-metal of sling-shot.
Hymas contributed the hybrid reggae-surf number Behind the Veil.
Beckology (1991) is an anthology of Beck's entire career.
After the sound track of Frankie's House (1992), Crazy Legs (1993) is a tribute to Gene Vincent's lead guitarist, Cliff Gallup.
Who Else (Epic, 1999) updated Beck's guitar to the style of the 1990's, to the cold techno-funk of What Mama Said and Hipnotica, to the world beat of
Psycho Sam and Blast From The East, and to the grunge sound of Space For the Papa. He followed it up with You Had It Coming (2000),
Jeff (2003) and
Emotion & Commotion (2010).
Loud Hailer (2016) was also notable for fellow guitarist
Carmen Vandenberg.
Beck died in 2023.
