11 True Friendship Stories Of Jeff Beck and His Closes Musician Friends

Jeff Beck was an absolute guitar legend. For more than half a century, the British virtuoso redefined the instrument’s capabilities before he died in 2023. He never stopped changing, from his early days with The Yardbirds to his leadership of the Jeff Beck Group alongside Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. He demonstrated his flexibility with his jazz-rock classic “Blow By Blow,” and his influence was demonstrated through his collaborations with such legendary artists as Stevie Wonder, Roger Waters, and Mick Jagger. In 2009, he shared with Classic Rock magazine some reflections on his incredible career.

Jimi Hendrix
Jeff Beck recalled the first time he saw Jimi Hendrix perform in Britain, describing it as a game-changing moment. “We knew he was going to be trouble. And by ‘we,’ I mean me and Eric [Clapton] because Jimmy [Page] wasn’t in the frame at that point,” Beck said. Hendrix’s electrifying stage presence, from setting his guitar on fire to wild neck slides, left a lasting impact. “He did all the dirty tricks… to put the final nail in our coffin.”

Though Beck didn’t claim to know Hendrix well, they crossed paths often. He once visited Hendrix at Olympic Studios and gifted him a bottleneck, which Hendrix later used on Axis: Bold as Love. The news of Hendrix’s death in 1970 hit Beck hard, especially as he was struggling with personal heartbreak at the time.

Sly Stone
Jeff Beck shared about an unforgettable session arranged by drummer Carmine Appice, who knew Beck was a huge fan of Sly Stone. The band traveled to San Francisco, only to be stuck in a hotel for ten days without seeing Sly. When they finally entered the studio, Sly took one look at Carmine’s drum setup and said, “You can take half of that away, we don’t need that,” before retreating to a back room. Beck recalled sitting cross-legged in Sly’s office, playing for two hours while his wife giggled nearby.

Beck also shared a wild gig in Florida, where a bass solo by Ronnie led to a shocking moment. “400 volts went across our two hands and blew us both off the stage,” Beck said, laughing at the small pockmarks left on their hands from the shock.

Keith Moon
Beck also shared a memorable story about Keith Richards that started in the Speakeasy’s restroom. Keith approached him with an offer: “I’ve got a roadster I want to sell you.” Beck declined, but Keith insisted, saying, “Alright, come down the house tomorrow and I’ll give it to you.” The next day, Keith showed up in a white Rolls-Royce with a beautiful blonde, introducing her as Beck’s “house-warming present.”

That night, Beck was placed in a room with a jukebox and a single mattress. In the middle of the night, Beck’s Bolero kept playing on repeat. When Beck unplugged the jukebox, the girl told him, “Keith and I were really enjoying it,” and revealed she had to stay with him for the night. It turned out to be a very enjoyable weekend.

Cozy Powell
When Jeff Beck recalled auditioning drummers, he said that was the first time he saw Cozy Powell. He was late to the session, arriving to find 15 drum kits set up and one in red glitter. “Whose is that flash-bastard kit over there?” Beck asked. His assistant pointed to Powell, saying, “He’s the guy you want.” Beck decided to hear him play, and after just a minute, he watched the other drummers pack up. Powell not only looked the part but played it flawlessly. “He had the image and he played great,” Beck said. Powell, who idolized John Bonham, became Beck’s “John Bonham,” sparking a lasting friendship between the two.

Jimmy Page
Jeff Beck’s sister first introduced him to Jimmy Page when she spotted him at Epsom Art School, describing him as “a weirdo with a weird guitar like yours.” Intrigued, Beck joined her and soon found himself at Page’s place, sharing tea and cake while they recorded on a high-quality tape recorder his mother had bought him. Beck recalled, “I don’t know where those tapes are now, but there’s some rare stuff on them.” After hearing Led Zeppelin’s music, Beck thought, “That’s a little bit more than inspired by the [Beck’s] Truth album.” But eventually, he realized, “I needed more than I had. I needed a frontman with girly appeal. Plant certainly had that in abundance.”

Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck knew Eric Clapton didn’t like being replaced by the Yardbirds, but he quickly proved himself after joining the band. “At my debut with the Yardbirds at the Marquee I showed them what was what and I got a standing ovation,” Beck said. “So that was the end of that.” After the band’s success in the U.S., Beck noted, “I think Eric was a bit jealous on that front.” However, Clapton soon rose to even greater heights with Cream. Reflecting on their relationship today, Beck observed, “He’s a lot more mellow and happier with himself. I think he’s realised that you don’t have to be mean… you can offer yourself in so many ways.”

Frank Zappa
Jeff Beck admired Frank Zappa’s political views, believing he could have been the best American president. “He was very knowledgeable about world affairs and had a deep cynical streak,” Beck shared. Reflecting on their time in the Jeff Beck Group in 1969, Beck recalled, “Me and Ronnie Wood knew no fear when we were together.” He also remembered a bold moment when he drove up to Zappa’s home in Laurel Canyon, doing a burnout outside. Zappa came out and told him, “You can cut out that shit,” but ended up inviting Beck and Ronnie inside. “He took a shine to me and Ronnie big-time.”

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Jeff Beck met Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1981 at a CBS convention in Hawaii. “He was a little worse for wear,” Beck recalled, remembering Vaughan eating KFC out of a box and then eating the box itself. They later toured together in 1989, with Vaughan having a new girlfriend and staying “as straight as a die.” Tragically, Vaughan’s life ended after a helicopter ride he didn’t want to take. Beck explained, “The people around him talked him into it by saying, ‘Look, Eric [Clapton] has just got on one.’” Beck believed Vaughan was the closest guitarist to Hendrix when it came to playing blues.

Eddie Van Halen
Beck saw Eddie Van Halen as “the great white hope” when he played the iconic solo on Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” While Beck wasn’t a fan of speed tapping, he acknowledged that Van Halen had it mastered. “I once saw him play a blues solo, and it was astonishing,” Beck said, admiring Van Halen’s skill. However, Beck noted that Van Halen struggled with alcohol and could be “objectionable a lot of the time.” Despite these challenges, Beck recognized Van Halen’s exceptional talent and ability to truly play.

In 1961, Jeff Beck was often mistaken for Mick Jagger. “I used to have girls screaming at me, and I didn’t know what the hell they were screaming about,” he recalled. When he’d pull up alongside someone, they’d shout “Mick!” and he’d wonder, “Who the hell is this Mick?” Eventually, Beck realized they were confusing him with the Rolling Stones frontman. He always wondered if he could fit into their band, given his love for the blues. Later, Mick Jagger called him up to work on Jagger’s solo album She’s The Boss. Beck found Mick “charming” and admired his fondness for women.