Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck dies at 78
Jeff Beck #JeffBeck
Sir Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood have led tributes to the “groundbreaking” Jeff Beck, one of the greatest rock guitarists of all time, following his death at the age of 78.
The pair said Beck, with whom they conquered the US in the late 1960s and The Jeff Beck Group, had been “on another planet”.
The Grammy-winning musician rose to prominence with The Yardbirds, and went on to front Beck, Bogert & Appice and have a successful solo career.
Beck died “peacefully” on Tuesday after contracting bacterial meningitis, his family said.
‘Breaking all the rules’
Sharing a picture of the pair to Instagram, Sir Rod wrote: “Jeff Beck was on another planet. He took me and Ronnie Wood to the USA in the late 60s in his band the Jeff Beck Group and we haven’t looked back since.
“He was one of the few guitarists that when playing live would actually listen to me sing and respond.
“Jeff, you were the greatest, my man. Thank you for everything. RIP.”
The singer joined The Jeff Beck Group in 1967, which marked a breakout moment in his career.
Wood, also known as a key member of The Rolling Stones, also shared pictures of them, along with other famous faces including Johnny Depp and Slash.
“Now Jeff has gone, I feel like one of my band of brothers has left this world, and I’m going to dearly miss him,” he wrote.
“I’m sending much sympathy to Sandra, his family, and all who loved him. I want to thank him for all our early days together in The Jeff Beck Group, conquering America.
“Musically, we were breaking all the rules, it was fantastic, groundbreaking rock ‘n’ roll! Listen to the incredible track ‘Plynth’ in his honour.
“Jeff, I will always love you. God bless.”
Beck ranked in the top five of Rolling Stone’s 100 greatest guitarists and was often described as a “guitarist’s guitarist”.
A statement posted on the musician’s Twitter page read: “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 ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
‘Six-stringed warrior’
As tributes from around the world flooded in, Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page paid tribute to Beck as “the six-stringed warrior” and praised his “apparently limitless” musical imagination.
A chance meeting between Page and Beck led the latter to join The Yardbirds in 1965 – replacing the band’s former guitarist, Eric Clapton.
“The six stringed Warrior is no longer here for us to admire the spell he could weave around our mortal emotions,” Page wrote online.
“Jeff could channel music from the ethereal. His technique unique. His imaginations apparently limitless.
“Jeff I will miss you along with your millions of fans. Jeff Beck Rest in Peace.”
Kiss’s frontman, Paul Stanley, described Beck as “one of the all time guitar masters”. He added on Twitter:
Kiss bassist Gene Simmons said Beck’s death was “heartbreaking news … no one played guitar like Jeff. Please get ahold of the first two Jeff Beck Group albums and behold greatness. RIP.”
Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger remembered his friend as a “wonderful man” and one of the world’s greatest guitarists while Black Sabbath’s Tony Iommi wrote on Twitter that he was “totally shocked”. He added:
Ozzy Osbourne and Sir Brian May were also among the musical heavyweights to pay tribute to “six-stringed warrior” Beck.
Osbourne said it had been “such an honour” to know and play with him on his most recent album. He wrote on Twitter:
Queen guitarist Sir Brian May said Beck was “the absolute pinnacle of guitar playing” and a “damn fine human being”.
“Gutted, so sad, to hear of Jeff’s passing. He was the Guv’nor. He was inimitable, irreplaceable – the absolute pinnacle of guitar playing,” he wrote on Instagram.
“And a damn fine human being. I’m sure I will have a lot to say, but right now …. Just lost for words.”
David Gilmour of Pink Floyd said he was “devastated” by the death of his “friend and hero”.
“I am devastated to hear the news of the death of my friend and hero Jeff Beck, whose music has thrilled and inspired me and countless others for so many years,” he wrote on Twitter.
“Polly’s and my thoughts go out to his lovely wife Sandra. He will be forever in our hearts.”
US rock group ZZ Top said its members felt “privileged” to have shared multiple stages with Beck over the course of his lengthy career. They added on Twitter:
Beck was born Geoffrey Arnold Beck in Wallington, England to parents Arnold and Ethel Beck and developed a passion for music as a child.
He made headlines last year when he announced a collaborative album with Johnny Depp shortly after the Hollywood actor’s defamation battle with ex-wife Amber Heard drew to a close.
The pair first met in 2016 and began recording the album in 2019 while Depp was also playing with Alice Cooper’s supergroup Hollywood Vampires.
US rock band Hollywood Vampires, comprising of Johnny Depp, Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Tommy Henriksen, also paid tribute to Beck online, describing him as a “true innovator”.
“We are saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend and guitar legend Jeff Beck,” the band’s account wrote.
“Jeff’s incredible musicianship and passion for guitar has been an inspiration to us all.
“He was a true innovator and his legacy will live on through his music. Rest in peace, Jeff.”
Beck was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice – first as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992 and later as a solo artist in 2009.
During the course of his career, he won a total of eight Grammy awards.
Genesis lead guitarist Steve Hackett said Beck had been “a powerful influence on myself and many others”.
Writing on Twitter following news of Beck’s death, Hackett wrote: “Devastating news about the loss of much loved, influential guitar legend Jeff Beck.
“He made the electric guitar sing…a powerful influence on myself and many others.”
US musicians including Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Brian Wilson and Hollywood Vampires also paid their respects to Beck.
‘World is a poorer place’
Perry described him as “the Salvador Dali of guitar” and said the world was “a poorer place” following his death.
“Jeff Beck was the Salvador Dali of guitar, to see him play was to hear the ultimate 6 string alchemist create magic in a world of its own,” he wrote.
“With his passing, the world is a poorer place. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Sandra. We share your sorrow.”
Beach Boys singer and co-founder Wilson recalled fond memories of touring with Beck in 2013.
“I’m so sad to hear about Jeff Beck passing. Jeff was a genius guitar player, and me and my band got to see it close up when we toured with him in 2013,” he wrote.
“One of the highlights we did was ‘Danny Boy’ – we both loved that song. Love & Mercy to Jeff’s family.”
US rock legend Alice Cooper said in a tribute: “When I was 16 years old, The Spiders, who became the original Alice Cooper band, opened for the Yardbirds.
“That night I experienced the greatest guitar player I had ever heard. Half a century later Jeff Beck is still the greatest guitarist, PERIOD – The greatest of all time.
“He was a friend, and there will NEVER be another Jeff Beck. Ever.”
Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale called Beck a “unique, electrifying musician”, adding on Twitter: “My Sincere Heartfelt Condolences To His Wife, His Family, His Friends & Fans.”
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