Billy Joel paid tribute to the late guitarist Jeff Beck during his concert at Madison Square Garden on Friday, days after the rocker’s death.
Iconic musician Beck died at the age of 78 on Tuesday, after contracting bacterial meningitis.
Joel was performing at one of his regular residency shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday when he addressed Beck’s passing.
Tribute: Just days after legendary guitarist Jeff Beck passed away, he was paid tribute by another iconic musician, Billy Joel.
RIP: Beck passed away at the age of 78 on Tuesday, after contracting bacterial meningitis
‘He was a musician that I always loved. He was the best. Jeff Beck just recently passed away,’ Joel said to applause in a video of the show (via Billy Joel concert video).
“I couldn’t let the night go by without doing some Jeff. This is a recording he did with Rod Stewart, called People Get Ready,” Joel said before beginning the song.
The song was recorded in 1985 and appeared on their eighth studio album Flash.
The best: ‘He was a musician that I always loved. He was the best. Jeff Beck just recently passed away,’ Joel said to applause in a video of the show (via Billy Joel Concert Video).
He couldn’t: “I couldn’t let the night go by without doing some Jeff. This is a recording he did with Rod Stewart, called People Get Ready,” Joel said before beginning the song.
Before the show ended, Joel and his band decided to play the Alabama State Troupers’ Going Down, which Beck covered on his 1972 album The Jeff Beck Group.
“We should have rehearsed this today,” Joel joked after the performance.
Beck’s family confirmed the guitarist’s death in a statement released Wednesday.
Another song: Before the show ended, Joel and his band decided to play Going Down by the Alabama State Troupers, which Beck covered on his 1972 album The Jeff Beck Group.
Confirmed: Beck’s family confirmed the death of the guitarist with a statement released on Wednesday
“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Jeff Beck,” the statement began.
‘After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he passed away peacefully yesterday. His family asks for privacy as they process this tremendous loss,’ the statement concluded.
Reacting to the “sad news” of Beck’s death, Joel sent a statement to People, calling him “the great virtuoso guitarist.”
Passing: “On behalf of his family, it is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Jeff Beck,” the statement began.
Billy’s statement: Reacting to the “sad news” of Beck’s death, Joel sent a statement to People, calling him “the great guitar virtuoso.”
“He was one of my heroes. I was lucky enough to meet him recently, and now I’m very grateful to be able to tell him how much I admired his musical ability. This is the end of an era. RIP,” he said. aggregate.
A representative for the man widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time said Beck had been ill over the holiday period and died at a hospital near his Surrey home.
Beck is survived by his sixth wife, Sandra.
Heroes: “He was one of my heroes. I was lucky enough to meet him recently, and I’m so grateful now to be able to tell him how much I admired his musical ability. This is the end of an era. RIP, he added
Sick: A rep for the man widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time said Beck had been ill over the holiday period and died at a hospital near his Surrey home.