Jeff Beck, 1944-2023
Well, my childhood hero, adulthood hero, and generally massive inspiration for my life has passed away.
Image by Takahiro Kyono via Flickr (CC).
Jeff Beck would have been the first to admit that he was, at 78, an old fart, but it was still entirely unexpected considering the incredible music he continued to put out, his still-frequent shows, and the innovation he just kept bringing to the table, still leagues above everyone else even all these decades into his career.
The crazy bastard pushed the limits of guitar further than it was ever meant to be pushed, but I’m sure glad he did. He was known as ‘the musician’s musician’, since those with a little insight into the mechanics of music – and particularly guitar – appreciated that what he did was truly singular. Fucking unparalleled.
But even every non-musician I forced to sit through a Jeff Beck song always had the same questions: How does he make it sound so much like a human voice? What the hell was that noise? Are you SURE that’s a guitar?!
“I don’t understand why some people will only accept a guitar if it has an instantly recognisable guitar sound. Finding ways to use the same guitar people have been using for fifty years to make sounds that no one has heard before is truly what gets me off.”
–Jeff Beck
Image by Mandy Hall via Flickr (CC).
Anyway, I guess it’s silly to be so torn up about the death of a guy I never personally knew, but it is what it is.
Grief, even if it’s just for some guitar player, albeit one whose music influenced practically every decision and direction in your life, is a funny thing. It’s a manifestation of love, one last wail of appreciation for someone lost as they pass on.
I’ve still not been able to sit down to a Jeff Beck record since his passing, but when I do, I’ll try not make it too gloomy an affair.
The people we lose that we cared about – or even just guitarists that shook the hell out of our souls – didn’t HAVE to exist. The fact they did should be cause enough for celebration.
Anyway, thanks for reading, and cheers to Jeff for the wild ride x
–GG
Every performance of Jeff’s was seminal, but I always felt this one went that little bit further. Enjoy!
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