Jeff Beck

b. 24 June 1944, Wallington, Surrey, England. As a former choir boy the young Beck was interested in music from an early age, becoming a competent pianist and guitarist by the age of 11. His first main band was the Tridents, who made a name for themselves locally. After leaving them Beck took on the seemingly awesome task of stepping into the shoes of Eric Clapton, who had recently departed from the '60s R&B pioneers, the Yardbirds. Clapton had a fiercely loyal following, but Beck soon had them gasping with his amazing guitar pyrotechnics, utilizing feedback and distortion. Beck stayed with the Yardbirds adding colour and excitement to all their hits until October 1966. The tension between Beck and joint lead guitarist Jimmy Page was finally resolved during a US tour. Beck walked out and never returned. His solo career was launched in March 1967 with an unexpected pop single, Hi-Ho Silver Lining, wherein Jeff's unremarkable voice was heard on a sing-along number which was saved by his trademark guitar solo. The record was a sizeable hit and has demonstrated its perennial appeal to party-goers by re-entering the charts on several occasions since. The follow-up, Tallyman, was also a minor hit, but by now Jeff's ambitions lay in other directions. From being a singing, guitar-playing, pop star he relaunched a career that led him to become one of the world's leading rock guitarists. The Jeff Beck Group, formed in 1968, consisted of Beck, Rod Stewart (vocals), Ron Wood (bass), Nicky Hopkins (piano) and Mickey Waller (drums). This powerhouse quartet released TRUTH, which became a major success in the USA, resulting in the band undertaking a number of arduous tours. The second album, COSA NOSTRA BECK-OLA, had similar success, although Stewart and Wood had now departed for the Faces. Beck also contributed some sparkling guitar and received equal billing with Donovan on the hit Goo Goo Barabajagal (Love Is Hot). In 1968 Jeff's serious accident with one of his hot-rod cars put him out of action for almost 18 months. A recovered Beck formed another group with Cozy Powell, Max Middleton and Bob Tench, and recorded two further albums, ROUGH AND READY and JEFF BECK GROUP. The latter became a sizeable hit. Beck was now venerated as a serious musician and master of his instrument, and figured highly in various guitarist polls. In 1973 the erratic Beck musical style changed once again and he formed the trio Beck, Bogert And Appice with the two former members of Vanilla Fudge. Soon after Beck introduced yet another musical dimension, this time forming an instrumental band. The result was the excellent BLOW BY BLOW, thought by many to be his best work. His guitar playing revealed extraordinary technique, combining rock, jazz and blues styles. BLOW BY BLOW was a million seller and its follow-up, WIRED, enjoyed similar success. Having allied himself with some of the jazz/rock fraternity Beck teamed up with Jan Hammer for a frantic live album, after which he effectively retired for three years. He returned in 1980 with THERE AND BACK and, now rejuvenated, he found himself riding the album charts once more. During the '80s Beck's appearances were sporadic, though he did guest on Tina Turner's PRIVATE DANCER and work with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page on the Honeydrippers' album. The occasional charity function aside, he has spent much of his leisure time with automobiles (in one interview Beck stated that he could just as easily have been a car restorer). In the mid-'80s he toured with Rod Stewart and was present on his version of People Get Ready, though when FLASH arrived in 1985, it proved his least successful album to date. The release of a box-set in 1992, chronicling his career, was a fitting tribute to this accomplished guitarist and his numerous guises (the latest of which had been guitarist on Spinal Tap's second album). Following an award in 1993 for his theme music (with Jed Stoller) for the Anglia TV production "Frankie's House" he released CRAZY LEGS, a tribute to the music of Gene Vincent For this Beck abandoned virtuosity, blistering solos and jazz stylings for a clean, low-volume rock ‘n’ roll sound, demonstrating once more his absolute mastery of technique. As if not already amply endowed with strings to his bow he also made his acting debut, playing Brad the serial killer in Diary Of A Nutcase.