Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck in 2009

Geoffrey Arnold Beck (24 June 1944 – 10 January 2023) was an English rock guitarist. He was one of the three noted guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds (the other two being Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page). Beck also formed the Jeff Beck Group and Beck, Bogert and Appice.

Quotes

• Well, I play purely from the heart, y'know, and so if it doesn't work the first couple of hours, forget it. Unless we feel like we're somehow on the right track then I'll keep on going. That's it, really; I don't have any magic where I just press a button and it happens. It'll either happen or it won't.
  • As quoted in Guitar World (March 1985)

• I've got no particular desire to play ten minute solos. Those were never valid anyway in my book -- never. It was just a cheap way of building up a tension in the audience...A solo should do something; it shouldn't just be there as a cosmetic. It should have some aim, take the tune somewhere. I'm not saying I can do it, but I try and take the tune somewhere.
  • As quoted in The Guitar Handbook (2002) by Ralph Denyer, p. 140