Legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck dies aged 78
Legendary rock guitarist Jeff Beck, known for his work with The Yardbirds, has died at the age of 78.
A family statement posted on the musician’s official Twitter account read: “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.”
Beck (second from left) in the Yardbirds in 1966. Pic: Rex/Dezo Hoffman/Shutterstock
The British rock star had recently finished touring his latest album 18, which he recorded with Johnny Depp.
“Jeff was such a nice person and an outstanding iconic, genius guitar player – there will never be another Jeff Beck,” Tony Iommi, guitarist for Black Sabbath wrote on Twitter.
Ronnie Wood, who played with Beck in the Jeff Beck Group, said that he felt one of his “band of brothers has left this world” while Rod Stewart, who was also in the group, simply called him “the greatest”.
KISS frontman Paul Stanley and bassist Gene Simmons also both paid tribute to the rock star, with the latter saying “no one played like Jeff”.
Beck first came to prominence as a member of The Yardbirds and then went out on his own in a solo career that incorporated hard rock, jazz, blues and even opera.
He was known for his improvising, love of harmonics and the whammy bar on his favourite guitar, the Fender Stratocaster.
In a career spanning six decades, Beck won eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, with The Yardbirds in 1992 and as a solo artist in 2009.
He played guitar with vocalists as varied as Luciano Pavarotti, Rod Stewart, Macy Gray, Chrissie Hynde, Joss Stone, Imelda May, and Cyndi Lauper.
A friend of fellow guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, the pair performed together on several occasions.
Rolling Stone magazine ranked him as the fifth-greatest guitarist of all time, while Joe Perry of Aerosmith called him the “best guitar player on the planet” in 2010.
He was born in Surrey in 1944 to an accountant father and a mother who worked in a chocolate factory. Beck was in a number of bands before joining the Yardbirds in 1965, when he replaced Eric Clapton and later gave way to Jimmy Page.
Beck pictured in 2001
While Beck was in the band, it released the singles Heart Full of Soul, I’m a Man and Shapes of Things.
He leaves behind his wife of 17 years, Sandra Beck.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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