Jeff Beck was the musician who brought Hi Ho Silver Lining to the Silver City during a memorable gig in 1967.
The guitar maestro later became one of the greatest artists of his generation, performing with such stars as Stevie Wonder, Dave Gilmour, Kate Bush, Jimmy Page and Stanley Clarke while the Rolling Stones tried to persuade him to join them at the height of their fame.
But he was still learning and perfecting his craft when he and the other members of The Jeff Beck Group – including a young vocalist called Rod Stewart – thrilled the punters who packed into Aberdeen’s Douglas Hotel in June 56 years ago.
In these days, there were no private jets for wannabe pop and rock sensations. The band travelled to the north-east in a Transit van and racked up thousands of miles as they paraded their talents wherever they could secure bookings and an audience.
Those who were present have reminisced about the experience of listening to the sound of Beck developing his personality and displaying his expertise even as he played his one and only individual hit single – Hi Ho Silver Lining – despite loathing the song.
Beck had already played in the region
The young Englishman was no stranger to the north of Scotland.
On the contrary, he spoke about his various concerts in the area with a genuine sense of affection.
In 1965, he had been with The Yardbirds when they strutted their stuff at the Wick Assembly Rooms which hosted a bevvy of talented musicians through the efforts of mercurial Elgin promoter, Albert Bonici.
Beck subsequently affirmed that the venue was the finest he had played at that stage of his career because of its excellent acoustics, which allowed his refulgent solos to resonate rather than being drowned out in a fog of static.
The following year, he and Jimmy Page, who enjoyed stellar success with Led Zeppelin, were in the Yardbirds line-up when they performed at Elgin Town Hall.
Their reputation was exciting fans and attracting copious record company attention as they embarked on a punishing schedule of gigs and, in June 1967 – the Summer of Love – Beck was in his element when he demonstrated his eclectic tastes at the Douglas Hotel and he and Stewart cemented their friendship in a down-to-earth location.
Jeff Beck and Rod Stewart thrilled Aberdeen audience
Arthur Wylie and Iain Wolstenholme were among the substantial crowd who flocked along to the city centre hotel.
They were blown away by the sounds they heard and have talked about it to music writer, Richard Houghton, who is currently writing a book about Rod Stewart and his appearances with the Jeff Beck Group and The Faces.
Mr Wylie said: “I took the chance to write to Jeff and ask for their autographs which I received almost by return post. Rod’s was amongst them and I still have them.”
Mr Wolstenholme added: “The ‘growing ever-heavier sound’ was something else and quite physical at the time, especially in a hotel lounge setting where there was little divide between band and audience was pressed nose-to-nose.
“In Aberdeen, the main talking point was when Rod Stewart came face-to-face with a local stalwart of the soul scene, Gordon Lemon, who is sadly departed. (Lemon Soul was the band name.) Rod is reputed to have said: ‘Snap!’ when they met.”
This is an advert from the Evening paper from Thursday 8th June 1967. They have him playing the Douglas the day after. pic.twitter.com/lozNV275e8
— Hutchie (@ScotsHutchie) January 12, 2023
The two men could hardly have been more different.
Beck and Stewart a ‘match made in heaven’
Beck was in his own private world as soon as he picked up a guitar and preferred to let his fingers do the talking.
Stewart, for his part, loved being in the limelight and said unashamedly, even in the early days, he was hankering for hits, hype, Hollywood-style glamour and would gladly drop his trousers if it helped catch the eye of another of his myriad female companions.
Yet, if Beck was happier working on his cars and tinkering under the bonnet without a million flashbulbs for company, his bluesy, soulful playing captivated and enthralled Stewart and he later said: “There was nothing Jeff couldn’t do with a guitar.”
Their careers veered in wildly contrasting directions, but they never fell out.
As recently as 2018, Stewart told Rolling Stone he still hoped to find a way to reunite with Beck on a new recording project.
“My voice and his guitar is a match made in heaven,” he said.
“It would be a lovely thing to do.
“It would be a complete left-hand turn.
“I know that it’s a cliche, but really, I’m up for it if he’s up for it.
“The thing is, we both want to produce. That’s the thing.”
Sadly, following Beck’s death last week at the age of 78, that dream has gone forever.
Did you witness ‘unforgettable’ Aberdeen show?
Mr Houghton is keen to track down any other people who might have been at the Douglas Hotel on June 9 for what was described as an “unforgettable gig”.
He said: “Although Rod Stewart is the person who has gone on to most solo fame, two other members of the Jeff Beck Group were Ronnie Wood, who joined Rod in the Faces and went on to join the Rolling Stones, and Jeff himself.
“The latter lent his name to the Jeff Beck Group in 1967 because he was a fabulous guitarist and very much respected by Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and a host of other big names in the industry.
“He is probably best known for his hit single Hi Ho Silver Lining, but he invented the ‘heavy’ sound that Led Zeppelin built their career upon. He was a giant amongst guitarists.
“Anyone who witnessed that Aberdeen gig was privileged to see three performers up close and personal who have gone on to become rock legends.
“And I would be delighted to hear more about it from anybody who was there”.
Beck, an eight-time Grammy winner, was twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — both as a member of the Yardbirds as well as for his work with his own group.
He inducted Stewart into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and proclaimed: “We have a love-hate relationship. He loves me and I hate him.”
But that wasn’t true.
And this pair made plenty of sweet music together.
If you have a story about the gig to share, Richard Houghton can be contacted at iwasatthatgig@gmail.com
