Listen: Jeff Beck’s First Song From New Studio LP

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Beck with Bones and Vandenberg (Photo: Ross Halfin)

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck returns with his first studio album in six years, Loud Hailer, which arrives July 15 on Atco/Rhino Entertainment. The album offers topical lyrics to make a powerful statement about everything from the love of power to the power of love.

Loud Hailer, which the announcement points out is another name for a megaphone, is a suitable moniker. The classic rock legend explains: “I really wanted to make a statement about some of the nasty things I see going on in the world today, and I loved the idea of being at a rally and using this loud device to shout my point of view.”

Listen to the album’s first single, the riotous rocker “Live in the Dark,” below.

Best Classic Bands attended an April 7th listening party with Beck at NYC’s Electric Lady Studios. When we told him afterwards that “Live in the Dark” was our favorite song on the album, he said it was one of his as well: “It’ll be a favorite live.”

The album kicks off with the intense “The Revolution Will Be Televised” (no relation to the Gil Scott-Heron track that includes a key word – “Not” – in its title). Beck’s song features spoken lyrics from singer Rosie Bones. There’s a pause when it ends and then “Live in the Dark” starts, featuring Beck’s explosive guitars, some power drumming and that voice.

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To help him write the 11 tracks on Loud Hailer, Beck enlisted two fierce young females from London: singer Bones and guitarist Carmen Vandenberg. It was a chance meeting with Vandenberg last year at a birthday party for Queen drummer Roger Taylor that eventually led to the trio’s collaboration. “She invited me to one of their shows, and I was blown away,” the guitarist recalls. “When we got together in January, I explained the subject matter I had in mind, we sat down by the fire with a crate of Prosecco and got right to it. The songs came together very quickly; five in three days.”

Beck produced Loud Hailer with Filippo Cimatti, who also works with Bones and Vandenberg. In addition to the core trio, the album also features drummer Davide Sollazzi and bassist Giovanni Pallotti, who were both recruited by Cimatti.

Bones lends her voice to nine of the 11 songs, including “Revolution,” the reflective ballad “Scared For The Children,” the funk infused “O.I.L.” and the tranquil album closer “Shrine.” The album is rounded out by two Beck instrumentals, “Pull It” and “Edna.”

A few days after the album’s release, Beck will launch a summer tour of the U.S. with blues legend Buddy Guy. And on August 10th, Beck will make his Hollywood Bowl debut with an orchestra and special guests to be announced shortly for a career-spanning concert that celebrates 50 years of “dynamic music making.”

“It will be head teacher Beck in a gown and mortar board in front of the class giving everyone a history lesson,” he jokes.

Over the course of Beck’s 50-year career, the trailblazing guitarist has earned many accolades. He has twice been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. First, as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992 and then again, as a solo artist, in 2009. He has earned a total of eight Grammy Awards.

In addition to recording Loud Hailer, Beck has working on his first official book, BECK01 (Genesis Publications). Available on July 12, the signed, limited edition book explores Beck’s passions for hot rodding and rock’n’roll.

BECK01 is hand-bound in leather and aluminum with every book numbered and personally signed by Beck. The guitarist’s handpicked selection of more than 400 rare and unseen photographs and items of memorabilia is narrated with an original manuscript of nearly 20,000 words. Included is a forward by fellow guitarist John McLaughlin that begins, “Jeff Beck is my all-time favourite guitarist, what do I say after that?”

Loud Hailer Track Listing:

“The Revolution Will Be Televised”
“Live In The Dark”
“Pull It”
“Thugs Club”
“Scared For The Children”
“Right Now”
“Shame”
“Edna”
“The Ballad Of The Jersey Wives”
“O.I.L.”
“Shrine”

Jeff Beck/Buddy Guy 2016 Tour Dates (tickets available here):

July 19 – Port Chester, NY – The Capitol Theatre
July 20 – New York, NY – Theatre at Madison Square Garden
July 22 – Mashantucket, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino*
July 23 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Spa & Resort Event Center
July 24 – Bethlehem, PA – Sands Betlehem Event Center*
July 26 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
July 27 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap for the Performing Arts
July 29 – Canandaigua, NY – Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
July 30 – Rochester Hill, MI – Meadow Brook
July 31 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival
August 3 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheatre
August 5 – Kansas City, MO – Starlight Theatre
August 7 – Englewood, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
August 10 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Bowl (with Steven Tyler)
August 11 – Santa Ynez, CA – Chumash Casino*
August 12 – Pala, CA – Pala Casino
August 14 – Saratoga, CA – Mountain Winery*
August 16 – San Francisco, CA – Masonic Auditorium
August 17 – Santa Rosa, CA – Wells Fargo Center for the Arts*
August 18 – Jackson, WA – Jackson Rancheria Casino Hotel
August 20 – Goldendale, WA – Maryhill Winery
August 21 – Seattle, WA – Woodland park Zoo Amphitheater*