Jeff Beck was 78.
The death of Jeff Beck has been announced by his family after a short illness.
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s passing,” a statement reads.
“After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”
Naturally, in response his sixties contemporaries and collaborators have united around the memory of Beck as one of the greatest guitar players there has ever been, and perhaps the very best produced in the UK.
“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. I’m sending much sympathy to Sandra, his family, and all who loved him,” Ronnie Wood, one of those leaving tributes, wrote on Twitter.
“I want to thank him for all our early days together in Jeff Beck Group, conquering America.”
“Musically, we were breaking all the rules, it was fantastic, groundbreaking rock ’n’ roll! Listen to the incredible track ‘Plynth’ in his honour. Jeff, I will always love you. God bless.”