Jeff Beck, Grammy-Winning Guitarist, Dies at 78


the Grammy– winning rock guitarist Jeff Beck died, his family announced. “After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he passed away peacefully yesterday,” the family shared in a statement. “His family asks for privacy as they process this terrible loss.” Beck is 78 years old.

Geoffrey Beck was born in Wallington, South London in 1944. He sang in a church choir as a child, and took up the electric guitar as a teenager; he even made a homemade model that imitated the famous Gibson Les Paul. Like many young people in Britain at the time, he idolized American blues and rock’n’roll artists—especially Buddy Guy and Gene Vincent.

Beck played in several local bands in the early ’60s, such as the Rumbles, the Tridents, the Night Shift, and Screaming Lord Sutch, but he got his big break when Eric Clapton decided to leave the Yardbirds. in 1965. Beck joined after another local guitarist—Jimmy Page—recommended him to the remaining members. Beck played heavily on the 1965 album For Your Lovethe title track which was one of the group’s biggest hits. He also recorded the “Shapes of Things,” which appears on the Yardbirds’ 1966 self-titled LP.

Beck’s stint with the Yardbirds was brief; he left in 1966 and released his debut solo album, Truthtwo years later. Beck-Ola, his first studio album released under the Jeff Beck Group moniker, arrived in 1969. The initial lineup featured Rod Stewart on vocals, Ron Wood on bass, and Tony Newman on drums. That same year, Beck had a car accident that left him with a broken skull.

By 1971, Beck reformed the Jeff Beck group. The new lineup includes Bob Tench on lead vocals, Clive Chaman on bass, Cozy Powell on drums, and Max Middleton on piano. They let go Hard and Ready that year, followed by a final, self-titled LP in 1972.

This article was originally published on Wednesday, January 11 at 5:02 pm Eastern. Last updated on January 11 at 5:47 pm Eastern.



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