Jeff Beck has once-again found an unexpected collaborator in Johnny Depp. The pair have been working behind-the-scenes for the past few years on new music and on April 16 they released their first single as a duo, a re-imagining of John Lennon’s classic track “Isolation,” via Atco/Rhino Records. On May 12, they released the official live video of the performance.
Lennon released the song 50 years ago, on his first official solo album, John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band.
“Isolation” finds Beck in tremendous form on guitar, with Depp on vocals, joined by long-time Beck collaborators Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Rhonda Smith on bass. The band first performed the track live during Beck’s brief tour last September.
Watch the official video of the song
In the April 16 announcement, Beck said, “Johnny and I have been working on music together for a while now and we recorded this track during our time in the studio last year. We weren’t expecting to release it so soon but given all the hard days and true ‘isolation’ that people are going through in these challenging times, we decided now might be the right time to let you all hear it.”
Watch the lyric video for the recording
Depp adds, “Lennon’s poetry – ‘We’re afraid of everyone. Afraid of the Sun!’ – seemed to Jeff and me especially profound right now, this song about isolation, fear, and existential risks to our world.”
Watch them perform the song on Sept. 21, 2019
Beck is universally acknowledged as one of the most talented and significant guitarists in the world and has played alongside some of the greatest artists of rock, blues, and jazz. Over the course of his distinguished 50+ year career, he has earned eight Grammy Awards and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice – once as a member of the Yardbirds and again as a solo artist.
Though better known as an actor, Depp has amassed a musical resume of his own, playing in the Hollywood Vampires supergroup with Alice Cooper and Joe Perry for the last five years.
Listen to Lennon’s original recording
Beck has rescheduled his U.K. tour to 2021; the dates were originally planned for May 2020. All tickets will be honored for the rescheduled concert dates.
Jeff Beck 2021 U.K. Tour
Apr 21 – Sheffield – Sheffield City Hall
Apr 22 – York – York Barbican
Apr 23 – Manchester – O2 Apollo
Apr 25 – Birmingham – Symphony Hall
Apr 26 – Gateshead – The Sage
Apr 27 – Glasgow – Glasgow Royal Concert Hall
Apr 30 – Cardiff – St. David’s Hall
May 01 – London – Royal Albert Hall
May 02 – London – Royal Albert Hall
Related: Our Album Rewind of Beck’s masterpiece, Truth
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3 Comments
OUTSTANDING !!!
I don’t think so….
Sym, you don’t have a clue!!!!!