Legendary Rock Guitarist Jeff Beck Dies Aged 78

Legendary guitarist Jeff Beck of Yardbirds and the Jeff Beck Group passed away at the age 78, his representative announced on Thursday.

"On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck's passing," the statement said.

"After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family ask for privacy while they process this tremendous loss."

His real name was Geoffrey Arnold Beck and he was born in Wallington, south London. He fell in love with Rock and Roll and built his first guitar as a teenager.

He described: "The guy next door said, 'I'll build you a solid body guitar for five pounds'," he later told Rock Cellar Magazine. "Five pounds, which to me was 500 back then [so] I went ahead and did it [myself].

"The first one I built was in 1956, because Elvis was out, and everything that you heard about pop music was guitar. And then I got fascinated. I'm sure the same goes for lots of people."

He played with shock-rocker Screaming Lord Sutch and the Tridents.

When Eric Clapton left the Yardbirds in 1965, Jimmy Page recommended Beck, in addition, he performed hits like I'm A Man and Shapes Of Things, which influenced musicians like Paul McCartney and Jimi Hendrix.

The guitarist stayed with The Yardbirds for two years, before starting his first solo project.

After that, he formed the Jeff Beck Group which was disbanded after a few years.

Shortly, he continued his appearances with different acts and bands.

Beck was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, in 1992 as a member of the Yardbirds, then as a solo artist in 2009.