FACE THE TRUTH
THE JEFF BECK GROUP TRIBUTE PROJECT
JEFF BECK rose to fame in the 1960s as one of the holy trinity of guitar virtuosos to hail from the
famed British blues band, the YARDBIRDS. Like his guitar god brother's Eric Clapton who formed
CREAM before him and Jimmy Page who followed him with the mighty LED ZEPPELIN... JEFF BECK
formed a band in his own name that was on it's way to making a ground breaking sound in rock music history.
- Jeff Beck Group History -
After leaving the YARDBIRDS in late 1966, JEFF BECK formed a group of musicians so talented they could go
toe to toe with the best of any British invasion band. Even the famed power-trios of CREAM and Hendrix
respected this new sound of electric blues pushed past the envelope.
They would all be right as each member went on to fame in their own right:
JEFF BECK as the Rock/jazz-fusion pioneer guitar greats of all-time
ROD STEWART as one of the top pop vocalists of all-time
RONNIE WOOD to fame with the FACES and ROLLING STONES
NICKY HOPKINS to fame also with the STONES and QUICK SILVER
AYNSLEY DUNBAR to fame with Frank Zappa, Journey and more
1967
THE JEFF BECK GROUP exploded on the 1967 London Scene touted as a TOUR DE FORCE band to see playing top venues like the Saville Theater.
A series of broadcasts with the BBC that got their new sound out to the masses fast. Jeff Beck became a star in his own right with 3 immediate hits and garnered enough attention for tours to Scandinavia and the USA.
The JEFF BECK GROUP's first US TOUR cemented the reputation of the band's power from their very first
show at the FILLMORE EAST. The story has become legend in how the largely unknown to the US British band
blew the GRATEFUL DEAD off the stage at a venue where their own crowd was won over by the opening act.
Their reputation from then on proceeded the JEFF BECK GROUP and they headlined from there out.
A now well known NY TIMES article by Robert Shelton reviewed the JEFF BECK GROUP debut from their
famous Fillmore performance. Preserving for rock history what was an outstanding start toward rock stardom.
Little would they know at that time the members would all become stars apart and not together.
As the US TOUR 1968 continued, so did the good reviews at notable venues like New England's
SCENE magazine and the famous BOSTON TEA PARTY stage! Even rare bootlegs exist of this
historical show.
By the time the Jeff Beck Group's debut album came out in 1968, they were already a LIVE show sensation.
The album was a hit, reaching TOP-15 on the Billboard 100.
1968
The 1968 US TOUR went on as the JEFF BECK GROUP rocked across America. Since the band broke up so fast, all that is left of their legacy are some great photos and bootlegs like this for fans to try to feel what they were like live in their prime.
The 68 US Tour wrapped up on the West Coast with gigs at the LA SHRINE that made them famous across the entire county.
To bookend the 68 US TOUR the JEFF BECK GROUP wrapped up at the FILLMORE WEST where they again garnered media attention with a full center spread article in EYE Magazine. Rod Stewart's frontman talents were becoming as well known as Beck's guitar while Nicky Hopkins on keys and Ron Wood on bass showed the styles for why they would eventually be stars with the Rolling Stones. Even former drummer Aynsley Dunbar joined the tour with his RETALIATION band while Beck was backed by Mick Waller in Dubar's place.
1969 marked the 2nd US tour for the JEFF BECK GROUP in support of their follow up album - BECKOLA.
It was another hit ... notching #15 on the TOP 200 BILLBOARD.
The LIVE power of the combo of JEFF BECK'S GUITAR and ROD STEWART'S VOCALS backed by RON WOOD's BASS and NICKY HOPKINS piano again wowed audiences across Ameria. One of their more legendary shows
was ripping the roof off of the Detroit Grande Ballroom as one can still feel the excitement from some existing photos and bootlegs.
WOODSTOCK - the most famous concert of all-time. over Half a Million in attendance and an award winning documentary film that has stood the test of time. On the last leg of the 69 tour and The JEFF BECK GROUP breaks up on it's eve and is the only band on the Woodstock bill to NOT play. So many bands became legends after this concert: SANTANA, CSNY, JOE COCKER, and many more already were... JANIS JOPLIN, THE WHO, SLY STONE. What would've happened if they played? WHAT IF? What would their 2 hit albums have been exposed to the film and time? What would that music look like performed live on stage in a festival like that with the JEFF BECK GROUP in their prime... ROD STEWART, RON WOOD, NICKY HOPKINS and maybe AYNSLEY DUBAR and ... and of course.. JEFF BECK! WHAT IF? Fans are left now only with imagination.
1969
The JEFF BECK GROUP's musicianship of it's members was unquestioned in their time. Stars like JIMI HENDRIX jammed with the band at THE SCENE club when the toured through NYC in 1967 and DONOVAN had them back him up for his hit BARABAJAGAL. Old YARDBIRD friend, JIMMY PAGE who got on some of the same bills with his new band, LED ZEPPELIN found inspiration in the JEFF BECK GROUP and the two bands would even sometimes share a stage to jam.
SUPERSTARS! That's what the members of the JEFF BECK GROUP would each become.
JEFF BECK - ROD STEWART - RONNIE WOOD - NICKY HOPKINS - AYNSLEY DUNBAR
This amazing talent laden line-up each became stars in their own right. From solo CDs to Magazine covers to
becoming Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members with multiple bands they would go on to grace such as:
Jeff Beck with the Yardbirds and solo
Rod Stewart and Ron Wood with the Faces
Ron Wood with the Rolling Stones
Aynsley Dunbar with Journey
Nicky Hopkins with Quick Silver (not yet inducted)
The JEFF BECK GROUP was a comet in career together and yet still were all stars apart.
Forever a TOUR DE FORCE when one goes back to listen.
What if... what if they played WOODSTOCK?
