Jeff Beck looking forward to Japan shows with Eric Clapton

Jeff Beck says that he's as surprised at his upcoming live team up with Eric Claptonn as their fans are. Beck shed light on the former Yardbirds' first official shows together, which will take place on February 21st and 22nd in Saitama, Japan, telling Rolling Stone, "It was unthinkable we'd ever play together other than the (1983) Arms charity concert for (Ronnie Lane). He came to play on a couple of numbers I did at Ronnie Scott's... and it was really good fun. There was no sort of 'I'm better than you' thing going on."

He went on to explain the basic layout of the upcoming shows: "We'll do two separate sets and we'll link arms in the end. Each night will end with a collaboration. How long, I won't know. We're working on suitable material, neutral material... Eric doesn't like the Yardbirds, I don't think he'll go back that far."
Beck added that he was shocked at being picked selected for induction this year at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: "I couldn't believe I was even nominated. I thought the Yardbirds was as close as I'd get to getting in. I've gone on long after that and gone through different musical changes. It's very nice to hear that people have been listening."

He shot down any hopes of teaming up with Rod Stewart and Ron Wood for a reunion of the Jeff Beck Group: [ Click to listen if you have a backstage pass] "Reformation of bands is never my idea of a good idea. Leave well enough alone, especially 35 years after it happened. It usually indicates there isn't anything else happening in someone else's career, otherwise you wouldn't entertain it -- let's face it. We weren't together in the heyday of money. We were playing small clubs and dives and broke up just before Woodstock, so we never had any big money gigs. It would be fun if we did it in private to see if it would sound any good, but leave it well enough alone and remember it for being groundbreaking at the time."

Despite his and Rod Stewart's often strained relationship, Beck credits him for being one of the most original vocalists he's ever played with: "He definitely lost me somewhere along the way as a, as a soul mate, you know. But I realize, you know, when people get huge sums of money and loads of blondes around, that they do change a bit (laughs). But I think he's the greatest. There's no way that I can alter that, he just is a unique vocalist. Partly the reason I'm playing solo now is because there isn't another Rod Stewart around the corner. I've heard Rod, you know -- I want to hear somebody who sounds as different as he is. And then we'll go somewhere."

Beck replaced Clapton in the Yardbirds, who left the group in 1965 to join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and eventually Cream.

Clapton and Beck teamed up in 2004 and 2007 at Crossroads Guitar Festivals, as well as their old stomping ground at Ronnie Scott's Club in London during Beck's 2007 run there.
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