Johnny Depp’s longtime friend and partner, Jeff Beck, has died.
The English guitarist died on Tuesday at the age of 78, and according to a source, the Pirates of the Caribbean actor, 59, “was by Jeff’s bedside” with “many other rock stars” before his death.
They were very close, according to the insider, and their friendship grew even stronger during their joint tour this summer. “The sickness worsened quickly, and everything deteriorated rapidly in the last couple of weeks.”
“Johnny is still taking it all in.” The source involves him being “heartbroken.”
Depp and Beck released their album, 18, on July 15 of the previous year.
The band also debuted an official music video for the album’s lead single, “This Is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr.”
“It’s an extraordinary privilege to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats and someone I am now blessed enough to call my brother,” the Sweeney Todd actor said at the time in a press statement.
“I haven’t had another creative partner like him in ages,” Beck said at the time of Depp. “He had a substantial influence on this album. I just hope people respect him as a musician because some people find it difficult to believe Johnny Depp can sing rock and roll.”
The two also appeared in additional performances.
Beck’s family announced his death in a statement issued on Wednesday.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound grief that we deliver the news of Jeff Beck’s Passing,” began the statement’s first sentence. “He abruptly had bacterial meningitis, and yesterday he peacefully went away. His family asks for privacy as they grieve this awful death.”
Beck rose to prominence in 1965 when he replaced Eric Clapton as The Yardbirds’ guitarist. He has been a part of many iconic musical moments over the years, including his work as lead guitarist on Mick Jagger’s debut album, She’s the Boss, and the title track on Ozzy Osbourne’s most recent album, Patient Number 9.
Sandra Beck, the husband of the eight-time Grammy winner, is still alive.
