Bernie Marsden, who became both a fan and a friend of Jeff Beck over time
PHOTO BY BLICK/RDB/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES
For Bernie Marsden, Jeff Beck’s sudden and unanticipated death on 10 January cut especially deep. Bernie got to know Jeff through a friend, drummer Cozy Powell. When they met, Bernie was already a devoted fan of Beck’s playing, but, soon enough, he was able to call him a friend as well. Bernie’s admiration for Jeff ’s guitar work did not diminish with familiarity, however, and Bernie says that the bombshell news of Beck’s death felt “like losing a member of the family”. Here, Bernie shares his memories of the great guitarist, including Beck’s often-overlooked sense of humour, and recalls gigs when Jeff ’s genius on the instrument moved him to both laughter and tears.