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On Tuesday, one of the most versatile and controversial guitar idols of the 1960s, Jeff Beck, passed away. He was 78 years old. The news of his passing was posted by his family on Social Media and the artist’s website.
On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing. After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.
Beck recently finished a tour in favor of “18,” his joint record with Johnny Depp. Beck recorded with everyone from Tina Turner and Mick Jagger to Stevie Wonder and Buddy Guy, and amassed a total of eight Grammy Awards, one of which was given for his album Emotion and Commotion.
He is considered as one of the all-time great guitarists by both his colleagues and followers because he can make very difficult guitar moves seem easy and natural.
In 1965, Beck replaced Eric Clapton in the British band the Yardbirds, adding significant guitar energy to the group. He embellished the group’s pop singles with an experimental and essentially unheard-of use of feedback, sustain, and fuzz, sounding completely at home with the group’s blues background.
Some of his most famous guitar solos can be found at the Yardbirds hits of 1965-66: “Heart Full of Soul”, “I’m a Man”, “Shapes of Things”, and “Over Under Sideways Down”.
After unexpectedly leaving the Yardbirds where he was replaced by Jimmy Page, he formed his own band, the Jeff Beck Group, which was led by vocalist Rod Stewart who would soon after become a solo success. The group released two albums.
An appearance from Beck on the David Bowie’s legendary “Ziggy Stardust” farewell concert in 1973 was left out of the 1983 movie and record of the performance but was added — over 50 years after — in Brett Morgen’s 2022 Bowie documentary, “Moonage Daydream.”
The footage featured Beck playing with Bowie on versions of “Jean Genie” and a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Around and Around,”. It is said that Beck refused to sign off on the tape because he didn’t like the jeans he was wearing onstage, but that just might be a rumor.
He started working with Depp in 2020 with a cover of “Isolation” by John Lennon, which was published in April that year, just after the Coronavirus outbreak spread.
In a statement at the time, Beck said, “We weren’t expecting to release it so soon but given all the hard days and true ‘isolation’ that people are going through in these challenging times, we decided now might be the right time to let you all hear it.”
He kept working with Depp amid the actor being the subject of a prominent defamation case against his ex-wife Amber Heard. In July 2022, the duo published the album “18,” and soon after the trial’s favorable outcome, they started a North American tour. When a woman shouted, “I’ve loved you since the Yardbirds!” Beck appeared moved, according to Variety’s review of a performance in New Jersey in October.
Additionally, Beck was featured on the title track “Patient Number 9” and also on “A Thousand Shades” from Ozzy Osbourne’s “Patient Number 9” album, which was released in late June 2022.
He received two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In a short statement after being introduced as a Yardbirds member in 1992, he said, “They kicked me out…fuck them!” In 2009, he was inducted as a solo artist.
Independent Writer. Marketing and communications strategist for politicians, artists, public figures & corporate brands for more than 10 years. Contact: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)
Escritor independiente. Consultor en marketing y comunicaciones de políticos, artistas, figuras públicas y marcas por más de 10 años. Contacto: @alejandrosbasso (Twitter)