Johnny Deppis mourning the death of his close friend and collaboratorJeff Beck.

“They had a really tight friendship, they were extremely close, and he got even closer over this past summer when they were touring together,” the source shares. “The sickness came on really quickly and it all deteriorated rapidly in the last couple weeks.”

Venla Shalin/Redferns

HELSINKI, FINLAND - JUNE 19: Johnny Depp (R) performs on stage with Jeff Beck (L) during the Helsinki Blues Festival at Kaisaniemen Puisto on June 19, 2022 in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo by Venla Shalin/Redferns)

“Johnny is still processing this news. He’s devastated,” the source adds.

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Last year, Depp and Beckreleased their album, titled18, on July 15.

The duo also releasedan official music videofor “This Is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr,” the first single off the album.

“It’s an extraordinary honor to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats and someone I am now privileged enough to call my brother,” theSweeney Toddactor said in a release at the time.

Noam Galai/Getty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 12: (L-R) Steven Van Zandt, Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp visit the SiriusXM Studios in New York for a SiriusXM Town Hall in support of Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp’s album ‘18’ on October 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

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“I haven’t had another creative partner like him for ages,” Beck said of Depp at the time. “He was a major force on this record. I just hope people will take him seriously as a musician because it’s a hard thing for some people to accept that Johnny Depp can sing rock and roll.”

The duo alsoperformed several shows together.

Beck’s family confirmed his death in a statement to PEOPLE on Wednesday.

“On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of Jeff Beck’s Passing,” the statement began. “After suddenly contracting bacterial meningitis, he peacefully passed away yesterday. His family asks for privacy while they process this tremendous loss.”

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Through the years, Beck — who rose to fame in 1965 when he took over as guitarist for The Yardbirds, replacingEric Clapton— was featured in iconic moments in music from his role as lead guitarist onMick Jagger’s debut albumShe’s the Bossto the title track onOzzy Osbourne’s latest album titledPatient Number 9.

source: people.com