Listen: Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp release cover of John Lennon classic

The musical kindred spirits have joined forces

Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 16th Apr 2020

Guitar legend Jeff Beck has joined musical forces with esteemed actor and one-third of the Hollywood Vampires, Johnny Depp, to record a cover of the John Lennon track ‘Isolation’.

Musical kindred spirits Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp have been working for several years under the radar on new music and their version of John Lennon’s 1970 track ‘Isolation’ is their first single release as a duo.

It sees Beck play lead guitar with Depp on vocal duties, and they’re backed by long-time Beck collaborators Vinnie Colaiuta on drums and Rhonda Smith on bass. They previously performed together at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival in Texas in September 2019.

Cast your ears on ‘Isolation’ right here:

Commenting on the highly apt song choice in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, Johnny Depp said: “Jeff Beck and I recorded this song Isolation last year, as our take on a beautiful John Lennon tune. 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.

“So we wanted to give it to you, and hope it helps you make sense of the moment or just helps you pass the time as we endure isolation together.”

Jeff Beck adds: “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.

“You’ll be hearing more from Johnny and me in a little while but until then we hope you find some comfort and solidarity in our take on this Lennon classic.”

Hollywood Vampires, which features Johnny Depp alongside Aerosmith’s Joe Perry and Planet Rock’s very own Alice Cooper, are due to play arenas in Leeds, London, Birmingham and Glasgow this coming September.

Jeff Beck’s May 2020 UK tour is in the process of being rescheduled. A statement reads: “We are working with our agents and promoters to reschedule dates and will release the new tour routing as soon as we are able. All tickets will be honored for the rescheduled concert dates.”