Johnny Depp Rushed To Be With Friend Before He Died

(FiveNation.com)- Hollywood actor Johnny Depp rushed to his friend Jeff Beck’s hospital bedside just before he died, according to The Daily Wire. Beck, the legendary guitarist, died at the age of 78 after a short battle with bacterial meningitis his family says. They add that he passed away peacefully.

Depp, who was Beck’s friend, collaborator, and performing partner, is “totally devastated,” according to People.

“They had a really tight friendship, they were extremely close, and he got even closer over this past summer when they were touring together,” a source told the magazine, adding that when Beck contracted the illness his health rapidly deteriorated.

Depp and Beck both released an album together, titled “18,” and made an official music video for the album’s first single, “This is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr.” The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star spoke only praise for the legendary musician, saying that it was an honor to play and write music with him.

“I am now privileged enough to call [him] my brother,” Depp added.

The respect was reportedly mutual, with Beck once saying that he was concerned that people would be unable to differentiate between Depp as an actor and Depp as a rock musician. Beck said that Johnny Depp was a “major force” to work with on his latest album, noting that he has not had a “creative partner like him in ages.”

Beck’s music career concluded with 17 Grammy nominations and eight wins. He remains 5th on Rolling Stone’s top 100 guitarists of all time, ahead of B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Eddie Van Halen, Duane Allman, and Pete Townshend.

Fans quickly took to social media after the news. One user tweeted that he remembered being captured by the “Jeff Beck/Jimmy Page lineup of the Yardbirds.” KISS’ Gene Simmons also encouraged fans to listen to Beck’s music.