Conan O’Brien, the renowned American comedian, recently shared a remarkable experience he had with guitar legend Jeff Beck on his podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend.” O’Brien revealed that during one of his shows, he noticed Jeff Beck in the audience, which made him feel nervous the entire time.
Later on, Beck praised O’Brien for his talk show backstage, leaving the comedian in awe. The two then had a conversation in which Beck expressed admiration for O’Brien’s position, and the ability to have chats with different entertainers. O’Brien was left starstruck by the interaction, as it was an honor to be praised by one of the greatest guitarists ever.
During the podcast, O’Brien recalled the incident and said,
“I do remember one time when I came out, I used to warm up the crowd myself in the early 90s, I’d go out, and I would warm up the crowd and actually like break a sweat and warming up the crowd myself, not so cool because then I do the monologue, no one in America saw that part I’d start the monologue, and I looked kind of sweaty and damp, and people thought he was a nervous wreck, and I’m like, no no I just warmed up the crowd, but no one knew anyway. I’m in the crowd warming up the crowd, and there was even a part where I used to sing Elvis’s ‘Burning Love’ as a joke, and people really like liked it because it was so over the top, and I’m doing it, and I finish, and I’m like down on one knee, and Jeff Beck is sitting in the crowd to watch the talk show.”
After the show, the two had a conversation in which Beck expressed his admiration for O’Brien’s position and the ability to have chats with different entertainers. O’Brien was left starstruck by the interaction, as it was an honor to be praised by one of the greatest guitarists ever. The encounter was not only a memorable one for O’Brien but also highlighted the mutual respect and admiration that exists between the two entertainers.
“He had, I think, stood in line or maybe, I don’t know, but he went to see the show, so I was freaking out the whole show. We get through it at the end of the show, I’m talking to him out in the hallway, and he’s saying things like, ‘Must be great to have a talk show,’ and I said, ‘What?’ He’s like ‘You get to have chats with all kinds of people, and you control…’ and I was like, ‘You’re Jeff Beck! You’re what we all want to be.’ He’d be sort of shrugging it aside like, ‘I know I play a little guitar,’ but then he’s like, ‘to be able to have different entertainers and you chat with them, and then there’s a commercial, and then you come back, and then there’s more of you chatting, and it’s just a nice milieu.’ I’m like, ‘No.’”
It is not surprising that O’Brien was so starstruck by Beck’s presence, as the legendary guitarist has been a significant influence on rock music and is regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Beck’s kind words toward O’Brien’s work, and the appreciation he showed for the comedian’s position, emphasized the mutual admiration that exists between the two entertainers.
Watch the podcast episode below: