Jeff Beck would have died if he joined the Rolling Stones.

The 64-year-old guitar legend was approached to join the 'Satisfaction' rockers when Mick Taylor quit in 1974 but turned down the job offer from singer Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards because he didn't think he would be able to fit in with the hard-partying group.

Jeff explained to Word magazine: "I had this flash that said, 'Don't do it, you'll never get on with Mick and Keith musically because you're heading in a different direction'. There's the thing. There's the crossroads. If I'd turned left I'd have been a multi-millionaire Rolling Stone - and dead.

"On the right I'm here, thank you. Not that I wouldn't want to experience some of the things that went on with them but I was into speed and detail and gung-ho playing - and the way they were drinking I just don't think it would have worked.

"I thought, 'This is a life of booze and women. Who needs that?' So I caught the next plane out."

Former Faces musician Ronnie Wood was eventually hired to replace Mick and is still a member of the band.