The enigma that is Jeff Beck is the humour of irony. Far behind many of his peers in career record sales, Jeff has picked up four Grammys. Never having his people looking for mass media PR or media "event" set ups like many aging rock stars, Jeff appeared a couple of years ago in front of a television audience of over thirty million with Kelly Clarkson on the American Idol Rewind charity event simply because Kelly asked him to do the duet. Often chastised for not having more of his commercial releases in a standard "comfortable" vocal enviornment for him to play off of, Mr. Beck has none the less in his carreer traded "voices" either on stage or on record (or both) with a partial list including notables like Diana Ross, Seal, Tina Turner, Mick Jagger, Patti Labelle, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, Robert Plant, Tom Jones, Cyndi Lauper, Wynona Judd, a forthcoming release by Morrisey, etc. etc. oh yeah, I forgot to mention PAVAROTTI!! How many rock guitarists have played with him???? Beatles and former Jeff Beck producer George Martin said it best about Jeff in that Jeff does not need a singer because he IS a singer on his guitar.
Jeff Beck's axe is a voice that is sometimes sassy, sometimes soft and melencholy, sometimes balls to the wall screaming. Through it all like the great Sinatra, Jeff can say he did it all his way. When Jeff gets inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame in Cleveland in April as a solo artist in his own right, it will codify what has been deserved for many years even prior to his induction as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992. It's time the rest of the music world stand up and take notice.
The problem Karen is that Jeff has never wanted to have a hands on with promoting his own music past or present unlike some of his peers. He has always felt that was mostly the part of management. However if you can't get an artist to regularly do the interviews, tours, selected happenings, etc....without current new music cd's out there on a regular basis it is next to impossible to get back in the mainstream of the listening public. Exacerbating the issue is lack of identification with the younger listening public. The majority of people unfortunately are just like that pinhead you mentioned that remembered Jeff as a Rod Stewart sideman or if I can add to your comment have never heard of him becasue he is not out on a PR tour with new product catering to teens.
The other problem is that the majority of the listening public unfortunately want some kind of vocals connection on a regular basis in the artists new catalogue. The only time that wasn't true was the mid/late seventies when a significant percentage of the rock listening public actually played on some level their own instruments from the grade school baby boomers educational parental directives to play...The stars and moon aligned. The "distinctive" vocalists like Jagger, Stewart, Daltry and Bowie that you could pick out instantly had no more recruits. Disco was king. The beat now not the lyrics was THE THING. Us baby boomers who had grown up with the totality of integrated vocal/guitar bands (Yardbirds,Jeff Beck Groups I and II, BBA WHO,Stones,Zep, etc) wanted to embrace the disco funk that had it's roots in black soul and Sly Stone style funk ,but wanted OUR heroes to do it. On the other side you saw all the jazz trained guys like McLaughlin, Hammer and Cobham see the even pre disco funk craze like Sly and The Family Stone and War, and wanted to cash in on it. ALthough there was some killer music that came out of groups like Mahavishnu Orchestra and Stanley Clarke's different combinations, live they had a tendancy to revert back to studio type practice training which became "that was amazing technique but I can't remember but a few seconds of the eight minute solo they each played."
Jeff had been tortured between wanting another good band but seeing the response he got from playing things like "Defineately Maybe" on stage, wanted now to make his guitar the spotlight. The final piece was having Carmine being empathetical with Jeff reagrding the jazz guys early attempts at disco/rock/jazz fusion listened to by them while cruising the English countryside in a Pantera. The result of course was Blow By BLow which when played live demonstrated to a SIGNIFICANT portion of the listening public that here there was finally a cool, hip, theatrical emotionally gut charged performance that was easier on the ears than the Berklee schooled fusion and let the "guitarist" in us all live vicariously through a genuuine hero. Therefore Blow By Blow and Wired actually CAPTURED THE MOOD OF THE TIMES and were the two best selling instrumental lp's ever in that short public attention span of the Edgar Winter/Average White Band/Stanley Clarke, Jan Hammer, Cobham, and our guy Jeff Beck's mass public appeal years.
Unfortunately all of it was taken back to an excess, not jazz wise but strangely enough classical and pentonic excercises disguised in a rock format to excess by the "shredders" Van Helen, Satriani, Vai etc. There was less of a listening public for these guys because the melody's weren't as accessible to the mind and therefore limited the mass appeal. The public then wanted something else which was of course the mix of synth pop and back to the early rock roots with again lyrics and flamboyant singers now with a much rougher and less artistically gifted set....The Punk Rockers and later hip poetic cleaned up garage bands in the form of Grunge.
Many of the early English heroes, realizing that to stay viable had to constantly try new projects and have a PR entourage to keep them in the limelight, did just that. Jeff of course continued what he had started and branched out to capture his take on different world and cultural sounds all loyal to his rock and blues roots, however artistically staged and altered. Great for us that love the sounds of his guitar. Bad for the masses who either never heard it or never gave it a chance because it wasn't "hip" and there was no continual public persona of Jeff by now the JD Salinger of the rock world. Fortunately Jeff is touring more the last few years albeit with predominantly back catalouge. Let's hope a few of the newer pieces like 'Scottish One' and stuff I'm sure is on tape but not made it into the live set that at least his fans can call "new" Jeff music.
The ultimate irony is that despite all Jeff's peers countless years of slaving away to keep their names out there, Jeff gets spotted by happenstance by Kelly Clarkson who was a fan, and got asked to perform with her in front of a 30 plus million TV viewing public for the American Idol Rewind show! Eric, Jimmy and Robert must have given an amused knowing smile!
That's our Jeff!
PS: I feel there is hope on the horizon. Education is back of sorts with the Guitar Hero video craze. Although Jeff is not in there many of his later contemporaries are, all who when researched by young devotees will have quotes about Jeff....enough so that curious young minds will want to listen. Also taking guitar lessons has experienced a new boom recently and a lot of teachers.....you got it.... are Jeff Beck fans.
PPS: With Harvey Goldsmith taking over the management there will definately be a big PR push. With the advent of the "new" record started last year featuring Imogen Heap on vocals we may get a WILD version of what "You Had It Coming" lp hinted at. ...this time with all the "live" feel guns of Vinnie and Tal.
Lets all just hope and pray that this project won't be just "snake oil" but the real new deal featuring our stratocaster master, Mr. Jeff Beck.
Be seeing you!
Bolero Pump Eternity's Breath You Never Know Cause We've Ended Behind The Veil Blast Stratus Angel Led Boots Nadia Snake Oil Pork Pie/Brush Big Block Blue Wind A Day In The Life Scottish One Where Were You
http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/16817/Jeff-Beck--Palais-Theatre-Melbourne-27109.htm
Regards from, Sean Higgins and Michael Bright (friend and guitarist) Melb. AUS
P.S. Next to me, stage right, was a guy firing away with a camera (no flash-good - I didn't let it detract)... maybe they will get to you for your Beck webpage. I can live again the best musical moments in my life.... I'm still hearing it! He really is so unique that as much as I could hope is to absorb and find/feel some impressionist vision of his playing. Felt like I was on a ride when he goes up the neck, bends, fingers exacting extracting while vol-wangbar added delights..on top of harmonic true and fake and/or slide..no room for mistakes Ha..audacity.
From Geoff Cosier....an interesting item.... The concert programme (containing some fantastic photos I must say: many of them I've never seen before) does mention the new upcoming album and also the new management changes.
The first show in Tokyo is good show.
"Snake Oil" is Tony Williams' cover tune.
Feb 6 Tokyo International Forum, Tokyo
1.Beck's Bolero
2.The Pump
3.Eternity's Breath
4.You Never Know
5.Cause We've Ended As Lovers
6.Behind The Veil
7.Blast From The East
8.Stratus
9.Angel(Footsteps)
10.Drums Solo/Led Boots
11.Nadia
12.Bass Solo/Snake Oil
13.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues
14.Blue Wind
15.A Day In The Life
-encore-
16.Where Were You
17.Big Block
18.Scottish One
********************************************
The third show in Tokyo was very good show. Especially Vinnie's drum play was superb.
It might be the first time that Jeff played "Peter Gunn Theme" on stage.
At the end of the show, Jeff handed his guitar to a fan of the front row.
But staff got back the guitar from him.
Feb 9 NHK Hall Tokyo
1.Beck's Bolero
2.The Pump
3.Eternity's Breath
4.You Never Know
5.Cause We've Ended As Lovers
6.Behind The Veil
7.Blast From The East
8.Stratus
9.Angel(Footsteps)
10.Drums Solo/Led Boots
11.Nadia
12.Space Boogie
13.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues
14.Blue Wind
15.A Day In The Life
-encore-
16.Where Were You
17.Big Block
18.Scottish One
19.Peter Gunn Theme
****************************************************
When Jeff playing "Cause We've Ended As Lovers"and "Behind The Veil", Jeff had keen impatience with the noise
from his guitar amplifier. After "Behind The Veil", while the guitar tech fix the amp band played jam session
without guitar. Tal played bass guitar and Jeff pluck her bass strings at her side. When Jeff playing
"Stratus",the noise broke out again. Jeff said "I'll come back after fix. I can't play with this." After five
minutes, they come back to stage and start to play "Angel(Footsteps)".
Feb 11 Pacifico Yokohama, Yokohama
1.Beck's Bolero
2.The Pump
3.Eternity's Breath
4.You Never Know
5.Cause We've Ended As Lovers
6.Behind The Veil
7.Jam
8.Blast From The East
9.Stratus
-interruption-
10.Angel(Footsteps)
11.Led Boots
12.Nadia
13.Space Boogie
14.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues
15.Blue Wind
16.A Day In The Life
-encore-
17.Where Were You
18.Big Block
19.Scottish One
20.Peter Gunn Theme
************************************************
The Show in Nagoya was great.Tal played bass solo and Jeff pluck her bass strings at her side.
It's the same as they did in Yokohama.And they did phrase of "Freeway Jam" with bass. They did
not play "Scottish One" in Kanazawa.
Yours, Toshi
Feb 12 Aichi Geijutsu Gekijo, Nagoya
1.Beck's Bolero
2.The Pump
3.Eternity's Breath
4.You Never Know
5.Cause We've Ended As Lovers
6.Behind The Veil
7.Blast From The East
8.Stratus
9.Angel(Footsteps)
10.Led Boots
11.Nadia
12.Space Boogie
13.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues
14.Bass Solo (include Freeway Jam)
15.Blue Wind
16.A Day In The Life
-encore-
17.Where Were You
18.Big Block
19.Scottish One
20.Peter Gunn Theme
Feb 13 Ishikawa Koseinenkin Kaikan, Kanazawa
1.Beck's Bolero
2.The Pump
3.Eternity's Breath
4.You Never Know
5.Cause We've Ended As Lovers
6.Behind The Veil
7.Blast From The East
8.Stratus
9.Angel(Footsteps)
10.Led Boots
11.Nadia
12.Space Boogie
13.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues
14.Bass Solo (include Freeway Jam)
15.Blue Wind
16.A Day In The Life
-encore-
17.Where Were You
18.Big Block
19.Peter Gunn Theme
***************************************
The show at Zepp Fukuoka is the only club show in this Japanese tour. The audience was very
excited and mood was different from hall show. It was great show. The show in Feb 18 was the
best!! (Feb 18 and 19 were same setlist. "People Get Ready" was added.
Feb 16 Zepp Fukuoka, Fukuoka
1.Beck's Bolero
2.The Pump
3.Eternity's Breath
4.You Never Know
5.Cause We've Ended As Lovers
6.Behind The Veil
7.Blast From The East
8.Stratus
9.Angel(Footsteps)
10.Drums Solo/Led Boots
11.Nadia
12.Space Boogie
13.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues
14.Bass Solo(include Freeway Jam)
15.Blue Wind
16.A Day In The Life
-encore-
17.Where Were You
18.Big Block
19.Scottish One
20.Peter Gunn Theme
Feb 18 Osaka Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka Feb 19 Osaka Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka
1.Beck's Bolero
2.The Pump
3.Eternity's Breath
4.You Never Know
5.Cause We've Ended As Lovers
6.Behind The Veil
7.Blast From The East
8.People Get Ready
9.Stratus
10.Angel(Footsteps)
11.Drums Solo/Led Boots
12.Nadia
13.Space Boogie
14.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues
15.Bass Solo(include Freeway Jam)
16.Blue Wind
17.A Day In The Life
-encore-
18.Where Were You
19.Big Block
20.Scottish One
21.Peter Gunn Theme
Feb 21 Saitama Super Arena, Saitama The first stage JEFF BECK (17:11 to 18:04) 1.The Pump 2.You Never Know 3.Cause We've Ended As Lovers 4.Stratus 5.Angel(Footsteps) 6.Led Boots 7.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues 8.Bass Solo(include Freeway Jam) 9.Blue Wind 10.A Day In The Life -encore- 11.Peter Gunn Theme The second stage ERIC CLAPTON (18:29 to 19:23) 1.Driftin' 2.Layla 3.Motherless Child 4.Running On Faith 5.Tell The Truth 6.Little Queen Of Spades 7.Before You Accuse Me 8.Cocaine 9.Crossroads The third stage ERIC CLAPTON with JEFF BECK (19:25 to 20:10) Eric Clapton(g,vo) Jeff Beck(g) Doyle Bramhall II(g,vo) Willie Weeks(b) Chris Stainton(key) Abe Laboriel Jr.(ds) Sharon White(vo) Michelle John(vo) 1.You Need Love 2.Listen Here/Compared To What 3.Here But I'm Gone 4.Outside Woman Blues 5.Brown Bird 6.Wee Wee Baby -encore- 7.I Want To Take You HigherSecond night....
Feb 22 Saitama Super Arena, Saitama The first set JEFF BECK (17:09 to 18:01) 1.The Pump 2.You Never Know 3.Cause We've Ended As Lovers 4.Stratus 5.Angel(Footsteps) 6.Led Boots 7.Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/Brush With The Blues 8.Bass Solo(include Freeway Jam) 9.A Day In The Life 10.Big Block 11.Where Were You 12.Peter Gunn Theme The second set ERIC CLAPTON (18:28 to 19:21) 1.Driftin' 2.Layla 3.Motherless Child 4.Running On Faith 5.Tell The Truth 6.Key To The Highway 7.I Shot The Sheriff 8.Wonderful Tonight 9.Cocaine 10.Crossroads The third set ERIC CLAPTON with JEFF BECK (19:25 to 20:10) Eric Clapton(g,vo) Jeff Beck(g) Doyle Bramhall II(g,vo) Willie Weeks(b) Chris Stainton(key) Abe Laboriel Jr.(ds) Sharon White(vo) Michelle John(vo) 1.You Need Love 2.Listen Here/Compared To What 3.Here But I'm Gone 4.Outside Woman Blues 5.Little Brown Bird 6.Wee Wee Baby -encore- 7.I Want To Take You HigherThanks again Toshi!
In the religion of Rock n Roll, Gods with the phallic sceptors (guitars) have always been the driving force behind the music. The melodic edge, the visual wand of music emotion, and the symbol of power are the ultimate rock vehicle for expression. So it is only fitting that the son of a preacher, our friend Robert Knight, found himself on a lifetime of transformative journey capturing the historical essence of the Age of Rock Guitar and preserving the images to worship not only for the aging to remember but for the youth to continue and help grow anew.
"Rock Gods" is Robert's lifetime journey gift to us in a big, bold and beautifully crafted Life Magazine style coffee table book recently published as a prelude to the multi media film 'Rock Prophecies' coming soon to a venue near you. From the cover of Jimi Hendrix in plasmatic color wringing a gut wrenching siren's cry of emotion to the collection of the determined expressions on the faces of Joe Bonamassa, Tyler Dow Bryant and the younger wave of incredible Rock and Blues guitar talent, Robert Knight has been able to relate to these artists in a way few could. As he describes in the book Robert got his start not as an accomplished celeb photographer but as an amature generally enthused by the whole sound and the scene that accompanied it. These musicians were at ease with Robert and many became lifelong friends because they knew he was not in it for the one off photos to make a buck or to learn guitar secrets from the masters but to experience them as they were. As Robert explains to us that understanding led to extended visits with these guitar greats which many of them ironically led to photo sessions exclusively for Robert to capture them relaxed as they wanted. Jeff Beck summed that all up the first time Robert Knight was introduced to Jeff. He asked Robert if he both was or wanted to be a guitarist. When Robert replied in the negative Jeff exclaimed that because of that..now they were going to become good friends.
It's no secret that Jeff Beck is Robert's favorite guitarist much for the same reasons we fans all are. Jeff's guitar sounds and musical interpretation has grown and expanded over the years where the others, caught up in those early years, never reached anywhere near as far as Jeff has. The awe inspiring photos of Jeff are generously interspersed throughout the book, from the Flashy Flash era behind the back pose near the front, through to the dedicated Jeff Beck section and on to Jeff's home in England shot outside with the Gretsch Duo Jet. My favorite is the stowaway on the train 'People Get Ready' video era action shot which sums up Jeff's ever moving on career. He may not stay in the same place musically, but he's always playing something new that takes him on his own life journey of different directions!
Jeff wasn't the first Rock Guitar God that Robert met. Although Robert's first photos (also in the book) were of the original US touring Jeff Beck Group, there is a great story in the book about how Robert got hooked up with Led Zeppelin in which Jimmy Page took Robert under his wing and gave him the run of the hotel Zep was staying in. It is among those Led Zeppelin photos that one struck me as giving the title of the book Rock Gods. It's most immediacy of imagery. The Zep pull out photo taken at the airport tarmac in Hawaii reveals a heavenly bliss-sky seemlessly meshing into the white light glare from the plane and runway in the background. The front and center portion of the photo heralds the four "Gods" (Plant is crowned with a Hawaiin lei) three of them bearing gifts to the mortal world. The contents, as revealed by Robert Knight were the master tapes for the imminent release of arguably one of the greatest rock lps of all time....Led Zeppelin II.
No one should look to the future without first looking to the past. A sectioned gallery of blues and guitar pioneers in the middle of 'Rock Gods' runs the gamut of quintessential poses and action shots starting with the sweet cry of BB's Lucille and ending with the man, if who had never existed would have allowed the world to enjoy not only the electric guitar but the joy and poking fun of playing different techniques and finger/hand produced delights, Mr. Les Paul then in his early seventies and now ninety one!
It has been Robert's quest for some time, as he journeys round the world with his camera, to seek out new guitar and rock talent. He has found that in both Joe Bonamassa and Tyler Dow Bryant. Recently at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in LA at a Gibson sponsored event, Robert got Joe to jam with Billy Gibbons (also represented in the book) and has included young Joe B. in the Rock Prophecies film. Proud as a new "Daddy", Robert is now manageing Tyler Dow Bryant whom Robert introduced to the masses at Crossroads in 07. The pic of Tyler standing in front of the old classic Chevy pickup reminds me of the famous shot of Jeff in the desert playing in front of a '32 roadster.
Some rock stars have never taken themselves too seriously. We all know Jeff Beck is quick on the draw for the humourous irony of many of life's situations. Robert's account of Alice Cooper not being recognized as himself at a Halloween party had me doubling over in laughter. Equally funny (although not to Robert at the time I'm sure) was Jimmy Page telling Robert that if the subject of meeting Jeff Beck came up one more time that Robert's hanging with the group (Zep) privilages would be cancelled! Hah!
We must not leave out Stevie Ray Vaughan. The ghostly black and white silhouettes Robert took of SRV were the last official photos shot before his life ended. Robert was the only credentialed photographer that fateful night in 1990. In retrospect they seem pre-ordained as Steveie watches from the heavens.
While we can look forward to the soon to be released 'Rock Prophecies' film that will give us more insight into Robert's relationship with our 'Rock Gods', (hint....be watching the pages of this issue for an exclusive review), the book 'Rock Gods', with it's rare and historic photographs, will serve as a reminder and conversation piece in the living rooms of all of you who should buy it, that rock has had a great past and that Jeff Beck is still as nimble and exciting as ever and that there are a lot more chapters......to be written and photographed.
Be seeing you!
Gentlemen: I have corresponded with you once before; just wanted to share a story from Cleveland. I have seen JB well over 150 times since I was 13! I was at the same Yardbird's show in NJ in 1965 that Seymour Duncan attended. It certainly changed his life and mine as well. My wife and I obtained tickets for the Rock n Roll HOF induction ceremony. Truthfully, I am glad that the video from Fuse was available.The sound in the Cleveland Public Hall may have been great off the stage as Page commented, but the sound was really lost in the balcony. No matter, we were there for the event! A nice story: We were in the Cleveland Renaissance Hotel. I realized on Saturday morning that I was sitting next to Scotty Moore! The hotel, mostly full of Metallica fans, were oblivious to a few of the old-timers in the place. Al Jardine was there from the Beach Boys. In any case I said hello to Mr. Moore; he seemd surprised that I recognized him. I told him I'm 57, I'd better know! We spoke a little, I told him I was here for JB and he nodded his approval. I thanked him for his enormous contribution and said good-bye. After the show, around 1:30 am in the hotel bar, were Scotty and his party. I waved, he recognized me, so I went over and spoke with him for awhile.Asked him if enjoyed the show;they had to leave early because Metallica was TOO LOUD!!! I recalled the moment by Jeff during his acceptance speech when he looked down at Scotty and thanked him. Great quote from Jeff, "I know Jimmy will back me up on this, when we were kids we used to just dribble over your stuff. Great shot of Scotty giving Jeff two thumbs up. He said Jeff's playing is off the planet! (we have known that since day one, huh?) I waited 43 years to hear what was supposed to be Led Zeppelin when the 2 boyhood friends finally played Bolero together!!!! WOW!!! Anyway, it was a spectalular moment for any of us who are part of the Lunacy. Thanks guys for all that you have done !!
The venue is on Landsdowne Street which runs along the 'green monster' of Fenway Park. This is like mecca for Red Sox fans like me. I took my 15 year son, Ian to this, his first Jeff Beck show and we came in early...just to go over to the Red Sox team store over on Yawkey Way. A quick sidenote, several doors down past the above shot is where second, legendary 'Boston Tea Party' club was. The 'Tea Party' Jeff Beck Group pictures we have in our photo section were taken at the first 'Tea Party' location was on Lawrence Street (I think). Many, many historic shows were played there.
Prior to the show folks lined up on Landsdowne for the doors to open and more than once I heard the comment that this soldout show was by far the biggest crowd yet for the newly opened club. After the show Dean went over to the mixing desk to ask for the setlist that was laying on it, and the sound guy gave it to him.
Harvey Goldsmith introduced the opener Davy Knowles and came back after his set to toss out the Panasonic camera promotion t-shirts. My quick observations from what I remember...'Bolero', the opener...starts just with Vinnie's drums, no 12-string guitar that I could discern. 'Pump'...I heard this during their soundcheck at around 5:30PM from outside on the street. Dean commented that he thought Jeff 'was on fire', I agreed. 'You Never Know'....kind of weird meter change during this number that I've never caught before. 'CWEAL'....crowd was very receptive up to now but this put it over the top. Tal's bass solo wowed everyone. Around this time I shifted postitions to hook up with some friends from my hometown on the other side of the club. During 'Angel' even in this raucous place the crowd was rapt during the quiet section where Jeff plays the slide right handed over the pickups, when it's over the place explodes. Around this time from my new vantage point I could see a seating section on the second level overlooking the right side of the stage. Joe Perry from Aerosmith was up there sporting his new 'Cruella Deville' coif with Aerosmith bassist Tom Hamilton a few seats away. For the rest of show I would glance up there from time to time and his expression didn't change. It was the kind of look most guitarists have when they watch Jeff Beck play, a mix of awe and 'why do I even bother'. Other highlights that really got crowd reactions...Tal and Jeff's bass solo, of course 'A Day In The Life' and the first encore 'Where Were You'.
Hey EVERYBODY, I was feeling a little let down when I didn't get the picture taken of Jeff Beck and me at the House of Blues concert in April. It turns out they posted them on the official Jeff Beck Website!!! (jeffbeck.com) What a thrill!!! I wonder how it's gonna look when I blow it up to life size!!!! Thanks for sharing my excitement of meeting my all time guitar hero. Sorry Hendrix, Page, Clapton, Howe,... Beck is and always has been My favorite Terry Kiernan Cloud 9 P.S. I'm gonna post it on my facebook page too
I was at the Chicago show last night. I'll have to report later in more detail. It was the best Jeff Beck show I've ever seen and I've seen many. He played like he is: the best guitar player in the world! Tal and Vinnie were beyond beyond. Vinnie played extended mode with the band driving him on for Stratus. Everything you ever wanted to hear out of a drummer. I had to close my mouth more than once it was so great. Literally teary-eyed a few times for what I was witnessing. Seeing Jeff in a club was a dream. We did not stand here. Everyone had a seat. Really laid back and cool. It was as if after the show we were all going to sit down and talk to Jeff(I wish!). Everyone was so into the show. It was a life-changing show for me where words can't describe what you've seen. It seemed like it was just going to go on forever you felt so good. My only complaint: Times being what they are I didn't buy a ticket for Friday's show! Keith
I saw Jeff Beck last night. Went to the El Rey Theater which is a converted movie theater. The smallest venue that I've ever seen Mr. Beck in. No seats so the crowd had to stand which kind of forces audience participation add to that the fact that they serve alcohol and it made for a very boisterous crowd. I was with two of my sons and we had a great spot ten feet from Jeff. His setlists have suffered from a little stagnation lately so I was surprised when he started playing "People Get Ready". Well who strolls out? Rod "The Mod" Stewart! They followed that with "Ain't Superstitious" ... WOW!!! As a final ka-pow Joss Stone came out for the encore and they did the Sly and the Family Stone song "I Want to Take You Higher". GREAT SHOW!! Jeff seemed looser and "rockier" than the last few times I've seen him. ChrisFrom Carmine Appice....
From Bob Lefsetz....
Bob was at the show and wrote about it in his blog 'The Lefsetz Letter'. Besides speaking to Harvey and Jeff he also spoke
to Rob Light, managing partner for Creative Artists Agency which represents AC/DC, Springsteen and a million other artists.
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2009/04/24/more-jeff-beck/
Oakland show was kickin as usual. It was the last gig of the tour. My plane was late so I missed the opener. During Angels Footsteps a drunk plowed into me and I ended up wearing my wine for the rest of the night. Ticket office didn't find the envelope of aftershow passes Harvey had given them for us, so I had to plow past the security to get to the mixing desk to speak to someone. Saw Jeff's tech Steve and Tim Myers who was doing keyboard teching. I met him years ago on a Jackson tour. Roy (Roy's Toy and family were there) as well as Sammy Hagar and Satriani. The best was to finally meet Tal the prodigy goddess on bass. It was a highlight to see Jeff take over on a solo groove Tal started. He played the bottom strings of her bass while she soloed on the top ones. Vinnie was doing his Wayne Newton impersonations backstage as only Vinnie can do (complete with talk whistle). Twas big fun but I was still jet lagged from Japan.
Jennifer also sent us some pictures! Jennifer presented Jeff a present from her friend, film-maker Ed Ochtatbienski. Its a beer can guitar from Cuba. Ed has done films for Whatever and Inner Journey.
Our 2009 What's New link told of a now almost ten year old night session for legendary Stones friend and original ALL Stars drummer Carlo Little. Yes Jeff, credited as Mystery Man, scorches on two tracks. One being 'Mystery Train' which oddly enough around the same time he was doing with Chryssie Hynde for the Sun Records tribute CD, and the other the Bobby Womack penned song that made the Rolling Stones their first number one hit "It's All Over Now". Bassist Ricky Brown thought Jeff had taken all the master tapes home with him and had them erased but alternates did indeed exist.
'Mystery Train' has another guitarist alternating solos with Jeff in two different styles. Jeff chooses to hot rod up some screeching train tracks on Mystery Train juxtaposed to the other guitarist's traditional rockabilly licks. If you really listen closely enough you can hear some track bleeding of other takes of Jeff's in some of the transitional parts between solos....almost like Gutty Guitar from the infamous Lord Sutch Heavy Friends Lp.....Wait a minute didn't Carlo Little also play for Lord Sutch. Ah to have the days back when Everybody played with Everybody!
The jewel of this crown (Sorry Patti for filching your line from Meltdown) is Jeff on 'It's All Over Now". Fresh and Sassy Jeff blends, answers, and takes over in totally over the top balls to the wall style through that early millenium Jeff Beck playing through that snarling wah wah in a certain stuck position as the backdrop to a great rhythm section of Carlo (whose snare pops out of the cd player) and wall of basic sensible bass sound Ricky Brown. The irony of the timing of the release of this CD is that it puts this song along with the two Sam Cooke songs mentioned in the Hall of Fame Womack induction ceremony as tracks that Jeff has all done within the past ten years either live or on a cd.
A couple of other notes on the cd........Jeff takes center picture with the lads on the back cover of the cd booklet....
'Mystery Man' joins 'A N Other', 'J Toad' and 'Hot Rod' as Jeff uncredited named credits not counting the Dorian Lp Michael Fennelly Lane Changer LP, the Nordoff Robbins charity Paul Rogers/Brian May 1996 collaboration.......Long John Baldry and Ronnie Wood also appear on the cd.
Be Seeing You
Jeff Beck would be proud. The only way to describe Jennifer Batten’s one woman multi media show is “Hang on to your seats for blastoff and don’t expect to come back anytime soon!!!” May 17th saw Jennifer and road co-star Vickie Genfan (2008 Guitar Player Magazine Best New Talent judged by the likes of Satriani, Satriani Lynch, Vai etc) roared into Davie, Florida in the grand tour RV. Undaunted by several road mishaps along the way including weather, flat tires, and GPS navigators programmed by factory homeless people, the girls had done a nice previous night show at a ritzy Miami Beach waterfront home (“Bad luck ain’t got me so far and I won’t let it get me right now.” That’s for you Steve and again many thanks to you and your wife.!!!!!) and were primed to kick ass at a guitar clinic for some lucky individuals and an evening show before heading off to the Florida Keys.
The Chocolate Moose Music Coffee House and Café (depending on signage, advertisement, or looking it up in the phone book you can use any or all parts of the name to fit) was a perfect venue. Intimate with seating for only sixty, with a surprisingly great corner stage and lighting setup, the old LP covers on the wall, the side sofas, and the quaint bar gave club owner Carol and promoter and World Kick Boxing Commissioner Robert Mason the chance to allow the mostly middle aged audience to have an accessible and intimate evening with artists of this international stature.
Vickie opened up the evening and let me tell you I am now a BIG fan. Our type of musician has always demanded beat play a big role in playing off the groove and this lady plays off the roof!! Great use of percussion on the guitar body itself meshed with fluid seamless licks and interesting tunings gave Vickie the boost to just lay back and play save the couple of vocal tracks that told great and humorous stories, the type you expect a class folk/rock artist to spell. Vickie also played a great rendition of John Lennon’s 'Norwegian Wood' which she features on an lp of covers. Best ironic story was the Guitar Player Magazine competition award which was an electric guitar, something she hasn’t tried yet! Somehow I think she’ll do just fine with it!
As Jennifer was making last minute adjustments and warming up onstage, she hit the laptop button to start the show on the giant projector screen. Time lapse photography took us through the actual stage setup and the great and proud bio of her tour playing with Michael Jackson and Jeff Beck. Then it was time for the space ship Batten to blast off and what choreographed precise shred for the next ten minutes as we saw a film history of outer space from early mid and recent film history. This combining newer, older, and cartoon character themes, would be a mainstay of the rest of her repoitoire performance.
Most of the material was written while she was touring with Jeff Beck. The two had a mutual admiration society. He for her technical brilliance (“the backbone of my band” he once told me) and balls to the walls idea approaches to the electronica he was into at the time, and she because he is who he is and plays how he plays. I think the biggest compliment I can hand out which I am more than proud to do is to say to Jennifer is that many of the hook lines in both the groove songs and ballads I could see Jeff playing. …Not exactly like she wrote,,,,but that’s good. She has found her true distinctive style which is hard when you are a band member only. Jeff taught her the art of playing nothing when there should be something and something when there should be nothing. A million notes when one would do and one when a million is expected…. The sheer joy of a phrase with whammy and bends to wring the last little bit of emotion form from the guitar. Most of what Jennifer plays now is with her hands with her patented Batten guitar string damper. True she uses a digital device to accentuate some of the phrasing where Jeff does them somehow mostly without. However it is minimal. No longer having to be the keyboardist with the synth guitar rack sounds, she can create a whole new plethora of interesting grooves and sounds.
My favorite piece off her new LP “Whatever” is “In the Aftermath”, choreographed with film form from computer animation artist Charlie
Case from Winston, Georgia whom she met on myspace.com
After her famous rendition of “Flight of the Bumblebee” where she illustrated her actual film experience with a beekeeper that loaded up her whole body with bees, Jennifer Batten gave many the laugh of the evening as she slid into the Blues. “White people got no business playing the blues so I’m going to play a mild depression.” With that she proved SHE CAN PLAY THE BLUES AS GOOD AS ANYONE!! Featured on the film portion was a young man doing the Moon Walk decades before Michael Jackson was even born.
The finale was “Inner Journey” from the new CD (BTW the CD comes with the multi media DVD video) complete with inner journey of the body live arm fart sounds. After a tumultuous applause form from the crowd Jennifer invited Vickie Genfan onstage. I was never a big fan of the Doobie Bros. but their eclectic version of “Long Train Running” was very well done and well received. Two great “Princesses of the Guitar” (Jeff I’ve bestowed that on Vickie as well as that you’ve voiced to me about Jennifer. I hope you hear sometime as well.) two great nights, and a guitar clinic where Bill actually learned something. I had to get him back for that unflattering Boston fan pic comparison!
Be seeing you!
P.S. This is Bill here....just a few things to add. I went to the afternoon clinic, Dick didn't so I got to hang out with the ladies for a while and ask some technical questions.
I've met Jennifer several times before but this was my first time meeting Vicki and her co-producer/mixer Tay Hoyle. The ladies travel with their own PA system which as I understand it they use everywhere spurning any house rigs. And it sounds good! It consists of two Bose L1 Model I's (cylindrical radiators) but with four subwoofers. So in stereo you have on each side one radiator and two subwoofers. (BTW Jennifer is upgrading to Bose L1 Model II's, the Model I's are for sale, go to her MySpace page.)
Through this system Vicki with help from Tay gets one of the best acoustic guitar sounds I've ever heard. Her Gibson L-140 has been custom wired (I hope I get this right) with a 3-pin XLR plug. This XLR isn't for a balanced low impedence feed but rather two unbalanced feeds. Pin 1 and one of the other pins is the output of the piezo pickup under the bridge. Pin 1 and the other pin is the output of three microphones installed in various parts of the guitar body. Tay then assigns these two feeds to two faders on her mixer and blends them together. Either one seperately doesn't sound too special but together, wow! Tay also uses an Aphex Acoustic Exciter pedal at the mix position to add some bottom to the sound.
Jennifer still uses her trusty Washburn guitar and Digitech GNX 3000 pedal she's been endorsing for years. The GNX 3000's are being discontinued and can be had for a pretty reasonable price, they're being replaced by the GNX 4. Live and on her CD/DVD she gets all her sound out of the GNX 3000 which is pretty amazing. If you haven't picked up her 'Whatever' CD/DVD you should. With that pedal she creates alot of sounds that could have come right off of Jeff's 'Jeff' album. You'll also get the DVD which has all the videos she plays along with live during her show. In one of the videos 'G.I. Jeff' shows up. In the 'Beck Collecktables' section is a picture of what I'm talking about. There's also a funny 'guitar lesson' included.
Oh yeah, the question I asked her that I bet everyone is dying to know the answer to.
Me: "Jennifer, do you own a Jeff Beck Strat?" Her: "Yes." Me: "What color?" Her: "Green!"
Cheers, BA
August 13th saw me taking an uncharacteristic one day junket to the Big Apple in order to meet up with the great rock photographer and friend to all Jeff Beck fans, Robert Knight. I can see why all the great guitarists he has captured on film including Jeff, like Robert. At a gallery and book signing by Woodstock promoter and photographer Michael Lange and Henry Diltz respectively, Robert came right up to me with a big smile and a warm handshake saying he recognized me from the website (albeit about 40 lbs now thinner) and proceeded to introduce me to a throng of notables (including the veteran of Sheryl Crow and Eric Clapton tours, Scooter Weintraub) as “the editor of a most cool Jeff Beck web site.”
From there we went downtown to the Paley Center For Media where Robert’s new rockumentary “Rock Prophecies” was being screened for Academy Award consideration for best documentary. This movie is a must see for both Jeff Beck fans and fans of rock in general. The premise that binds the movie together is Robert’s search for the next guitar prodigy based on what Stevie Ray Vaughn told Robert the night he (Stevie) died in a helicopter crash. “When you hear me you’ll know me.” As Robert would stare at the last official photo ever taken of Stevie (Robert was the only officially accredited photographer in attendance that night) those words would haunt him for several years until he decided it was about time to do something about it. In the search encapsulated in a little under two hours, Robert both seeks the wisdom of stars he’s filmed over the years, and deals with his life’s own dilemmas simultaneously, most notably his mother’s struggle with Alzheimers. This most touching and endearing part of the documentary finds Robert brokering a deal to sell his original Hendrix negatives to Hendrix’s sister Janie and the Hendrix Foundation to fund his mother’s extended healthcare in her late years.
A multitude of Robert’s past associations are called on for their advice, wisdom, and some amusing quips. During the movie we see our friend Joe Bonamassa who is crowned in the movie as the new "King of the Blues”, Carlos Santana, Steve Vai, and others including of course…….Jeff. The old English estate countryside comes to life as Robert arrives at Jeff’s gate and knocks on the front door, reminiscent of what it must of felt like to be at a castle door like that hundreds of years ago. Ever the dry wit, upon Robert’s announcement of being the person at the door. Jeff then banters, “Hope you’re not staying long!” Hah! An alternate take had Jeff showing up to the front door with an axe….kind of a play on his answer to Robert on what he (Jeff) would have become if he hadn’t been a guitarist “…..probably a serial killer.” Hah!
Not usually allowing a camera much less a film crew to capture him playing, Jeff Beck proceeded to do just that improvising some mind boggling variations off rockabilly licks all the while listening to and answering Robert’s questions. I’m sure if the subject of Jeff’s street rods came up he would have done some car and/or part sketches simultaneously! (Ed Note. Link back Jeff Beck Bulletin #4 under the ’95 Tour story for a first hand account of that ability) Also noteworthy is the tour a partial tour of Jeff’s guitar collection with the return of the Tina Turner knife scripted name on the famous pink Jackson 'Flash' era guitar.
The film finally focuses on two new finds. A tightknit fresh alternative rock act propelled out of anonymity by Robert and a now famous YouTube bit regarding “Free Hugs”, the Australian group 'Sick Puppies'. And a now eighteen year old phenomenal feel blues and rock sizzling slinger from Texas , Tyler Dow Bryant. Listening to just a few bars in the film and later live at the premiere after party at The Top Of The Rock at Rockefeller Center, it’s easy to love this nice kid, great young guitar talent. Funny note…..when Robert introduced me to Tyler at the after party he (Tyler) asked me to say hello to Jeff (Robert had introduced Tyler to Jeff). I felt like telling him that I really thought he may have that opportunity someday long before I ever do again but just thanked him for the opportunity to listen to him and wished him all the success and luck in the world.
My accomplice at the showing and party, longest running member and one of the original founders of the organized Jeff fan movement, Ed Chapero, struck up a conversation with a lady at the party who in turn got us in touch with the rock/blues record label owner Arnie Goodman. Arnie put out the John Lee Hooker tribute Lp that Jeff Beck played two tracks on. Arnie, who is also a promoter and photographer, then hooked me up with a brief but ecstatically joyous phone interview with Eagle Rock Records' main North American project manager Mike Carden. Mike spent a lot of time with Jeff and Harvey Goldsmith on the road during their recent Hall of Fame North American tour.
"Rock Prophecies" is a quintessential timepiece of the past, present, and future through the eyes of one of the greatest rock photographers of all time, Robert Knight. See it when it comes to a theatre near you. Rumor even has it that it is a good shot for an Academy Award nomination. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy! I mean who else could bring you a film where the viewer is taken inside Jim Marshall’s pad in SF to hear old war stories from the master himself and be shown a photo where a guest actually shot a bullet into it! And see the most macabre of rare, a cover shot of a dolled made up Janis Joplin and Grace Slick, for Seventeen Magazine!!!!!
For more info and upcoming screening dates go to http://www.rockprophecies.com/ .
Be Seeing you!
30 June 2009 - Belfast
http://www.themagicmusichouse.com/2009/07/concert-review-jeff-beck-ulster-hall.html
Classic Rock Society
http://theclassicrocksociety.blogspot.com/search/label/Ronnie%20Kerrigan
(Thanks=Ronnie Kerrigan)
Hi Guys, I'm just back from a quick holiday to Europe. After a couple of days at Wimbledon I went to Belfast to see a couple of old friends and Jeff Beck. I had always wanted to see Jeff in a European setting and was thrilled to see that I could co-ordinate a couple of his dates with my trip. I know you love details, but I failed to bring a piece of paper with me to write down the order of songs. From what I see on the webpage, it was pretty much the standard set. The only new song was Peter Gunn theme as the last encore. The venues were a bit of a surprise, as it seems to me that Jeff pulls far better in the US. The Ulster Hall was newly refurbished, but I would say it held no more than 1,000. It looked pretty close to being sold out. A bit of bad timing, as the Eagles were playing the big venue in town that night as well. I was a bit surprised at how chatty Jeff was after the show. Introducing the band and thanking everyone for coming. He noted this was the first time he had ever played Belfast and what a pleasure he had being there. The show was an hour and a half long including the encores. I couldn't understand who the opening act was as the PA was bad for vocals, but the acoustics were good for Jeff. He has a big red curtain that he is had lights bouncing off of behind him. A rather obnoxious security guy who didn't want people standing, but no one wanted to argue with him as he weighed about 350 pounds. The next night in Dublin Jeff played to a full house at the Vicker Street Club. It is somewhat similar to Hard Rock Cafes. I would say it held no more than 600 people, but the crowd was enthusiastic. Opening act was Clive Barnes. Jeff did the same show as the night before in Northern Ireland. I'm not sure why, but over the years I had wondered if Jeff did different style shows in Europe, but that was not the case. He is clearly having a lot of fun with this band and loves showing off Tal, who is a crowd pleaser. If I was surprised to note anything, it was that she sits down periodically near her amp. She is not a big woman as you know and I suspect that bass gets a bit heavy after a while. One last note, as someone who has seen Jeff over 15 times now, I see something new and hear something new every time I am fortunate enough to see him. However, I am getting a little worn down on the same songs all the time. I wish he would pull some other tunes out of his catalogue. Clearly most people see him no more than once or twice in their lives and I have been fortunate to see him so many times. But I would love to hear more new music. I am hoping there is a new CD soon that will inspire him to play from it as well. And one more t-shirt for the collection. I have a drawer full of them now! all the best, R.E.
From Adrian....show set list
Bill, as requested. Bolero The Pump You Never Know 'Cause We've Ended As Lovers Behind The Veil Blast From The East Eternity's Breath/Stratus Angel Footsteps Led Boots Nadia Space Boogie Goodbye Pork Pie Hat/ Brush With The Blues Blue Wind Bass Duet (not sure of title) Big Block Day In The Life Where Were You? Peter Gunn I've attached a phot I took of the bass duet. I've not seen one elsewhere. Best Wishes Adrian