Jeff Beck...Bald?

[Taller]

A friend of mine owns the local 'alternative' store. Years ago these were called 'Head Shops'. Aside from what you'd usually expect, he stocks CDs, posters, T-shirts, DVDs, etc.
So, Friday night he invites me over to his house to watch this bootleg Jeff Beck DVD he was able to get. It's from a concert in London sometime in the last year, featuring a few guest stars. [everybody's fave the White Stripes came on and jammed some Yardbyrds with Jeff. Very cool.]
The person who filmed the show was seated in such a way that the view was from above the stage somewhat. Maybe in a balcony section of the theater.
About 1/4 of the way through, my bud asks, 'Is Beck wearing a wig?'

Now, I've heard this rumor before, but never wanted to believe it. However it was hard to deny that his 'hair' looked thicker than everyone else's on stage. Particularly from the angle it was filmed from, with the bright stage lights illuminating everything, everybody else's hair was obviously real - scalps and parts in the hair were very evident.

We gave Jeff the benefit of the doubt, but by the time he was on stage for over an hour, the only sweat evident on his head was coming from the perimiter of his 'hair'. Everything on top was still dry and standing in a fluff, not matted down like everyone else's. To be fair, Jennifer Batten's hair was showing very little sign of being 'sweated down', but she had enough hair spray up there, she looked like she did when she was with Michael Jackson.

So now, I'm of the opinion that Beck wears a rug. Not a bad thing necessarily, but it put the rumors in their proper perspective.

On a similar note, I'm glad to see Frank Gambaldy...err...Gambale finally ditched his wig.

[1985 PRS]

I would gladly be bald if I could play like Mr. Jeff Beck.
Jeez the guy is pushing 60 and can still blow away
just about any guitar player in the world hands down.

[Taller]

Oh, absolutely! He's always pushed his limits and has remained at the forefront of electric guitar wizardry. Can't say that about his contemporaries.
I've said it before - he's the one 'Guitar God' who I've seen up close and in person that just mystifies me.
I've seen EVH...I've seen Eric Johnson...can't play like they do, but watching them I completely understand what they're doing.
Beck? That guy was pulling notes out of his guitar and had me wondering where in the world they were coming from!
Always will have the utmost respect for him.

[Phil_B]

About 1/4 of the way through, my bud asks, 'Is Beck wearing a wig?'
So now, I'm of the opinion that Beck wears a rug. Not a bad thing necessarily, but it put the rumors in their proper perspective.


Say it ain't so!

I will never listen to that hack again!


Ha!

BTW, I played Blow by Blow again tonight, and I feel re-inspired.

-Phil_B

[bassomatic]

Who cares?

Interesting internet fodder, perhaps, but it in no way reflects on the man and the player, imo. Unfortunately, we function in an entertainment culture that tends to value looks over music. The more interesting Q is, if he does wear a wig, has it helped his career? Probably, imo.

[Gil Hegwood]

If the rumor be true (that's the proper use of the subjunctive, BTW, not pirate talk:) ), I can imagine him making calls to inquire about the availability of the Nigel Tufnel wig.

Taller hit the nail on the head (no pun intended): Jeff Beck is the only guitar player around who can do things with the guitar that are just plain mystifying. He IS the greatest.

Reminds me of another Nigel anecdote: "Nobody can play like Nigel...nobody even tries." The same is true of Beck, but in a more complimentary sense.

[Funky Chicken]

The best description I ever read about Beck was in an interview with Richie Sambora. He said "Jeff Beck plays notes that I DON'T HAVE in my guitars."

I love that.

[Erik]

The best description I ever read about Beck was in an interview with Richie Sambora. He said "Jeff Beck plays notes that I DON'T HAVE in my guitars."

I love that.
No doubt. I wonder how many guitar players have actually been compared to Jeff Beck? The 80's inspired a ton of Vai,EVH, Malmsteen, Satriani spinoffs...but I can't really think of too many people that have sounded like Jeff Beck. After hearing Blow by Blow (first Beck album I owned), I realized that I'd never sound like him...impossible.

[Mike Cantrell]

When's the last time you saw Carlos Santana without a hat?



uh-huh...

[Phil_B]

Back in the 80's you could tell Santana was receding, but there have never been any pics of Beck with an even mildly receding hairline.


-Phil_B

[Sherpa]

Back in the 80's you could tell Santana was receding, but there have never been any pics of Beck with an even mildly receding hairline.


-Phil_B
Absolutely. But Satch'es hairline retreated faster than Donald Trump's, hehe..

[ceeb]

If it's not a wig then he's at least a Grecian Formula user. There ain't no grey up there. Odd for a man of his years, no?

[MVG]

Another Geetar God that I'm convinced wears a rug is Ritchie Blackmore. Check out some pics from the "MIJ" days. He's obviously thinning then. Covered it up with a lot of pilgrim hats. Check him out now and he's got for more hair than he did when he wrote SOTW. That ain't Rogain on Ritchie me thinks...

Luv the guy's playing bald or not tho...

[BLOYD]

The last time I saw Santana without a hat was about the late 80's!!!

Oh my god!!! There must be a whole new civilization, cities, roads and all living under that hat!!!http://forums.birdsandmoons.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://forums.birdsandmoons.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gifhttp://forums.birdsandmoons.com/forum/images/icons/icon10.gifThat's funny! Man, if you're going bald just shave the whole thing and embrace it...you can actually look younger and in vogue (so to speak) with a shaved head...the 80's are gone...along with the whole hair thing:p

Al DiMeola is a rug man also...
Oh..."There and Back" is by far THE best Jeff Beck album ever!:dude:

[LSchefman]

>>Oh my god!!! There must be a whole new civilization, cities, roads and all living under that hat!!!<<

In point of fact, there are several drummers living there, with their biker girlfriends.

[Jo]

Last year on the cover of Guitar Player magazine there was a pic of Jeff Beck who looked very "air brushed". They made him look really young.... in comparison, when Guitarist Magazine did an article with him a couple months later, he sure looked a lot older.

Wow, look at that head of hair.

http://www.kites.org/jo/prs/images/jeffbeck.gif


Here's a pic from Guitarist Magazine... he certainly looks like he has less hair here as well as a couple more decades on him.
http://www.intermusic.com/upload_images/ART/jeffb.jpg

[Taller]

One of you guys with Photoshop skills should doctor that photo of Beck to make him look like what he might if he had male pattern baldness!
Ala the opposite of Silberman as Steve Vai on the old Forum!
Or Mr. Ed as a leprechaun!
:p

[Sherpa]

Last year on the cover of Guitar Player magazine there was a pic of Jeff Beck who looked very "air brushed". They made him look really young.... in comparison, when Guitarist Magazine did an article with him a couple months later, he sure looked a lot older.

Wow, look at that head of hair.

http://www.kites.org/jo/prs/images/jeffbeck.gif


Here's a pic from Guitarist Magazine... he certainly looks like he has less hair here as well as a couple more decades on him.
http://www.intermusic.com/upload_images/ART/jeffb.jpg
"Airbrushed" - Jo you are being downright magnanimous. I think he's wearing roadkill (and I'm a die-hard JB fan...)

[dirk nixon]

That's funny! Man, if you're going bald just shave the whole thing and embrace it...you can actually look younger and in vogue (so to speak) with a shaved head...the 80's are gone...along with the whole hair thing:p

I don't know if Beck wears one or not but I think it's a shame when a person is so incapable of accepting themself and so afraid of what others will think of them that they wear a hairpiece to hide their baldness. Not to mention uncomfortable.

[Jon Silberman]

I don't know if Beck wears one or not but I think it's a shame when a person is so incapable of accepting themself and so afraid of what others will think of them that they wear a hairpiece to hide their baldness. Not to mention uncomfortable.Dirk, I don't mean this in a negative way and I don't wear a hairpiece myself nor intend to, but if you think about it, maybe it's worse when others would characterize someone's harmless personal cosmetic choice as shameful and proof that they are incapable of self-acceptance without even knowing the individual personally.

[bassomatic]

Dirk, I don't mean this in a negative way and I don't wear a hairpiece myself nor intend to, but if you think about it, maybe it's worse when others would characterize someone's harmless personal cosmetic choice as shameful and proof that they are incapable of self-acceptance without even knowing the individual personally.

Yeah, "a mile in his moccasins", and all that.

[dirk nixon]

Dirk, I don't mean this in a negative way and I don't wear a hairpiece myself nor intend to, but if you think about it, maybe it's worse when others would characterize someone's harmless personal cosmetic choice as shameful and proof that they are incapable of self-acceptance without even knowing the individual personally.
I disagree Jon.

Fear is the deciding factor in choosing to wear a wig for the remainder of your life. Fear of what others think of you. Period. I think it's a pretty drastic thing. They're not comfortable or cheap and they require a lot of maintenance. After it's done the wig wearer goes through life in fear that they will be found out. That to me is pitiful.

I'm speaking from some experience. I started losing my hair when I was 18. I looked into options like The Hair Club for Men and Bosley hair restoration and in the end I decided to do nothing. I've been shaving my head for years now. It was the best thing I ever did for myself and it put to rest all those feelings of inadequacy. Spending your time worrying about what other people think about your hair is rediculous because most people really don't give a rip about your friggen hair anyway! Be yourself. Life is short.

If you are really unhappy about how you look, here's my advice. Get yourself a gym membership, watch what you eat, and buy some new clothes.

[Jon Silberman]

What you are doing now is classic projection. You think because you felt a certain way at a certain age, you know for certain how other people you've never even met feel about themselves and why.

Have it your way.

[dirk nixon]

Fear is the deciding factor in choosing to wear a wig for the remainder of your life. Fear of what others think of you. Period.

What other reason could there be Jon?

[Jon Silberman]

Fear is the deciding factor in choosing to wear a wig for the remainder of your life. Fear of what others think of you. Period.

What other reason could there be Jon?Here's 3 quickly just off the top of my head (hey - that's excellent!):

1. Business/financial: Someone like Jeff Beck, William Shatner, or some regular Joe in a professional where appearances matter receives professional advice based on marketing considerations that using a hairpiece to appear younger will increase their commercial/economic potential.

2. Significant other-pleasing: A woman prefers her man to wear a hairpiece so he does. This is akin to a man telling his woman "please don't cut your long hair short" or "I think you'd look great as a redhead" and the woman, even though if she had her druthers she'd cut her hairs short or leave it brown, accomodates him.

3. Vanity: This is an area someone like you might choose to transmogrify into shamefulness and/or inability to accept oneself, but be that as it may, a man wears a hairpiece because he himself thinks he simply looks better with one. E.g., unlike his friends who have relatively round skulls and look hip bald, his head shape just isn't conducive to baldness. This is akin to a woman dying her hear, using hair extensions or weaves, or a guy or gal piercing or tatooing him/herself. In each case, the person prefers not to look "exactly how God/nature made me" but does what human beings have done for millenia - changes his appearance for purely cosmetic, vanity-based reasons.

Now, Dirk, I'm not asking you to say these are YOUR reasons. I would like to know if you can understand that they just might be for other people who think differently than you.

If yes, are you open-minded enough to retract - or at least qualify - your prior statement (the one I reacted to negatively that led us to this interesting discussion) that "I don't know if Beck wears one or not but I think it's a shame when a person is so incapable of accepting themself and so afraid of what others will think of them that they wear a hairpiece."

[dirk nixon]

Here's 3 quickly just off the top of my head (hey - that's excellent!):

1. Business/financial: Someone like Jeff Beck, William Shatner, or some regular Joe in a professional where appearances matter receives professional advice based on marketing considerations that using a hairpiece to appear younger will increase their commercial/economic potential.

2. Significant other-pleasing: A woman prefers her man to wear a hairpiece so he does. This is akin to a man telling his woman "please don't cut your long hair short" or "I think you'd look great as a redhead" and the woman, even though if she had her druthers she'd cut her hairs short or leave it brown, accomodates him.

3. Vanity: This is an area someone like you might choose to transmogrify into shamefulness and/or inability to accept oneself, but be that as it may, a man wears a hairpiece because he himself thinks he simply looks better with one. E.g., unlike his friends who have relatively round skulls and look hip bald, his head shape just isn't conducive to baldness. This is akin to a woman dying her hear, using hair extensions or weaves, or a guy or gal piercing or tatooing him/herself. In each case, the person prefers not to look "exactly how God/nature made me" but does what human beings have done for millenia - changes his appearance for purely cosmetic, vanity-based reasons.

Now, Dirk, I'm not asking you to say these are YOUR reasons. I would like to know if you can understand that they just might be for other people who think differently than you.

If yes, are you open-minded enough to retract - or at least qualify - your prior statement (the one I reacted to negatively that led us to this interesting discussion) that "I don't know if Beck wears one or not but I think it's a shame when a person is so incapable of accepting themself and so afraid of what others will think of them that they wear a hairpiece."


1- Fear that you will not be accepted by others. Fear of looking old. A marketing expert didn't suggest to Shatner that he wear a rug, c'mon. Of course an actor will wear a hairpiece in a particular role if it’s appropriate but if an actor chooses to wear one in his daily life it is out of fear.



2- Fear that women will not find you attractive. It's more likely that the insecure fellow in your example feels that he could get the woman of his dreams if only he looked better. What kind of woman would actually tell her husband or boyfriend that he should put a wig on his head?



3 - Fear that your bald head won't look as good as some other guy’s bald head.



Your three examples are based entirely in fear. It's not "classic projection" for me to think that because I was once afraid of loosing my hair that other men are also afraid of loosing their hair. It is a fact. On Cable television and talk radio stations there are numerous advertisements and infomercials with the so called solution to male pattern baldness. The reason is because AN OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF MEN do not want to loose their hair. In fact a small minority of men are so afraid of it that they will pay large sums of money and endure uncomfortable solutions in a desperate search for an alternative. It is not akin to a woman dying her hair or a tattoo. Hairpieces are very expensive ($7,000 per year minimum). They require high maintenance. What they do is they make a little braid around your head and then they sew the hairpiece into the braid. You tape down the front. It fits tight to your head and it makes it difficult to clean your scalp and to wash the shampoo out from under. Sweating will make it uncomfortable and itchy. As your hair grows the braid gets loose and so does the hairpiece. So then you go back to the place that sold you the wig and have them redo the braid. It’s not cheap and your regular barber isn’t going to do that for you. They also dye the wig to match your own hair as close as they can. However, the dye washes out so sometimes it won’t match very well at all. Also a little sunlight turns them reddish so you should wear a hat outdoors and try not to sweat. Chlorine turns them greenish and dries them out so don’t swim in the pool like they do in the infomercials. Of course they are going to dry out anyway and look hellish so you will always need to buy a new one. $$$



Hair transplantation isn’t such a good idea either but I’ll save the gory details of that for another time.

[johnreardon]

Why is it that when young kids shave their hair, they are trendy? Yet when they reach my age and lose most of it, they are the subject of ridicule.

Who really cares? The only thing that concerns me, at times, is that my head gets cold in the winter. Still, you would never catch me wearing anything, other than a hat (in the cold or wet) on my head. Not because, I'm trying to hide anything, it's just bl**dy cold.

[Jon Silberman]

[Why am I even arguing over this - I don't wear a 'piece and don't expect ever to?!]

[Strong]

William Shatner is BALD?!? :eek:

[dirk nixon]

The discussion we've been having seemed like good fodder for something I thought would be funny. I'll admit it's mean spirited but that's also what makes it funny. Actually, its really in bad taste. It's terrible. But goddamn I thought it was funny. Maybe I shouldn't post this link... Oh what the hell.



Aside from male pattern baldness the other thing that seems that men would like to change about themself is their penis. Perhaps someone will start a thread on the penis where we could discuss penis enlargment and our experiences with viagra, pumps and all the pills that promise to increase the size by 25%. Somebody out there is buying this stuff.

[Rayneman]

The discussion we've been having seemed like good fodder for something I thought would be funny. I'll admit it's mean spirited but that's also what makes it funny. Actually, its really in bad taste. It's terrible. But goddamn I thought it was funny. Maybe I shouldn't post this link... Oh what the hell.

Aside from male pattern baldness the other thing that seems that men would like to change about themself is their penis. Perhaps someone will start a thread on the penis where we could discuss penis enlargment and our experiences with viagra, pumps and all the pills that promise to increase the size by 25%. Somebody out there is buying this stuff.Interesting link there. You certainly put some effort into that.

However, PLEASE do not put together a pictorial satire on the 2nd "male enhancement" issue you've mentioned in your post.

EDITED TO REMOVE LINK IN QUOTE.

[Erik]

Dirk,

I think you sound angry...you need a hug.

[Jon Silberman]

FYI, while I haven't read Dirk's self-described "mean-spirited" website and don't intend to, various friends e-mailed me enough descriptive info. to convince me to simply ignore it and, henceforth, its author. :(

Thanks, forum software, for the Ignore List feature.

[dirk nixon]

It does sound angry. And it is strange that I would do that. And yes I spent way too much time on that but at the time I really thought it was sooo funny. I wrote the dialouge yesterday at work and my coworker thought it was hilarious so I decided to go all the way and make little web pages. By the time I got to the web pages it really didn't seem as funny but I did it anyway with a lot of reservations. Hopefully others would think it was as funny as I did initially.

I am honestly glad to see that Jon didn't take it personally. That shows a great strength in character. Don Dokken on the other hand is probably going to sue me.

Jon, I didn't comment on you working out. I suggested working out for anyone wanting to better their appearance. Fat loss and Fat gain really changes a person. You may just live 15 years longer too.

[raptor5618]

I think it is interesting how Dirk is not even interested in considering someone elses opinion. Given that interpretation then everything we do is base on fear. Which I guess at a base level might be right. Pain or pleasure determines which way we go in most cases. He might wear one to maximize the number of people who would buy his records and go to his shows if he keep up a certain appearnce. yes I guess you could say he is afraid of losing fans but then I guess someone goes to college for fear they will be stuck in a low paying job.

We all tend to do things that bring us more pleasure and less pain so wearing or not wearing might be based upoin him being afraid but in the entertainment buisness a lot of attention goes into how you appear so perhaps it is more a business decision than an emotional one.

But in general I tend to agree that why someone would chose to wear a wig is very confusing to me with the exception of those who are young or lost their hair do to disease or treatment. In most cases you can tell and it is obvious so instead of drawing less attention to your head it seems to draw more which is what I would think is the oposite of the reaction they are hoping for.

I think there are lots of reasons and virtually all reasons can be claimed to have fear as a factor in deciding something so I think pointing out that fear is involved is both unprovable and kind of a silly argument.

[dirk nixon]

Okay I deleted the link.

Unfortunately it's still in the quotes from the other guys post.

[Mike Cantrell]

It amazes me how you guys can completely derail the most harmless of threads...

:rolleyes:

[moreyp]

I'd love to hear about this. Honest.To get somewhat back on track, I was flipping channels last week and ran across one of those "makeover" shows and it showed a guy getting plugs or a hair transplant or whatever you call it.

First they cut a strip of hair from his scalp at the back of his skull. Then they took this strip and under a microscope sliced individual hair follicles away (in the manner of a good sashimi chef), then poked holes in his scalp at the front where they inserted the individual hair plugs.

It was not pleasant.

[Sherpa]

To get somewhat back on track, I was flipping channels last week and ran across one of those "makeover" shows and it showed a guy getting plugs or a hair transplant or whatever you call it.

First they cut a strip of hair from his scalp at the back of his skull. Then they took this strip and under a microscope sliced individual hair follicles away (in the manner of a good sashimi chef), then poked holes in his scalp at the front where they inserted the individual hair plugs.

It was not pleasant.
Well, so much for having sushi today, I think we'll order pizza instead ;)

[Jo]

Well, so much for having sushi today, I think we'll order pizza instead ;)LMAO
:dude:

[Dr Git]

The best description I ever read about Beck was in an interview with Richie Sambora. He said "Jeff Beck plays notes that I DON'T HAVE in my guitars."

I love that.

I totally agree with Richie's staement :dude:

[Dr Git]

There's a lot of parady here. We all get old, crap i can't believe i'm 50. I'm bald on top. I haven't gigged out in 20 years. I didn't want to miss my kids growing up, so I basically put music on standby for 20 years. My son asks me once in a while are you going to play again Dad. Thats going to be my surprise to him. Now though I'm bald on top and don't know if I would feel comfortable wearing a hat, like Santana. Funny thing is I recently let my hair grow for the last 9 months and the sides are long and the top is bald.; Looks like i could be in the next Rob Zombie flick ....... LOL:cool:

[butterfly]

So....Jeff Beck is bald?;)

[Dr Git]

Maybe :eek:

[Sherpa]

Bless his pointed little pate - he's still gracing us with some great music:dude:

[rickcard71]

I always here this about Jeff's playing, but I was never impressed. However, wait before you blast me, I don't have the best ears for music. I love his tone on "People Get Ready" & the Bon Jovi song from his solo album for that western movie soundtrack JBJ did. But, I own Jeff Beck "Blow by Blow" I think it is, so I'm going by that album...I think it's Blow by Blow. What album should I get to get the "essential" Beck style\sound?

[bleujazz3]

There's a lot of parady here. We all get old, crap i can't believe i'm 50. I'm bald on top. I haven't gigged out in 20 years. I didn't want to miss my kids growing up, so I basically put music on standby for 20 years. My son asks me once in a while are you going to play again Dad. Thats going to be my surprise to him. Now though I'm bald on top and don't know if I would feel comfortable wearing a hat, like Santana. Funny thing is I recently let my hair grow for the last 9 months and the sides are long and the top is bald.; Looks like i could be in the next Rob Zombie flick ....... LOL:cool:

Git,

Definitely get back out there and gig, even if it's just open-mics for starters! (For some reason I get the picture of Ben Franklin when you mention bald on top, long on the sides...:D)

[Crunchyriff]

2. Significant other-pleasing: A woman prefers her man to wear a hairpiece so he does. This is akin to a man telling his woman "please don't cut your long hair short" or "I think you'd look great as a redhead" and the woman, even though if she had her druthers she'd cut her hairs short or leave it brown, accomodates him.

How 'bout a reversal of that, Jon? When I married my wife, I had long hair- REAL long, down past my waist. Of course, she married a "rocker" hehehe. Fast fwd 12 years- I was sick of my hair being long, but she loved it long. Finally I had enough of it and, while recording in Nashville last fall, had the singer cut off my ponytail, and our drummer did a "#1 on the sides, #3 on the top" shave at the hotel. We have it on videotape. I came back to Ca, walked off the ramp and my bride was shocked... not totally because we sent her a pic the night of the deed with my cellphone... but she still was shocked to see it for real.

ah, she still loves me!

[fwarhola]

Could be Jeff wears a wig as I saw him in concert a few years back, sat in the third row, close enough to see the color of his eyes. He was sweating on a warm humid Michigan evening, but his hair indeed stayed the same throughout the session. He never touched it.

His playing was astounding...Terri Bozzio was the drummer and as far as I'm concerned he was as good a musician as Jeff.

He ended the jam holding his strat upright on the stage floor on the front edge about 10 feet from me and kneeled behind it with the effect of "this is as good as I can do for you."

The audience went wild...One of the best concerts I've seen/heard...

The hair thing is his imaging statement...

[Donk70]

The guy's over 60 years old. He probably is

[Flanagan]

well,at least I've got SOMETHING in common with Beck...'cause I sure can't play like him.

[johnreardon]

There's a lot of parady here. We all get old, crap i can't believe i'm 50. I'm bald on top. I haven't gigged out in 20 years. I didn't want to miss my kids growing up, so I basically put music on standby for 20 years. My son asks me once in a while are you going to play again Dad. Thats going to be my surprise to him. Now though I'm bald on top and don't know if I would feel comfortable wearing a hat, like Santana. Funny thing is I recently let my hair grow for the last 9 months and the sides are long and the top is bald.; Looks like i could be in the next Rob Zombie flick ....... LOL:cool:

You really out to get out there and play. I'm 61 and don't have to comb my hair any more in the mornings, yet usually play twice a week, often with people nearly young enough to be my grand child.

I seem to remember, it wasn't my long hair that played the guitar, it was my fingers, so I'll keep going as long as I have strength left in them. ;)

[Rich T Fingers]

well,at least I've got SOMETHING in common with Beck...'cause I sure can't play like him.


Nobody can.

[skypup]

Git,

(For some reason I get the picture of Ben Franklin when you mention bald on top, long on the sides...:D)

Ben Franklin was a BAD*SS! :dude:


dB

[phretbored]

Bald?
Don't know.
But his guitar licks are sure hairy!

[Dr Git]

I always here this about Jeff's playing, but I was never impressed. However, wait before you blast me, I don't have the best ears for music. I love his tone on "People Get Ready" & the Bon Jovi song from his solo album for that western movie soundtrack JBJ did. But, I own Jeff Beck "Blow by Blow" I think it is, so I'm going by that album...I think it's Blow by Blow. What album should I get to get the "essential" Beck style\sound?

Well, I think I might be able to help you here. I saw Jimi Hendrix in White Plains Ny when I was around 13. Its nice to have an older brother to hang out with like I did. Within a month, I was a beginner guitarist. My first guitar was a Vargas $30 jobbie. Anyway, aside from Jimi, I liked Led Zeppelin. I tried to learn all these guys songs with no lessons at all (still only took one in my life) because I read Jimi took none, and I wanted to be just like him. Well I couldn't pick up too much from these two guys, being the beginner i was. My older brother turned me on to truth by Jeff Beck. As beginner I was, I was able to do some of this stuff, especially the blues stuff. Don't gret me wrong I was able to do a few of Jimi's As well as Page's too, but not much. Anyway, I related to Jeff more than any guitarist aside from Santana. As I got older I too thought Jeff is great, but he isn't no Eric johnson or Steve Vai. Jeff does have something though. For the most part he is a basic guitarist. But, Jeff hears things most of us can only dream of as guitarist. Richie sambora I think summed it up the best by saying, "The notes that Jeff pulls out of his guitar, aren't in my guitar or something like that. I'm also a member of the McNaught forum, and you won't believe how many guys picked Beck as the greatest guitarist ever or in the top 3. Now you ask yourself how can this be possible. Either Jeff has pulled the ultimate magical act ever, is this great or just knows the right notes to play. BB King told Santana years ago something similar. He said you don't have to be boring and scaleular or play a million notes a minute. Just play two of the right ones. I think Santana listened. I think Jeff Beck had this same philosophy to a certain extent too. Out of all my guitar heroes I think Jeff Beck and Carlos Santana taught me more than any other guitarist to date. If you want to get a good vision of Jeff's work, aside from me telling you to get all his albums. I would say the ORANGE album has some of Jeff best work. Songs like "Definitely Maybe" + "Highways" to name a few. Also his "there and back" album has a lot of great moments too, as well as WIRED...Maybe if you can understand BB's lesson to Santana now, you might appreciate Jeff a little more. These are my opinions and hope I didn't sound like jerk here:rolleyes:

[Dr Git]

You really out to get out there and play. I'm 61 and don't have to comb my hair any more in the mornings, yet usually play twice a week, often with people nearly young enough to be my grand child.

I seem to remember, it wasn't my long hair that played the guitar, it was my fingers, so I'll keep going as long as I have strength left in them. ;)

Thanks for the wisdom and kind words:cool:

[bleujazz3]

Ben Franklin was a BAD*SS! :dude:


dB

And funny, too! Read his "Treatise on Flatulence" for a laugh....:D

[Eric Seffinga]

I read that Yngwie wears a girdle.

-e.
http://www.1077thebone.com/jocks/steel/metalnews/images/yngwie-malmsteen-002.jpg

[Mike Duncan]

I know for a FACT that Mike Duncan is bald.

[Brewer]

A wig? Highly unlikely!

http://us.movies1.yimg.com/movies.yahoo.com/images/hv/photo/movie_pix/mgm/this_is_spinal_tap/christopher_guest/spinaltap2.jpg

[butterfly]

I feel bad about bringing this one up again, but I this thread came to the top of mind when I saw this pic of JB at the Zep reunion last night. I'm not sure whats going on here:

http://static.nme.com/images/071211_00252_jeffbeckwifwpaphotos_L01.jpg (http://www.nme.com/photos/1/324/19/led-zeppelin-reunite)

[thewhit]

Well, I think I might be able to help you here. I saw Jimi Hendrix in White Plains Ny when I was around 13.

I was at that show having driven over from New Haven. Great show from what I can remember.

[Dr Git]

I was at that show having driven over from New Haven. Great show from what I can remember.

Your one of the few people I met that was at that show. It was an incredible show to me, I was really young. I asked for a guitar the next day from my dad. It took my dad about 3 months to believe I really wanted to play.

[Christopher Wade]

I read that Yngwie wears a girdle.

-e.
http://www.1077thebone.com/jocks/steel/metalnews/images/yngwie-malmsteen-002.jpg

So if the girdle pops, would it not "unleash the f'in fury"?

[Aidanspaghetti]

Guys back to original discusiion for a sec and i saw beck two weeks ago in London and had same discussion with my pal AND......

We both decided No! We were about 15-20 feet from him and we SCRUTINISED him!! ;) Prob thought we were admirers or somethin! I dont think its a rug. And he rocked unbelievably.. (for an old man)(only kiddin!). The gig was recorded (actually all 6 gigs were) so hopefully we can ALL get a look soon :) :D

[Paralax View]

Perhaps in the end, he is like the old movies you see of aged artist going back to the privacy of their own homes to become themselves as they actually are. Ya know, the piece comes off revealing thin gray hair, etc...

Perhaps he does have his hair and dyes the heck out of it. It is not impossible. I am 60 and have all of my hair, I just don't put any coloring in it.

Public image cultivated over decades is hard to shake off... not that he ever said, "look at my hair", but possibly he trapped himself into it professsionally.

Either way, he is a masterful musician and is one of my favorites. Ya don't look at his hair when you hear the cd's now do ya??

I do find it amusing that the old parody of Aged rockers still on stage rocking is now a reality with the latest LED ZEP reunion, Pagey is snow white, while everyone else is still somewhat youthful looking.

[thewhit]

Your one of the few people I met that was at that show. It was an incredible show to me, I was really young. I asked for a guitar the next day from my dad. It took my dad about 3 months to believe I really wanted to play.

I was trying to remember what year that was because I left for California in '69 so it had to have been 1-3 years before that unless it was on one of my trips back to see the family. Hendrix also played the night of my high school graduation and even though I didn't have the funds to go at the time, I skipped the graduation and hung out in front of the concert hall and never missed a note.

[Dr Git]

I was trying to remember what year that was because I left for California in '69 so it had to have been 1-3 years before that unless it was on one of my trips back to see the family. Hendrix also played the night of my high school graduation and even though I didn't have the funds to go at the time, I skipped the graduation and hung out in front of the concert hall and never missed a note.


If I remember correctly the show was around 1/15/69 and Hendrix was upset because of the anniversary of Dr Kings death. He played the best version of Red House that night, that many of my friends said.....He was smokin' that night........I always said i go see him again, but my brother paid for me, being i was a paper boy at the time...LOL...We never got to see him again.....RIP Jimi

[thewhit]

If I remember correctly the show was around 1/15/69 and Hendrix was upset because of the anniversary of Dr Kings death. He played the best version of Red House that night, that many of my friends said.....He was smokin' that night........I always said i go see him again, but my brother paid for me, being i was a paper boy at the time...LOL...We never got to see him again.....RIP Jimi

That time period sounds about right because I left for Ca. Oct. 26, 1969. It was a great show like you said. He was amazingly fluid.

My big dissapointment of the year was..... a good friend of mine worked at the Filmore East and called me in August and offered me a job helping to build the stage with him and others at Woodstock.

I was supposed to leave for Ca. about that time (my friend and I were waiting for a drive away car through an agency to drop off in Ca.) I told my Filmore buddy I couldn't make the Woodstock trip and then was postponed on the car drop off. I had to endure watching Wooodstock unfold on TV and later see a few of my friends in the movie.

Right after I got to Ca. though, I made it to Altamont which was wild in many ways. Hard to believe Jimi was only 27 when he died. A true old soul.
Gary

[Dr Git]

It really is amazing that although Jimi played in a few bands before he got a solo contract, that 4 records could have such a lasting effect. Sure several were released after his death, but I believe only 4 were actually engineered while he was alive. BTW my mom wouldnt allow me to go to Woodstock at the time.......Too young I guess.......Wish that was my problem now

[thewhit]

BTW my mom wouldnt allow me to go to Woodstock at the time.......Too young I guess.......Wish that was my problem now

I hear you> I was 19 at the White Plains concert and now ....19++++++

[Jon Silberman]

Here's one of the last pics of Moe Howard. Now that's a nice hairline! :D

http://web2.airmail.net/willdogs/pics/moeh1.jpg

[Paralax View]

That pic of Moe came from a fans website that he set up after visiting Moe almost unannounced at his home. He said moe was convivial, cordial and gave him lots of time and a tour. Classy guy he appeared to be. Nice hair.

[rosewoodsteel]

Here's one of the last pics of Moe Howard. Now that's a nice hairline! :D

http://web2.airmail.net/willdogs/pics/moeh1.jpg

Moe was the original Beatle. :dude: