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NMM Summer Raffle. 1974 850cc Norton Commando. £10 for 5 tickets
H-D launches 2023 Electra Glide Highway King. 1,750 units. $32.5k
Ducati opens news store in Bournemouth, Dorset. 7.000sq-ft. BH21 7PT
NMC: "Registered historic bikes exempt from London Congestion Charge."
Gordon Meredith Lightfoot Jnr: 1938 - 2023. Canadian folk-pop songwriter
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Motorcycles are off the menu Confirmation of the 2023 event is pending ... The VMCC Sprint Section has once again announced that bikes will, for the foreseeable future, not be allowed on the starting grid. The sprint section has long been running the event by invitation of the Brighton & Hove Motor Club. But that's come to an end. Why? Well, the press release doesn't specify. However, there have been increasing Brighton Council concerns (hysteria?) regarding safety and concomitant insurance issues. We've  covered this before. The 2023 event is/was scheduled for Saturday 2nd September 2023, but it's not clear if the event is going ahead without the bikes with only four-wheelers. We'll look into it. Meanwhile see Sump Classic Bike News August 2021 for more on this. Or check this VMCC statement link. Update: The September event has been confirmed
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Rare 1977 Honda CBX "sandcast" Rare 1,000cc pre-production model seeks a fat wallet Only three "sandcast" engines have survived We're advised that (a) there are only six pre-production examples left in the world, (b) they were hand-built by Honda, and (c) this one is powered by a sandcast 1,000cc engine—as opposed to a diecast motor. But truth to tell, we don't really understand the difference between "die" and "sand" (not to talk intelligently about it, anyway). Yes, we looked it up and had a gander, etc, but it was all technical and complicated and we gave up worrying about it and went for a beer. But others are worrying about it, not least Silverstone Auctions which will be offering this bike for sale on 14th May 2023 at the Devitt MCN Festival of Motorcycling at the East of England Arena, Peterborough, Cambs. Around 41 pre-production CBX's were supposed to have been built, but what will all those cylinders and valves and saki guzzling and whatnot, someone lost count, and the number "six" was agreed upon. Most of the pre-production examples are in museums, we're also told. But one or two are in private hands, and only three are sandcast. We think we got that right, take note, but press releases ain't what they used to be. This example was originally sent to Belgium, but it's now in the UK and has had its speedo switched from KPH to MPH. The engine and frame numbers match. There's a "letter of authenticity" from Honda. And its ready to rock'n'roll. The CBX was, to us, always something of a (dare we say "silly"?) factory gimmick as opposed to a serious piece of riding hardware (and Honda Motorcycles was always ready with a new gimmick). But then, we at Sump were weened and raised on oily British singles and twins which makes us a world away from the average CBX man or woman. It's hardly surprising that we just don't get the concept, not as a going concern, anyway. With those six cylinders acting like a barn door, the bike was pre-empted by the 750cc Benelli Six (or Sei) which arrived five years earlier, and was superseded by 900cc Benelli Sei in 1979—both of which looked way better than the CBX. 
Weighing around 550lbs and with 105bhp on tap, the CBX 1000 was, on paper if not always on tarmac, good for over 130mph and needed a firm hand and a steady nerve on anything less than a laser-straight highway. But it was smoooooooth and reliable, and it grabbed the headlines in the manner to which it was intended. And today, these motorcycles are still able to turn heads and start a vicious argument. Around 41,000 were manufactured. Bike Magazine, writing in 1978, apparently said: "The CBX was quite simply a marvellous revelation which has genuinely  elevated the status of motorcycling. Few people will be able to afford to run one, but then the best is never cheap. Above all, such a motorcycle should not be condemned because it's an excess." And if that doesn't sound like a lot of motorcycling flannel, you probably need to wash more often. The estimate is £25,000 to £35,000 www.silverstoneauctions.com
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Remember when you used to read all this stuff before you got into bikes? Well take a little time out to feel young again... Now calm down everyone. Pop another valium or take another swig of your favourite poison and hear us out before you brick your computer monitor or stamp on your smartphone. Every once in a while we get an email from a puzzled Sumpster—and sometimes a slightly irate and puzzled Sumpster—asking why the fuhhhhh we're carrying this feature or that feature when said feature patently has nothing whatsoever to do with motorcycles. And generally speaking we patiently explain that Sump was never intended purely as a motorcycle magazine. It was, rather, intended as a magazine for motorcyclists—and, more specifically, for motorcyclists of a certain generation or mindset or bent. We're talking about guys and girls who grew up listening to bands such as The Kinks, and the Beatles, and Manfred Mann, and The Move, and The Who, and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Guys and Girls who recall the live TV thrill of the 1969 Apollo moon landing, and OD-ed on Audie Murphy and Randolph Scott westerns. Guys and girls who remember when Henry Cooper sensationally floored Ali, and recall when the first Jump Jet and Concorde took to the air, and watched with puzzlement/horror the nightly news bulletins about the latest Vietnam war body count. In short, guys and girls who are now in their sixties and seventies and eighties. Guys and girls who've got a lot of interesting and varied stuff in their back catalogue. And that doesn't necessarily exclude Sumpsters of a later generation. You can't help being young, can ya? And that's why anyone who's anyone, or even no one in particular (like us) is welcome to visit these pages. 
▲ Superman beating up some bikers. We couldn't actually find this old yarn on the free comics website, but maybe you'll have better luck. Either way, the moral message is clear. Motorcycles contribute to juvenile delinquency, which is at least partly why we all rushed out to get on two wheels and have some teenage fun. 
And that's why we're tipping you off about the online Superman comics we've been reading whilst waiting for something decent to pop up on the telly. If you grew up in the sixties and seventies and even eighties, chances are Superman featured fairly prominently in your life—and if he didn't, you probably didn't have much of a life (so send us your name and address and we'll have a whip round). Here at Sump, we used to read Superman to death. Batman, The Flash, Green Lantern and all the other Lycra and Spandex heroes from the DC stable. And yes, we read Marvel comics too (albeit with slightly less enthusiasm). But the Man of Steel was the king of the heap (with the Dark Knight running a very tight second). Well, we found this Superman comics site a year or more ago (time flies when you're getting old, right?). And over a few beers we read a few tales. And then we forgot, and then we remembered again. So now we're telling you so you can enjoy a few super-yarns. 
▲ Check the look on Lois Lane's face. Cat fight tonight, wethinks. Meanwhile, spare a thought for the artistry that goes into creating these minor masterpieces of juvenile fantasy and adventure. Trivial stuff on the surface, yes. But behind that superficiality are some very talented artists, inkers, writers and editors.  If you get it, you've got it. If you don't get it, move onto the next story further down the page. For our part, we're drinking more beer tonight and curling up in front of the computer and doing what we can to reprise the days and the feelings we had when we were young and there was all to play for. You know what we mean. Also remember to check out the adverts for Trick Soap and X-Ray Spex and BB Guns (which didn't feature very prominently in the UK). The only thing missing is that old comic smell.
Pity. So join us if you will and follow the link below. We've landed you on the current comic we're looking at (1964), but you can mosey around the site and choose whatever you want. It appears to be all free. We're interested more in the sixties and seventies stuff, but there's plenty more going on. And if you can make a donation or something, please do. Someone went to an awful lot of trouble to create this site in order to roll  back a few years and make us feel a little younger for a while. Get it while it's going, we say. And remember, as with any site on the www, you have to take your own risk when following a link. Best we can say is that it works for us. TAKE ME TO THE SUPERMAN COMICS SITE
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk 
Norton begins deliveries [V4SV] & Test Ride to You scheme announced
Alan Stoole [motorcycle dealer, 1943 - 2023]
Lings Group set to open new Norwich showroom
Zero kicks off demo rides tour
www.motorcyclenews.com 
Norton announce flagship London Bike Shed showroom + five other sites
Northern Ireland riding schools in crisis [insurance cover issue]
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial Honda CB750 Hornet (2023) - Review
www.visordown.com 
Harley-Davidson adds new Adventure Centre dates [Llangynog, Wales]
Yamaha "halfway" to self-stabilising production goal
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1960 Hailwood Ducati "newly found" Campaigned by Mike 'The Bike' Hailwood for one racing season Expected to sell for £95k - £120k One of the star attractions at the upcoming Bonhams' Bumper Spring Sale at Stafford on 22nd - 23rd April 2023 is the above 1960 Ducati 125cc Desmodromic 'Barcone' Grand Prix Racing Motorcycle. Carrying an estimate of £95,000 - 120,000, this we're told was one of four such machines produced for that year’s racing season. What makes the bike extra special is that it's been newly identified as the mount "campaigned by future Motorcycling World Champion Mike ‘The Bike’ Hailwood." Our racing knowledge is thin enough to scribble on the back of a head gasket, so we've no comment on the provenance of the bike. But you can check it out for yourself if you're so minded and motivated. 
Of particular interest to tech-heads is the fact that the four Ducati contenders "featured the final evolution of chief engineer Fabio Taglioni’s famous desmodronic (positive closure) valve technology introduced in the late 1950s. The resulting higher revs and increased power afforded many victories in period for Mercedes-Benz’s successful racing SLRs and for Ducati, which still uses the system today." That was Bonhams talking, by the way. Not us. The story further goes that Mike's dad, Stan (Ducati's then UK distributor), acquired the Duke from the factory in 1960. But the following season Mike signed with Honda, so the Ducati was offloaded and bought and sold various times by collectors and/or investors. More recently, motorcycle writer Ian Falloon identified the bike as the true Hailwood machine citing various identifying features such as: a boat-like crankcase (hence the 'Barcone' or 'Barge' moniker) a narrow, finless sump integral six-speed gearbox the cylinder inclined forward a taller fuel tank and thickly padded seat "Mike then won nine 125 races with the bike, with further victories later in the season, including at Oulton Park, becoming winner of that year’s British 125cc Championship." That was Bonhams speaking too.
Meanwhile, the bike is being offered in an "as found" condition, which in this case probably means a more upmarket shed. www.bonhams.com
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The Slug needs an anniversary refurbishment £300,000 is the target fund It was built in the late 1920s with one objective in mind; to break the 200mph land speed record. And it did exactly that by hitting an average of 203.79mph with British serial speedster Major Henry Seagrave at the wheel. The location of that speed run (actually two runs in the usual way) was Daytona Beach, Florida USA. On 29th March 1927 the bright red rocket instantly entered the history books, and in 1958 it became a permanent exhibit at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, Hampshire, England. Powered by two V12 aero engines and pumping out around 1,000hp, the three ton colossus, nicknamed The Slug, wowed a crowd of over 30,000 people. With 22.5 litres per engine, the roar was tremendous as the vehicle battled side winds which, at one point, forced Seagrave into the sea. But like all determined speedsters, he was focussed on his goal and managed to complete both runs without serious incident. 
Well, 2027 will the the 100th anniversary of that run, and to commemorate it, the National Motor Museum is planning to take The Slug back to Daytona in order to reprise the fabled event—albeit at what we suspect will be reduced velocities. However, the engines (in particular) have suffered from much corrosion and need a major overhaul. To that end, an appeal has just been launched which is begging donations and hoping to hit a £300,000 target. So if any of you Sumpsters out there want to be part of the Sunbeam 1000hp Restoration Campaign, follow the links and see where they get you. But does it really matter if this Sunbeam ever turns another wheel? You can answer that for yourself. For our part, we might fork out a couple of quid. Or maybe we'll hand it over to a Ukraine Fund. Hard to say right now. We're fickle like that sometimes. 
Henry Seagrave (1896 - 1930) was killed on Lake Windermere in England's Lake District whilst successfully achieving a water speed record. Then, as Sir Henry Seagrave, he was piloting Miss England II and hit 98.76mph before fate hit him back; a fitting end some would say, and one that in 1967 also punched Donald Campbell's ticket on nearby Coniston Water—an event that many of you reading this will no doubt well remember. National Motor Museum Trust donations
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£10k 5T Trumpet finds a new home Complete bar the rear stand There are probably always going to be shed finds. The sheds might change. The incumbent precious metal might change. The years will come and go with total indifference. And the rusty excitement will roll over to the next generation. Of course, the perversity of man (and woman, if you must) is likely to remain as it's always been; specifically that the worse the condition, the greater the thrill of rediscovery—as long as the bike/car/truck or whatever is complete. And even then, a manky crank, a footrest, and a bent frame (with only the headstock missing) is for many hardened shedsters a great beginning. 
With all that in mind, we've been looking with appropriate interest over the above 1938 500cc 5T Triumph Speed Twin recently listed as a shed find and claiming to be complete—with only the rear stand missing. Better yet, the engine apparently does turn over, boasts perceptible compression, and all gears are said to be selectable. According to Messrs H&H auctioneers, the bike had been "sleeping" for decades and will require a total overhaul. But the numbers are correct, a V5C is present, and (bad luck for some) it just sold (at the National Motorcycle Museum sale on 29th March 2023 for £9,890. As much as we love Speed Twins of all years, that sounds like way too strong money in what is unquestionably a falling market. But someone wanted it, and that's that. You can't argue with market forces. 
Meanwhile, given the ongoing demand for chronically neglected motorcycling hardware, we wonder if we're missing a trick or two here. Notably, we've got a few Triumphs in the shed at this moment, both of which are complete and look ripe for a little accelerated ageing backed by a plausible "undiscovered" back story. A few years down the road, who knows what they might fetch if we can nudge them to within a few atoms of a meaningful existence. Makes ya fink, boyos.
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February 2023
Final show for MCN Festival at East of England Arena May 13 & 14 2023
Government notification: Driving test examiners strikes in March 2023
Harley-Davidson £500 finance offer ends on 31st March 2023
Sheffield clean air zone, February 27th 2023. Private cars/bikes exempt
Custom Royal Enfield "Bootneck" 650cc Interceptor raises £60k for charity
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Wednesday 29th March 2023 is the auction date Some very low estimates here ... H&H Classic Auctions will be celebrating 30 years behind the auctioneer's rostrum on 29th March 2023 when the company holds its next motorcycle sale at the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) in Solihull. One of the coolest lots, we feel, is the above (and immediately below) 1954 Triumph Tiger 100 which is carrying an estimate of £7,000 - £9,000 and is said to be one of the last 250 made in 1953 (if that makes a difference to anyone). 
This sprung hub 500cc all aluminium alloy twin is registered OLP 999 and began thundering down the road in January 1954 courtesy of Eleanor Motors of Hackney, London. Having spent most of its life in the London area, it was restored in the mid-1980s and, we're advised, still looks pretty fresh up close. Better yet, it's apparently leading a fairly active life around the capital, and recently showed a leg at one or more Taverners Trials—and also made a trip to the IOM TT. Woo-hoo. New tyres were fitted last summer. A sheaf of documents/photographs will accompany the bike. And a V5C is present. The appeal of these Speed Twins on steroids is the fact that, sprung hubs notwithstanding, they're still very usable classics inasmuch as they handle well (or well enough), enjoy a sprightly 55-70mph cruising performance, are easy to work on, are reliable, return 55-65mpg, and are generally capable of keeping up with modern traffic under most circumstances. In short, £7k - £9k is a very fair exchange for a sorted example, and long after you've forgotten the price you'll still be reliving the thrills. 
Moving on, we note that the bike with the highest expectations at this sale (pricewise, that is), is the immediately above 1936 1265cc Indian 4. "Sympathetically restored" this inline four motorcycle was refitted sometime in the 1980s and is said to be running well. The engine/frame numbers correspond to the company production records, and a V5C is present. Of course, some Indian purists wouldn't accept that this is in fact a true Indian. And here's why; William "Bill" Henderson and brother Tom were among the pioneers of Yankee straight fours. The Henderson company was established in Detroit in 1911. Their first bike was introduced in 1912. Five years or so later the redoubtable Ignaz Schwinn (who had purchased Excelsior) bought the Henderson outfit and absorbed it into his own growing manufacturing empire. 
Within a few years of moving to Chicago, the bikes were being marketed as Excelsior-Hendersons, and the marque continued for around 12 years. Generally dissatisfied, brother Tom exited the bike manufacturing business leaving William/Bill to found Ace and further develop the inline four concept. However, after many years of financial uncertainty, Ace was snapped up by Indian which gradually consolidated the marque into its own Springfield, Massachusetts brand. But call it what you will, the Henderson brothers' fingerprints are all over this motorcycle—and a long, convoluted and fascinating story it all is. Find a book. Read up. So what price this bike? Well, H&H is anticipating £54,000 - £58,000—which in today's financial climate might be a little optimistic, especially when the same auction is estimating a 1,210cc c1947 Indian Chief (see image immediately below) for just £6,000 - £8,000. True, this bike was in the process of a full restoration and will need a fair bit of reassembling—plus the purchase of a few parts. Nevertheless, it looks like good value and is a few thousand quid below what we would have expected just a few seasons ago. Then again, we're talking estimates, not sale prices. So we'll have to see what goes down on the day. 
And while we're talking about low estimates, a c1980 500cc Egli Vincent Comet (third image above) is anticipating £7,000 - £9,000; a 1972 750cc R75 BMW "brat" bike (second image above) is anticipating £2,500 - £3,500; and a 1953 500cc Sunbeam S8 (image immediately above) is expecting just £3,000 - £4,000. Of course, you need to get up close to fully establish the financial credentials of these machines. But if the hammer falls according to the estimates it will further reinforce our view that the classic bike scene is continuing its slow decline. However, that decline probably won't last forever. If we've learned anything about old crocks, it's that the wheels keep turning. So take heart and don't panic. Not yet, anyway. www.handh.co.uk Update: The Tiger 100 sold for £8,970 The Indian 4 sold for £65,550 (highest selling lot) The Vincent sold for £7,590 The BMW "brat" sold for £4,600 The Sunbeam S8 sold for £3,450
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www.britishdealernews.co.uk 
Fowlers [of Bristol] takes on Enfield and BSA
Danny Cork: 1925 - 2022 [long time Leeds bike dealer]
David Milliken: 1966-2022 [long time Northern Ireland bike dealer]
Dave Moore: 1934-2022 [long time Hertfordshire bike dealer]
www.motorcyclenews.com More moggy protection: IAM RoadSmart backs Road Traffic Act changes
www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial Best motorcycle helmets in 2023 | Full-face, modular, flip-front & adventure
www.visordown.com 
Man saved by smartwatch after falling from cliff on motorcycle
FB Mondial Spartan 125 readying for release this year [2023]
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January 2023 
650cc BSA Gold Star on offer The draw is to be held in April 2023 What you're looking at (immediately above) is a 2023 BSA 650cc Gold Star Legacy Edition. Of course, it's not a "real" Gold Star, or so some might say—and vociferously are saying. But rightly or wrongly, this motorcycle has inherited the much lauded Gold Star crown, and that's that. Take it or leave it. We haven't road tested one of these. We might get around to it, but we're not in any rush. However, don't let that put you off if you like the cut of its jib. To that end, the National Motorcycle Museum (NMM) is raffling one of these Indian take-aways for the entry price of £10. That will actually buy you five tickets. The odds of winning are unknown (the NMM hasn't supplied details of how many tickets are generally sold). Suffice to say that the chances of having one of your five numbers come up is considerably greater than winning the National Lottery. 
It's billed as the Winter Raffle 2023 (which started in October 2022), and the winning ticket will be drawn on Sunday 23rd April 2023 at the Stafford Bike Show. And if you miss out on the jackpot, you might yet come up lucky with the second prize which is a 1968 BSA 175cc Bantam Bushman (a real BSA some might say). Third prize is a bunch of Sealey workshop tools. All the profits will be used for running the museum. Or so we're told. And why would we not believe that? Of course, whether the museum is worth running, or is being run as well as it might be, is yet another argument that we've heard strident opinions on from both camps. But we ain't going there, except as neutral (or neutralish) observers. One more thing; the raffle is open to UK residents only, and that excludes Northern Ireland. www.nationalmotorcyclemuseum.co.uk www.bsacompany.co.uk
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Two limited edition models up for grabs Note that neither bike was actually used in the movies Silverstone Auctions is fielding two motorcycles associated with the long-running James Bond franchise and will be offering them for sale at the firm's next auction which, if things go to plan, will be staged at the MCN London Motorcycle Show Sale on the 18th February 2023. Immediately above is the first, a 2022 888cc Bond Edition Triumph Tiger 900 (based upon the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro). You might be forgiven for thinking this machine was actually used in the movie. But it wasn't. It's simply one of 250 motorcycles built by Hinckley (in conjunction with the Bond movie producers) to cash in on the film's over-hyped publicity. This example is number 146, and it's estimated by Silverstone to fetch £23,000 - £25,000. That sounds steep to us (especially in the current climate), but Silverstone's Rowan Huntley has been quoted as saying, "If this is not a future classic, we don't know what is." Well we don't know what is a future classic then. Because, to be blunt, this motorcycle strikes as more as a cheesy and over-priced product-placed lash-up. Don't get us wrong, mind. It's a very nice bike, but it will take more than a wave of a James Bond publicity wand to elevate this to anything really special. Any old Rally Pro straight off the peg would serve us just as well. There are six delivery miles on the clock, incidentally. And the bike has all the expected gold accents and Bond-badges and motifs and whatever. Do we sound jaded? Put it down to a cold January. We'll feel better by June. 
The other offering is a 2020 Triumph 'Bond Edition' 1200 XS Scrambler (image immediately above). This is a one-owner machine and is estimated to sell for £20,000 to £25,000. Of the two bikes, we'd pick this one, but not at that price. If you saw "No Time to Die", you would have witnessed one of these doing the kind of stunts you wouldn't get even in a cartoon. But hokum is hokum, and it couldn't have done Triumph exports any harm. And in case you were wondering, this XS is number 130 of 250. And of course there will be appropriate certification for both models.
Meanwhile, if neither motorcycle lights your fire, Silverstone will be auctioning another 120 bikes at the same sale. www.silverstoneauctions.com Also see: Bond bike auction raises £138,600
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Long time classic bike parts dealer has retired Andy Johnson has taken over Sheffield Motorcycles Many classic bikers will know "Bantam" John Phelan (pictured immediately above) who for many years has been a familiar sight (and sound) at British bike jumbles and whatnot. Well, we've been advised officially that his business, operating as Sheffield Motorcycles, is now in the care of Andy Johnson. It confirms the long standing rumour/scuttlebutt regarding John's health which has been suffering. We haven't spoken or otherwise communicated with John, but we're satisfied the information is correct. Consequently, if you need to contact Sheffield Motorcycles, the number we've been given is: 01246 281344. There's also an associated email which is listed below. Bantam John has attracted a fair bit of criticism over his occasionally irascible manner, but we've always found him cheery and helpful. Either way, we hope that his health worries are manageable and that's he's otherwise comfortable. andy@sheffieldbritishmotorcycles.com
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The world class R&B guitarist Jeff Beck has died aged 78 Ex-Yardbirds, ex-Jeff Beck Group, exceptional talent The world's greatest rock guitarist? There are any number of axemen lined up to collect that six-string trophy. But if Jeff Beck, in the eyes and ears of most serious guitaristas, doesn't take gold, he's certainly due silver or bronze. Jeff, whose inimitable style and sound has kept our ears vibrating for decades died on 10th of January this year, and when we heard the news we had to sit down, figuratively if not necessarily physically. He was born in Wallington, Surrey (now a London borough) to an ordinary working-class family. At the age of six he first became aware of the sound and sight of an electric guitar. A borrowed instrument followed, and early attempts at making his own was soon rewarded by the real thing. Following school, he attended Wimbledon College of Art and took on various workaday jobs including groundsman, paint sprayer, and painter and decorator. It was at around that time that he became friends with Jimmy Page who would go on to huge fame and success with Led Zeppelin. Jeff's musical influences, he's been quoted as saying, included Les Paul, Lonnie Mack, Steve Cropper, Chet Atkins and B. B King (is there a rock/blues guitarist anywhere on Earth who wasn't influenced by B. B? And Chet Atkins, come to that?). 
Famously, having been part of a few early local R&B bands and whilst working as a session musician, he was invited to take Eric Clapton's place in The Yardbirds. Jeff in fact was recommended by Jimmy Page, and the recommendation was justified—at least as far as talent was concerned (he was later sacked for failing to show up at a US tour, and for having a tinder dry temper). Jimmy Page eventually became part of The Yardbirds and formed a twin guitar sound that helped propel both players up the ladder of success. In the mid-1960s, under the guidance of the late Mickey Most (record producer), Jeff recorded his most famous song, Hi Ho Silver Lining (which is a bit like having Elvis singing Happy Birthday To You. In other words, that tuneful little ditty gives little indication of Jeff Beck's underlying skills and musicianship. The Jeff Beck Group followed, a band that included Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. Following the disbandment (no pun intended) during the early seventies, Jeff Beck became musically involved with the likes of David Bowie, Stevie Wonder, George Martin, Alvin Lee, Jan Hammer and many more artists. 
▲ Jeff Beck was more closely associated with his huge collection of classic cars and hot rods, but he spent a few miles in the saddle of various motorcycles during his five or six decades in the spotlight. We can't possibly list all of Jeff Beck's achievements. There simply isn't the space—and some of it isn't exactly printable. Suffice to say that over the next few decades he continued to hone his skills and develop his style, often by employing a huge repertoire of string-bending, tone-twisting, and soundshifting habits and devices. In short, he was more of a guitarist's guitarist rather than a player for the hoi polloi. But he could rock'n'roll with the best of them. He lived a very full life that featured numerous trials and tribulations, most of which no doubt manifested themselves in  one way or the other within his unique and endlessly experimental sound; a very English sound that kept many of us on a roll throughout the sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and beyond. Jess Beck was 78 years old, and if raw talent was rewarded by human longevity, he'd be around for another 78 years. www.jeffbeck.com Note: We're also marking the death of Byrds-man and Crosby, Stills & Nash-man David Crosby (1941 - 2023). He was a singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, and died on 18th January 2023 at the age of 81.
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