The world of rock and roll has been rocked by the sudden passing of guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck. At 78 years old, Beck left behind an incredible legacy of music that will never be forgotten. As a tribute to him, Billy Joel performed two covers of Beck’s songs during his show at Madison Square Garden. He was joined by other rock and roll stars, such as Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger and Jack White, who all paid tribute to Beck after his death. Billy Joel will also be headlining BST Hyde Park on July 7th, and this will be his only European show of 2023. It is clear that Beck’s influence will continue to reverberate throughout the music world, and his memory will live on in the hearts of those he touched.
Billy Joel paid tribute to Jeff Beck during his show at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Friday (January 14) by performing two covers — watch them below.
Jeff Beck died earlier this week (January 10) after a sudden infection with bacterial meningitis. He was 78 years old.
After his death, Billy Joel tweeted: “Just learned the sad news of the passing of the great guitar virtuoso Jeff Beck. He was one of my heroes. I was lucky enough to meet him recently and now I’m very grateful that I was able to tell him how much I admire his musical skills. This is the end of an era.”
Then, at his monthly show at Madison Square Garden, Joel performed two covers in Beck’s honor.
“He was a musician I always loved. He was the best. I couldn’t let the night go without doing something by Jeff,” Joel said before launching into a performance of “People Get Ready,” which was originally recorded by Beck and Rod Steward for 1985’s “Flash.”
At the end of the show, after a performance A big hit and “You May Be Right,” Joel played The Alabama State Troupers’ song “Going Down,” which The Jeff Beck Band covered on their third album of the same name.
Ozzy Osbourne, Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger and many other members of the rock and roll world paid tribute to Beck after his death.
Jack White took to Instagram to call Beck a “guitar innovator extraordinaire” and shared footage from their 2002 collaboration at London’s Royal Festival Hall, where Beck joined The White Stripes on stage.
Meanwhile, Queen’s Brian May spoke of Beck’s “Where Were You”, calling it “perhaps the most beautiful piece of guitar music ever recorded, maybe up there with Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing’.”
“So sensual, so beautiful, so incredibly creative and unlike anything you’ve ever heard anywhere else. Yes, of course he influenced him too, but he brought an incredible voice to rock music that will never, ever be imitated or equaled. Jeff was a completely and utterly unique musician who is impossible to define. And I was absolutely in awe of it,” he added.
In other news: Billy Joel will headline BST Hyde Park on July 7th and this will be his only European show of 2023. Tickets are available here.
Related posts:
