What's New! 2015

Compiled by Dick Wyzanski & Bill Armstrong



Febuary 9, 2015 - Febuary 12, 2015 - April 1, 2015 - April 9, 2015 - June 2, 2015 - June 30, 2015 - November 12, 2015



What's New! Archives



Febuary 9, 2015

Here we are again apologizing for our late updates. This time I guess we have a good excuse. Dick hasn't been well for several weeks now and that all came to a head last week when he was admitted into the hospital. As I write this he is still in the hospital and doing better. He still has a few procedures to undergo and a fews checks under the hood but should be out by the end of the week and good to go in time for Jeff's tour this spring. Dick really appreciates all the well wishes he's gotten from everyone. Jonathan Joseph was one of the first to stop by the hospital last week and Sandra Beck tweeted out this message..."Get well soon @DickWyzanski!! We all need you! S & J xx". I was going to stop by again today but Dick said, "No! Get something on the page!" I said, "You'd rather I work on the page than come down and see you?" He said, "YES!".

Believe it or not this is our 20th year doing these 'What's New' thingys. So here we go again. Tour dates, tour dates tour dates!Jeff's doing a bunch of solo ones before resuming his co-headlining tour with ZZ Top. Tyler Bryant will be opening for them.

April 13, The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY
April 15, The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 16, The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 17, The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 18, The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
April 19, Orpheum, Boston, MA
April 21, Ulster Performing Arts Center, Kingston, NY
April 22, Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ
April 24, Count Basie Theater, Red Band, NJ
April 25, The Strand – Capital Performing Arts Center, York, PA
April 26, The Palace, Greensburg, PA
With ZZ Top...
April 30, Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX
May 1, Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK
May 2, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX
May 3, Concrete Street, Corpus Christi, TX
May 7, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
May 8, Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL
May 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustine, FL
May 10, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA

The three dates at the Paramount in Huntington, NY reminds us of the old days when bands did 'residencies'...just goes to show there's a demand out there for great artists.

The new Tokyo BluRay/DVD is doing well. If you haven't got one yet you have to, it's killer. The Japanese version of the DVD as well as the BluRay have some extras including the band commenting on the setlist. Here are some reviews we've amassed.

As soon as Dick got his copy of the DVD he went down to get Jonathan Joseph, at one of his Monday night gigs at Churchill's in Miami, to autograph it.

We came across this 'year ender' article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It's by Daniel Durchholz and here's the relevant bit.

A second take: Some of year's best concerts were at smaller venues

My favorite shows of 2014 didn’t necessarily play out on the biggest
stages in town (though a few did). Instead, my biggest musical
pleasures were mostly wrapped in smaller packages.

4. Jeff Beck, Aug. 24 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Opening for ZZ
Top, Beck blew the Texas trio off the stage with a (too) short set of
blues, metal, funk and fusion that — nevermind the jazz variety; it was
so hot it was more akin to nuclear fusion.
Couldn't agree more.

Came across this bit of Beckology courtesy of Ed Chapero. A midwest U.S.songwriter and psychedelic 60’s band performer for 'Hi-Guys' Peter Pylypiw, (I thought this was a typo or auto-correct, it isn't! How do pronounce that??) who is still marketing his songwriting wares today, was called by Jeff to write in 1970. It was tied in with association with Greg Reeves who Jeff had an interest in for bass but Greg went onto Crosby, Stills & Nash. Here's the link, the last two lines are what stand out. Release the hounds!
http://www.buckeyebeat.com/higuys.html

Dick got to visit with our other 'JB', Joe Bonnamassa when he played at the Seminole Hard Rock last December. Joe's a huge Jeff Beck fan and when the two get together there's always a few Jeff Beck rarities that Dick presents to Joe. We're in the process of firing up a new Jeff Beck Bulletin #20 and one of the first pieces we'll be doing is a great Joe Bonnamassa story so stay tuned for that.

Lastly, our blast from the past. We were going to post this for Christmas but alas we got distracted. This is Jeff and Jim McCarty at a Christmas dinner party circa 1983 when they working on the Yardbird's 'Box Of Frogs' Lp. Cheers!



Febuary 12, 2015

Press Release - Febuary 12, 2015...

JEFF BECK SIGNS EXCLUSIVE BOOK PUBLISHING DEAL

GENESIS PUBLISHING TO RELEASE LIMITED EDITION BOOK IN LATE 2015

OFFICIAL DOCUMENTARY AND AUTOBIOGRAPHY ALSO IN THE WORKS

(Los Angeles) Announced today, the legendary JEFF BECK has signed an
exclusive publishing deal with the London-based Genesis Publishing
Group.  Plans to release a high quality ‘signed, limited-edition’ book
are in the works for release in the last quarter of 2015.  In addition,
Beck is hard at work on an officially sanctioned documentary and is
currently penning his own autobiography.

Beck would like his fans to know, that while others may release un-
authorized documentaries and biographies, these forthcoming works will
be the only authorized versions by Beck himself.

Beck's career took off in the mid-1960s, after replacing Eric Clapton
as lead guitarist for The Yardbirds on the recommendation of his friend
Jimmy Page. Over the years, Beck has collaborated with Stevie Wonder,
Diana Ross, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Roger Waters, Les Paul, Jon Bon
Jovi, Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock and Joss Stone among many others.

Beck has twice been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once
with The Yardbirds in 1992 and once as a solo artist in 2009. He has
won numerous Grammy Awards, including two at the 2011 Grammy Award
Celebration when he won Best Rock Instrumental Performance for
“Hammerhead” and Best Pop Instrumental performance for “Nessun Dorma”,
both from his last studio album, Emotion & Commotion.

Recently, in London, Beck participated in The Poppy Appeal song "No
Man's Land", a tribute to the men and women that served in World War I,
resulting in 4 performances, culminating in the NFL pre-game
entertainment that was broadcast from Wembley Stadium. The song
featured singer Joss Stone on vocals and a gospel choir with vocals
arranged by Antonia Wilson.   In the meantime, a DVD of Beck’s Tokyo
concert from April 2014 was released last November and reached #1 on
the Billboard DVD chart.  For Beck, 2015 will include both solo tour
dates as well as co-headlining dates with ZZ Top and will complete work
on his new studio album, expected later this year.

Joining Beck on both the solo and double-bill tour are his band:
Jimmy Hall on Vocals, Rhonda Smith on bass, Jonathan Joseph on drums
and Nicolas Meier on guitar
 

Jeff Beck Solo Dates

April 13, The Capitol Theater, Port Chester, NY
April 15, The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 16, The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 17, The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 18, The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
April 19, Orpheum, Boston, MA
April 21, Ulster Performing Arts Center, Kingston, NY
April 22, Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ
April 24, Count Basie Theater, Red Band, NJ
April 25, The Strand – Capital Performing Arts Center, York, PA
April 26, The Palace, Greensburg, PA

With ZZ Top...

April 30, Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX
May 1, Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK
May 2, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX
May 3, Concrete Street, Corpus Christi, TX
May 7, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
May 8, Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL
May 9, St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustine, FL
May 10, Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA



April 1, 2015

No, this isn't April fools...Dick is finally out of the hospital. We've been a little backed up here since his health went south but he's on the mend and we'll getting ready for Jeff's tour to commence in a few weeks. As we speak the band is packing up and heading to New York where rehearsals will begin April 7th.

To get in the mood, here's a cool pic of Jeff and Rhonda taken by our now official photographer Dean Opper. This photo will also be featured in the booklet accompianing Jeff's new live CD on ATCO (Rhino) mentioned below.

Two Jeff Beck releases are due out soon. The first is a ATCO (Rhino) May 5th release of a live CD recorded during Jeff's abbreviated tour last summer entitled 'Jeff Beck Live+'. Full press release below.

The second is a Eagle Rock June 1st release of an expanded 2CD/3LP "Performing This Week- Live At Ronnie Scott's-Special Edition' package that will include all of the guest artist appearences; Eric Clapton, Joss Stone, Imogen Heap and the full Big Town Playboys set. Here's the track list:

CD1
Beck's Bolero
Eternity's Breath
Stratus
Cause We've Ended As Lovers
Behind The Veil
You Never Know
Nadia
Blast From The Past
Led Boots
Angels (Footsteps)
Scatterbain
Medley Pt 1: Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Medley Pt 2: Brush With The Blues
Space Boogie
Big Block
A Day In The Life (Grammy Winner!)
Where Were You

CD2
People Get Ready (w/ Joss Stone)
Blanket (w/ Imogen Heap)
Little Brown Bird (w/ Eric Clapton)
You Need Love (w/ Eric Clapton)
Rollin’ And Tumblin’ (w/ Imogen Heap)
Race With The Devil (w/ The Big Town Playboys)
Crazy Legs (w/ The Big Town Playboys)
Train Kept A Rollin’ (w/ The Big Town Playboys)
My Baby Left Me (w/ The Big Town Playboys)
Matchbox (w/ The Big Town Playboys)
Baby Blue (w/ The Big Town Playboys)
Honky Tonk (w/ The Big Town Playboys)

As we mentioned on our front page and in the press release above, Jeff has signed a publishing deal with Genesis Publishing for a limited edition autographed book due out later this year. An official autobiography and documentary are also in the works. We've heard thru the grapevine the basic form the limited edition will take and that the working title is "Grease And Strings". Ross Halfin we understand has been commissioned to take pictures of Jeff's guitars and cars. These pictures as well as others from his career will be shown accompianed by Jeff's own descriptions, recollections and anecdotes. We're looking forward to it!

This info about the book reminded us of a YouTube video I think (not sure) we linked to a couple of years ago...'Jeff Beck's Favorite Guitars'

And now this...our Goofy (no, that's Mickey) photo from 1981...Jeff with Rock N' Roll Mickey Mouse.

This is a late add....more solo Jeff Beck Band dates have just been announced (4/7/15). Here is the latest dates we have....

Jeff Beck Band: Rhonda Smith, bass; Jonathan Joseph, drums; Nicolas
Meier, MIDI guitar/guitars; and Jimmy Hall, vocals.

Opening act for all dates: Tyler Bryant.

Solo dates w/Jeff Beck as headliner:

April 13  The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
April 15  The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 16  The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 17  The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 18  The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
April 19  Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
April 21  Ulster Performing Arts Center, Kingston, NY
April 22  Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ
April 24  Count Basie Theatre, Red Band, NJ
April 25  The Strand – Capital Performing Arts Center, York, PA
April 26  The Palace Theatre, Greensburg, PA

With ZZ Top:

April 30 Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX
May 1    Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK
May 2    Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX
May 3    Concrete Street, Corpus Christi, TX
May 7    MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
May 8    Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL (also Bushwood)
May 9    St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustine, FL
May 10   Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA

Solo dates w/Jeff Beck as headliner:

May 12   The Kentucky Center –Whitney Hall, Louisville, KY
May 14   Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI
May 15   Hard Rock Casino, Northfield, OH
May 16   PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
May 17   Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
May 19   Fox Theater,  St. Louis, MO
May 21   Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL
May 22   Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
May 23   State Theater, Minneapolis, MN



April 9, 2015

Press Release - April 9, 2015...

JEFF BECK LIVE+

New Live Album Spanning The Legendary Guitarist’s Vast And Varied
Career, Along With Two New Studio Tracks, Available May 5

New Solo Dates Announced For May,
Tour Kicks Off April 13, Includes Dates With ZZ TOP

LOS ANGELES – Jeff Beck earned raves last year for his spellbinding
performances during the hugely successful double-bill tour with ZZ TOP.
Fans can relive Beck’s thrilling guitar gymnastics from those shows
with a new live album that touches on key eras from the legendary
artist’s influential career. The album captures a snapshot of Jeff’s
work in 2014, with two newly recorded studio tracks also included, his
first new music since 2010’s Grammy®-winning Emotion & Commotion.

Packed with more than an hour of music, JEFF BECK LIVE+ will be
available from Atco Records, an imprint of Rhino Entertainment, on May
5 for a list price of $18.98 (CD) and will also be available digitally.
The album will arrive as Beck is in the midst of an East Coast solo
tour, which includes newly added dates in May. This trek also features
make-up dates from the same ZZ TOP tour this album was recorded during,
before it was cut short due to an injury to ZZ TOP bassist Dusty Hill.

The 14 live performances on JEFF BECK LIVE+ were recorded at multiple
venues in 2014 and feature Beck backed by his band: vocalist Jimmy
Hall, bassist Rhonda Smith, drummer Jonathan Joseph and guitarist
Nicolas Meier. The quintet explored Beck’s vast catalog—which stretches
across five decades—with performances of “Morning Dew” (from Truth,
1968), “Superstition” (from Beck, Bogert, Appice, 1973), “Big Block”
(from Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop, 1989), as well as two Grammy-winning
tracks: his cover of the Beatles’ “A Day In The Life” and “Hammerhead.”

LIVE + concludes with two new studio tracks: “Tribal” and “My Tiled
White Floor,” with guest vocals from Ruth Lorenzo and Veronica Bellino,
respectively. These aggressive new songs mark Beck’s first studio
recordings since 2010 and show a stark departure from the sound on his
previous album as the guitarist continues to push the envelope of
musical innovation, just as he has his entire career.  These tracks are
sure to whet the appetite of Beck fans as the guitarist prepares his
17th studio album, which is expected later this year.

Throughout his career, Beck has also proven to be a brilliant
interpreter of other’s songs. This live album doesn’t disappoint with
covers of “Danny Boy,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” Mahavishnu
Orchestra’s “You Know You Know,” and Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna
Come.”

Beck’s career took off in the mid-1960s, after replacing Eric Clapton
as lead guitarist for The Yardbirds on the recommendation of his friend
Jimmy Page. He played on several of the rock group’s hits, such as
“Heart Full of Soul,” “Shapes of Things” and “Over Under Sideways
Down.” Beck has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
twice: once with The Yardbirds in 1992 and again as a solo artist in
2009. He has won numerous Grammy Awards, including two in 2011.

JEFF BECK LIVE+

Track Listing

1. “Loaded”
2. “Morning Dew”
3. “You Know You Know”
4. “Why Give It Away”
5. “A Change Is Gonna Come”
6. “A Day In The Life”
7. “Superstition”
8. “Hammerhead”
9. “Little Wing”
10.“Big Block”
11.“Where Were You”
12.“Danny Boy”
13.“Rollin’ And Tumblin’”
14.“Going Down”
15.“Tribal”*
16.“My Tiled White Floor”*
*New Studio Recording

Jeff Beck Solo Dates

April 13  The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
April 15  The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 16  The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 17  The Paramount, Huntington, NY
April 18  The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, NY
April 19  Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA
April 21  Ulster Performing Arts Center, Kingston, NY
April 22  Bergen Performing Arts Center, Englewood, NJ
April 24  Count Basie Theatre, Red Band, NJ
April 25  The Strand – Capital Performing Arts Center, York, PA
April 26  The Palace Theatre, Greensburg, PA

With ZZ TOP

April 30 Cedar Park Center, Cedar Park, TX
May 1    Winstar Casino, Thackerville, OK
May 2    Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, The Woodlands, TX
May 3    Concrete Street, Corpus Christi, TX
May 7    MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, FL
May 8    Coral Sky Amphitheater, West Palm Beach, FL (also Bushwood)
May 9    St. Augustine Amphitheatre, St. Augustine, FL
May 10   Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre, Alpharetta, GA

Jeff Beck Newly Added Solo Dates – on sale dates noted:

May 12   The Kentucky Center –Whitney Hall, Louisville, KY*
May 14   Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, MI***
May 15   Hard Rock Casino, Northfield, OH*
May 16   PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center, Cincinnati, OH
May 17   Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
May 19   Fox Theater,  St. Louis, MO*
May 21   Chicago Theatre, Chicago, IL**
May 22   Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI*
May 23   State Theater, Minneapolis, MN*

*on sale April 10
** on sale April 11
*** on sale April 17



June 2, 2015

We know, 'What's New!' is overdue but we were waiting for the end of Jeff's tour so we can wrap it all up. A very successful, critically acclaimed tour by the way. We (Dick and me, Bill) will be writing soon about our excellent adventure to the show at the Coral Sky Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Florida. Dick had lunch with Jimmy Hall prior to the show...had excellent side stage seats for soundcheck and the show and if you've seen his Facebook page you know he had a great aftershow with Jeff, the whole band and Billy Gibbons. I (Bill) got to chat with Jeff's guitar tech for the tour 'Jeremy' and got the scoop on the new reverse neck Strat Jeff's using, the deal with the 'Becktone' amps and more. I also had side stage seats which I used for soundcheck but opted to see the show from our comped 20th row seats and went to the aftershow get together only for a brief bit (where Billy Gibbons was dripping $$, LOL) since I had to catch an early flight the next morning up to Boston. Look for it all soon in JBB#20.

We've gotten so many great pics from the tour of Jeff's performances and of aftershow pics with fans that's it's really overwhelming to pick out and sort out what to share with you. However right now we'd like to share these from the Nashville show because of the interesting guests who showed up to the aftershow. First up our dear friend Buddy Davis is seen here with Jeff. Buddy, as fans of the page know, is the one who sold Jeff the famous Oxblood Les Paul. His aftershow story will also be posted soon in JBB#20.

Also at the Nashville show, rock royalty, Lisa Marie Presley. She tweeted out this pic and we had to keep the tweet attached...too good.

Rumour has it that Lisa Marie is working on a new project and approached Jeff to contribute....we'll see.

Speaking of projects, we recently learned that Jeff recorded a bunch of stuff for former Big Town Playboys/Imelda May Band guitarist/singer (and husband) Darrel Hingham a couple of years ago. When we contacted Darrel about this, this was his reply.

Ah, yes... Well, we did record a lot and the idea was to do a whole
album of rockabilly material. I wrote a load of songs and we recorded
them. We spent quite a lot of time on it and then it sort of died a
death... I ended up using all the songs on different things (mainly the
Katmen album that came out a year or two back). A real shame as this
project with Jeff could've been really good. I've no idea if it will
ever see the light of day, probably not now. Thanks for the message.
All the best, Darrel

'Jeff Beck Live+' is out and doing well. #1 on Amazon Classic Rock digital sales for the week of 5/19 - 5/26 and...it features photos in the booklet taken by our own official photographer Dean Opper (Yay!). You've bought your copy we expect but...if you haven't...here's your chance...to...win not only a Jeff Beck Live+ CD...but...a promo poster and collectable post card things. Here's the Jeff Beck Fan Page Facebook link; https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551542765104920/ which will oddly instruct you to come back to www.ainian.com to get Dick's email address which is; dick.wyzanski@gmail.com and email him your views on why you think Jeff's playing is the cat's pajamas as we old folks like to say.

A quick couple of odd's and sod's now...our friend Jim Copley, drummer extrodinaire (Tears For Fears, UPP, Bad Apples), was going thru some old photos and found some of him jamming with Jeff at his house with him and...his mother. No joke, Mom played piano. We posted one of the photos awhile back but here are some others.

Our friend Steve White recently posted on YouTube this 1984 interview of Jeff and Rod Stewart as they were doing promotion for the 'Infatuation' single...cool stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tapUPctUmIM.

Lastly thru the time tunnel....this only known photo taken of the original Jeff Beck Group with Junior Woods on bass, Sweden, 1968. Ronnie got fired and then was reinstated.



June 30, 2015

A very special happy birthday edition of 'What's New!'. Somebody's birthday last week, we know he's always eagerly awaiting our next edition of 'What's New!'.....as if.

On Jeff's birthday (6/24) ZZ Top played the SSE Arena, Wembley, UK. Jeff showed up to the show a got a birthday cake from the band which prompted Billy to say, "You're going to have to work that off!". Jeff then played 'Rough Boy', 'Tush' and 'La Grange' with the boys. Here you can see Sandra bringing out the cake onstage. After the show the party continued at the private club 'Tramps' in the Royal District of London.

Check out our '2015 Tour Reports By Our Special Correspondents' in JBB#20. Good stuff there.

We have a winner! As we mentioned last update, the Jeff Beck Facebook fan page ran a contest to win a Jeff Beck Live+ CD and some other promotional material by telling us what you think makes Jeff Beck's playing so special. Here is Dick announcing the winner...

The Jeff Beck Live+ CD and portions package giveaway contest is over.
The winners are Linda Susan Mingo 1st place and a tie for second
between Drew Stawin and Paul Grey, both of whom will also receive
packages with the aid of Rhino records.  So a big shout out to them!
The judges had a rewarding, albeit challenging, time sorting great
entries of 'What Jeff's Music Means To Me' as their heartfelt
submissions comprised all the way from an endearing 11 year old first
time fan to an accomplished Jeff Beck and music officianado with a last
minute entry.  All great stuff. In the end the tallies were made and
to all that entered we say right on with encouragement to continue to
be the great fans you are!!.
Here, with permission, is Linda Susan Mingo's winning entry which she
chose in poetic format:

***************************************************

WHEN YOU PLAY
(by Linda Mingo)

The sun is coaxed from it's resting place each day- anxious
to match it's majectic beauty to your own heavenly sound- birds
sing for you as an accompaniment to your soaring instrumentals.
WHEN YOU PLAY

A carpet of verdant green vegetation rolls it self through
valley and fields.. just to keep time with you.. your feather
light touch draws a dew soaked sigh from the core of the rose
it's face no longer upturned to collect the mornings wet offerings
 but...instead to be stroked by airy brushes of fingers on strings..
Nature her self sits upon her throne commanding all her domain
to pay it's many forms of homage to you....

WHEN YOU PLAY

The winds will whisper.. the thunder will cease..
the hard rain will not pound out it's liquid drummings
onto the earth.. nothing will disturb your satin flow of sound.
That sounds that impales our hearts souls with finger picking
brilliance...

 

The swallows returned to Capistrano today..
they only came jeff... to hear you play..

***************************************************

Iconoclassic Records is set to re-release the 'Orange' Lp with new liner notes using an upgraded master through Sony licensing as happened recently with 'Rough And Ready', now available online at amazon.com. Dick gets a mention in the 'Rough And Ready' liner notes for the www.ainian.com phone interview he did some years ago with Max Middleton...

"I used to work on the docks in London," Middleton recalled in an
interview with Dick Wyzanski for The Jeff Beck Bulletin. "I had been
playing professionally for only about six months. I knew Clive Chaman
and I lived up the road from where they were rehearsing...I'd never
heard of Jeff before that."

The extended liner notes were written by author Paul Myers (brother of Mike Myers). Back to the 'Orange' Lp, engineer Paul Durden recently told Dick that when Jeff finished his recording of 'Definitely Maybe' folks were actually crying in the studio.

Jeff also recently attended and played 'Over The Rainbow' at a memorial for the late British producer Jeremy Lloyd ('Are You Being Served?"). Bill Wyman was a close friend of Jeremy's and is seen here with Jeff.

Dick recently was in contact with former Big Town Playboy, current Imelda May guitarist/singer Darrel Higham. He passed on this anecdote about touring with Jeff several years ago...

"Yes, Dick. When touring in the US together, Jeff had a virtual
Spitfire flight control programme and we spent ages trying to fly the
bloody thing!! Jeff was much better at it than me. I'd have been shot
down in seconds..."
Hah.

Our friend John Hill reports that when Fender gave Jeff the replica model of the Yardbirds era Esquire that Jeff had given to Seymour Duncan, it was too painful a reminder to Jeff of that loss of guitar so he gave it to Eric who was so sensitive to Jeff's feelings that instead of keeping it, donated it to the Crossroads charity.

Now our blast from the past...1967, Marquee Club, a pic of an early line-up of the JBG...Woody, Jeff and Chris Barber on trombone?



November 12, 2015

Well since we last talked Dick has had a couple of procedures and one surgery and is currently in good spirits resting. It's been a rough 2015 for him but hopefully the worst is behind him.

We have a new Jeff Beck Bulletin out, the 21st. Hard to believe we've been doing this page since 1995 and Dick started doing the Fanzines in the late 80's. In it we have a feature on JB 2, Jennifer Batten and some tour reports from Japan so check those out. Jennifer btw recently gave our friend Robert Mason and Dick a 'shout out' on her 'V Log' which appears on her YouTube channel.

As we've previously mentioned Dick and ainian.com got another 'shout out' in the liner notes to the HD CD remaster of the 'Rough And Ready' Lp written by Paul Myers, brother of Mike Myers. Related to this (get it) is Scott Carvey, brother of Dana Carvey who painted this tribute to Jeff. We hear Jeff and Sandra like it so much they've requested a print.

Are Christmas bells ringing for a book from Jeff Beck? We now know the book that had the working title 'Grease And Strings' no longer has that working title but rumour has it that it is in it's last phases and that pre-orders in time for Christmas are possible with a ship date in early 2016. The book is said to feature never before seen photos from Jeff's career accompianied by rememberances and anecdotes from Jeff.

Word is a tour in being considered for 2016 that will be touted as a 50th Anniversary of Jeff's solo career. Now this could be very interesting as we hear it's being bandied about that certain artists from Jeff's previous bands could be featured or 'sitting in' (we don't know) at various dates however this is all just talk right now.

This is kind of funny. Dick has been on Jeff's management for years to try and get him to agree to have his CD's involved in trendy national chain point of purchase type programs...Dick's wife, Trini spotted this recently....two copies of Live+ at full 14.99 retail at Whole Foods. Could Starbucks be far behind?  We put the question to the Rhino rep. Waiting to hear back.

Chris Plant of the Robert Plant clan along with wife Carlolyn have become very good friends of the movement through the Jeff Beck FaceBook unoffocial fan page. While they are pretty close to the vest as they say and hence must be respected for their and Jeff's privacy, they are willing to share some historical encounters regarding Jeff. This is one of them, a pic of Chris in the seventies hanging out on another of Jeff's pride and joys......a Red Ford Roadster.....More to come on these pages. Stay tuned.

Dick and our old friend Ed Chapero spend some time now and then searching the web for anything to do with Jeff Beck. Here now are a few links and excerpts from what they've found.

Tyler Bryant And The Shakedown are back out on the road in support of their new 'Wayside' Ep. Here's of shot of them on their way to a gig at the Brooklyn Bowl. The boys will be opening up for the Billy Gibbons And The BFG's tour in support of Billy's solo project 'Perfectamundo'.

Here's a cool old photo shoot Robert Knight did with Jeff for a special edition of Guitar Player back in 1995.

The special edition coincided with Jeff's tour with Santana that year. Beck fan David Ingram sent us a photo of his copy of the mag. Thx!

Our Japanese friend Hiroko Minomura, whose photos are featured in JBB #21 in our Japanese tour reports, sent us a pic of herself and Jeff from his 1986 tour of Japan. Behind them in the bus you can see Jan Hammer photo bombing them. Hah.

And now for our blast from the past...Jeff, San Francisco, 1968.

Be seeing you.