Guitarist Jeff Beck Dead At 78

One of the most renown and pioneering guitar players, Jeff Beck, has reportedly died at 78 years of age. The news comes from Beck’s official social media pages where the following statement was posted:

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

For guitar based music Jeff Beck has always been revered as a musical hero and pioneer of the instrument ever since he first established himself in the Yardbirds. Beck’s solo career however, is where he’d made the biggest impact on the musical landscape and rock guitar genre.

Recently his solo career had seen a remarkably successful past year, having recorded guitar for Ozzy Osbourne’s latest solo record Patient Number 9, more specifically on the album’s grammy nominated title track.

Without a doubt, contemporary guitar music would not sound like and be what it is today without the passion and musical ingenuity that Jeff Beck brought to the instrument.

Since word of Beck’s passing has spread a countless number of fellow musicians and colleagues of Beck have shared their condolences and fond words of the late guitarist. Jimmy Page, who was also one of the presenters at the Jeff Beck’s Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame induction, took to social media to remember Beck, stating “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.”

Fellow guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson made a very heartfelt and poignant statement on Beck’s passing as well: “Hearing about Jeff Beck is a shock. He was one of the most original guitarists I ever heard. He never conformed to status quo guitar or conventional playing, always reaching for a new dimension which he achieved multiple times. He was the most expressive lyrical storytelling guitarist there ever was and that’s why non musicians loved him. He garnered more affection from audiences than other guitar heroes because he had such a musical poetry to his playing. I believe that he and Jimi Hendrix were the most inventive and original rock guitarists there ever was. I had the gift of being able to visit with Jeff a few times and that is a treasured memory in my life. The guitar world will go on but it won’t be the same without the most inventive six string visionary we have been graced with on this planet. Joyous wishes to you, Jeff, as you soar on to your next magnificent adventure. Thank you for teaching me and inspiring me to want to play guitar. Eric