The one singer that changed Jeff Beck forever: “I was just on the cusp”
Jeff Beck was an immensely influential guitarist renowned for his distinctive sound, which enabled him to carve out a distinct niche for himself amid the multitude of other guitar heroes of his generation. His remarkable talent and equally remarkable life story have left behind an enduring legacy for the London-born musician.
Whether delving into pioneering psychedelia with The Yardbirds or exploring various hard-rock styles in his later career, Beck’s list of accomplishments is extensive. As one of the definitive figures in the transition from blues to classic rock, the London-born musician left a profound impact on the music landscape.
In fact, Beck’s influence reaches far and wide, with many citing him as their favourite guitarist of all time, including big names like David Gilmour and Geddy Lee. The latter of which regards him as completely untouchable. He explained: “If I had to pick a favourite guitarist of all time, it would probably be Jeff Beck. I mean, was there a better guitar sound ever?”
Continuing, he added: “The first time when you’d hear something and know that it couldn’t be anybody but him. He was such an amazing pioneer. Just an incredible stylist. The notes he squeezes out of that thing with a whammy bar, a volume control knob and his fingers are simply incredible.”
Regarding personal favourites, Beck had a deep appreciation for vocal virtuosos. “James Brown had it all,” he said, discussing his favourite songs with Johnny Marr on the Celebrity Playlist Podcast. One song he enjoyed in particular was Brown’s ‘Get Up (I Feel Like Being a) Sex Machine’.
“[There were] people screaming at the Apollo when I was just on the cusp of getting to know the Rolling Stones,” he said. “Ian Stewart could have had the most incredible record shop ever, he said ‘listen to this’, pulled me into this bungalow he lived in in Epsom, and I listened to it and came out a different person.”
Regarding guitarists, Beck was undoubtedly better placed than most to critique the work of others. Over the years, he expressed admiration for a diverse range of players, including British jazz legend John McLaughlin, leader of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. In his view, McLaughlin was “unequalled” and “the best guitarist alive.”
Beck’s taste was always guided by feel rather than fashion. While many guitarists gravitated toward players who reinforced familiar blues tropes, Beck was drawn to musicians who challenged the instrument’s boundaries and reframed its role entirely. He valued originality above all else, responding to artists who treated the guitar as a living, breathing voice rather than a vehicle for repetition.
That openness explains why Beck never became a nostalgic figure despite his early success. Instead of circling the achievements that made him famous, he continually looked outward, absorbing new ideas and allowing them to reshape his own approach. In praising players like McLaughlin, Beck was not crowning a rival but recognising a shared philosophy, one rooted in exploration, risk, and an unwillingness to stand still.
He told Music Radar: “Things took a funny turn in the early 70s. It all turned out well when I heard John McLaughlin because his performance on the Miles Davis Jack Johnson album and with the Mahavishnu Orchestra said, ‘Here’s where you can go’. And every musician I knew was raving about them. I thought, ‘This is a little bit of me, this. I’ll have some of that.’ The mastery of the playing, it was unequalled.”
