The British rock pioneer known as the “guitarist’s guitarist” died at 78yo after suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis. Rising to fame after replacing legend Eric Clapton in the Yardbirds in 1965, Beck released a few hits during a brief solo career before forming the Jeff Beck Group. Featuring then-unknowns Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood, the band’s 1968 debut Truth established a new rock sound that influenced genres like heavy metal and rockers Led Zeppelin. Known as an innovator with the electric guitar, Beck won 8 Grammy Awards during his decades-long career, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – once with the Yardbirds and once as a solo artist. Despite this, Beck wasn’t as big as many of his contemporaries – not that he minded, saying it’s a “really rotten place to be”. Former Yardbirds bandmate Jimmy Page said “Jeff could channel music from the ethereal”.