It was announced on Wednesday, January 11, that British guitar legend Jeff Beck had passed away aged 78.

It was revealed that the star had suddenly contracted bacterial meningitis.

Ozzy Osbourne, Sir Brian May and Jimmy Page are among the musical heavyweights that have paid tribute to “six-stringed warrior”.

Osbourne was among the first to pay tribute to Beck, writing that it had been “such an honour” to know and play with him on his most recent album.

Musicians play tribute to Jeff Beck

Writing on Twitter following the announcement, Osbourne wrote: “I can’t express how saddened I am to hear of @JeffBeckMusic’s passing.

“What a terrible loss for his family, friends & his many fans.

“It was such an honor to have known Jeff & an incredible honor to have had him play on my most recent album, #PatientNumber9. Long live #JeffBeck.”

Patient Number 9 was released in September 2022 and was one of Beck’s final musical collaborations.

Sharing a picture of the pair to Instagram, Sir Rod Stewart wrote: “Jeff Beck 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 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.”

Osbourne’s bandmate, Tony Iommi, also praised Beck as an “outstanding iconic, genius guitar player” and said there would never be another like him.

Posting on Twitter, Iommi wrote: “I was totally shocked to hear the very sad news of Jeff Beck’s passing.

“Jeff was such a nice person and an outstanding iconic, genius guitar player – there will never be another Jeff Beck.

“His playing was very special & distinctively brilliant! He will be missed. RIP Jeff – Tony.”

Queen guitarist Sir Brian May said Beck was “the absolute pinnacle of guitar playing” and a “damn fine human being”.

“Gutted, so sad, to hear of Jeff’s passing. He was the Guv’nor. He was inimitable, irreplaceable – the absolute pinnacle of guitar playing,” he wrote on Instagram.

“And a damn fine human being. I’m sure I will have a lot to say, but right now …. Just lost for words. Bri. #jeffbeck.”

Beck joined The Yardbirds in 1965 – replacing the band’s former guitarist Eric Clapton – following a chance encounter with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page.

Page described Beck as “the six-stringed warrior” and praised his “apparently limitless” musical imagination, in his own online tribute.

“The six stringed Warrior is no longer here for us to admire the spell he could weave around our mortal emotions,” Page wrote online.

“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.”

David Gilmour of Pink Floyd said he was “devastated” by the death of his “friend and hero”.

“I am 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,” he wrote on Twitter.

“Polly‘s and my thoughts go out to his lovely wife Sandra. He will be forever in our hearts.”

Others hailed Beck’s “powerful influence” on themselves and countless others within the musical industry.

Rolling Stones frontman Sir Mick Jagger said music had lost “one of the greatest guitar players in the world”.

“With the death of Jeff Beck we have lost a wonderful man and one of the greatest guitar players in the world,” he wrote on Twitter, sharing a video of the pair playing together.

“We will all miss him so much.”

Kiss’s frontman, Paul Stanley, described Beck as “one of the all time guitar masters”.

Posting a picture of Beck on his Twitter, he wrote: “WOW. What awful news.

“Jeff Beck, one of the all time guitar masters has died.

“From The Yardbirds and The Jeff Beck Group on, he blazed a trail impossible to follow. Play on now and forever.”