COPPER

A PS Audio Publication

Issue 180 • Free Online Magazine

Issue 180 Opening Salvo

Goodbye to Jeff

Goodbye to Jeff

Sadly, we’ve lost a lot of great artists, but this one hit particularly hard for a lot of us: Jeff Beck passed away on January 10, 2023 at the age of 78. His prominence as one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time cannot be overstated: no one else sounded like him or ever will in his ability to effortlessly and astoundingly bend the electric guitar to his musical wishes.

We’re also saddened by the death of singer/songwriter Lisa Marie Presley at 54. The only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie had worked in the music industry and released three albums. RIP to someone who left us far too soon.

In this issue: Jay Jay French remembers Jeff Beck. Anne E. Johnson enjoys new interpretations of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and the men behind the masks of Daft Punk. Wayne Robins re-listens to Stephen Stills’ Manassas. Andrew Daly talks with influential indie label producer and Garbage drummer Butch Vig. J.I. Agnew reads Passion for Vinyl as he goes around the world in 80 (record-cutting) lathes. I cover the launch of Octave Records’ new The Art of Hi-Fi series and its first release, Volume 01: Bass. Harris Fogel makes the scene at Capital Audiofest. Howard Kneller checks out xDuoo’s MT-604 headphone amplifier. Ken Kessler continues his 50th anniversary look at the fabled Linn LP12 turntable, and has a tense encounter with founder Ivor Tiefenbrun.

Rudy Radelic continues his exploration of CTI Records with a look at some of the label’s subsidiaries. Ken Sander puts a borrowed Porsche through the paces and encounters Miles Davis. Tom Methans covers Philly’s record store scene. Ray Chelstowski talks with Wicked Cool Records rocker Ryan Hamilton. Larry Jaffee looks at home entertainment formats over the past 50 years. John Seetoo interviews “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” Academy award-winning songwriter John DeNicola. Russ Welton begins a series on in-ear headphones. Tom Gibbs gets his new listening rooms in order. We conclude the issue with ephemeral music, naming a newborn, a tough decision, and a message from the street.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Harris Fogel, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Stuart Marvin, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:

Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Ted Shafran, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:

“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:

James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:

James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:

Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:

Frank Doris

Publisher:

Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:

No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

– FD

More from Issue 180

View All Articles in Issue 180

Search Copper Magazine

#234 A Life in High-End Audio: The Roy Hall Interview, Part One by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Jason Greenlaw Offers His Personal Perspective on Jazz Guitar in Vantage Point by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Transcendent Phoenix: Lucina Yue Brings the Ancient Konghou Into Modern Times by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 We Must All Follow Our Bliss by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #234 How to Play in a Rock Band, 27: Leveling Up by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 Ross Valory: Traveling Into New Musical Territory With All of the Above by Ray Chelstowski Sep 07, 2026 #234 Singer/Songwriter John David Schrader: On the Need to Create by Joe Caplan Sep 07, 2026 #234 The People Who Make Audio Happen: More From T.H.E. Show SoCal 2026 by Harris Fogel Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Vinyl Beat Digs Into the Gadget Box by Rudy Radelic Sep 07, 2026 #234 The Rolling Stones: Foreign Tongues Spoken Loud by Wayne Robins Sep 07, 2026 #234 Musical Moments by Rich Isaacs Sep 07, 2026 #234 Rags for Solo Piano and a Dog: David Chesky's Ragtime Music for the Modern Age by Frankly Speaking Sep 07, 2026 #234 HIGH END 2026, Vienna: Here to Stay by Carsten Barnbeck Sep 07, 2026 #234 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Two Main Types of Loudpeakers – Box and Panel by Paul McGowan Sep 07, 2026 #234 Letting it Slide by Frank Doris Sep 07, 2026 #234 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Sep 07, 2026 #234 Long Playing by Peter Xeni Sep 07, 2026 #234 La Mer by B. Jan Montana Sep 07, 2026 #233 A Report From The Total Hi-Fi Experience Show SoCal 2026 by B. Jan Montana Aug 03, 2026 #233 Bluegrass Meets Country, Folk, Jazz and More in All That We Carried by The Squid City Slingers by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 Corey Glover and One Tribe Nation: A Variegated Musical Collective by Ray Chelstowski Aug 03, 2026 #233 Excursions with Clive: The Late Clive Davis, A Personal History by Wayne Robins Aug 03, 2026 #233 AI, Art, and Music: A Conversation With Synthography Art by Joe Caplan Aug 03, 2026 #233 New American Symphonies: A Rediscovered Gem and a Vital Contemporary Work by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Vinyl Beat: Genesis, the Dave Clark Five, Antonio Carlos Jobim and More by Rudy Radelic Aug 03, 2026 #233 How to Play in a Rock Band, 26: When It's Time to Record Your Music by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 More From T.H.E. Show 2026, and the People Who Made it Happen by Harris Fogel Aug 03, 2026 #233 Underappreciated Artists, Part Three: Icehouse by Rich Isaacs Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Surprisingly Rich and Varied Music of Somalia by Steve Kindig Aug 03, 2026 #233 A Remarkable Discographic Legacy: The LP Recordings of the Basel Symphony Orchestra by Stephan Haberthür Aug 03, 2026 #233 From The Audiophile’s Guide: The Importance of Loudspeakers by Paul McGowan Aug 03, 2026 #233 From Swimming Pool to New Listening Room: A Conversation with Norman Varney of AV RoomService by Gilles Laferrière Aug 03, 2026 #233 PS Audio in the News by PS Audio Staff Aug 03, 2026 #233 Audio Jewelry by Peter Xeni Aug 03, 2026 #233 Enrich Your Life by Frank Doris Aug 03, 2026 #233 The Searcher by James Schrimpf Aug 03, 2026 #232 What came first: Art or Music? A Conversation With Artist Jose Acosta by Joe Caplan Jul 06, 2026 #232 Blow By Blow: The Jeff Beck Story: An Insightful Book About a Guitar Icon by Ray Chelstowski Jul 06, 2026 #232 Creed Over Camaraderie? by B. Jan Montana Jul 06, 2026 #232 Chronicles of a Sound Pilgrim at the 2026 Montreal Audiofest by Hugues Morin Jul 06, 2026 #232 The Vinyl Beat: Summer Grooves by Rudy Radelic Jul 06, 2026 #232 Hibbing Hillbilly Dylan's Acoustic Rock by Wayne Robins Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quad Quads and Plasmatronics Tweeters: An Extraordinary System Comes to Life by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 In Praise of Live Music, Once Again by Ted Shafran Jul 06, 2026 #232 Allnic Audio’s L-9000 Preamplifier: Design and Engineering Innovation by Howard Kneller Jul 06, 2026 #232 “Best Of” Lists and Rage Bait: Enough Already by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026 #232 Quick Takes: Bud Shank, Paulo Almeida, Jakob Dreyer, Tim Eriksen and Peter Irvine by Frank Doris Jul 06, 2026

Goodbye to Jeff

Goodbye to Jeff

Sadly, we’ve lost a lot of great artists, but this one hit particularly hard for a lot of us: Jeff Beck passed away on January 10, 2023 at the age of 78. His prominence as one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time cannot be overstated: no one else sounded like him or ever will in his ability to effortlessly and astoundingly bend the electric guitar to his musical wishes.

We’re also saddened by the death of singer/songwriter Lisa Marie Presley at 54. The only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie had worked in the music industry and released three albums. RIP to someone who left us far too soon.

In this issue: Jay Jay French remembers Jeff Beck. Anne E. Johnson enjoys new interpretations of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and the men behind the masks of Daft Punk. Wayne Robins re-listens to Stephen Stills’ Manassas. Andrew Daly talks with influential indie label producer and Garbage drummer Butch Vig. J.I. Agnew reads Passion for Vinyl as he goes around the world in 80 (record-cutting) lathes. I cover the launch of Octave Records’ new The Art of Hi-Fi series and its first release, Volume 01: Bass. Harris Fogel makes the scene at Capital Audiofest. Howard Kneller checks out xDuoo’s MT-604 headphone amplifier. Ken Kessler continues his 50th anniversary look at the fabled Linn LP12 turntable, and has a tense encounter with founder Ivor Tiefenbrun.

Rudy Radelic continues his exploration of CTI Records with a look at some of the label’s subsidiaries. Ken Sander puts a borrowed Porsche through the paces and encounters Miles Davis. Tom Methans covers Philly’s record store scene. Ray Chelstowski talks with Wicked Cool Records rocker Ryan Hamilton. Larry Jaffee looks at home entertainment formats over the past 50 years. John Seetoo interviews “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life” Academy award-winning songwriter John DeNicola. Russ Welton begins a series on in-ear headphones. Tom Gibbs gets his new listening rooms in order. We conclude the issue with ephemeral music, naming a newborn, a tough decision, and a message from the street.

Staff Writers:

J.I. Agnew, Ray Chelstowski, Andrew Daly, Harris Fogel, Jay Jay French, Tom Gibbs, Roy Hall, Rich Isaacs, Anne E. Johnson, Don Kaplan, Ken Kessler, Don Lindich, Stuart Marvin, Tom Methans, B. Jan Montana, Rudy Radelic, Tim Riley, Wayne Robins, Alón Sagee, Ken Sander, John Seetoo, Dan Schwartz, Russ Welton, Adrian Wu

Contributing Editors:

Ivan Berger, Steven Bryan Bieler, Jack Flory, Steve Kindig, Ed Kwok, Ted Shafran, David Snyder, Bob Wood

Cover:

“Cartoon Bob” D’Amico

Cartoons:

James Whitworth, Peter Xeni

Parting Shots:

James Schrimpf, B. Jan Montana, Rich Isaacs (and others)

Audio Anthropology Photos:

Howard Kneller, Steve Rowell

Editor:

Frank Doris

Publisher:

Paul McGowan

Advertising Sales:

No one. We are free from advertising and subscribing to Copper is free.

Copper’s Comments Policy:

Copper’s comments sections are moderated. While we encourage thoughtful and spirited discussion, please be civil.

The editor and Copper’s editorial staff reserve the right to delete comments according to our discretion. This includes: political commentary; posts that are abusive, insulting, demeaning or defamatory; posts that are in violation of someone’s privacy; comments that violate the use of copyrighted information; posts that contain personal information; and comments that contain links to suspect websites (phishing sites or those that contain viruses and so on). Spam will be blocked or deleted.

Copper is a place to be enthusiastic about music, audio and other topics. It is most especially not a forum for political discussion, trolling, or rude behavior. Thanks for your consideration.

– FD

0 comments

Leave a comment

0 Comments

Your avatar

Loading comments...

🗑️ Delete Comment

Enter moderator password to delete this comment:

✏️ Edit Comment

Enter your email to verify ownership: