The praise Jeff Beck, who has died aged 78, received from indebted musicians during his lifetime already read like unbridled eulogies. Eric Clapton had called him "the most unique guitarist," Steve Lukather (Toto) "God's guitarist," and Joe Satriani "just a genius."
Jazz great John McLaughlin described Beck as "the best guitarist alive," Steve Vai as "unique in the most superlative use of the word," and Noel Redding (Jimi Hendrix Experience) as his "personal favorite." Queen's Brian May said Beck "radically changed" his view of the guitar.
