Johnny Depp is ‘devastated’ by the loss of Jeff Beck, who died in January (Picture: PA)
Musician Jeff Beck has died at the age of 78, devastating his family and friends, which include Johnny Depp.
The actor is said to have been ‘totally devastated’ by the loss of Beck to meningitis, which he contracted several weeks before his death.
As it was reported to People by a source close to them, Depp was among several ‘rock stars’ to have visited Beck’s bedside while he was ill, with the pair enjoying a strong friendship.
The pair made headlines last year as they performed together on stage and released a collaboration album, but have been friends for many years before that.
But when did Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp become friends and what have they done together?
How did Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp become friends?
The pair struck up a friendship in 2016 and have since ‘never stopped laughing’ (Picture: PA)
Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp seemingly became friends in around 2017, according to Beck himself.
As the pair performed together on stage at the Royal Albert Hall last summer, the guitarist introduced Depp to the stage by saying he had ‘come knocking on my dressing room door about five years ago and we haven’t stopped laughing since’.
Beck made the introduction at the first of his gigs Depp performed in after the Amber Heard trial; over the summer he would go on to appear as a special guest multiple times.
What did Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck collaborate on during their friendship?
Depp and Beck have collaborated on covers, original tracks and entire albums over their friendship (Picture: Getty)
Over their five-year friendship, Depp and Beck collaborated again and again, always through music.
While Depp himself is an actor, he is also a talented musician, having played with several bands.
Beck’s official website describes the actor and musician as ‘musical soulmates’, and explained the pair have been ‘working behind-the-scenes for the past several years on new music’.
In 2019, the pals played together at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Musi Festival in Dallas, where they first performed a cover of John Lennon’s track Isolation.
A year later, they would release the cover as the world was locked down due to the pandemic, writing that ‘now might be the right time to let you all hear it.’
In 2021, during his divorce from ex-wife Heard, Depp reportedly traveled to the UK to stay with Beck, with the pair spending weeks writing music together as the musician worked on a new album.
Then came 2022, when immediately following the conclusion of his legal battle with Heard, Depp flew to the UK to join Beck on tour.
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
He stepped onto the stage in Sheffield to fans’ absolute shock, where he and Beck performed covers of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On and Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing, as well as their Isolation cover.
The pair then announced they were working on a collaborative album, titled 18.
That album. released in July 2022, was Beck’s final studio album before his death; it featured two original songs, penned by Depp, as well as covers of the likes of the Beach Boys, Velvet Underground and Marvin Gaye.
In a statement announcing the album, Beck explained the title came from how youthful he and Depp felt in each other’s company.
‘When Johnny and I started playing together, it really ignited our youthful spirit and creativity. We would joke about how we felt 18 again so that just became the album title too,’ he said.
The pair said they felt like teenagers when they played together (Picture: Getty)
Depp, meanwhile, called it an ‘extraordinary honour to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats and someone I am now privileged enough to call my brother.’
Pirates of the Caribbean actor Depp is believed to have visited Beck’s bedside shortly before he died from meningitis, along with the musician’s other friends and family.
A source told People: ‘They had a really tight friendship, they were extremely close, and he got even closer over this past summer when they were touring together.
More: Trending
‘The sickness came on really quickly and it all deteriorated rapidly in the last couple weeks.’
They added that Depp was ‘still processing this news. He’s devastated.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Johnny Depp ‘was at Jeff Beck’s bedside’ and is ‘totally devastated’ as musician dies age 78
The pair were very close.
