Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde recently discussed Jeff Beck’s passing, funeral, and how Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page made the same solemn confessions during the ceremony while speaking with Q. 104.3.
Hynde first celebrated Beck’s life and works before his passing and mentioned his collaboration with actor and Hollywood Vampires guitarist Johnny Depp:
“In Jeff’s case, he was out playing. He had Johnny Depp on the road, who he loved and met recently, and Johnny got him play rock and roll again, which I loved. Jeff was happy. He has a beautiful wife, who [is] still working on his hot rods. He was playing at the height of his game, having a good time and I thought, ‘Good for you…’ And I, actually, went to the funeral.”
She then further detailed what the late guitar hero’s funeral was like and the ‘ironic’ confession Page and Clapton made during their tribute speech:
“Two of the pallbearers were Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton and they both spoke at the funeral. Both of them said similar things ’cause they all grew up together. They both said, ‘Jeff was always ahead of us.’ And I [went], ‘Well, I don’t know if you see the irony in this situation we’re at here.’ [But] I was glad for Jeff. He was top at his height where he was playing in great form and having a good time.”
Clapton had received backlash after Beck’s passing, as the guitarist wasn’t quick to share a tribute message right away, just as most of his peers did. However, the guitarist soon tried to make up for his ‘late homage,’ by organizing a tribute show, with attendance from A-list rockers.
And as The Damned once said, ‘Life Goes on,’ and Pretenders’ twelfth studio album will be released on September 15. Hynde and Co. will also be performing at BBC Radio 2 studios on September 17, for an exclusive sold-out show.
You can check out Chrissie’s interview here.
