Mike Campbell

JeffBeckJeff Beck has the combination of brilliant technique with personality. It’s like he’s saying, “I’m Jeff Beck. I’m right here. And you can’t ignore me.” Even in the Yardbirds, he had a tone that was melodic but in-your-face – bright, urgent and edgy, but sweet at the same time. You could tell he was a serious player, and he was going for it. He was not holding back.
When he got into his fusion phase, the cover of Stevie Wonder’s “‘Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers,” on Blow by Blow, got me immediately. The tone was so pure and delicate. It’s like there was a vocalist singing, but there was a guitarist making all of the notes. I saw him last year at a casino in San Diego, and the guitar was the voice. You didn’t miss the singer, because the guitar was so lyrical. There is a spirituality and confidence in him, a commitment to being great. After I saw that show, I went home and started practicing. Maybe that’s what I took from him: If you want to be Jeff Beck, do your homework.

3 thoughts on “Mike Campbell

  1. shinichi Post author

    5   Jeff Beck

    by Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers

    picture by David Redfern/Redferns

    http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123/jeff-beck-20111122

    Jeff Beck has the combination of brilliant technique with personality. It’s like he’s saying, “I’m Jeff Beck. I’m right here. And you can’t ignore me.” Even in the Yardbirds, he had a tone that was melodic but in-your-face – bright, urgent and edgy, but sweet at the same time. You could tell he was a serious player, and he was going for it. He was not holding back.

    There is a real artistry to playing with and around a vocalist, answering and pushing him. That’s the beauty of those two records he made with Rod Stewart, 1968’s Truth and 1969’s Beck-Ola. Jeff is not getting in the way, but he’s holding his own. And he stretched the boundaries of the blues. “Beck’s Bolero,” on Truth, is un-bluesy, but still blues-based. One of my favorite tracks is the cover of Howlin’ Wolf’s “I Ain’t Superstitious,” on Truth. There is a sense of humor – that wah-wah growl. I don’t know if Clapton plays with the same sense of humor, as great as he is. Jeff’s definitely got that.

    When he got into his fusion phase, the cover of Stevie Wonder’s “‘Cause We’ve Ended as Lovers,” on Blow by Blow, got me immediately. The tone was so pure and delicate. It’s like there was a vocalist singing, but there was a guitarist making all of the notes. I saw him last year at a casino in San Diego, and the guitar was the voice. You didn’t miss the singer, because the guitar was so lyrical. There is a spirituality and confidence in him, a commitment to being great. After I saw that show, I went home and started practicing. Maybe that’s what I took from him: If you want to be Jeff Beck, do your homework.

    Reply
  2. shinichi Post author

    100 Greatest Guitarists

    Rolling Stone

    http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-guitarists-20111123

    1. Jimi Hendrix

    2. Eric Clapton

    3. Jimmy Page

    4. Keith Richards

    5. Jeff Beck

    6. B. B. King

    7. Chuck Berry

    8. Eddie Van Halen

    9. Duane Allman

    10. Pete Townshend

    11. George Harrison

    12. Stevie Ray Vaughn

    13, Albert King

    14. David Gilmour

    15. Freddie King

    16. Derek Trucks

    17. Neil Young

    18. Les Paul

    19. James Burton

    20. Carlos Santana

    21. Chet Atkins

    22. Frank Zappa

    23. Buddy Guy

    24. Angus Young

    25. Tony Iommi

    26. Brian May

    27. Bo Diddley

    28. Johnny Ramone

    29. Scotty Moore

    30. Elmore James

    31. Ry Cooder

    32. Billy Gibbons

    33. Prince

    34. Curtis Mayfield

    35. John Lee Hooker

    36. Randy Rhoads

    37. Mick Taylor

    38. The Edge

    39. Steve Cropper*

    40. Tom Morello

    41. Mick Ronson

    42. Mike Bloomfield

    43. Hubert Sumlin

    44. Mark Knopfler

    45. Link Wray

    46. Jerry Garcia

    47. Stephen Stills

    48. Jonny Greenwood

    49. Muddy Waters

    50. Ritchie Blackmore

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