In '66 (I guess that was it) a neighbor brought over Roger... (called something else in the US) along with a stack of other records. I don't remember any of those. I threw it on the Panasonic 'all in one' and my musical life changed. I couldn't believe it. I'd never heard anything like it. I wondered, "How the heck is getting those sounds out of a guitar?" I Can't Make Your Way, Jeff's Boogie, Hot House of Omagarashid... Instinctively I realized the man was stretched out musically, although I didn't understand what that could even mean, back then. But I knew it meant Jeff Beck.
In the context of rock guitarists, Jeff was low key. Never had the long standing 'supergroup' or the big hits. Wasn't in the press like Eric, Jimmy, or Jimi. He really wasn't one to stick around too long with any one idea. Said to be difficult to get along with. I don't know about that. Some of his quips were really funny, in a biting and sarcastic way. From Rod Stewart to Brian Wilson--and every one in between; the guy got around. A true monster of the genre.
Dedicated yesterday's practice session to him. The man had ten times as much talent in his pinky than I have (or ever will have) in both hands. But it was the only thing I could think of doing in his honor.
