Legendary Rock Guitarist Jeff Beck Dies Suddenly at Age 78

Jeff Beck, one of the most innovative and influential guitar gods of the 1960s’ British Invasion and the No. 5 entries Rolling Stone’s ranking of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time, has died suddenly at age 78.

The shocking news — which comes just two months after the eight-time Grammy-winner and two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee wrapped his concert tour with friend Johnny Depp to promote their 2022 collaborative album, 18 — was announced Wednesday by his publicist, Melissa Dragich.

“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing,” Dragich’s statement read. “After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday [Jan. 10]. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”

Geoffrey Arnold Beck was born June 24, 1944, in Wallington, England, and he became fascinated with the electric guitar at age 6 after hearing Les Paul’s “How High the Moon” He can be heard on the radio. During and after his stint as a student at Wimbledon College of Art, he moonlighted as a guitarist in various groups like the Nightshift, the Rumbles, and the Tridents, becoming immersed in Britain’s blues/R&B scene thanks to the influence of his friend, Rolling Stones associate Ian Stewart. Jimmy Page, Beck’s childhood friend and mentor, recommended Beck to join the Yardbirds as Eric Clapton’s replacement in 1965.

Although Beck was in the Yardbirds for less than two years and only played in full on one of the seminal English blues-rock band’s U.K. studio albums, 1966’s Yardbirds (also known by the name Roger the Engineer), he added a more commercial pop element to their sound appeared on some of their biggest hits, including “Heart Full of Soul,” “Evil Hearted You,” “Shapes of Things,” and “Over Under Sideways Down.” His music helped to popularize distortion and audio feedback in rock. Beck and Page played in the Yardbirds for a short time together before Beck was fired because of his unprofessional and unreliable conduct.

Beck bounced back in 1967 when he formed the Jeff Beck Group, which was a heavier, more difficult group. It featured a rising singer, Rod Stewart, future Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood and pianist Nicky Hopkins. The classic lineup also included Aynsley Duncanbar, drummer (later replaced later by Micky Wallace). Stewart and Wood were also featured on Beck’s first two solo albums, Truth Beck-Ola. Beck’s work in this period is cited as a major influence on the rise of heavy metal acts in the early ’80s. ‘70s.

In 1969, Beck turned down an opportunity to replace the Stones’ Brian Jones, the Jeff Beck Group’s first guitarist, died in 2002. Other rotating members included Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge’s rhythm section), continued to play with the Jeff Beck Group, along with the Jeff Beck Group. Beck, Bogert & Appice formed in 1972 with two members of the Jeff Beck Group. They released one studio album together in 1973. In 1975, Beck teamed up with George Martin, a Beatles producer, to record his third solo album. Blow by BlowThis marked a shift towards jazz-fusion for the guitarist genius.

Among Beck’s many other collaborators during his career were Donovan, Stevie Wonder, Miss Mercy and the Frank Zappa-masterminded girl group the GTOs, Stanley Clarke, Tina Turner, Nile Rodgers, Mick Jagger, Buddy Guy, Diana Ross, Kate Bush, Herbie Hancock, Roger Waters, Dion, Seal, the Pretenders, Joss Stone, Brian May, Jon Bon Jovi, Paul Rodgers, Morrissey, and his former bandmate Rod Stewart.

In more recent years, Beck recruited Carmen Vandenberg and Rosie Bones of the young British hard rock duo Bones U.K. for his last official solo album, 2016’s Loud Hailer, and Depp to the 2022 Project 18. Also in 2022, he played on two tracks on Ozzy Osbourne’s comeback record Patient Number 9. In 2022 Interview with Yahoo EntertainmentOsbourne, Beck’s superfan, admitted that he was delighted to be able to work with him. “I didn’t think [Beck] would want anything to do with me.”

Sandra Beck, Jeff Beck’s wife of 18 years is his survivor. Osbourne, Wood and Stewart, all rock legends, were shocked to hear about his passing.

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