Jeff Beck, the influential guitarist who rose to rock and roll stardom with 1960s supergroup the Yardbirds, has died at the age of 78.

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After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away. Beck's death was confirmed on his official Twitter page.

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The British musician rose to fame as part of the Yardbirds, where he replaced Eric Clapton, before forming the Jeff Beck group.

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The iconic guitarist, Jeff Beck’s first hit was the 1967 instrumental track Beck’s Bolero.

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Jeff Beck also collaborated with the renowned producer George Martin, who was also called the ‘fifth Beatle’.

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Born in Wallington, musician Jeff Beck fell in love with Rock and Roll as a child, and built his first guitar as a teenager.

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Beck was in art school in London, and had already recorded pioneering rock sounds by the time the Yardbirds hired him in 1965.

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In 1975, Beck found solo success with "Blow by Blow," a sleeper hit which was produced by George Martin of Beatles fame.

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In 2015 Rolling Stone magazine placed the artist at number five on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.

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