Rod Stewart, Ronnie Wood and More Stars React to Guitarist Jeff Beck's Death: He 'Was on Another Planet'

Steve Rapport/Getty Jeff Beck

The music world is mourning the loss of The Yardbirds guitarist Jeff Beck.

On Wednesday, the musician's family confirmed in a statement that he had died of bacterial meningitis the day prior. He was 78.

"On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck's Passing," his family said in the statement. "After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss."

Following the news of his death, several of Beck's longtime friends and collaborators spoke out in memory of him, including his former Yardbirds bandmate Jimmy Page. He joined Page in the English rock band in 1965, replacing Eric Clapton as guitarist.

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"The six stringed Warrior is no longer here for us to admire the spell he could weave around our mortal emotions. Jeff could channel music from the ethereal. His technique unique. His imaginations apparently limitless. Jeff I will miss you along with your millions of fans. Jeff Beck Rest in Peace," Page wrote on Instagram.

Clapton also paid tribute, sharing a photo of Beck playing guitar with the quote, "Always and ever."

A year after joining The Yardbirds, Beck formed his own band, The Jeff Beck Group, with Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood. They released two albums together: Truth and Beck-Ola.

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On Instagram, Stewart — who celebrated his 78th birthday the day of Beck's death — wrote that the beloved musician "was on another planet."

"He took me and Ronnie Wood to the USA in the late 60s in his band the Jeff Beck Group and we haven't looked back since," he wrote. "He was one of the few guitarists that when playing live would actually listen to me sing and respond. Jeff, you were the greatest, my man . Thank you for everything. RIP."

Wood, meanwhile, wrote on Twitter that he feels like "one of my band of brothers has left this world."

"I'm going to dearly miss him," he wrote. "I'm sending much sympathy to [his wife] Sandra, his family, and all who loved him. I want to thank him for all our early days together in Jeff Beck Group, conquering America."

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In a follow-up Tweet, he wrote that as a band, they broke "all the rules."

"It was fantastic, groundbreaking rock 'n' roll!" he wrote. "Listen to the incredible track 'Plynth' in his honour. Jeff, I will always love you. God bless."

Mick Jagger, who had Beck play as the lead guitarist on his debut solo album She's the Boss in 1985, wrote on Twitter that "we have lost a wonderful man and one of the greatest guitar players in the world."

"We will all miss him so much," he added.

Sharing a photo snapped by his former wife Linda McCartney, Paul McCartney posted a lengthy tribute to the rocker on social media, calling Beck a "lovely man with a wicked sense of humor who played some of the best guitar music ever to come out of Great Britain."

The former Beatle praised Beck's "unique style of playing," and recalled the many "great times" they had together, including dinners at McCartney's house and get-togethers hosted by Beck and his wife Sandra.

"Jeff had immaculate taste in most things and was an expert at rebuilding his collection of cars. His no nonsense attitude to the music business was always so refreshing and I will cherish forever the moments we spent together," McCartney wrote. "Jeff Beck has left the building and it is a lonelier place without him. God bless Jeff and his family."

In a statement sent to PEOPLE, singer-songwriter Billy Joel also reacted to the "sad news" of Beck's death, calling him "the great, virtuoso guitarist." He added, "He was one of my heroes. I was fortunate to meet him recently and I'm very grateful now that I was able to tell him how much I admired his musical skill. This is the end of an era. R.I.P."

Ozzy Osbourne wrote on Twitter that it was an "incredible honor" to have Beck play on his most recent solo album, 2022's Patient Number 9.

"I can't express how saddened I am to hear of @JeffBeckMusic's passing," he wrote. "What a terrible loss for his family, friends & his many fans. It was such an honor to have known Jeff."

Osbourne's former Black Sabbath bandmate Tony Iommi also shared his condolences on Twitter, writing that he was "totally shocked" to hear of Beck's passing.

"Jeff was such a nice person and an outstanding iconic, genius guitar player - there will never be another Jeff Beck," he wrote. "His playing was very special & distinctively brilliant! He will be missed. RIP Jeff -Tony."

Jon Bon Jovi remembered his former collaborator on social media, calling Beck a "legend." Beck played guitar on Bon Jovi's debut solo single "Blaze of Glory," which hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1990.

British singer Joss Stone also paid tribute with an emotional message to Beck, with whom she covered "I Put a Spell on You." The pair's version of the song appeared on Beck's 2010 album Emotion & Commotion.

"I don't know what to say. Nothing is OK with this reality right now. It is just heartbreaking to say goodbye," she wrote on Instagram. "Jeff Beck you were a light in many peoples lives through your music but you were so so much more than just a great guitar player you were a great friend and a great husband to your beautiful wife."

Stone continued: "You gave us all so much joy in so many ways. Kind and funny a[nd] full of love. That [is] how I will remember you. We all will. I just wish we could play one more song and have one more laugh. I can see you[r] eyes looking at me now just before we hit the stage and I can hear your laugh, I'll never forget it. Thank you for letting me join you on your beautiful journey through life. It was an honor."

Kiss bandmates Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons both shared reactions on Twitter to Beck's death, with Stanley writing "WOW. What awful news."

"Jeff Beck, one of the all time guitar masters has died," he continued. "From The Yardbirds and The Jeff Beck Group on, he blazed a trail impossible to follow. Play on now and forever."

Simmons wrote that "no one" could play guitar like Beck.

"Please get ahold of the first two Jeff Beck Group albums and behold greatness," he wrote. "RIP."

Nile Rodgers, who got Beck to play on Robert Plant's 1984 album The Honeydrippers: Volume One and went on to produce his Grammy-winning album Flash a year later, wrote on his social media pages that the world lost "one of the greatest guitarist [sic] of all time."

"He gave me so much!" he added of Beck.

The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson similarly wrote on Twitter that Beck was "a genius guitar player" whom he was lucky to see play "close up" while touring with him in 2013.

"One of the highlights we did was 'Danny Boy' – we both loved that song," he wrote. "Love & Mercy to Jeff's family."

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour wrote on Twitter that he was "devastated to hear the news of the death of my friend and hero Jeff Beck, whose music has thrilled and inspired me and countless others for so many years."

"Polly's and my thoughts go out to his lovely wife Sandra," he wrote. "He will be forever in our hearts."

John Mayer wrote on Instagram that he was "so terribly sad" to hear of Beck's death, and shared a photo of the pair. The musicians — both known for their talents on the guitar — once performed a Jimi Hendrix cover together in Los Angeles in 2009, and Beck even once praised Mayer's skills, calling him "the new Eric Clapton."

"He was beyond brilliant," Mayer wrote of Beck. "If you wanted to meet your favorite guitar players, your best bet would be to check the audience at one of Jeff's concerts. Everyone would watch in awe and laugh like kids. He was dazzling."

Mayer continued: "Sending so much love to friends of mine who knew him better...my heart goes out to you. ♥️ thank you Jeff Beck for the endless inspiration."

Singer-songwriter David Ryan Harris, meanwhile, recalled playing the Crossroads Festival with Mayer in 2007, and the excitement that came with watching Beck perform.

"He just destroyed that set. Killed us all," Harris recalled on Instagram. "Backstage after his set, none of us guitarists could even make eye contact with one another. We'd just glance at each other and shake our heads as we passed in the hall. Everyone. Not to disparage any of the other OG guitar heroes, but Beck was the one who not only 'still had it,' he was indisputably better than he was in his 'heyday.'"

Harris said he remembered telling Mayer that Beck "had notes on his guitar that the rest of us didn't have," and called him " a true master of the instrument."

Rick Springfield wrote on Twitter that Beck "has taken his genius and gone home."

"My guitar idol since age 15," he wrote. "For the uninitiated, check out his amazing work on (where do I begin) Roger Waters 'Amused to Death'. His gift was impossible to copy and won't be repeated. Thankful for huge legacy. God speed JB."

Mötley Crüe's Mick Mars opted to tweet a simple message: "RIP Jeff Beck. I'm so sad."

Beyond the music world, comedian Bill Burr chimed in on Twitter following the news.

"Rest in peace to the GREATEST of them all: Jeff Beck!!!!" he wrote.