I still feel heartbroken about the passing of the great guitar hero and artist Jeff Beck.

Jeff Beck: ‘I want to peak out just before I die’ (JB lived his dream)

Lowell, This is amazing,Thanks so much for your behind-the-scenes story of how it came about,and unearthing a classic interview of Jeff. I followed Jeff everywhere,and was sadly at his final performance 11-12-2022 Reno,NV after the show,I went to the airport at 3:30am,and his Soundman talked to me at the airport,he said he played better than ever,and I agree.For me in my opinion the "BEST THAT EVER WAS,THE BEST THAT EVER WILL BE"-Jeff Beck...

Wonderful interview with my musical hero. Thank you so much for posting this brilliant interview of the most unique musician of our lifetime. Nobody finer, and more of a human being than Jeff Beck.

Thank you so much. As a performing violinist, I am listening to Jerry Goodman warming up during the interview! But Jeff….saw him up close in October 2022 on his final tour. Obsessed with his long musical journey. And feeling sad, as we all are.

just found your video. I was at that concert in 1975. I was in high school at the time and a huge JB fan. We rushed the stage and sat with out feet hanging over the orchestra pit. thanks for the memories.

Hello Lowell . WOW that's awesome to hear what was going on Backstage while I was headed to my seat in the Masonic Temple on this exciting night. I think I arrived alone cause I had gone about a week before to purchase my ticket so that I would not have any chance of missing this important show. My highschool friend Wesley Johnson and I had chipped in and bought The Album Blow by Blow so I was aware of the material and really Loved this New Sound of What I consider at the time as Rock music. And Man, What a Incredible experience the energy in the hall was awesome. Mahavishnu Musical set was tremendous. And the final song of Jeff's Musical Set was a once in a lifetime accurance with Jan,Jeff,John, Stanley and the other band members all playing together... Was it Bernard Purdie playing drums 🥁 ??? This show is one of the most important motivation for me as a Drummer 🥁. I've listened to the audio recording of this show on KZfaq. Once again, All I can say is WOW. Jeff really spoke so well and reveilled a Lot of gems in your interview. You asked Great questions in your Conversation. Thanks for digging out this important piece of Musical Moment 🎸🎼🎶 Best regards. Drummie David Webb Detroit Michigan USA.

I was at this show, I was 15 years old, it was one of the best events I ever attended, not a large venue so most seats had a decent view. Was in a high school band we had several Jeff Beck songs in our repertoire mostly from Truth and "Rough and Ready", the whole Blow by Blow LP was revolutionary at the time, it was the second time seeing Mahavishnu Orchestra which I first saw at age 13 at Cobo Hall downtown Detroit with Frank Zappa headlining, had my mom drive me with two friends to see Zappa. For this Jeff Beck show at Masonic Temple the drummer in our band had a license so off we went. Jeff was just amazing, so much feel and technique , I was blown away by how he made the guitar speak, it was a clinic. Those records still amaze me today, so glad I had the opportunities to see players like Jeff in that 70's era, it was a magical time. Outstanding post, thank you for sharing.

This is probably the best Jeff Beck interview I've ever heard. I like the fact that it was very loose. It gave him time to respond in an honest way to everything.

Share this with Rick beato at his site that’s where a whole bunch of Jeff Becks fan base can find this superb unheard interview. And your future material,. Wow this is really excellent journalism…

Lowell--wish I'd seen this marvelous interview when you posted it...Jeff Beck's passing still hurts, I know I'm not the only guitarist out there that feels that way. I suppose we all thought he's Jeff Beck, he'll continue to thrill us and live forever. The thing that guts me is he was totally on his game playing razor sharp and actually improving every year! The timing of your interview is really something, only two weeks after the release of "Blow by Blow". So he didn't know just how massive the album would become and set the rock world on it's ear. Beautiful stuff! "Diamond Dust", yes one of my favorites, his comments on your questions were interesting. I do remember him saying he hated Martin overdubbing the strings on it but it's good that he left them in. They aren't too overbearing and are gorgeous. It's a shame that he didn't work with Max Middleton later on, they really had a good chemistry. Quite the time capsule for sure, thanks so much for posting this. We'll always miss the master Jeff Beck-RIP.

Saw him the night before on May 8 1975 at the Arie Crown Theater in Chicago.Then the next night I saw Leslie West and Peter Frampton at the Aragon Ballroom. It was a great weekend of electric guitar!Two months earlier we saw Queen,Kansas and Mahogany Rush.All shows cost under $10.00 if I remember correctly. Man those were the days!

This is very cool; thanks for posting it! Finally, someone who doesn't look at Beck's career as one 'big blob' but recognizes the *transition* that occurred starting with Blow by Blow. Included in that is the mention of Middleton and Hammer. I never took notice of Beck before Blow by Blow because my music tastes kind of made me close minded...for a good reason...but that's the way it was. Even though I was pretty young in the mid 70's I had already grown tired of basic hard rock blues rock and no matter how good a guitarist was, it didn't matter, the genre itself was boring and predictable to me. So, when Beck came out with Blow by Blow, I started to question my close mindedness and being too quick to label and reject someone. However, that didn't mean I was questioning my move away from basic rock, it just meant I realized I needed to avoid categorizing individual players too harshly. Beck is unique in that he essentially transcends genres more than likely due to his technical proficiency on his instrument and his musicality/musical sense, which is pretty deep. RIP JB...

Wow, what a gem, and an amazing snapshot of a particular time in music! Thanks for sharing this

Listened for the second time. Heard even more detail the second time! Loved it. Thank you so much for at last digging this out and sharing it with us ❤

Jeff Beck is my favorite guitarist and I’m from Detroit, this is super cool Thank you for this!!

Wow. Great interview. It’s pretty Amazing hearing the violin warming up in The background

I don't understand so few likes at a rare post like this. Thank you 👍

So fantastic that this exists! Thank you Lowell. On a less important note, this is a perfect example of violin being every bit as grating as it is gorgeous. A sound proof green room is a thing of beauty.. How the eff is anyone else supposed to warm up.. let alone relax their consciousness before going on?

Accurate captions are now included with the interview so you can enjoy his words and insights in the loud sections where his sidemen and other instruments yapping and blowing away in the background. Just turn on captions and in the settings gear you can adjust your captions for size, color, font, etc. Enjoy.

"I want to peak out just before I die" - he never faded, was always innovating, at the top of his game when he went - just amazing Thanks for posting this interview, it's fantastic

This was really great. Thank you for digging this up! How fascinating to hear him during his second week touring Blow by Blow. One of the all time greats.

Best interview I have ever heard from Jeff 🎸

Thanks so much for this, like the world of guitarists I find everything to do with Jeff Beck fascinating and apart from what we know about his abilities it's another example of what a straight-up unpretentious bloke he was. It's better with cans but you can get a lot of it anyway. Thanks again.

So glad I found this video. Priceless interview. Jeff Beck was always a gentleman.

Thank you so much for a really interesting interview where he was able to express himself in such an unguarded way!! He wasn't always so frank!! Something about you drew him out!!

Loved listening to this but will also listen again with my AirPods in. Thanks so much for posting up. Jeff was a ‘Country boy’. Love it ❤ RIP Jeff 🎶❤️

What a fascinating sonic picture of those times as well as getting to hear a young Jeff speaking his mind. I was a young boy in love with his music at this time and simply fascinated with music of all types. Especially fusion jazz. Did he ever get to play with Billy Cobham? We will dearly miss you Jeff for all times... RIP

This is priceless - thank you! 🙏

Max Middelton was such a huge part of Jeff's sound both from the Jeff Beck Group and through this album. From Wired on through the ret of Beck's career, not so much, which I missed..... much like Terry Templeton and Larry Carlton's recordings up til On Solid Ground.

Thanks for this. I read this interview as a budding guitarist in the late '70's in a Guitar Player book, a collection of interviews. I swear, I have it memorized I read it so many times. Cool to hear him speak the words and answer additional questions AND to hear the Mahavishnu string section practicing!

I’ve long been interested in any reference by Beck to theory and this clip offered some brief snippets of insight - thank you for that.

I agree, Jeff Beck is the best 🎸 player to me 👍‼️

This is great. Proper subtitles would make it even better. The "auto-generated" ones rendered "Buchanan" as "human cannon". Lmao!

This is a remarkable interview for what Beck reveals about the, I’ll call it, transition to the jazz rock influenced music he created from “Hello Jeff” with Stanley Clarke until his last days. I’ll never forget turning my friends/band mates on to him starting with that appearance. So glad I saw him as many times as I did.

Thank you for sharing Lowell. ✌

My favorite guitarist also. His growth as a player was incredible.

Long live the King of the Strat! 🎸🎼🇨🇦

Excellent interview! Great questions unlike most other interviews out there you actually knew what questions to ask! Thanks Lowell !

Great interview with the man. Love it!

One of the greatest mistakes of my life was to waste my ticket to see the Jeff Beck/ Manhavishnu Orchestra at the Shrine Auditorium in May of 1975 in favor of going to a church dance to see a certain girl( no pun intended ). Never hooked up with the girl and missed the concert of the year. Happy ending though. Saw the LA tour stop of Wired with Jan Hammer the next year, and many more times through the years including the show with Stevie Ray Vaughan in 1990.

this show is on youtube .. thanks 70s Detroit is the Best !

Great interview - It was getting interesting at the end there !!

Just checking out my copy of the "Progressive Blues" press kit. Don't think the record has ever been on a turn table, still in the sleeve. You should have this,,,,glad to pass it back! Thanks for this interview, I was at that show, lots of us guitar stranglers from the area were downfront, being blown away,,thanks again.

It’s a pleasure to hear this, subtitles would help for sure. No need to doctor the audio.

Jeff shine on you crazy diamond, rest in peace

So cool..thanks for the post!

@lowellcauffielFXR This is a Treasure. It's one thing for people like me who came in at Rough & Ready, went straight to Truth, then it's been straight ahead for decades. We know that he was an immense, once-in-a very long time musician. It is to your credit that you got him talking about the times in the music industry. No one but Jeff Beck can rightfully say that he started to feel like he was showing off, he wanted something new and fresh. Wow but did he keep going. There are many familiar names that are the same musician at 65 as they were at 19. Jeff 's skills were always class leading. End digression: The interview lends perspective to younger people interested but not there. Again, great interview, a real gem.

Saw Jeff many times..thanx for this!

Thanks for sharing..thank you

He was, apparently, always honoring the newness of artistic development and welcoming alongside those who inform in a stimulating manner. Also, knowing the value of listening to the music as it is delivered is absolutely necessary. Allowing the ear to draw the mind informs "theory" is far more productive and enjoyable for the player. Do "your" best and enjoy it all is great advice. The record of the musical experience is primarily in the mind of the performer, then the listener, then may be recorded using the technology of the day. Recreation by others falls short until it becomes owned and re-expressed by that artist.

Thank you.

Wow. So killer thnk u! Omg somebody go bust a cap in jerry goodman already!

I've listened to this 4 X's. Love it. Does that make me a Nerd?

5 Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

very cool and interesting. thanks posting.

Billy Cobham Spectrum. Wow ! Great lp.

Awesome Bro !

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks again for this. Love the pictures and yes, AirPods make a massive difference. Lovely to hear Jeff chatting

Thanks much buddy! Awesome!

I never understand why Jeff and Max Middletton never colaborate togheter again and never talk about each other after those amazings albums..

Hi Lowell! Congrats- I think it's great that there is now a forum for your interviews, and it's a great idea to put them out. Thanks! We haven't spoken in many years but I've been thinking of you over the last couple of weeks... I recently went through some of my storage and discovered 2 of your tapes. Then KZfaq recommended your Beck interview, I saw your name... and here we are. I have your interview with Stills, along with his show at Pine Knob on 6/21/75. They're here, and they're yours. Let me know if you'd like me to send them along.

Saw him in 75 at the Fox Theater in Detroit 7-03-76

Awesome! Thx for sharing. RIP Jeff.

thanks for sharing this document, too bad all that rare and great stuff only comes out now that he has passed-away

I saw this tour in San Diego I got there late because I’d seen Mahavisnu twice before Jeff opened that night I was bummed

11 minutes in and I'm stopping.. and subscribing, and looking forward to those subtitles.

I

This is great! You’re like the “almost famous” guy only…legit. Thanks for posting.

Reminds me the Almost Famous movie

Thank you!

WOW!

I wonder how much blow was done during the entire Blow By Blow Tour?

Me too !!!

🙏🙏🙏

Wow, thank you!

Hey at 30 seconds I have that guitar player magazine from 1970, I also have the 67 or 68 green issue that is earlier it's a December I believe. Did you do those interviews those are awesome interviews with Hendrix. Thank you!

One could clean this 1975 Blow by Blow- up ,with the right equipment and focus on Jeff Becks voice and answers. Cynthia Allen McLaglen

Thanks for sharing. A transcription would be amazing, although that's lots of extra work :-)

Thank you for this. Headphones do help.

I'm sitting along side you, Lowell, and we're just thinking of what the next question is going to be ,as Jeff answers this question. "I want to peak out before I die" is just devastating to hear now. I never thought that we would hear of his passing, that he would live on until his 90s. Oh, well. The comment about reading notes as "just little dots" gives us mortals a chance to keep on playing the way we do. I wonder if Steve Vai could write all the notes Jeff played on the "Blow by Blow" album? Anyway, I'm glad you looked for this tape, we've all enjoyed listening to it.

I guess this audio was transcribed and published as a print interview at the time? wish I could just read that instead. If nothing else, it shows the difficulties that interviewers have in conducting an interview and then transcribing the recording afterwards with all manner of loud distracting background noise making it all but unintelligible.

Put up subtitles, this is impossible. Thank you.

With technology as it is today, can't you take out that background noise you interview sounds quite interesting for what I can here but I can't hear everything

oh I had Sparky's Magic Piano that my sister and I used to play a lot. Sparkiy's Magic Piano was regularly played on the wind up gramaphone by myself and my sister Katharine. Wow, that must have come from Jeff's Motrher as well. and she was a trained pianist like my mother. Wow! Cynthia Allen McLaglen

RIP Jeff

You seemed to have good rapport with Jeff, like you were on the same wavelength.

Fabulous interview thankyou. Please tell me that’s Jean Luc Ponty in the background.

Couldn’t a good engineer make this more listenable?

Superb Video!! Although Jeff Beck would’ve been 30, not 50, in 1975…

That violinist just won't stop 😂

He never talked about his accident. Seems like his playing changed. He wanted to do the BB&A thing earlier, when it finally happened he was already bored with rock. Blow by Blow, for guitar players, it's something to measure Beck by. At that time, he must have been at the top of his game. Maybe we all like him so much because he was a fan too, of guitar and tone.

Your guitar heroes.. guitar hero

I remember the comment about a Strat being a B to "get a hold of and play"

Interesting time of his career but Please, Spend some time and money and clean up this background noise, isolate, at least between his and your words. It's not impossible. The Hollywood people are good at it. It would really be nice. Thank you.

Attention uploader; there is very affordable audio technology that can isolate the intended program to a surprising degree. This would benefit from that immeasurably. Check Waves Clarity Pro processor.

Look at the ticket prices for that Beck/Mahavishnu concert. $7.50 or less.

needs subtitles even later when "the room quiets down"

6:11 “pagey does it still and gets away with it, makes a living at it” something tells me he was still jealous/angry that page took the whole blues rock formula and ran with it and had more success, this was not the first time ive come across an interview from this period where he says something nasty about his peers