Eric Clapton, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Rod Stewart, Johnny Depp, and More Pay Tribute to Jeff Beck at Royal Albert Hall Concerts

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Jeff Beck Tribute Concerts Draw Clapton, Metallica’s Hammett, Stewart, Depp, and More

Jeff Beck was honored with two tribute concerts at the Royal Albert Hall last week, featuring an ensemble of musicians paying tribute to the late guitar legend. Among those in attendance were Eric Clapton, Metallica’s Kirk Hammett, Rod Stewart, Johnny Depp, and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry.

The concerts, which took place on May 22 and 23, featured a mix of material and covers that Beck himself played throughout his lifetime. Highlights included a cover of John Lennon’s “Isolation” performed by Hammett, Depp, and ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, in tribute to Beck and Deep Purple’s take on the song that was released in 2022. In addition, Stewart played a four-song medley with Clapton and Gibbons and Depp took on ZZ Top’s “Rough Boy”, a song Beck and Gibbons used to play together.

Clapton also played an extended set on both nights which featured some of Beck’s originals like “Beck’s Bolero”, as well as songs from their time in the Yardbirds and blues standards by Buddy Guy and Muddy Waters.

Other notable performers across the two nights included Imelda May, John McLaughlin, Robert Randolph, Olivia Safe, Joss Stone, Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, Ronnie Wood, and members of the Jeff Beck Band: Rhonda Smith, Anika Nilles, and Robert Stevenson.

Fans can check out fan-filmed footage of the shows below:

Surplus income from the two concerts has been donated to Folly Wildlife Rescue in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Beck rose to fame with The Yardbirds, whom he joined in 1965, replacing Clapton in the band’s line-up. The two musicians went on to tour together as soloists in their later years. Back in 2018, Beck opened up about his past “uncomfortable rivalry” with Clapton.

Clapton paid tribute to Beck on social media in the wake of the guitarist’s death earlier this year. “‘Always and ever’,” he captioned a photograph of the late artist.

Jeff Beck’s funeral service was held on February 3. Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page described him in the eulogy he gave as “the quiet chief”, according to comedian Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) who was in attendance.