Beck, Jeff

Geoffery Arnold "Jeff" Beck (born June 24, 1944 in Wallington, Surrey, England) is a respected rock guitarist who played in a number of influential short-lived bands in the 1960s and 1970's. Beck never attained the commercial visibility that some of his contemporaries did. more...

However, he has gained widespread critical acclaim, especially in the guitar playing community, for his aggressive playing style encompassing screaming, bent sustained notes, distortion and feedback and crisply articulated fast passagework. Furthermore, his lack of visibility allowed him to remain on the cutting edge, rather than being pigeon-holed into a certain style. He is noted as a musician who has mastered many genres, including blues rock, heavy metal, and jazz fusion. Most recently, he has absorbed the influence of techno, creating a groundbreaking blend of heavy guitar rock and electronica.

Early career with The Yardbirds

Like many rock musicians in the early 1960s, he began his career working as a session guitarist. In 1965, Beck joined the Yardbirds (after Eric Clapton had left the group for John Mayall's Bluesbreakers). It was during his tenure with The Yardbirds that they recorded most of their hits. In 1966, he shared the dual-lead guitar role with Jimmy Page. His time with The Yardbirds was short, allowing Beck only one full album, Roger the Engineer; Beck left after 18 months, partly for health reasons.

While on the surface Beck seems to have departed the group because of his health, Jimmy Page, who had been invited into the band in 1966 by Beck himself, tells a different story:

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