SECRET SIDEMEN
3
Jimmy Page
Maggie Bell, “If You
Don’t Know” (1975)
4
SEC
E
D
SI
Jeff Beck
Roger Waters, “What God
Wants, Part 3” (1992)
This torchy blues ballad was one of
the few sessions Jimmy Page played in
the 1970s, smack in the middle of Led
Zeppelin’s heyday. Maggie had fronted
the band Stone the Crows before signing
to Zep’s Swan Song label. At this session,
Page dropped in a sweet lead full of rich
overdrive and blues phrasing in the vein
of “Since I’ve Been Loving You” and “You
Shook Me.”
Incidentally, Stone the Crows was noted
for launching the career of future Robin
Trower bassist James Dewar and for
the infamous death of guitar man Les
Harvey. At a 1972 gig, Les was tragically
electrocuted onstage after touching an
ungrounded microphone. The guitarist
died instantly.
48
GUITAR TRICKS INSIDER
DIGITAL EDITION
In 1967 Pink Floyd wanted Jeff Beck to
replace departing leader Syd Barrett, but
Beck turned them down (just as he would
when the Rolling Stones came knocking
on his door two years later, as they
needed to replace Brian Jones). Some
25 years later, Roger Waters finally lured
Beck into the studio for his solo album,
Amused to Death. The guitarist took a
stunt-filled solo on this Floydian ballad
and his tone was gorgeous. In hindsight,
it’s a recording that finally answered the
question – what would Pink Floyd sound
like with Jeff Beck on guitar?
MAY / JUNE