RITCHIE BLACKMORE Pays Tribute To JEFF BECK: ‘He Could Reach Up Into The Stars And Make Magic With His Playing’
Former DEEP PURPLE and current RAINBOW guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has paid tribute to British guitar legend Jeff Beck following his death on Tuesday (January 10).
The Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer, who rose to fame with THE YARDBIRDS, died “suddenly” after contracting bacterial meningitis, his representative said.
Ritchie took to his social media on Thursday (January 12) to write: “I first met Jeff Beck around 64-65 and it was a session where we were both playing guitar and Jimmy Page was producing. I can’t I believed how incredible he was. , not only with his technique but also with his sound. I became a fan of his since then. He could reach for the stars and make magic with his playing. The choice his grades were always absolutely perfect.
“This whole thing is a shock. We will always remember Jeff as the best rock and roll player ever.”
Cultivating one of the most influential careers in rock history, Beck is universally recognized as one of the world’s most talented and influential guitarists and has played alongside some of rock, blues and jazz’s greatest artists.
During his illustrious 50-year musical career, he won an incredible eight Grammy Awards, was listed by Rolling Stone as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall. Of Fame twice – once as a member of THE YARDBIRDS and again as a solo artist. In the summer of 2016, the guitar virtuoso celebrated five decades of music with an incredible concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Speaking when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the second time in 2009, Beck said: “I play the way I do because it allows me to make the sickest sounds possible. That’s the thing now, isn’t it?” I don’t care about the rules. In fact, if I don’t break the rules at least 10 times in every song, then I’m not doing my job right.”
Beck famously replaced Eric Clapton as lead guitarist for THE YARDBIRDS in 1965 and later went on to form THE JEFF BECK GROUP, which featured Rod Stewart on vocals and Ron Wood on bass. Their two albums – “Truth” (1968) and “Beck-Ola” (1969) – would become musical touchstones for hard rockers in the years to come.
The ever-evolving Beck’s next move – a power trio with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, who released Beck, Bogert And Appice (1973) – once again shattered people’s preconceptions of what a band should sound like. rock guitarist.
1985’s Flash kept Beck in the spotlight as he won a Best Rock Instrumental Grammy for the song Escape. A second Grammy came with Jeff Beck’s “Guitar Shop” with Terry Bozzio and Tony Hymas, and a third for “Dirty Mind” from the album “You Had It Coming” in 2001. 2009 saw the release of “Performing This” by platinum-selling Week… Live at Ronnie Scott’s,” who won a Grammy for “A Day In The Life.”
Beck’s surprise solo album in 2010, Emotion & Commotion, brought two more Grammy Awards; Beck was nominated in five categories before taking home three: Best Rock Instrumental Performance for Hammerhead and Best Pop Instrumental Performance for Nessun Dorma, both from Emotion & Commotion. and “Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals”. for “Imagine”, his collaboration with Herbie Hancock.
His album Rock ‘N’ Roll Party (Honoring Les Paul) was nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for Best Rock Album. In 2016 he released Loud Hailer and in 2017 Jeff Beck: Live At The Hollywood Bowl was released, both to widespread critical acclaim.
The eight-time Grammy winner is survived by his wife Sandra.
I first met Jeff Beck around 64-65 and it was a session where we were both playing guitar and Jimmy Page was producing. i…
Posted by Ritchie Blackmore Official Site on Thursday, January 12th, 2023
