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Jeff Beck: The Complete 1980 "Guitar Player" Interview (HD Audio)

Jas O

Active member
Joined
Feb 2, 2023
Messages
34
This interview took place mid-afternoon on June 28, 1980. Jeff, who was about to release his There and Back album, had flown in to San Jose, California, to attend a hot rod show. We met alongside the pool at the Holiday Inn to do this interview, which ran as the cover story of the October '80 issue of Guitar Player. As you’ll hear, there are the occasional sounds of people diving in the pool and children playing nearby, so this is, in essence, a true field recording. The sound gets better a few minutes into it, as we moved to a quieter area.

I was happy to discover that Jeff was accommodating and easy to talk to. We covered a wide array of subjects, including his time with the Yardbirds and the early Jeff Beck Groups, his move into fusion with Blow by Blow and Wired, and his new album. As we spoke, Jeff offered a wealth of insight into his personality, playing techniques, tools of the trade, and changing relationship with the guitar. I hope you enjoy the conversation!

Jeff Beck: The Complete 1980 "Guitar Player" Interview (HD Audio)

For more guitar-intensive podcasts and articles, check out my online Talking Guitar magazine at https://jasobrecht.substack.com/. #jeffbeck #blowbyblow #wired #jasobrecht #talkingguitar #nikhunt
 

LeonC

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
799
Yeah, very cool to hear this now. With the benefit of history, many things that Jeff says in the interview probably seemed new or somewhat unexpected at the time, but really at this point, in 2023, there aren't as many surprises. E.g., it's clear that JB didn't spend much of his career listening to other people and being influenced by them, and didn't care about churning out more of what he'd already done.

This, to me, became one of his most endearing qualities--his desire and drive to continually evolve and explore new musical directions, to not rely on past successes to dictate future directions.
 

Jas O

Active member
Joined
Feb 2, 2023
Messages
34
Yeah, very cool to hear this now. With the benefit of history, many things that Jeff says in the interview probably seemed new or somewhat unexpected at the time, but really at this point, in 2023, there aren't as many surprises. E.g., it's clear that JB didn't spend much of his career listening to other people and being influenced by them, and didn't care about churning out more of what he'd already done.

This, to me, became one of his most endearing qualities--his desire and drive to continually evolve and explore new musical directions, to not rely on past successes to dictate future directions.
A trait shared by Neil Young, I'd say.
 

Dave P

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2001
Messages
976
A friend gave me the link to this yesterday, so I listened to the whole thing. Really cool to hear the actual interview. I remember reading it in GP back in the day. The pool splashing, kids yelling, and loud hot rods in the background were kind of funny.
 
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