Rock and roll history is full of what-ifs, and one of the most intriguing involves two titans—guitar legend Jeff Beck and vocal powerhouse Rod Stewart. In a recent interview with Guitar World, Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen reflected on a moment that could have changed the course of rock music forever: the missed opportunity for Beck and Stewart to perform together at Woodstock.
Known for his revolutionary guitar work since his days with The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck was already a rising star in the late ’60s. Pair that with Rod Stewart’s iconic, soul-drenched vocals, and the potential for greatness was off the charts. Collen believes that if the Jeff Beck Group—featuring Stewart—had taken the Woodstock stage, they could have rivaled the cultural impact of Led Zeppelin.
“They were supposed to play Woodstock,” Collen revealed. “But Jeff had to fly home, so they never got to do it.”
In Collen’s eyes, that single change in schedule altered everything. He sees the Jeff Beck Group as a band that had the power to explode into global superstardom, had fate allowed it. “I always thought that the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart could’ve been huge,” he said.
Despite missing Woodstock, both artists went on to achieve extraordinary success. Beck pursued a groundbreaking solo career, producing instrumental albums like Blow by Blow and There & Back, showcasing his unrivaled musicianship. Meanwhile, Rod Stewart’s trajectory led him into the Faces and later to solo stardom, earning accolades and fans worldwide.
“It’s funny because everyone gained in a way,” Collen mused. “Even though they missed that moment, Jeff focused on instrumental genius, and Rod became a frontman icon.”
This near-miss reminds us how one moment in time can shape the future in unexpected ways. While we’ll never know how a Beck-Stewart Woodstock performance might have shifted rock history, both legends carved out enduring legacies—and left fans forever wondering about the supergroup that never was.
