Jeff Beck the Famous Classic Rock Guitarist Died At 78
Despite calling him the “guitar god” or “guitarist’s guitarist,” Jeff Beck was in a league of his own.
CLASSIC ROCK GUITARIST JEFF BECK DIES AT 78
MOST FAMOUS GUTARISTS
Beck, one of the most famous guitarists in rock and roll history, died Tuesday after contracting bacterial meningitis, according to a statement issued by a spokesperson on behalf of his family. I was old. Beck could play rock, jazz, blues, soul, whatever caught his eye. For Beck, the guitar was as versatile an instrument as the human voice, at least in the way he played it. “I was just trying to be a singer,” he said in a 2010 interview with NPR. “Stratocasters, special guitar Stratocasters, I think they have endless possibilities because of the spring-loaded bridge. You can go up or down to create infinite variations, you can pluck a chord and lower its pitch, and you can pluck six strings at once.”
BORN IN WARRINGTON IN 1944
Beck was born in Warrington, England in 1944. He fell in love with the guitar as a child and first came to prominence when he appeared in The Yardbirds, joining Jimmy Page as Eric Clapton’s replacement. Beck left the band shortly thereafter to form The Jeff Beck Group (along with a then little-known singer named Rod Stewart).
In discussions of guitar virtuosos, Beck is often mentioned along with players like Clapton, Page and Keith Richards. But Beck has always been a recluse and doubts the attention that comes with being a famous musician. He explained to The New York Times in 2010 what he thought of the music industry as a whole:
“It’s a diabolical business,” he said. “I can’t imagine how hellish it must be to be cornered like Amy Winehouse and people like that. Furthermore, I have a bit of a fringe seat on the fringe of fame when I go to premieres and stuff like that. I respect my privacy and hate anyone who tries to invade it. ”
NOMITAED FOR 17TH TIMESFOR GRAMMY
Despite his efforts to stay out of the limelight, Beck was still recognized and celebrated. He has been nominated for his 17 Grammy Awards, including the award for Best His Rock His Performance at the Ceremony of the Year, and has won in eight categories. He has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame his two times. Once with the Yardbirds and once he’s alone.
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