The music world has lost one of the greatest figures of all time.
Jeff Beck, considered one of the most talented and respected guitarists in history, has passed away, according to a statement posted on his official social media accounts.
he was 78 years old.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness to announce the passing of Jeff Beck.
“He died peacefully yesterday after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis.
“His family is asking for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
Beck rose to fame in 1965 after succeeding Eric Clapton as the Yardbirds’ guitarist.
The following year he founded his own group, The Jeff Beck Group, with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood and released two albums, Truth and Beck-Ola.
Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds. Also Active as a solo artist in 2009.
An eight-time Grammy Award winner, Beck won these awards for the first time in 1985 when he won Best Rock Instrumental Performance for “Escape.”
He won that category five more times.
Last year, Beck toured after recording a covers album titled ’18’ with Johnny Depp.
“They had a really close friendship,” a source tells Peopel Magazine of Depp and Beck.
“They are very close and he became even closer when they toured together this summer.
“The disease developed really quickly and everything has gotten worse very quickly in the last few weeks.”
Depp was “Eve by Jeff’s bedside” with “other rock stars” before Beck’s death, reports this same celebrity gossip outlet.
In the wake of Beck’s death, Rod Stewart wrote on Twitter that Beck “was one of the few guitarists who actually heard and reacted to my songs when I played them live.”
“Jeff, you were the best, my man,” he added.
KISS bassist and co-frontman Gene Simmons called Beck’s death “heartbreaking” and also said:
“No one played guitar like Jeff. Get the Jeff Beck Group’s first two albums and see how great they are. RIP.”
Originally from England, Beck was left by his wife Sandra.
