Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp, October 4, 2022 (Photo: Jordan Grobe for The Anthem; used with permission)
Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp opened their collaborative tour with a show at The Anthem in Washington, DC on Oct. 4, 2022. The evening began with a solo set from Beck and his backing band (bassist Rhonda Smith, drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Robert Stevenson). Opening with “Freeway Jam” he continued with his signature versions of “You Know You Know,” “Big Block,” and “Brush with the Blues” and from his new album with Depp, 18, “Caroline No”. At the midway point of the set, Depp stepped out from the wings to join Beck on songs from the new album including “This is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr” and “Isolation” before ending the night with their take on the Killing Joke song, “The Death and Resurrection Show.”
The tour, originally announced on Aug. 15, began on Sept. 23 in Texas where Beck (alone) shared the bill for the first six shows with longtime musical friends, ZZ Top. Beck joined ZZ Top on stage each night for their encores. Here they are performing “La Grange” on Sept. 25.
Beck and Depp headed up the east coast before continuing with several mid-west stops (including one date in Canada) before heading to the west coast.
Watch Beck (with a noticeable smile on his face) and his band open their Oct. 4 show with “Freeway Jam”
Watch Beck and Depp perform a variety of songs, mid-set
From the original Aug. 15 tour announcement: Beck found a kindred spirit in Depp when the two met in 2016. They bonded quickly over cars and guitars and spent most of their time together trying to make each other laugh. At the same time, Beck’s appreciation grew for Depp’s serious songwriting skills and his ear for music. That talent and their chemistry convinced Beck they should make an album together.
Depp agreed and they started in 2019. Over the next three years, they recorded a mix of Depp originals along with a wide range of covers that touches on everything from Celtic and Motown, to the Beach Boys and Killing Joke. “We were going to call the album ‘Kitchen Sink’ because we threw everything in it,” the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer said at the time. “The only game plan we had was to play songs we like and see where they took us.” The pair had previously wrapped a European tour.
One of the Oct. 4 opening night encores was a cover of “Little Wing”
The tour spanned 21 dates, ending on Nov. 12. Beck, born on June 24, 1944, was 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 earned eight Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice – once as a member of the Yardbirds and again as a solo artist. In the summer of 2016, the guitar virtuoso celebrated his five decades of music with a concert at the famous Hollywood Bowl with special guests including Buddy Guy, Steven Tyler, Beth Hart, Billy F. Gibbons and Jan Hammer.
Related: Jeff Beck died on Jan. 10, 2023, after suddenly contracting bacterial menengitis
Beck’s acclaimed catalog is available in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
12 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationOh my lord…Jeff Beck is coming to my town. I have waited for this a long long time. Thank You
Just purchased tickets for dc show, first saw beck in 1972 with John McLaughlin.
I first saw him in Boston, with Jan Hammer, and Heart was the warm up band! 1976
I guess I’ll have to get tickets and take a trip to Louisville to see them both..Johnny will join Depp after the Atlanta show 🙂
I wish Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp would come to Louisiana please .
So excited to hear Depp is going to be joining him!! What a show this is going to be! Can’t wait
Omg!!! I been waiting for this!! Absolutely love Johnny Depp, Jeff is extremely talented
I would love to see Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp come to Madison Wisconsin ❤️
So Excited – Got tickets for Cincinnati Show
!Yippeeee!
Looking forward to the Beck/Depp North American Tour!!!
Hope & trust each show will be videotaped because alike many who want to attend their shows in America in-person, we just can not afford buying the ticket especially on a ‘fixed’ monthly income!!!
Love them both. Wish they would come to Idaho.
Going to see them in Chicago tomorrow. Can’t wait!