On Tuesday, October 17th, the jazz-rock juggernauts of Steely Dan continued on their limited fall tour, with these string of dates marking the group’s first performances since the untimely death of Walter Becker on September 3rd. To honor their fallen bandmate and musical icon, during their performance in Buffalo at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, the group performed Becker’s tune,  “Book of Liars”.

Steely Dan’s Walter Becker Has Passed Away

“Book of Liars” is a song off of Walter Becker’s debut solo album, 11 Tracks of Whack. The tune was sung by Donald Fagen, with three backing vocalists helping out with the chorus and Jon Herrington holding down lead guitar duties. Fagen is quite familiar with “Book of Liars”, as he helped produce 11 Tracks of Whack back in 1994, and the number appeared on Steely Dan’s first live album, Alive In America, which came out the following year.

Donald Fagen Pens Touching Tribute To Steely Dan Guitarist Walter Becker

Before performing “Book of Liars” for the Buffalo crowd, Fagen noted, “[Becker]’s usually standing right here, and it’s weird for me.” However, Fagen is keeping true to his promise made in his tribute letter to Becker last month, where he noted, “I intend to keep the music we created together alive as long as I can with the Steely Dan band.”

You can watch Steely Dan’s tribute to the late, great Walter Becker below.

 

[Video: TheKamherst]

[H/T Rolling Stone]