Why Jeff Beck is the “greatest ever British guitarist”, according to David Gilmour
If someone were to compile a list of the best British guitarists in history, David Gilmour would have to be on there. Without his talent, Pink Floyd may never have become a truly culture-shaking act that forever changed the sound of rock music into something endlessly more epic. But on Gilmour’s own list, there’s only one answer for who could be at number one.
There are several answers for who that could be. George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Brian May, Keith Richards, and so on. The UK has already been incredible at birthing music icons, but especially when it comes to guitarists, British players have played a major role in writing musical history as some of the best and most influential players ever known.
But to Gilmour, he’d argue that they all bow to one man, respecting him as the ultimate best of the best. “For many people, musicians and fans alike, Jeff Beck is the greatest ever British guitarist,” he said, with no qualms about putting the crown onto Beck’s head.
Jeff Beck always felt like an unassuming figure. For those not in the know, he’s an easy one to miss, but you will have heard his playing somewhere. For rock fans, though, and especially for guitar players, he is a true icon. Look back at the history of musicians in the 1960s, of all the best players in the UK, and for many, there is one connecting fact: many of them played with, or wanted to play with, the Jeff Beck Group. After the Yardbirds split, Jeff Beck’s troupe seemed to become a kind of rite of passage on the path to greatness. Ronnie Wood was in it. Rod Stewart was in it. Keith Moon played on some of their recordings as well as Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones. As one of the most respected names on the scene, everyone around knew that Beck was talented and wanted to be close to him.
But beyond his own music, Beck became the ultimate trusted name to call in. He was approached about joining The Rolling Stones after Brian Jones’ death. He performed with David Bowie at some of his live shows in the 1970s and with Eric Clapton in the 1980s. He played on albums from Jon Bon Jovi, Kate Bush, Stevie Wonder, Pretenders, Diana Ross and countless other names.
Even Pink Floyd wanted him, as Nick Mason recalled that the band considered asking him to join after Syd Barrett’s departure, but they were too intimidated by his talent to even dare to ask.
“For more than 50 years, he has blazed an uncompromising trail across the musical landscape. Always an innovator, never a follower, Jeff has steadfastly refused to pander to the demands of the record industry,” Gilmour said about the player in a documentary about his life in 2018. Laying on the praise, it seemed as though Gilmour couldn’t compliment Beck high enough as he declared, “to this day he remains not only a musical visionary but also the most influential and highly rated guitarist of his generation.”
