Last Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, Rock legend Jeff Beck passed away after tragically contracting bacterial meningitis. Since then, tributes for the famed guitarist began pouring down on social media.
"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's family said in a statement to People Magazine.
Beck gained a massive resurgence of popularity last year after he partnered with controversial actor and musician Johnny Depp days before the final verdict for his defamation trial against Amber Heard was announced.
According to People Magazine sources, Depp was at Beck's bedside and other rock legends moments before he passed away.
"Johnny is still processing this news. He's devastated," the source revealed.
"They had a really tight friendship, they were extremely close, and he got even closer over this past summer when they were touring together. The sickness came on really quickly and it all deteriorated rapidly in the last couple weeks."
Depp and Beck recently embarked on a "Jeff Beck Live on Concert tour," which saw the duo performing on 23 dates across the North American continent. Depp performed 22 out of 23 performances from the tour.
Earlier this year, they also released their first collaborative album, "18," which garnered significant media attention after it was accused of lifting off lyrics from a poem.
Rolling Stone released an article exposing Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck's allegedly lifting "Sad Motherfuckin' Parade" lyrics from a poem made by an incarcerated man in 1974.
However, the duo hit back with a scathing lawsuit, saying that since the material was handed down like a folk tale, the claims were unsubstantiated because it has "no clear origins."
Because of that, Depp and Beck are seeking damages and for a judge to declare they did not commit any copyright infringement.
Even before that, the two had been fond of each other. Beck even considers that he has not had any creative partner like Depp in Ages.
"He was a major force on this record. I just hope people will take him seriously as a musician because it's a hard thing for some people to accept that Johnny Depp can sing rock and roll," Beck said of Depp.
As of this writing, Depp has not yet released any statement nor any tributes following Beck's sudden death.
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