Johnny Depp Surprises Music Fans By Making An Appearance At Jeff Beck's Gig In Sheffield After Defamation Trial

Amazed fans from Sheffield and around the world have been reacting to Johnny Depp’s surprise appearance at Sheffield City Hall last night. The Hollywood actor joined Jeff Beck on stage to perform at the guitarist’s show at the Barker’s Pool venue, wearing a check jacket and tinted sunglasses.

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His performance has stunned fans, who have expressed delight at his appearance, after he has spent a stressful period giving evidence in America over his defamation case with Amber Heard.

Mr Beck's website said: "The musical soulmates have been working behind-the-scenes for the past several years on new music." 

British guitar legend Jeff Beck found fame in the 1960s with the Yardbirds and has worked with David Bowie, Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder and ZZ Top. He has won six Grammy awards and has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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Surprised music fans went on Twitter to spread word of Mr Depp's appearance on stage in Sheffield.

One fan commented: "Leaves court. Rocks up to Sheffield to Jam on stage with Jeff Beck. What a legend!"

Meanwhile, Martin Rhymes said: "Just been to see Jeff Beck at Sheff City Hall. Johnny Depp on guest vocals - an awesome set."

Depp is well known for his love of guitars and music, having been on stage with the likes of Aerosmith and has duetted with Beck in the past. He also played slide guitar for Oasis on their track 'Fade-In Out.' He sang his version of the John Lennon song Isolation, which he released with Beck back in 2020. He also performed covers of Jimi Hendrix’s Little Wing and Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On.

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Depp and the trailblazing British guitar player have known one another since at least 2019. The actor hopped on stage when Beck rolled into Tulsa that year, and in April 2020, the pair released a surprise duet of John Lennon’s song “Isolation” from the 1970 'John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band' album. 

Depp also plays in the group The Hollywood Vampires with Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, Matt Sorum and Duff McKagan.

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In 2015, they recorded with Paul McCartney, and Depp appears in the video for McCartney’s song My Valentine, also playing guitar. Footage from that performance, part of McCartney’s live set since 2013, has been screened during McCartney’s US tour amid the Depp trial, though McCartney has not commented on the case.

On releasing their version of Isolation in 2020, Beck said: “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 … you’ll be hearing more from Johnny and me in a little while”. There have been no further releases since Isolation, however.

Depp owns a home in Somerset, which is a little less than a four-hour drive away from Sheffield. In addition to starring in blockbusters like the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' franchise, the 58-year-old has had musical side gigs for some time. He has appeared on albums by Marilyn Manson, Ryan Adams, Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Oasis, Aerosmith, and, of course, he did his own singing in the 2007 film version of 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'.

Depp’s love of music became a part of the trial recently, after a former assistant of Heard’s said she confided in her that she did not like spending time at her house with Depp as “she told me she didn't like hanging around at his house with his friends because it was boring and it was all old men playing guitars and it wasn't interesting her.”

Depp’s surprise appearance came amid the ongoing defamation trial in the case brought against Heard by Depp.

The closing arguments concluded last Friday and the jury began deliberating on the six weeks of testimony before being sent home for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. The jurors will resume deliberation this week.