Jeff Beck REAL Cause of Death: Legendary Rock Icon Dead at 78

Jeff Beck, a Grammy-winning rock guitarist whose solo career skyrocketed in the past decades, has died. He was 78.

Beck's family confirmed his passing in a statement on Wednesday. The bereaved loved ones revealed he died at a hospital near his Surrey, England, home Tuesday.

The same press release, cited by The Hollywood Reporter, revealed that Jeff Beck's cause of death was bacterial meningitis.

"It is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck's passing," the family said. "After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss."

The musician's official Facebook page shared similar news alongside a photo of the guitarist playing the instrument in one of his shows. The representative asked for privacy for his family following the "tremendous loss."

Both announcements did not disclose when Beck contracted the serious infection. Details about his funeral and other memorial services are not yet available to the public.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bacterial meningitis is a serious infection that can lead to death in just a few hours after it occurs. Although some people recover from it, patients who suffer from the infection have permanent disabilities, including hearing loss and brain damage.

Some of the types of bacteria that can cause meningitis can also lead to sepsis, a life-threatening medical emergency that refers to the body's extreme response to infection.

Ozzy Osbourne, Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, and Gene Simmons were among the music legends who expressed their heartbreaks after learning the untimely news. Fans all over the globe also shared messages online as they mourned Beck's death.

Jeff Beck's Legacy

Often described as one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Beck dedicated almost his whole life to showing his love for music.

Born in Wallington in 1944, the young Beck started singing in a choir in a church before playing guitar as a teenager. In 2016, he revealed that a man offered to be his guarantor when he tried to dupe a music store in a hire-purchase scheme.

Although the man introduced himself as his stepfather so he could get the instrument, the store eventually got the guitar back. His father then told the store they could not afford to purchase it.

Following his explanation, the store reportedly waived the payments, and he got the guitar.

Beck began playing with Screaming Lord Sutch before Jimmy Page tapped him to replace Eric Clapton in Yardbirds. After spending 20 months with the group, he marked his solo career with a debut album in 1968.

His career bloomed even more from there, garnering eight Grammy Awards in his lifetime and ranking fifth on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarist List.