The renowned guitarist Jeff Beck, who was a member of the Yardbirds and the leader of the Jeff Beck Group, has passed away at the age of 78, according to his representative. After “suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis,” Beck passed away on Tuesday, according to the spokesman. While they deal with this immense tragedy, his loved ones “request privacy,” they said.
Known as an innovator and frequently hailed as one of the finest guitarists of all time, Beck was reportedly insured for £7 million for his fingers and thumbs. During his career, he was an innovator in jazz-rock, a trailblazer in the use of distortion and fuzz effects, and a lynchpin for heavier subgenres including heavy metal and psych rock.
In addition to being elected into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist and as a member of the Yardbirds, he won eight Grammys and received the Ivor Novello for exceptional contribution to British music.
Musicians and longtime friends began paying tribute minutes after the news broke. On Twitter, Jimmy Page wrote, “The six stringed Warrior is no longer here for us to admire the spell he could weave around our mortal emotions. Jeff could channel music from the ethereal. His technique unique. His imaginations apparently limitless. Jeff I will miss you along with your millions of fans.”
“With the death of Jeff Beck we have lost a wonderful man and one of the greatest guitar players in the world,” Mick Jagger wrote. “We will all miss him so much.”
With the death of Jeff Beck we have lost a wonderful man and one of the greatest guitar players in the world. We will all miss him so much. pic.twitter.com/u8DYQrLNB7
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) January 11, 2023
“You were the greatest, my man,” Rod Stewart exclaimed, referring to him as “one of the few guitarists that when playing live would actually listen to me sing and respond.” Stewart was a member of the Jeff Beck Group during their late 60s tour. I appreciate everything you’ve done.
1/2
Jeff Beck was on another planet . He took me and Ronnie Wood to the USA in the late 60s in his band the Jeff Beck Group
and we haven’t looked back since . pic.twitter.com/uS7bbWsHgW
— Sir Rod Stewart (@rodstewart) January 11, 2023
Gene Simmons called it “heartbreaking news … no one played guitar like Jeff. Please get ahold of the first two Jeff Beck Group albums and behold greatness. RIP.” The loss of Jeff has made Ronnie Wood feel like “one of my band of brothers” has passed away, and Wood expressed his sorrow on Twitter.
Ozzy Osbourne tweeted, “I can’t express how saddened I am to hear of Jeff Beck’s passing. What a terrible loss for his family, friends & his many fans. It was such an honour to have known Jeff and an incredible honor to have had him play on my most recent album.”
1/2
Jeff Beck was on another planet . He took me and Ronnie Wood to the USA in the late 60s in his band the Jeff Beck Group
and we haven’t looked back since . pic.twitter.com/uS7bbWsHgW
— Sir Rod Stewart (@rodstewart) January 11, 2023
In a statement, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour expressed his deep sadness over the passing of Jeff Beck, a friend and inspiration to many. Beck’s music had a profound impact on Gilmour and many others for a long time. We will hold him dear in our hearts forever.
“Oh, My Heart…,” penned by David Coverdale of Whitesnake, and “a pioneer and one of the all time greats” was what Johnny Marr had to say about him. Dear Jeff… Already, I am missing you.
Dave Davies of the Kinks tweeted, “I’m heartbroken he looked in fine shape to me.” He looked fantastic and played even better. I’m taken aback and confused… Please explain it to me because I’m confused. Along with being an excellent guitarist, he was a wonderful friend.
Several well-known guitarists praised Beck for his talent and impact. The “wonderful soul” Beck “was able to show me how this guitar playing thing should be approached,” according to Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.
Joe Perry of Aerosmith dubbed him “the Salvador Dali of guitar,” and Vernon Reid of Living Colour remarked that there was “always room for him to grow.”
“Jeff Beck was punk rock before punk existed and one of the most inventive guitar players of all time,” wrote U2’s The Edge. “He set a very high bar for all of us who followed. His legend will live on.”
As Brian May of Queen put it, “He was the Guv’nor,” and the news “gutted” him. He was unparalleled, irreplaceable, and the zenith of guitar mastery. “And a really wonderful human being.”
If you want up-to-date information about other people’s deaths, including obituaries, autopsy reports, and causes of death, you should visit lakecountyfloridanews.com.
Here are the details surrounding the passing of other famous people:
- Ian Falconer Cause of Death: His Timeless Tales of Olivia and Beyond!
- Caleb Swanigan Cause of Death: How did American Rapper Die?
