Jeff Beck: Still on the Run

A must-watch for any and all Jeff Beck fans, Still on the Run is nothing short of BRILLIANT. The film interlaces Beck's two great loves in life - playing guitar and building hot rods - and it documents Beck's long and winding career, from his tenure with The Yardbirds, The Jeff Beck Group, and his subsequent projects up to the present. Beck's evolution as one the most innovative guitarists (if not THE most innovative) is front and center, with emphasis on the various styles and motifs that influenced his unique playing. The film depicts accurately how Beck has reinvented himself continuously as a performer over the decades by studying different musical styles - both domestic and international - and then incorporating these styles into his already vast repertoire of soloing techniques. The results are astounding, Beck's performances are always fresh and are never stagnant.

Beck's various groups are also profiled, from his early years to the present, and one anecdote is a story worthy of the highest levels of R&R history. Beck tells how after he left The Yardbirds he visited one of the bars he frequented in his early years, and he said "there was only one other bloke in the bar that night, and it turned out to be Rod Stewart." That unbelievably fortuitous meeting resulted in the formation of the critically acclaimed Jeff Beck Group, which also jump-started Rod Stewart's career as one of the most unique and successful vocalists over the subsequent decades. The film also includes an amusing discussion of Beck's only attempt at being a vocalist on the single "Hi Ho, Silver Lining", which he has finally embraced after many decades of derision, as Beck claimed it has provided so much joy to those who know him.

The film discusses in detail how - after parting ways with Stewart, Ron Wood and the Beck Group - Beck found it difficult to replace Stewart with other male vocalists and his subsequent emergence as an instrumentalist. His ability to cover instrumentally (and brilliantly) some of the most emotional ballads written is discussed in detail, with many video clips of the amazing results.

Beck's personality and his penchant for going his own way are also discussed in detail. The film recounts his tendency to abandon projects mid-stream when he feels the tides turning, including how he left The Yardbirds after a couple of shows with Dick Clark's "Caravan of Stars" to his abandoning The Jeff Beck Group a few days before they were to perform at Woodstock. Beck never compromised his principles, and he followed his instincts when they beckoned him elsewhere.

The film is laced with interviews of some of the biggest names in the industry, all of whom grant Beck the highest accolades available. Included in this amazing lineup are Jimmy Page (a close friend of Beck's since their early teens), David Gilmour, Rod Stewart, Ron Wood, Eric Clapton, Slash, Jan Hammer, and Joe Perry.

I will close by saying: FIND this film. WATCH this film. Quite simply amazing, 10/10.

"There's a difference between playing music and being music and that's how he's set apart because he is music."

I watched this excellent documentary about virtuoso electric guitarist Jeff Beck several days ago; I continue to ponder it. Jeff's genius is so stunning to me, it's hard to process in some ways.

Beck, who was inspired after hearing Les Paul's innovative '50s recordings and rockabilly and rock n' roll, played hard rock, fusion, R&B, amd more. He made his guitar sound like the voice of an Indian singer, shredded the sounds, and played in unique styles that he innovated; he was a pioneer, a revolutionary player, he used the guitar as an extension of himself. Jeff Beck was sensational. How can someone have that much talent? A few of my takeaways:

1) Beck listened to and studied every type of music; he was a perpetual and open-minded student.

2) He approached his playing with habitual freshness. He said about himself, "The guitar is a constant challenge. Everytime I pick it up I pretend that I've just started playing and it seems to work." 3) He was a creative risk taker who continually tried new things, including being inspired by the Mahavishnu Orchestra.

4) He didn't compromise his integrity, even when it meant leaving his group days before Woodstock or taking time away from music to devote to his beloved hot rods and personal life.

5) He was lucky, in the right place at the right time, such as demonstrated by his auspicious meeting with Rod Stewart.

6) He worked with many other greats, such as the musicians who showed up to praise him in this film and so many more. George Martin said "he sings with his guitar." 7) He changed as required, becoming an instrumentalist after having worked with Rod Stewart and realizing that he couldn't find another male voice like that to accompany his playing.

8 ) He worked with top female vocal artists Joss Stone, Imelda May, Beth Hart, Rosie Bones, and other female musicians.

9) He worked with experts such as drummer Cozy Powell, and bass player Ron Wood, also Stevie Wonder to name only a few.

10) He has a gift and worked hard to continually develop it.

Throughout the film we often see Jeff building hot rodrods during his interview portion; there is outstanding concert footage that spans his career; and the usual talking head portion of the doc -- in this case, some of the best rock and roll guitarists, (friends and former bandmates and collaborators), including old friend and Yardbirds mate Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Slash, Joe Perry, and Carmen Vandenberg, who geninely revere him. Also Jan Hammer, Rod Stewart, Joss Stone, Imelda May, Beth Hart, and Rosie Bone sing his praises as musician and outstanding person. In sum, Jeff Beck is admired by the Cream of the crop.

Slash of Guns N' Roses describes Beck as, "the Pablo Picasso of electric guitar." Beck responded, "I would think I was more the Jackson Pollack." Joe Perry of Aerosmith said, "There's a certain amount of f- you-ness to everything that Jeff does," and rock n' roll and guitar playing are the better for it."

I saw this on Amazon. I highly recommend this film for Jeff Beck fans and music lovers who do not yet know of his greatness.

*** On a personal note, a young man who worked at Licorice Pizza and was a music mentor for me introduced me to Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton's music when I was ten years old. I bought up Cream and Yardbirds albums that day from the used bins. My life has never been the same since.