Jeff Beck – a life in pictures
The maverick virtuoso rock guitarist has died aged 78. A pioneer with heavier styles, he paved the way for heavy metal, won eight Grammys and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist and member of the Yardbirds. We look back at a landmark career
- Legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck dies aged 78
- Heart full of soul: the maverick genius of Jeff Beck, the ‘guitarist’s guitarist’
Thu 12 Jan 2023 08.36 EST
Beck performs during the Helsinki blues festival at Kaisaniemen park in Finland, June 2022 Photograph: Venla Shalin/Redferns
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck performs during the Stars Align tour at Chastain Park amphitheater in Atlanta, Georgia, August 2018. Photograph: R Diamond/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck performs at Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Australia, 2014. Photograph: Kabir Dhanji/EPA
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterAerosmith’s Steven Tyler and Jeff Beck perform at the iHeartRadio music festival in Las Vegas, 2011. Photograph: Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck at the Classic Rock Roll of Honour awards in London, 2011. Photograph: Rob Monk/Future/REX/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck receiving an honorary degree from the University of the Arts, Southbank, London, 2011. Photograph: Ray Tang/REX/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck and Ron Wood backstage at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar festival at Toyota Park, Illinois, 2010. Photograph: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck and Eric Clapton in concert at Madison Square Garden, New York, 2010. Photograph: Greg Allen/REX/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck shot in 2009 for Guitarist magazine. Photograph: Guitarist/Future/REX/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterQueen Elizabeth II meets legendary guitarists Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Brian May, 2005. Photograph: PA Images/Alamy
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck performs during the Les Paul 82nd birthday celebration at Iridium jazz club, New York, 1997 Photograph: Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck with Julia Carling at Ronnie Wood’s Decades exhibition at Katharine Hamnett’s shop, 1987. Photograph: Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck in 1986 Photograph: Robert Knight Archive/Redferns
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck and Mick Jagger at Wisseloord Studios in the Netherlands while working on Jagger’s solo album, Primitive Cool, 1986. Photograph: Rob Verhorst/Redferns
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck and his custom cars photographed at his home in Oxted, Surrey, 1985 Photograph: Steve Lyne/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck in Los Angeles in 1985 with a Chapman Stick - an experimental guitar with 10 strings that could also produce Midi output for electronic synthesized sound control. Photograph: Aaron Rapoport/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck with his trademark Fender Telecaster, 1985 Photograph: Ebet Roberts/Redferns
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck attends a Michael Jackson Concert at Madison Square Garden, 1984. Photograph: Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck with Rod Stewart, 1984. Photograph: Richard E Aaron/Redferns
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck with Robert Plant and Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, 1983. Photograph: Richard Young/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck performs at the Granada Theater, Chicago, Illinois, 1980. Photograph: Paul Natkin/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck performs at the London Palladium, 1980. Photograph: Sheri Lynn Behr/Alamy
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck in 1976. Photograph: PR/Allstar
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterA party after David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust retirement concert at the Cafe Royal, London, July 1973. L-R (back) unknown, Angie Bowie, David Bowie, Bianca Jagger, Edgar Broughton, (front) Maureen Starkey, Mick Ronson, Lulu, Jeff Beck, Celia Hammond, Ringo Starr. Photograph: Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterJeff Beck (centre) with Carmine Appice (left) and Tim Bogert, relaxing in a Japanese garden, May 1973. At the time they comprised the supergroup Beck, Bogert and Appice. Photograph: Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck performing at the Crystal Palace Garden Party in London, 1972. Photograph: Michael Putland/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck on stage in London, July 1972. Photograph: Fin Costello/Redferns
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Jeff Beck Group (L-R Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Mickey Waller and Jeff Beck) pose for a portrait circa 1968. Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck backstage at the Saville Theatre, London, March 1967. Photograph: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck in October 1967. Photograph: Hulton Archive/Keystone Features/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Jeff Beck Group, 1967: (L-R) Aynsley Dunbar, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. Photograph: Chris Walter/WireImage
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe guitarist at his London home with his dog Mary in May 1967, shortly after he went solo. Photograph: Tony Gale/Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Yardbirds - (L-R) Chris Dreja, Jeff Beck, Jim McCarthy, Jimmy Page and Keith Relf, 1966. Photograph: Dezo Hoffman/REX/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Jeff Beck Group at the Roundhouse, March 1972. In the background are singer Bobby Tench and bassist Clive Chaman. Photograph: Michael Putland/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Yardbirds circa 1966. Clockwise from top left, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty (centre), Jeff Beck, Keith Relf and Paul Samwell-Smith. Photograph: GAB Archive/Redferns
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck in a scene from Antonioni’s film Blow Up, 1966. Photograph: Landmark Media/Alamy
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Yardbirds outside a music shop in London, 1965. Photograph: Stanley Bielecki/ASP/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterBeck with Yardbirds fans Susan Stiles-Allen and April Liversidge in front of his 100 Watt Vox amplifiers at the National Jazz and Blues Festival, Richmond Athletic Grounds, 1965. Photograph: James/ANL/Shutterstock
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Yardbirds, 1965. Photograph: John Pratt/Getty Images
Share on Facebook Share on TwitterThe Yardbyrds on Ready, Steady, Go!, 1964. Photograph: Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy
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