The music world is grieving the passing of The Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck.
The musician’s family confirmed on Wednesday that he died the day before from bacterial meningitis. He was 78.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound regret that we relay the news of Jeff Beck’s passing,” his family said in a statement. “He abruptly had bacterial meningitis, and yesterday he calmly went away. His family requests privacy as they grieve his untimely demise.”
Many of Beck’s old friends and colleagues paid tribute to him after learning of his passing, including his former Yardbirds bandmate Jimmy Page. In 1965, he succeeded Eric Clapton as guitarist in the English rock band Page.
“We can no longer wonder at the spell the six-stringed Warrior could build around our finite emotions because he is no longer among us. Jeff had access to otherworldly music. His approach is distinct. His imagination seemed to be limitless. Jeff, I will miss you, as will your legions of followers. “Peace be with you, Jeff Beck,” Page posted on Instagram.
Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood helped Beck launch The Jeff Beck Group a year after he left The Yardbirds. Truth and Beck-Ola are two of the albums on which they worked.
Stewart, 78, posted on Instagram the day Beck died that the beloved artist “was on another realm.”
“He relocated me and Ronnie Wood to the United States in his band, the Jeff Beck Group, in the late ’60s, and we haven’t looked back since,” he wrote.
“He was one of the few guitarists who would listen to me sing while performing live. Jeff, you were the best. Everything is appreciated. RIP.”
Meanwhile, Wood rushed to Twitter to express his feelings, stating, “one of my band of brothers has left this world.”
“I’m going to miss him badly,” he wrote.
“I extend my condolences to [his wife Sandra], his family, and everyone who knew and loved him. He helped the Jeff Beck Group conquer America in our early days together, and I want to thank him for that.”
In a subsequent Tweet, he declared they had broken “all the rules” as a band.
“It was spectacular, ground-breaking rock ‘n’ roll,” he wrote. “Listen to the amazing song ‘Plynth’ in his honor. Jeff, I shall always love you. God’s grace.”
