Guitar Virtuoso Jeff Beck Dies at 78

Jeff Beck playing guitar In my humble opinion, one of the best post-60s onward rock guitar players of all time passed away.

Jeff Beck had a technique that stood out, to say the least. He had the ability to play any music style with expertise, yet his signature playing was hard to duplicate by other great players. It made him a stand-alone giant!

In his later concert days, it was beautiful how he introduced many bass players on tour, especially outstanding women bass players… Tal Wilkenson as one example comes to mind.

Beck died Tuesday, January 10, 2023, at the age of 78.

Jeff will be missed by a ton of fans. Yet, we’ve been privileged enough to have many of his recordings and videos to enjoy for the rest of the time we each remain on this planet.

Enjoy Your Music!
Best!
-Ron Greene

Credit is given: Rolling Stone .com article: Hall of Fame musician and former Yardbird guitarist [Jeff Beck] dies following a short bout with bacterial meningitis… By: Daniel Kreps, Kory Grow

As noted in this RS press release…

“Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, Beck’s Yardbirds bandmate who inducted the guitarist into the Rock Hall in 2009, wrote on social media Wednesday, “The six stringed Warrior is no longer here for us to admire the spell he could weave around our mortal emotions. Jeff could channel music from the ethereal. His technique unique. His imaginations apparently limitless. Jeff I will miss you along with your millions of fans. Jeff Beck Rest in Peace.”

It further mentioned…

In 2009, 17 years after Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Yardbirds, he delivered one of the greatest induction speeches of all time when he reentered the Rock Hall for his solo work. “Someone told me I should be proud tonight. But I’m not, because they kicked me out. They did. Fuck them,” he quipped at the 1992 ceremony. “I couldn’t believe I was even nominated,” Beck told Rolling Stone at the time. “I thought the Yardbirds was as close as I’d get to getting in. I’ve gone on long after that and gone through different musical changes. It’s very nice to hear that people have been listening.”

Learn more insights about Jeff Beck in the Rolling Stone article, here…
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jeff-beck-dead-at-78-obit-1234659559/

Tapping on Guitar… who started it?

Mid 70’s Eddie Van Halen. Stanley Jordan, “Eleanor Rigby” Newport Jazz Festival 1986… Mmmmm, whom really came up with the guitar tapping concept?

Still out for discussion but I’ve located a (French) gent that provides a few taps in the mid 60’s that might shed (and shred) some light on this matter… and he ‘rips it’ !

No dis-respect to Eddie and Stanley, yet this fellow just might had inspired such. (?)

You have any ‘earlier’ references?

Jam On!
-Ron

credit given via (https://youtu.be/d09pnxTSnT4)

Guitar Legend John McLaughlin Retires

Jazz-rock legacy of the Mahavishnu Orchestra, John McLaughlin (age 75 at the time of this blog post) is retiring from touring.

Many of us musicians have known John as an esoteric monster on the strings. His departure from mainstream songs to introspective nuance has been instrumental (no pun intended) in providing for insightful creative considerations of arpeggiated themes in playing styles.

The article below mentions some fun highlights of McLaughlin’s final performance in Los Angeles at UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance at Royce Hall in December 2017.

Appreciations for John’s input in our wonderful world of music!

Jam On!
Ron

(credit given via: Richard S. Ginell released in sfcv.org)

Article December 12, 2017

“The 75-year-old English guitarist (now a resident of Monaco) has said that his The Meeting Of The Spirits tour would be his last in North America, and the concert at Royce — where he played way back in 1974 — was the last stop. Fellow guitar-slinger Jimmy Herring, one of the few McLaughlin acolytes capable of dueling mano-a-mano with the master, shared the bill…”

Read more about this John’s farewell tour here…

https://www.sfcv.org/reviews/none/guitar-legend-john-mclaughlin-retires-with-an-incendiary-farewell-concert

Tom Petty Exits Stage…

As a musician you no doubt had a least one Tom Petty album in your library of classic references to straight ahead rock. Unfortunately Tom passed away in Oct of this (2017) year at the very young age of 66. It was a heart attack.

Petty had a way of taking what appeared to be soft folk songs of his own and placing some power behind them to create a unique rock ambience. He just had a way of keeping rock n’ roll alive within its original roots.

He’ll be missed… play a few tribute songs at your next gig… for Tom!

Jam On!
– Ron

As quoted from Rolling Stone (credit – online magz.)…
“In the late 1970s, Petty’s romanticized tales of rebels, outcasts and refugees started climbing the pop charts. When he sang, his voice was filled with a heartfelt drama that perfectly complemented the Heartbreakers’ ragged rock & roll. Songs like “The Waiting,” “You Got Lucky,” “I Won’t Back Down,” “Learning to Fly” and “Mary Jane’s Last Dance”

“Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, which came out in 1976. It failed to make an impact at the time – the album’s lead single “Breakdown” didn’t even chart – but they picked up heat after touring England as support for future E Street Band member Nils Lofgren. They soon became headliners on the tour, with the album topping the U.K. chart. ”

Tom’s Website…
https://www.tompetty.com/

#riptompetty

Rock Guitarist, Sister Rosetta Tharpe was ahead of her time…

It’s interesting to note some of the long ‘lost’ guitar players, before there was a lot of media to push the entertainment industry. It’s especially interesting if one of our earliest pioneers on the ax was non-other than a hip woman.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe was ahead of her time. Well, ahead of many cats to follow… including Hendrix, Elvis, Chuck Berry to name just a few. She played a good deal of gospel… you could even call it, gospel metal at that time.

During the 1940s through the Sixties, her recordings played a highly significant role in the creation of rock. Presley, J Lee Lewis, Cash and Litl’ Richard cited her as an inspiration.

Here’s to the women of original rock…
Jam On!
-Ron

(via and by Forgotten Guitar)

As a musician, she was simply ahead of her time. Maybe even by several decades.

Born in 1915 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, Tharpe developed her distinctive style of singing and playing at age 6, when she was taken by her evangelist mother to Chicago to join Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ. At 23 she left the church and moved to New York. While performing there, she was signed by Decca Records. For the following 30 years she performed extensively to packed venues across the U.S. and Europe and recorded more than a dozen albums…

Read and Learn more about Sister Rosetta here…
https://forgottenguitar.com/2015/11/10/sister-rosetta-tharpe-and-her-62-gibson-les-paul-renamed-sg-in-1963-custom-performing-up-above-my-head-in-the-1960s/

Guitar Pedals for 2016…

Guitar Pedals for Recording and Live Gigs…

Mix magazine released a January 2016 report of a bunch of guitar pedals… They cover everything from in-home studio effects to some live gig units. If you’re an axe player and want to take a peak at the options, head over to this article to learn more…
Jam On!
-Ron

(credit given: via MixOnline.com by:Kevin Becka)

New Features and Original Effects at Home in the Studio – See more at:

https://www.mixonline.com/news/guides/guitar-pedals-recording/426440#sthash.sz1IobOa.dpuf

Eagles Glenn Frey died…

As noted in Wiki… Glenn Lewis Frey (/fraɪ/; November 6, 1948 – January 18, 2016) was an American singer, songwriter, producer and actor, best known as a founding member of rock band the Eagles. During the 1970s, Frey played guitar with the band, as well as piano and keyboards. Alongside Don Henley, Frey was one of the primary singers of the Eagles; he sang lead vocals on songs such as “Take It Easy“, “Peaceful Easy Feeling“, “Tequila Sunrise“, “Already Gone“, “Lyin’ Eyes“, “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight“.
RIP, Glenn… Jam On!
-Ron

More to learn at the official Eagles website here…
https://www.eaglesonlinecentral.com/

The Thrill is Gone, B.B. King dies 05-14-15…

Blues Guitar playing and singer, B.B. King died Thursday, May 11th 2015 at his home in Las Vegas. He was 89 years old. Many of us guitar players relied on some of his licks to complete our solos and back-up rhythm fills. King played a Gibson guitar he affectionately called Lucille with a style that included beautifully crafted single-string runs punctuated by loud chords, subtle vibratos and bent notes. Here’s a feed from FOX news with further information…
Jam On!
-Ron

via: FoxNews.com Published May 15, 2015

For most of a career spanning nearly 70 years, Riley B. King was not only the undisputed king of the blues but a mentor to scores of guitarists, who included Eric Clapton, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayall and Keith Richards. He recorded more than 50 albums and toured the world well into his 80s, often performing 250 or more concerts a year…

Learn more here:

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/05/15/blues-legend-bb-king-dies-at-8-attorney-says/

Latest Airline Musical Instrument Carry On Rules…

Since many of us fly with our instruments, it’s important to know how the airlines treat our equipment. Good news!… As of the first of the 2014 year the Department of Transportation (DOT) has developed a couple of new carry-on rules for flying with your musical instrument. This recent press release will bring you up-to-date on these important flying updates.
Jam On!
-Ron

(by: Bart Jansen, USA TODAY )

Airlines are ringing in the new year with a rule that standardizes how musical instruments are handled on flights. Once (for example) a guitar is in the overhead bin, its owner doesn’t have to move it for anyone else…

Read More About New Carry-on Rules Here…
https://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2015/01/01/dot-musical-instruments-airlines/21148791/

#guitartabs

Forming Your Band…

So, I found this thread (below) that has a wonderful discussion… ‘How long does it take to form a band?’ What I enjoyed about it was the fact that some of the essential elements of forming a band are detailed. eg., the biggest factor is if the forming band-member has a gig or more in the bag… as this does indeed contribute to experienced players paying attention to answering ads and to practice time…
Jam On!
-Ron

(via:TalkBass.com/forum)

I am currently in the process of recruiting 6 musicians for a new funk cover band. In two weeks, I have filled 2 of the 6 positions using my current contacts. Not a bad start, I suppose…
… read more here:
https://www.talkbass.com/forum/f67/how-long-does-take-form-band-1067847/