'Felt 18 again': Inside Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp's friendship as actor 'hero-worshipped' late guitarist
LONDON, ENGLAND: Famous guitarist Jeff Beck died on Wednesday, January 11 due to bacterial meningitis. His relationship with Johnny Depp was heartwarming. So much that, Beck even claimed once, "I haven’t had a creative partner like him for ages."
Jimmy Page once stated that Depp often called Beck his "brother" and even "hero-worshipped" him. Page also claimed, "When you have connected on some sort of level it becomes that tight you don’t particularly have to say anything. Just an eyeball glance and you are both on the floor laughing," as per Daily Mail.
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Depp and Beck met for the first time in 2014. Depp was shooting in Tokyo whereas the musician was touring. The actor knocked on Beck's door for a conversation. About this, Beck stated, "He came knocking on my dressing room door about five years ago and we haven’t stopped laughing since." While Depp was facing legal battles to settle the divorce with his ex-wife Amber Heard, the duo who went on to release, 'Album 18' were a huge support to each other. Beck also claimed during the release of their album, "When Johnny and I started playing together, it really ignited our youthful spirit and creativity. We would joke about how we felt 18 again." Depp added, "It's an extraordinary honor to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats and someone I am now privileged enough to call my brother," as per the outlet.
Beck further opined, "I haven't had another creative partner like him for ages. He was a major force on this record. I just hope people will take him seriously as a musician because it's a hard thing for some people to accept that Johnny Depp can sing rock and roll," reported People. Depp spent much of his time during lockdown with Beck and his wife Sandra Cash. Depp has also disclosed, "There was a couple that very much helped to keep me alive, sane and happy at that time through the weirdness — and that was Jeff and Sandra." However, the duo had differences when it comes to their lifestyle. Beck was a vegetarian whereas Depp was famous for his narcotic and financial excesses. Meanwhile, during the last moments of his best friend, the 59-year-old actor was next to him. According to a source, "They had a really tight friendship, they were extremely close, and he got even closer over this past summer when they were touring together. The sickness came on really quickly and it all deteriorated rapidly in the last couple of weeks. Johnny is still processing this news. He's devastated," as per People.
Beck's family confirmed the death of the musician on his official social media handle, stating, "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 asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss."