Guitar legend Jeff Beck died on Tuesday after contracting “bacterial meningitis.” He was 78.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing,” Beck’s representative confirmed in a statement shared with Fox News Digital.
“After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
Known as one of the most influential guitarists in modern music, Beck, born Geoffrey Arnold Beck, earned eight Grammy Awards throughout his decades-long career.
Beck spent the summer touring with Johnny Depp in Europe after releasing his final album, “18.”
JOHNNY DEPP PERFORMS IN WASHINGTON DC WITH JEFF BECK IN FRONT OF LAWYERS FROM AMBER HEARD TRIAL
Jeff Beck, guitar legend from the Yardbirds, died on Tuesday. He was 78.
(Venla Shalin)
Jeff was first inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds. He received the honor once again in 2009 as a solo artist.
His final catalog with Depp was in the works for three years, and included covers of Motown musicians, in addition to songs from the Beach Boys, John Lennon and Velvet Underground.
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“When Johnny and I started playing together, it really ignited our youthful spirit and creativity,” Beck told The Sunday Times last year. “We would joke about how we felt 18 again, so that just became the album title too.”
Depp began touring with Beck in the midst of his defamation trial against Amber Heard. Beck and Depp began playing together in 2016 when Jeff dropped in on Johnny’s band, the “Hollywood Vampires.” They began recording together in 2019.
“It’s an extraordinary honor to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats and someone I am now privileged enough to call my brother,” Depp said in a statement.
Fox News Digital’s Larry Fink contributed to this report.
