Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp Release New Cover of John Lennon’s “Isolation”

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

English rock guitarist and legend Jeff Beck has just released a new cover of John Lennon’s “Isolation,” with a seemingly unlikely collaboration partner in actor/musician Johnny Depp. “Isolation” has been quite a popular song that artists have chosen to cover recently in wake of social distancing protocols; Brooklyn based indie pop band Dirty Projectors released their cover of “Isolation” in March in response to the coronavirus.

The cover stays true to the original melody of the song, while injecting a more bluesy, distorted sound that combines Beck’s classic rock background with Depp’s grungier style. The blending of Beck’s epic guitar ability with Depp’s dark lyrical delivery makes their cover truly unique, as they combine to provide a cover to a song that already contains profound lyrics that adds mystical instrumentation.

“Isolation” originally appeared on Lennon’s debut solo album, Plastic Ono Band, in 1970. Depp spoke about the tune and their decision to release it now, despite recording it over a year ago: “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.”

Beck also added some insight into his and Depp’s musical history: “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.” Beck also added that him and Depp plan to release more music they worked on together “in a little while”.

Photo Credit: Raymond Flotat

Drew Feinerman: I have just completed my senior at the University of Michigan majoring in international studies with an emphasis in political economics and development, with a minor in Chinese language and culture, and I have recently been accepted into the Berklee School of Music's masters of music business program. Although my academic interests include economics, political science, and history, I consider music to be my one true passion. Music is, and has always been, a driving force for the way I think and act every day of my life. I have been playing the tenor saxophone since the age of ten, and playing an instrument at a high level has allowed me to only further my understanding and appreciation for music. While I grew up listening to predominantly classic rock, I soon found myself gravitating toward jazz, hip-hop, funk, and other genres, as my learned to both play and analyze music as a listener. As a writer, I am able to apply my skills both as a musician and a listener, and look forward to the opportunity to being able to express my thoughts on various stories in the music industry.
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