Walter Becker, Steely Dan Guitarist, Dead at 67

Features
By published

(Image credit: Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

Walter Becker, longtime guitarist of classic rock titans Steely Dan, has died at the age of 67, according to a post on his website.

With bandmate Donald Fagen, Becker was the architecht of the smooth, polished, jazzy sound that made Steely Dan one of the most iconic rock bands of the decade.

Becker was not present at Steely Dan's concerts in July, as he was said to be recovering from an unspecified procedure.

More on this story as it develops.

Jackson Maxwell
Jackson Maxwell

Jackson is an Associate Editor at GuitarWorld.com. He’s been writing and editing stories about new gear, technique and guitar-driven music both old and new since 2014, and has also written extensively on the same topics for Guitar Player. Elsewhere, his album reviews and essays have appeared in Louder and Unrecorded. Though open to music of all kinds, his greatest love has always been indie, and everything that falls under its massive umbrella. To that end, you can find him on Twitter crowing about whatever great new guitar band you need to drop everything to hear right now.

More about guitarists
Ace Frehley

“I’m about 85 or 90 percent there. But it’s that 10 percent that sets me off. I can’t knock out those old solos as smooth as I used to”: Ace Frehley is practicing more than ever as he keeps his demons behind him and returns to arenas

Portrait of English musician Steven Wilson, founding member of progressive rock group Porcupine Tree, photographed at his home in Hemel Hempstead on February 17, 2015

“A lot of old-school guitar players can play amazing. But sometimes they’re not so innovative with the actual sound”: Steven Wilson on why guitarists need to switch up their tones to prevent their solos sounding stale
Left-Hans Zimmer performs on stage accompanied by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra during The Sound of 007 in concert at The Royal Albert Hall on October 04, 2022 in London, England; Right-Paul McCartney performs on the Pyramid stage during day four of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 25, 2022 in Glastonbury, England

“I had a phone call from Paul McCartney, and he wanted me to come in and work with him…” How a Beatle helped Hans Zimmer conquer his stage fright with some priceless advice
See more latest
Most Popular
Ace Frehley
“I’m about 85 or 90 percent there. But it’s that 10 percent that sets me off. I can’t knock out those old solos as smooth as I used to”: Ace Frehley is practicing more than ever as he keeps his demons behind him and returns to arenas
Three Fender Stratocasters, sat upright
“I wanted a whole bunch of pickups, four or five. But Leo said they wouldn’t fit”: The creation and evolution of the Stratocaster, Leo Fender's greatest invention
Zakk Wyde
“Ozzy sang a bunch of songs and had a great time. It’s like, ‘I guess we’re gonna do another tour…’” Zakk Wylde is hoping for more Ozzy Osbourne shows – but he’s got his hands full with new Pantera music and upcoming Wylde Audio gear
Eliza Petrosyan
“Paul Jackson Jr. had me transcribe Chic and Michael Jackson guitar layers and listen to session players like Steve Lukather”: Former Chappell Roan guitarist Eliza Petrosyan on how to survive as a guitarist for hire
Kirk Hammett's Factory Black 1959 Gibson ES-335
“If I’m really, really honest with myself, it’s probably my second-best-sounding guitar”: Greeny will always be Kirk Hammett’s pride and joy. But this uber-rare 1959 Gibson ES-335 is a close second – and it has a surprising history
Mike Stringer wear a black hoodie and stands in a field of straw-colored long grass with trees in the background. He is holding an Aristides seven-string guitar.
“People think we were manufactured by the music industry to make them loads of money. That would be one of the worst investments ever”: How Spiritbox’s Mike Stringer went from reluctant hometown hero to metal’s new seven-string phenomenon
Bill Kelliher
“My lead skills are decent enough – but whoever we get is going to be light years ahead of me”: Brent Hinds’ exit left Mastodon at a crossroads. But for Bill Kelliher, it’s an opportunity for a fresh start with a new guitar wingman
Singer/bassist Thundercat performs at the 65th edition of the Newport Jazz Festival in Newport, Rhode Island, August 2, 2019.
“It’s got this Pink Floyd-ish tone that’s really open. I used it with Michael McDonald at the Hollywood Bowl”: Created by the Ibanez Custom Shop in L.A., Thundercat’s double-neck bass guitar has a 6-string on top and an 8-string on the bottom
Ozzy Osbourne (left) and Randy Rhoads perform at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York on August 14, 1981
“It's a dummy solo I laid down – I was supposed to put down a real one later. But I never got time”: Ozzy Osbourne's Diary of a Madman is a landmark guitar album, but some of its final parts made Randy Rhoads “cringe”
TV Jones
“I played Brian Setzer’s personal guitars – the pickups give you more dynamic control. I thought, ‘I have to recreate this!’” How TV Jones revived That Great Gretsch Sound – despite being an underdog in the pickup world