Jeff Beck: Crazy Fingers

If you want to read about drugs, groupies and gossip, don't buy this book. Although Jeff Beck has influenced countless guitarists for the last 40 years, the average person doesn't recognize his name. He always preferred to restore his collection of antique cars, instead of recording new albums or touring. In my opinion, he is probably the most versatile and innovative electric guitarist ever recorded. Beck has played on sessions for artists including Tina Turner, Stanley Clark, Mick Jagger, Paul Rodgers, Jon Bon Jovi, Wynonna Judd, Chrissie Hynde, Donovan, and Stevie Wonder. His solo albums have always broken new ground and his playing has never gotten stagnant. Beck's only weakness has been choosing inferior songs to fill out his albums. Carson describes one incident when Beck seriously injured his thumb while working on one of his cars. Instead of immediately going to a doctor, he fell asleep and was fortunate not have had any permanent damage done to his hand.

Crazy Fingers, Annette Carson's outstanding book about that guitar icon known as Jeff Beck, is not filled with stories of sex and drugs, debauchery, or other tabloid trash. Instead, the author focuses her energy on the man and his music. Gearheads will love this book because she includes lots of talk about GUITARS (Mr. Beck plays the git fiddle, doncher know?): How Jeff acquired them, modified them to suit his taste, which guitar he uses on which numbers, and some general discussion about how he gets his different effects. But make no mistake. If you do not actually play guitar or indeed any musical instrument, you will still be pleased by Carson's breezy, very readable writing style (sometimes including her own wry commentary on certain albums; for example, she ranks Paul Rodgers seminal classic roots album Muddy Water BLues, a disc where Beck guested on three tracks, much higher than the original newspaper reviewer.). Plenty of information is also included about Jeff's formative years, his relationships and family life, and most important, his career from Yardbird demigod to jazz-rock heavy, and his relations with peers and backup musicians (including several discussions on his hot/cold friendship with fellow Jeff Beck Group alum Rod Stewart.) Jeff even finally answers the lingering "Spinal Tap" question himself: Is he or is he not the model for Nigel Tufnel, wildman guitarist extraordinaire in the cult classic movie This Is Spinal Tap? (Hint: Jeff LOVES classic cars, and Nigel is seen during one scene in the film reading a hot rod magazine. Hmmmmm!) In short, an excellent, informative read, great for musicians and non-musicians alike, and one which will deepen your understanding of the crazy man that is guitar legend Jeff Beck. As Bill Haley once said: "Crazy, Man, Crazy!!!"

Having been a massive fan of the great one since 1965, I was pleasantly suprised to read the many stories behind his more published achievements and musical milestones. A nicely assembled biography with a good balance of interview clips (many humorous), technical guitar talk and tons of tales surrounding sessions, performances, misunderstandings, artistic dilemas and so on. Annette has done a good job of focusing on what's important about this treasure of a guitarist. A discography and many good photos round out the book. What came over most strongly was just how much this man is respected and how he has largely avoided compromise. Most fans will find new and little known facts in this book.

Writer Annette Carson provides a detailed account about one of rock's most unique and talented guitarists. No boring musicology chord structures here. I especially appreciated how the author tread lightly on the subjects of drug abuse, sexual adventures and tales of groupies used by most authors who chronicle twentieth century rock guitarists. Instead the author tells a great story about Jeff Beck. I recommend this book highly to anyone who might want to learn about rock music.

This book is a great read for any Jeff Beck fan. Annette Carson is a wonderful writer, and I've wanted to read the book more than once. It portrays Jeff's carrer and playing quite well. I don't care about drugs and sex...I'm interested in Jeff's guitar playing. And this book delivers it on a solid platter.