Jeff Beck's Storied Career and Opportunities to Join the Stones and Pink Floyd

The Incredible Guitarist Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck is considered one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time. Over his long and storied career, Beck has played in various bands and collaborated with an incredible array of musicians. However, things could have turned out quite differently if Beck had joined some other legendary bands earlier in his career.

Beck's Early Days and the Yardbirds

Jeff Beck got his big break in 1965 when he joined The Yardbirds, replacing Eric Clapton on lead guitar. The Yardbirds were a hugely popular blues rock band in the 1960s, best known for singles like "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul."

During his time with The Yardbirds, Beck developed his unique blues-influenced style, experimenting with feedback and distortion. He pushed the boundaries of electric guitar playing and paved the way for later guitar heroes.

Leaving The Yardbirds and Forming the Jeff Beck Group

Beck left The Yardbirds in late 1966 due to creative differences and tensions with other band members. In 1967 he formed his own band, the Jeff Beck Group, which featured Rod Stewart on vocals and Ronnie Wood on bass.

The Jeff Beck Group released two groundbreaking blues rock albums, Truth and Beck-Ola, before disbanding. These albums demonstrated Beck's mastery of the guitar and proved he could hold his own as a bandleader.

Jeff Beck Almost Joined These Legendary Bands

Although Jeff Beck founded his own successful band, he had opportunities earlier on to join some other groups that went on to become rock legends. If Beck had joined one of these bands, it could have significantly changed the course of music history.

The Rolling Stones

In 1969, after the breakup of the Jeff Beck Group, Beck claims he was offered a guitar position in The Rolling Stones. This was right after Brian Jones exited the band, leaving the Stones in need of a lead guitarist.

Can you imagine the Stones' sound in the early 70s with Beck cranking out solos on tracks like "Brown Sugar" and "Tumbling Dice"? It certainly would have taken the band in a different direction. However, Beck turned down the offer due to his plans to form a new band.

Pink Floyd

Legend has it that Beck was asked to join Pink Floyd, not once but twice during his career. The first time was reportedly right after Syd Barrett's departure in 1968 when Pink Floyd was looking for a lead guitarist.

Beck apparently declined because he wanted to focus on his own Jeff Beck Group. Just imagine how songs like "Money" or "Comfortably Numb" might sound with Beck's guitar licks!

The second time Beck was asked to join Pink Floyd was in the mid-1980s after Roger Waters left the band. Beck supposedly declined this later offer as well.

Jeff Beck's Continued Success and Legacy

While Jeff Beck didn't join The Rolling Stones or Pink Floyd, he has had tremendous success over more than five decades as a solo artist, collaborator and guest performer. He's released iconic albums like Blow by Blow and Wired, blending jazz, blues and rock.

Beck has received 8 Grammy awards recognizing his unique guitar style. He was ranked #5 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time." Artists from Jonny Lang to Ozzy Osbourne have cited Jeff Beck as a major influence.

At age 78, Beck continues to tour the world with sell-out concerts where fans marvel at his skills and try to get his coveted autograph. While we can only imagine what might have been, there's no denying that Jeff Beck made the right choice by forging his own path.

Beck has cemented his legacy as one of the guitar greats without needing the fame or recognition of those other legendary bands. Over 50 years later, Beck's unmistakable sound still inspires awe and devotion from guitar enthusiasts around the globe.

FAQs

What band was Jeff Beck a member of in the 1960s?

Jeff Beck was the lead guitarist for the popular English blues rock band The Yardbirds from 1965-1966. Some of their classic hits included "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul."

Why did Jeff Beck leave The Yardbirds?

Beck left The Yardbirds in late 1966 largely due to creative differences and tensions with other members. Beck wanted to take the music in a more experimental direction while some other members wanted a more commercial pop sound.

What was the name of the band Jeff Beck formed in 1967?

After leaving The Yardbirds, Beck formed his own band called the Jeff Beck Group in 1967. The original lineup featured Rod Stewart on vocals and Ronnie Wood on bass guitar.

Which legendary bands did Beck reportedly turn down offers to join?

Beck apparently declined offers to join both The Rolling Stones following Brian Jones' departure in 1969 and Pink Floyd on two separate occasions in 1968 after Syd Barrett left and again in the mid-1980s when Roger Waters exited.