Jeff Beck Dead At 78

Above, the Yardbirds on the Milton Berle Show in 1966 featuring Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page with "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago".

I hate waking up to sad news.

The latest is guitar legend Jeff Beck, came upon the scene as Eric Clapton's replacement guitarist with the Yardbirds.

According to ABC News:

Musician Jeff Beck has died after contracting bacterial meningitis, according to his family.

He was 78 years old.

"On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck's passing," his representatives said in a statement. "After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss."

Beck, one of rock's legendary guitarists, first burst onto the scene as a member of the British band the Yardbirds. He joined the band as a replacement for fellow guitar legend Eric Clapton in 1965.

To read more, go here. 

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

To start off this week, and it is not death-related (thankfully), is a video from 1965 of The Yardbirds playing "Heart Full of Soul".

From Wikipedia:

The Yardbirds are an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band's core lineup featured vocalist and harmonica player Keith Relf, drummer Jim McCarty, rhythm guitarist and later bassist Chris Dreja and bassist/producer Paul Samwell-Smith. The band started the careers of three of rock's most famous guitarists, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck, all of whom ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists.