Sale to reveal guitar legend’s love of comedy

JEFF Beck is recognised as one of Britain's greatest rock guitarists but less well known is that he was a dedicated fan of British alternative comedy.

- ROD MINCHIN

The auction of one of his instruments, a 1991 Fender Jeff Beck Signature Stratocaster, is shining a spotlight on the musician’s contribution to the British comedy scene.

Peter Richardson, founder and star of British alternative comedy troupe The Comic Strip, is to sell an electric guitar gifted to him after Beck worked on the soundtrack of The Pope Must Diet.

The guitar, owned, played and autographed by Beck, is expected to fetch between £30,000 and £50,000 when it goes under the hammer in Wiltshire in December.

Beck gave the guitar to Richardson in 1991 for his 40th birthday.

The musician had just finished using the instrument to record music for The Pope Must Diet, the US version of The Pope Must Die, the 1991 comedy film directed by Richardson and starring Robbie Coltrane.