50 Years of Jeff Beck Rocked the Hollywood Bowl

Renee Silverman

Legendary guitarist and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Beck brought his “50 years of Jeff Beck” show to the Hollywood Bowl, performing classic songs spanning five decades as well as material from “Loud Hailer,” his first new album in six years. With the Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, and Beck, Bogert and Appice, Beck defined his guitar style and sound. The 90-minute show included very special guests Steven Tyler, Beth Hart, Jan Hammer and Billy Gibbons, and opened with legendary bluesman, Buddy Guy.   

Chicago bluesman Buddy Guy was a major influence on Beck, as such it was fitting that he opened the show and the 80-year old Guy can still rock with the best of them. He opened with some traditional blues and finished with “Hoochie Coochie Man,” “Boom Boom” and the Hendrix classic’ “Voodoo Child.”  At one point, Guy got off the stage to walk through the audience as he played. Guy would also come out one more time to jam with Beck on “Love Me Love You Baby.”

Backed by a stellar group of musicians Beck played through several decades of classics. “For Your Love” by the Yardbirds, “Change is Gonna Come” by Jeff Beck Group and, from the classic album “Blow by Blow,” “Free Way Jam” and “Cos We’ve Ended” where he was joined by Jan Hammer on keyboards. Guest vocalist Beth Hart was a huge crowd pleaser as she wailed on R&B classic “I’d Rather Go Blind.” ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons wasn’t listed in the program so it was a big surprise when he came on stage to play “Rough Boy” and “16 Tons.”  

Singer Rosie Bones, who made an appearance earlier in the night singing through a megaphone, performed songs off Beck’s new album “Loud Hailer,” “Live in the Dark” and “Scared for the Children.” At the end of the night Aerosmith’s  Steven Tyler hit the stage for “Train Kept Rolling” and “Shape of Things.”

The encore saw Beck and friends performed an electrifying rendition of Prince’s “Purple Rain” sung by Beth Hart with backup vocals by Jimmy Hall, Rosie Bones and Steven Tyler. As interpreted by Beck, it was an emotional tribute to the late artist and brought the audience to their feet in a rousing ovation.

50 Years of Jeff Beck with special guests took the Hollywood Bowl on Aug. 10.