Tributes from the rock community have poured in after news that legendary guitarist Jeff Beck has died at the age of 78.
Beck, who rose to fame as part of the Yardbirds before fronting the Jeff Beck Group, passed away ‘peacefully’ after contracting bacterial meningitis.
In a statement on the musician’s official Twitter page, his representatives said: "On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing.
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"After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday.
"His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
After replacing Eric Clapton in Yardbirds, Beck went on to enjoy a lengthy career in music throughout the 1960s and beyond, helping shape musical styles as diverse as blues and jazz to heavy metal.
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When he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for the second time in 2009, Beck said: "I play the way I do because it allows me to come up with the sickest sounds possible.
"That's the point now, isn't it? I don't care about the rules.
"In fact, if I don't break the rules at least 10 times in every song, then I'm not doing my job properly."
More recently, he has collaborated with actor and musician Johnny Depp – with his band Hollywood Vampires among many of the famous names to pay tribute to the star in the wake of his death.
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Describing the late star as a ‘true innovator’, the group said: "We are saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend and guitar legend Jeff Beck.”
Mick Jagger also honoured the guitarist on Instagram, saying: “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.”
Faces bandmates Ronnie Wood and Rod Stewart, who played with Beck in the Jeff Beck Group, shared their own poignant anecdotes.
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“Now Jeff has gone, I feel like one of my band of brothers has left this world, and I’m going to dearly miss him,” Wood said.
“I’m sending much sympathy to Sandra, his family, and all who loved him. I want to thank him for all our early days together in Jeff Beck Group, conquering America.”
Stewart said Beck was the ‘greatest’ and ‘on another planet’, adding: "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."
Tony Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath wrote on Twitter, also wrote on Twitter: "Jeff was such a nice person and an outstanding iconic, genius guitar player - there will never be another Jeff Beck."
Jess Hardiman