After the death of founding member Brian Jones Jeff Beck was approached to join The Rolling Stones. Mick Taylor had initially filled that spot but left complaining of poor treatment by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
Beck's post-Yardbirds project, The Jeff Beck Group, originally started with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, although musically successful, was cementing Beck's reputation for being tempermental and difficult to work with. Stewart and Wood would finally jump ship to join The Faces. Ironically, it would be Ronnie Wood who would take the position that Beck had coveted in The Stones.
The Jeff Beck Group would go on to cycle through impressive line-ups featuring some of the best musicians in the UK. This project allowed Beck the freedom to experiment, to surround himself with other creative artists, to grow at his own pace musically. During his career Beck has been credited with creating the sounds that would become psychedelic rock and heavy metal. He has won five Grammy awards.
At the same time that Beck was becoming renowned for musical combat, Eric Clapton was entering a period of personal turbulence that would prove to intensify his reputation as both an incomparable guitarist and a deeply troubled, often self-destructive, man. If there were a grave marker at the end of each of Clapton's musical phases and I could write the epitaph, this period would read Broken on the wheel, I climbed their corpses to reach the Gods.
This period would see Clapton vilified for rumors of his mistreatment of Brian Jones just prior to his death. Even as his place as a world renowned musician was secured, his reputation for erratic behavior was growing. He was facing down the dual demons of heroin and alcohol addiction and the implosion of Cream. When his next effort, Blind Faith, failed to rise above mediocrity, Clapton took off for the U.S. He worked on the studio sessions known as Music From Free Creek, as did Jeff Beck, although they managed to avoid one another during recording.
It was also during this period that Clapton was introduced to Jimi Hendrix. As much as he had been critical of Jeff Beck and Brian Jones' musical experimentation, he embraced Hendrix's reverb and feedback-laced acid rock. The fact that Jimi Hendrix was the only guitarist at the time to usurp Clapton's place as the world's greatest guitarist might also have made Clapton more tolerant towards his musical bastardizations.
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Nice historical overview of two of the greats AGG. I'd completely forgotten about that whole racist dustup with Clapton.
The only thing I'd say to you in the way of constructive criticism is just that they don't all have to Be "War And Peace" though, okay? LOL...
But again, nice job here.
-Glen
2 - FCEtier
Bravo! Thoroughly researched and thoughtfully constructed article. Very cool. You efficiently covered a lot of ground there. Surprised it didn't take twelve pages!
Thanks for the links!
3 - Ronbo1111
I really enjoyed your well written and researched article. These past 2 years have been wonderful in getting Jeff Beck's name and talent in front of a whole new generation of fans. I've been a fan since since I first heard him.
Eric's recent mini-tours with Cream, Steve Winwood, Jeff, and his Guitar Festivals do seem to indicate that he's wanting to have fun with old mates, patch up a few relationships and help others who are in the midst of drug/alcohol dependencies that he once endured.
I just hope there will be some new guitar heroes to step into the giant footsteps of these gentlemen!
4 - Bill
If anything, Beck's rival in rock was Page, not Clapton.
And I still don't see how their musical rivalry lead to any musical revolution. It was the Beatles and Hendrix who were the musical revolutionaries of that era that the others followed.
5 - Brien Comerford
Jeff Beck is arguably the greatest axeman to ever grace the planet. He's very eclectic evidenced by his mastery of hard rock, jazz fusion, blues, psychedelia, funk and electronica. With his bare fingers and using very few effects he can coax, caress and strangle a universe of sounds from his guitar. Jeff Beck's fretboard prowess and whammy bar magic are inimitable and nonpareil.
6 - Baronius
Jeff Beck is an amazing guitarist, but Clapton creates better music.
I think that Hendrix was comparable to Beck in pushing the limits of the instrument, and could have become as good a musician as Clapton. I remember hearing the story about Pete Townshend and Eric Clapton going to see Jimi Hendrix for the first time. Eric was intimidated by his playing, and Pete was intimidated by his showmanship. That's about as high praise as anyone could get.
I'm glad to see Clapton using the Crossroads concerts to mend fences.
7 - A Geek Girl
Glen, let me make sure I have this straight. What you're saying is... it's long. heheh
You're the only one who would know how truly long it was to start with. I know it was a tome, a verbose monstrosity, a treasure trove of useless information, it was... well... very long.
Thank you for the great editing job.
Much appreciated.
8 - A Geek Girl
Chip, it initially clocked in at well over 4,000 words. Around 14-15 pages. sheesh
Boyd helped edit it down.
Unfortunately, parts about John Mayall, Carmine Appice, Ginger Baker, John Paul Jones, Keith Moon, Ansley Dunbar, as well as more detail on Brian Jones, Mick Taylor, The Beatles and The Stones got the axe in my first round of hardcore editing. It broke my heart to kill them off, but those are stories for another day perhaps?
Thanks for your great article.
The pleasure of linking it was all mine.
9 - A Geek Girl
Ronbo, thanks so much. I'm thrilled to see Beck fans doing their part to keep his legacy going. You all deserve much credit for keeping him rocking. I'm sure you're the reason he continues to do what he does, and the reason he played for hours every day in preparation for the concerts. You're his inspiration.
10 - A Geek Girl
Bill, Beck and Page have been friends for a very long time. I had to edit out Page, John Paul Jones, Nicky Hopkins and Keith Moon playing on Beck's Bolero after The Yardbirds demise and the Wood/Stewart split. That's not rivalry. That's deep, supportive friendship.
The revolution I was writing about wouldn't include Hendrix. He wasn't British. And the Beatles hardly sparked a revolution in guitar playing.
It makes me a little sad to see it end, the revolution that Clapton and Beck both created in guitar playing. They changed everything about guitar playing, mainly the importance of a great lead guitarist to a band. They didn't keep the melody--they made the songs. The world of rock and roll owes them both a humble thanks.
Perhaps I should have called it the death of the British guitar playing revolution? Kind of a long title, though closer to the point.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Agree with me or disagree, you took the time to read it all and leave a comment. That means a lot to me.
Listening to Layla right now on my computer headset. God, Duane Allman's guitar playing blows my mind. Just tears me up.
Listen with me?
11 - A Geek Girl
Brien, I really hate the idea of the enumerated ranking of artists. The guidelines are too ambiguous. Beck isn't the only one whose contributions have been obscured. I grew up listening to Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, Grand Funk Railroad, Bachman Turner Overdrive. If I graffittied it would read 'Van Morrison is God'. We should never forget that it's Thin Lizzy who is credited as first creating the dual guitar harmony that Clapton and Allman used in Layla--and that so many others have since copied.
I think the most important thing lists do is make us revisit what the artists have accomplished, and re-introduce them to new listeners.
12 - A Geek Girl
Baronius, I remember reading in one of Hendrix' biographies that he took his clothing inspiration from Brian Jones and Jeff Beck was one of the biggest inspirations for his guitar playing. Now that, my friend, is a compliment!
Clapton's whole Crossroads campaign is incredible. That's probably the best thing to come out of the tragedies in his life. Sorry that I didn't note it. It is far more important than any musical contribution. It's about saving lives.
I'll cover Hendrix at a later time. Hope you'll be around to participate. But first Joplin... her biographies rocked my world. The girl from Leonard Cohen's 'Chelsea Hotel #2' (adding that to the playlist). What an incredible contribution she made, and what a tragic story her life was.
13 - A Geek Girl
To the comments editor... whomever you are, thanks for the link fix. Hope you listened with me as well. Duane Allman. Killer, right?
14 - AGG
Thanks babe. Yeah. Dick.
Lucky us, we do get the best ticket prices - an article. Photo passes and press passes, too. Come write for blogcritics, your ticket to the stars. Sigh. And speaking of which, when are you jumping into the photo pit with me J.R.? You know I want you like that... all sweaty and headbanging.
15 - Jordan Richardson
AGG, find me some sort of jazz-metal hybrid and I'm in. Flop sweat and all.
16 - AGG
I think you should look and tell me what's coming up that's good. I could use a trip to the northern climes. Too hot to headbang here. Too hot to eat. Too hot to fuuu... okay, never really too hot for that. But everything else? Yeah. Too hot.
I'm heading into a punk phaze now. Did you hear the one about the New York Doll who turned into an Atlanta redneck? Heh. You will soon enough. Digging out my combat boots.
You do have combat boots don't you? Let's roll ;)
17 - Jordan Richardson
I think I have a pair of Doc Martins lying around from the grunge days. Do they count?
18 - AGG
Dude. I'm taking you shoe shopping. Gah
19 - antonio
All in all Eric is the best (sales)known guitarist in the planet, even Hendrix has been overshadowed by a man that has evolutionized and aged correctly, never denaying his musical influences, paid tribute to those influences (made rich some of them)and be as genuine as this world allow celebrities to be, and well Page is uncapable of sell one record after Zepp, Jeff has been up and down with jazz, fusion, (he is just missing Bibier)and whatever, and well, revolutionary MaCartney had a not so good trip with M Jackson...
20 - Peter Henderson
I was surfing for info on jeff Beck and your article came up. I don't think it's too long. But I don't think you thoroughly explained why Eric and Jeff would develop either an animosity or a rivalry. Eric left the Yardbirds of his own free will. He had a good following at the time, and I don't see how the Yardbirds' moderate success (2 or 3 singles) would threaten his self-esteem. After leaving he made the Blues Breakers album with John Mayall, which was a modest success with the public but a gigantic success with teenaged boys who played guitar. Then came Cream and more adulation. The Yardbirds were not all that successful with any of their guitarists. They continued to be a bluesish, guitar-heavy band without a charismatic singer and without the ability to write original material at least until Jimmy Page came along. (In Cream Clapton was lucky to have the songwriting services of jack Bruce and Pete Brown to balance out the blues covers.) Moreover, Clapton and Beck shared an antipathy to some of the Yardbirds and their management. So i don't see how the Yardbirds modest success without Clapton would be the source of animosity between Clapton and Beck unless Eric's ego was more fragile than I thought - maybe that's the problem. Maybe the guy didn't realize how good he was, but that's hard to believe. If the Yardbirds had gone on to be Led Zeppelin it would be different but that transition didn't happen.
Frankly I've never seen a clear explanation of why the Yardbirds broke up. Their last lineup with Jimmy Page was terrific - I heard them live. My suspicion is that Page in effect kicked everyone else out. Page secured the rights to the name 'Yardbirds' but then dropped it in favor of Led Zep. Lawyers and managers may have been willing to help Page wipe the slate clean and start over. The role of these unseen hands is an element in every music business story.
Another question I have concerns Jeff's being turned down for a slot in the Stones. Was he turned down or did Jeff turn them down? I would have thought jeff would not be a good match for the Stones because of his status as a guitar hero. In the Stones he would be reduced to a supporting cast member which would feel like a step down.That might not matter if the money was good but maybe they couldn't come to terms on money. Mick Taylor was being paid less that a fry cook from what I have read.
Anyway, thanks for a good story. Consider this comment War and Peace Part 2 (-;