Was Jeff Beck Really that Good?, Genesis Guitarist Steve Hackett has the Answer

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Former Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett has been going strong since his exit from the band in 1977. During his tenure with the group they produced their most iconic prog classics like "The Musical Box" from the album "Nursery Cryme" (1971), the 23-minute "Supper's Ready" from "Foxtrot"(1972), and arguably their best album "Selling England by the Pound" the following year.
Hackett has just released his 28th solo studio album, "The Circus and the Nightwhale" an autobiographical journey which traces his tracks as a young boy growing up Pimlico, England. "Rock History Music" asked the guitarist about another legend in the field, Jeff Beck who passed away in 2023 at the age of 78. Was he really that good?

[@Beckola44]

I have been a Jeff Beck fan since late 1965 when he was in The Yardbirds. Jeff influenced me to play guitar. Not only was his playing on another planet, he was a fantastic mechanic. He built so many classic cars. I think a lot of people forget that he was in a very bad car accident in 1969 and spent a year in a hospital. Jeff was not afraid to play any genre of music and excelled at it. What he did with his right hand while playing is incredible. He did not care about having hits on the radio and did not care for the limelight. I am 72 and I am still surprised that some people my age have heard o f Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page but never heard of Jeff Beck. Everyone has their own favorite guitarist. Mine was Jeff Beck hands down.

[@randyjones280]

Me too ✋️

[@Gregorypeckory]

Jeff Beck is so missed that most of us who clicked on the title didn't do so because there's any real question how great he was, but because we miss him and it's nice to see him still getting love from his fellow Rock guitarists.

[@CanYouSeeTheRealMe63]

Steve Hackett--one of the all-time greats from the rock era!

[@Bluesmeanie]

"Was Jeff Beck Really that Good?" No. He was even better than "that good." Rest well and in peace, Jeff ... thank you for the gift of your music.

[@iamanovercomer3253]

Jeff Beck is in the league of his own ❗️ Nobody else can make a strat 🎸 sing 🎵🎶 sing like Jeff Beck ❗️👍

[@kingcurry6594]

Andy Latimer of Camel can - and he normally plays a Les Paul. But Beck was a really superb player.

[@70schuck]

Steve and Jeff on my top5 GOAT. Steve such a nice man.

[@jeffreykinart8858]

Beck revered Adrian Belew the greatest guitarist of the last 50 years. Once at a King Crimson show, Beck came back to see Adrian. When Adrian reached out to shake hands Beck grabs Adrian's hand and pretends to cut it off with a saw. He says "I don't know how you do what you do but never stop". Was a moment...

[@Notes-From-Underground66]

I love Adrian Belew. Spending time in Frank Zappa’s Band in the late 1970’s led him to look at music from a much different perspective. Adrian has a very unique guitar playing style; good singer as well.

[@ciclismoreligion]

He was the goat!!!!! Many can imitate EVH or Hendrix or Page, but no one can play like Beck did

[@sharkmanyt4431]

Literally true

[@Alanb_69]

I cannot wait to see Steve live in March. I've seen him live 16 times over the years. My favorite guitarist and my favorite person that you interview.

[@nelsono4315]

Jeff's Cause We've Ended As Lovers from Blow By Blow is a masterclass on guitar playing. And I don't even play guitar

[@RenegadeFour20]

"Was Jeff Beck Really that Good?" YES!

[@JackPetersonobl]

Better...

[@cynthiamclaglen5687]

@@JackPetersonobl Jeff was also taught piano by his concert playing pianist mother, before he was a guitarist and having another instrument in one's knowledge of music, is always a good thing. He also heard music played on a record player and that also has a big influence as well, during ones childhood! He also heard jazz in his radio playing uncle's car, and that extended his knowledge. Cynthia Allen-McLaglen

[@robertlear2712]

I saw Jeff Beck in 2018. He is a true guitar god.

[@doctorgarbonzo2525]

Jeff's Groundbreaking Solo from Yardbird's Shapes of Things 1st of many that influenced Psychedelic Rock

[@kevinkelker4371]

Hearing about El Becko's greatness by Steve Hackett and others was amazing.

[@alanleemaxwell831]

The simple answer; yes, he certainly was... R.I.P. Jeff, and thank you...🙏🎸😢

[@edt.5118]

Jeff Beck was a musician who played guitar. He could play rhythm guitar, tasty rock and jazz rock guitar, rearranged other peoples' compositions. The two rock albums with Rod Stewart, the two "Motown" albums with Bob Tench. I could go on, but you should know Beck's complete output.

[@lightsone2159]

I've followed Jeff Beck from the Yardbirds until his untimely death. He changed his musical styles as it suited him and he always excelled.

[@spaceghost8995]

I don't like prog and I have never heard Hackett's solo music, BUT I still respect his talent and enjoyed your interview with him. He seems like a class guy and still looks great for his age!

[@tommynacc]

Outstanding as always John! Steve is a gift to us!

[@ericeverett510]

Beck was a kindred spirit to me. Amazing player

[@billypater5287]

JEFF BECK became the best EVER GUITARIST 🎸 ever his mentors were endless i remember seeing jon Mcgauhlin, BB KING HE BECAME THE MOST EXTREME TALENTED LEGEND S ABSOLUTE GENIUS WITH HIS KNOWLEDGE THE MAN IS A AMAZING HUMAN BEING NO ONE COULD HOLD A CANDLE TO JEFF BECK BELIEVE AFTER SEEING HIM IN CONCERT I WAS BLOWED OFF MY FEET REST IN PEACE JEFF BECK EE SLL LOVE YOU 💕

[@kingcurry6594]

"NO ONE COULD HOLD A CANDLE TO JEFF BECK" He was an extremely good guitarist, but there are several others who are of comparable standard, including Steve Hackett himself.

[@kc0lif]

jeff beck amazing guitarist.

[@TheRabidPosum]

Steve Hackett is so underrated. Genesis was awesome with him and Peter Gabriel.

[@ryanjones4150]

I like early Genesis and Hacket's playing a lot, I regularly play Genesis Live, A Trick of the Tail, Voyage of the Acolyte etc. in my car CD player. But, what people are voting on the best prog guitarist and not picking Steve Howe ?

[@mikearchibald744]

Yeah, no foul to Hackett, but I saw a painting a guy did of the last supper of guitarists and had Dave Gilmour as Jesus but come on, Steve Howe, I don't even like the guy much (not that I know him), but the guy is prog guitarist extraordinaire.

[@TheRobertdeerhunter]

Steve Hackett is a great person and obviously amazing guitar player and artist.

[@miketurner1768]

Yes he bloody well was. Nobody beats his expertise. No one!.....

[@angusorvid8840]

It's amazing how far Genesis drifted from their prog roots and how big they got.

[@kennybeckett]

Mahavishnu was a great friend of Jeff,mutual respect that’s enough for me. !!!

[@anauticalgate5496]

Thousands of bar band Jimis,, Claptons , Trowers ,Pages or West's around the globe from Helsinki , to Tokyo etc. But no one will follow Beck's footsteps because they arrived here from another place , and took off for parts yet explored.And you know it.

[@roberthampton6438]

Was Jeff really that good. He was way ahead of the curve, music in any guitar form he was never bettered ,,rip jeff❤️‍🩹

[@travelinben1966]

Yes,and HELL YES! Damn good player.👍👍👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@JohnSmith-of4vh]

It is refreshing that Steve can be frank about the pressures involved in touring abroad. Some fans must think he hops on a plane & everything is ready to go when he sets down in North America. I am sure that nothing could be further from the truth & at your age Steve you are surprising many people in the business with your dedication & professionalism. I am sure those fans will not be disappointed!

[@rickhahn950]

Rockabilly my ass!! He was kick butt in all genres!!!!

[@jamescpotter]

Steve and the lads are coming to Mexico City April 19 to play at the Blueberry Auditorium, a small intimate venue akin to the theaters Genesis played at in the early to mid 70's.

[@mikearchibald744]

Maybe thats Steve's friend running Mexico:)

[@EGlideKid]

Yeah. I feel bad for folks who missed the late 60's and 70's and since then have never gone back and explored the roots of modern electric music. Yes, Blow by Blow is genius, but so are many other things Beck did. And to me, later Genesis will never replace early Genesis. I admire the guys and early Genesis as much as I love Yes. For me, those two groups are the end all be all of progressive rock, even though I know there are many other groups out there that also defined the genre and gave us so many fabulous memories. But I'm rambling. I miss you, Jeff. And I will miss all the others of my youth and even now at 66. It's funny ... I love them much more now than I ever did back then.

[@stevebailey5254]

The Hacketts are a power couple! Jo was very warm in her response and reception of the guitar slide i was unsuccessful in selling with a magnet in it. Steve was very nice in his response of not using or needing any slides. Class ACT he asked me which song of his was my favorite. With a blank mind I said, "all of your work!" "Blood on the rooftops!"

[@infiniteuniverse9528]

If you ever heard Beck play the Blues, you'd never ever waste time asking if Jeff was really that good..

[@fernandogarajalde4066]

Beck was the greatest 🎸? 90% of living guitar legends list him in their top five 5️⃣ of all time. 😎🎸

[@AJMjazz]

Great interview, John. Keep up the great work.

[@AlexHollins-hv4uy]

One of the few that you can recognise almost immediately. He used the notes between the notes but always sounded totally in tune.

[@chucktedeschi9333]

Steve is great, but I wish this more about Jeff Beck!

[@RonnieAcheson]

Hi John, i grew up in New Castle in the 60s. From 1960 to 1968 when we moved to Nova Scotia, recently i was on Facebook talking to a guy I was good friends with as a young lad in NEW CASTLE, WHILE ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE I FOUND OUT YOU ARE A GOOD FRIEND OF STEVEN KENNY, I HAVE GREAT MEMORIES OF STEVEN, AND HIS BROTHER PAUL, AND HIS MOM AND DAD, IN THE 60s . We lived on Hamilton street, on the old king George highway. Nothing to do with this video, but just great small world moment,

[@RockHistoryMusic]

Hi Ronnie, that is so cool. Yeah, I still talk to Stephen all the time. My mom worked for his mom when she was young.

[@Jaxon1776]

I still feel profoundly saddened that Jeff is gone. Unlike most, he never peaked. He just kept getting better.

[@enriqueormenovillafuerte5791]

Hi, of course He was!!!😍 i got almost all his Records and from Genesis, of course!!

[@toucheturtle3840]

If David Gilmour says he was his favourite …

[@donaldanderson6604]

I love the opening of the new album which is so evocative of Britain in the 50s. Battersea Power Station is on the cover of Animals.

[@Notes-From-Underground66]

Jeff Beck was to become my supreme guitar god after hearing “Beck’s Bolero” and “Aren’t Superstitious”. I was the type of kid that was always looking for something new. I certainly enjoy listening to guitarist who liked to “walk a razor’s edge” and that is where Steve Hackett comes in. Fantastic player that crashed me when he left Genesis; but his musical future landscape was not the same as Genesis. To be true to his guitar playing and his music leaving the band was his only move; I REALLY LOVED “Trick Of The Tail”.Jeff Beck will alway be my favorite and in my opinion the greatest guitarist. But it is guitarist like Steve Hackett that gave me other phenomenal players to listen to. Thank you for that Mr. Hackett…

[@DanielDennett-l9n]

Pretty sure that wasn’t John Silver in the photo you labeled. It was Chris Stewart, the original drummer from Garden Wall. John Silver came later, then John Mayhew, then Collins

[@boathemian7694]

Both those guys were really really good.

[@bill1982ify]

I watched both Clapton and Beck many times seen Beck in Italy with the great Opera singer. Beck by far is the best I have seen nobody till this day as good as Beck. Not even Clapton, no way.

[@alanthorne3921]

I will stick my neck out and say I never liked JB but I respected him.I grew up with all the heavies such as Hendrix,Clapton,Page,Blackmore,Iommi,proggers like Howe,Akkerman,Hackett,Barre,etc,but I just couldn’t take to Beck.I have most of his albums and I do prefer Wired over Truth but a lot just leaves me cold.I just wish he would have left that whammy bar alone for five minutes.

[@mikearchibald744]

I dont pay much attention to guitarists til I can hear them on an acoustic. Thats where you prove your chops.

[@MrDogonjon]

Beck left no note unspanked. He played entire melodies by spanking the whammy. He also constantly molested his volume knob. His knob jobs were spectacular symphonic exercises in "what the f*** was that?"

[@kirkgray6949]

My God man he made his guitar talk…

[@randyeisensmith1483]

Listen to Jeff on Ozzie's Patient #9. Jeff could have played heavy metal as well as, but undoubtedly better than, any of the guitarists you mention. He just chose not to.

[@John-k6f9k]

That shows how psychology plays a role in music discussion or appreciation. If you had grown up alone on a desert island with no contact at all with the outside world and one day a big crate full of albums by numerous music acts washed ashore you'd be hearing them with totally unbiased ears. You might play a Jeff Beck album once or twice then if you didn't like them you'd throw them back in the sea. But because guitar nerds say Jeff Becks name in hushed revered tones you feel uneasy about saying anything bad about him, so you say you'll "stick your neck out"

[@wakefan1000]

Does anyone know the name of the song that plays at the 5 minute 40 second mark ? It sounds fantastic !

[@DAMIANROCKS77]

Darkness Rises - Daniel Robinson

[@A_Really_Nice_Guy]

Chère Amie by Bertysolo

[@snacklofter]

It's not, but it sounds a bit like Rush and also: 'Enchant - Paint The Picture'

[@everts1698]

He was the best of the best said David Gilmour, Gary Moore and others, as for Jeff, he loved Leslie West

[@crysstoll1191]

Ultimate clickbait title, well done. Nice to hear someone mention Genesis (back when they were good, imo).You know a guitarist is amazing when the two Steves (Hackett and Howe) think you're great. Hackett is a gem.

[@skippybiscuit275]

Collin’s drumming was amazing as well.

[@bobturnley2787]

How many other guitarists kept their names near the top of the list among the greatest while focusing on instrumentals for the vast majority of his recorded career? Eric Johnson, Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Danny Gatton, and Steve Vai are all great players who recorded a lot of instrumentals. Their names never get mentioned alongside of Clapton, Hendrix, Page, SRV, EVH. But Jeff Beck's name was always up there.

[@fueledbylove]

Interesting updates from Mr. Hackett always welcome, thank you. And whats that I see, there behind the tissue box and...oh you've covered up the name brand of that tape recorder. It looks familiar but I just can't quite put my finger on it... I guess you had your reasons for concealing the manufacturer. 😛

[@mathill6869]

To put it in perspective electric guitar is all about creation of sound at the beginning of the sixties it was Hank Marvin that led the field because he had the sound then the next was Jeff Beck he took the sound to a different level in his stratosphere he only had one other and that was Jimi Hendrix others tried to emulate but none got close and that was what made them special. The likes of Eric Clapton Peter Green and Michael Bloomfield were and are guitar virtuosos but not as experimental with sound as Beck and Hendrix that was difference.

[@TheBlueskyson]

Where's the Jeff Beck convo? ty 4 vid.

[@messi8921]

Obviously an amazing guitarist but I can’t get into his solo stuff. I like the yardbirds though 🎸

[@genesmiley9866]

He was better - you can not knock Jeff Beck.

[@anauticalgate5496]

Glad that I saw your post.

[@TheJohnnyCotts]

I remember someone once saying that one of the things that made Jeff Beck great was he COULD play fast, but usually didn't.

[@ALANWEEKES]

Yes

[@yongkim777]

Yes! He was that good!

[@joerigger2330]

Listen to his Album with the Bigtown Playboys Crazy Legs !

[@charleswindsor1184]

Any chance of putting a link in for the newsletter?

[@henryb160]

English people pronounce trespass as you did in your first example.

[@joequigley2505]

Great player.. Nice teem.. echoes.. m9nds me of old mate.. local.. too.. guitar is great tool. Instrument.. Music vast co

[@Audfile]

I mean its almost 60 years later and we still talk about him. He wasn't Hendrix, but yeah.

[@fredbloggs2206]

Beck is total one off. However, there are 3 people that I would say are huge influences on his playing, based on what I hear. Firstly, John Mclaughlin, from the Mahavishnu era. Beck’s jazz rock stuff is frequently Mahavishnu-esq. i would say that was the only time he copied someone in creating his own music. The other 2 major influences are obvious I think, as they directly spawned albums from Beck. Cliff Gallup and Les Paul. Ultimately, Beck created his own thing though. No question. One of the absolute all time greats.

[@alanwallisch2530]

No, he wasn't "that good". He was better than "that good".

[@careyvinzant]

Yes, that good and more.

[@Jimi_Lee]

Yes.

[@rogercormier5610]

Well now, that’s a silly question.

[@dilloinitaliano]

Yes, he was.

[@InnerDaze]

And then there were three is a prog album : )

[@pl33]

he wasn't good, he was impossible

[@MrRocketguitar]

Yes he was

[@RyCooder-ri7fz]

Anyone heard nevermore uk band?

[@werners5191]

I grew up listening to rock on the radio in the 1970s, yet I cannot name a single song featuring Jeff Beck, unlike Clapton, or Hendrix, or Harrison, or Hackett, or Howe, or Townshend, or Van Halen, etc. Beck made no impression on me.

[@ddking-mb4ir]

Jeff was Jan Hammer on guitar

[@kippsguitar6539]

And the answer is yes

[@levvellene570]

Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Steve Hackett, Jimi Hendrix, Richie Blackmore, etc and so on. They were ALL that good, and they never consciously competed with each other, as far as I know. So it's mostly us no-guitar-playing-capable fans who make up these seeming rivalries... Jimi was asked how it felt to be the best guitar player in the world (or something like that), and he said 'Why don't you ask Rory Gallagher'?. Or something to that effect about Rory G... Enjoy good music! Yngwie, Eddie vH, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Leadbelly, Ritchie, Tony Iommi. Why make up fake rivalries? They all played wonderful music, and they never tried to compete with each other.

[@crisprtalk6963]

He was great , especially at rockabilly. But he wasn't a very good frontman. He reminds me a bit of Roy Buchanan except Jeff had a degree of commercial success Roy never had.

[@paysongeorge7080]

Lololol

[@BarryEllis-o5y]

He was amazing. He could speak to whales.

[@LUXURYBOY15ME]

In a word yes Yes YES or backwords SEY... the Leader, the rest followed or copied

[@bill1982ify]

Hell, even Richards of the rolling stones said Beck was the best. They wanted him after there guitarists died and Beck said no because he thought there may be too much tension between in the long run between him and Richards don't know who these fools are that say he is not the best. Everyone I've talked with in the US and Europe says he is easily the best. There is BECK and then there is everyone else. If these people say he is not the best it is because there not in his expertise.

[@Geoffreydarcy-pv4mq]

🔥💙🔥

[@BrigidaRuffo-x7j]

He was that good

[@volpeverde6441]

GENESIS started a sad decline into stadium pop....after STEVE went and Collins took over.....whodunit? .....and JEFF BECK is not comparable with any guitarist....like ALLAN HOLDSWORTH wasn't.....the notes he pulled out of his strat were 'Jeff' notes....

[@dmcq7271]

We all thought Beck was the man until 1983 when Stevie Ray Vaughn hit the scene. Since then its been "Jeff who?"

[@bobdobalina838]

No, nothing "literally" blew anyone's mind okay?

[@fillhixx]

Nope. He was MUCH better….

[@rogernegrete4680]

To bad Mr beck only got credit for being good after he died.now all of a sudden he's a demi god

[@GrahamDyson-h9z]

In short, No. He was Better than Good !!!

[@rc3754]

Yes. Duh.

[@nigelbagguley7606]

NO he was better.

[@FreeTheRocks]

No.

[@LuvHrtZ]

I never liked Genesis. Not that my opinion matters.

[@DMSProduktions]

Steve can't!

[@johncarlo7395]

You know nothing about Jeff, I knew him when we were teenagers, I used to go round his mums house in Demesne road Wallington, Surrey, England, before he ever made the big time, You know nothing about him and you live thousands of miles away, more American fast talking rubish.