Annette Carson: Jeff Beck - Crazy Fingers

2001 | Biography

The only definitive biography of Jeff Beck - the groundbreaking guitarist who changed the sound of rock music in 1965 and still pushes its boundaries today. Jeff Beck has been reinventing psychedelic rock, heavy metal, jazz-rock, and more for 35 years. In fact, it was Beck's pioneering guitar work in the mid-'60s that yielded effects and techniques usually associated with such legends as Jimi Hendrix: feedback, distortion, modal scales, two-handed fretting, the voice box, and creating melody with harmonics and the whammy bar. This well-researched portrait reflects Beck's astonishing achievements within the musical landscape of the times, and explains his renowned disregard for artistic trends and stylistic conventions. Exploring his incarnations before and with the Yardbirds, the Jeff Beck Group and beyond, the book reveals Beck's relationships with Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Rod Stewart, the Rolling Stones, and many other great musicians.

An in-depth musical and personal exploration, it describes Beck's favorite guitars and uncanny techniques, passion for hot rods and rockabilly, collaborations ranging from Donovan to Tina Turner, landmark solo and instrumental work, love of animals, and more.

Annette Carson (Author)