Jeff Beck’s Near-Miss with Legendary Bands: A Remarkable ‘What If’ in Music History

Among the many «what ifs» in music history, few could have imagined a scenario where Jeff Beck, the celebrated British guitarist, would join iconic bands like Pink Floyd or the Rolling Stones. However, this intriguing possibility was revealed during a conversation Beck had with Alice Cooper in 2010.

In the interview, Beck disclosed that he was unaware that members of Pink Floyd had hesitated to approach him about joining the band during the mid to late 1960s. This period marked a tumultuous time for Pink Floyd due to the declining mental health of their frontman, Syd Barrett, largely attributed to his use of psychedelic drugs.

Beck recounted, «I didn’t know until about a week ago that they were after me,» mentioning that the band’s members were «all afraid to come and ask me to be in the band.» This was a revelation even to Beck himself, who was at that time, following his tenure with the Yardbirds, a legend in his own right.

Despite this missed connection, Pink Floyd eventually found a pivotal member in David Gilmour, a guitarist whose style helped shape the band’s progressive rock sound. Beck’s fiery solos might have fit well within Pink Floyd’s early psychedelic soundscapes, but it was Gilmour’s contemplative style that solidified their signature sound.

Beck also touched upon a potential collaboration with the Rolling Stones when Mick Taylor departed in 1975. While the Stones were seeking a new guitarist, Beck had committed to his solo project, «Blow by Blow.» «Me and Keith [Richards] would never have got on,» Beck noted with humor, referring to the Stones’ famously loose performance style.

Beck eventually suggested his former bandmate Ronnie Wood as a suitable replacement for the Stones, a decision that proved fortuitous for both parties involved. Beck’s candid remarks highlight how different the trajectories of these legendary bands might have been with his involvement.

The interview also touched on Beck’s admiration for guitar innovator Les Paul, whom he frequently cited as a «musical pioneer.» «He was the first guy that came out with a fast, very trebly-sounding guitar with a slap echo,» Beck explained.

Reflecting on these past opportunities, Beck expressed no regrets, emphasizing his contentment with the paths that unfolded for him and the bands he might have joined. However, the notion of Jeff Beck’s guitar mastery infusing the early works of Pink Floyd or shaping the gritty energy of the Rolling Stones remains a tantalizing prospect for music historians and fans alike.