Guitar Tricks Insider May / June Issue | Page 48

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