Watch Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp’s Tantalizing “Venus in Furs” Visualizer

Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck
(Image credit: Christie Goodwin)

Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp have dropped another track from their forthcoming collaborative album 18 which is set for release on July 15.

Earlier this month, the guitarists released a performance video accompanying the Depp-penned “This is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr” – one of two original compositions to appear on the album.

The other is appropriately titled “Sad Motherfuckin’ Parade.” 

The remaining tracks comprise a range of covers including songs by Killing Joke, the Beach Boys, John Lennon, the Velvet Underground, and more.

Tracklist is as follows:

  • “Midnight Walker” (Davy Spillane cover)
  • “Death And Resurrection Show” (Killing Joke cover)
  • “Time” (Dennis Wilson cover)
  • “Sad Motherfuckin’ Parade” (Johnny Depp original)
  • “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)” (Beach Boys cover)
  • “This Is A Song For Miss Hedy Lamarr” (Johnny Depp original)
  • “Caroline, No” (Beach Boys cover)
  • “Ooo Baby Baby” (The Miracles cover)
  • “What’s Going On” (Marvin Gaye cover)
  • “Venus In Furs” (The Velvet Underground cover)
  • “Let It Be Me” (The Everly Brothers cover)
  • “Stars” (Janis Ian cover)
  • “Isolation” (John Lennon cover)

Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck '18' album artwork

(Image credit: Rhino Records)

The legendary guitar hero and the Hollywood Vampires co-founder first met back in 2016, becoming kindred spirits while bonding over their mutual love of cars and guitars.

Beck soon discovered Depp’s songwriting talents and the pair decided they would collaborate on an album recording.

We would joke about how we felt 18 again

Jeff Beck

“When Johnny and I started playing together, it really ignited our youthful spirit and creativity,” said Beck.

“We would joke about how we felt 18 again, so that just became the album title too.”

Beginning in 2019, the duo recorded several of Depp’s originals along with a number of inspired cover versions spanning a multitude of genres from Celtic to Motown.

The first glint of their forthcoming collaboration appeared during the 2020 pandemic in the form of the painfully apt John Lennon cover “Isolation.”

Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck

Johnny Depp (left) and Jeff Beck (Image credit: Malcolm Connolly - courtesy of Deuce Music limited)

Revealing a darker side to the Summer of Love, “Venus in Furs” appeared on 1967’s highly influential Velvet Underground debut, The Velvet Underground & Nico.

Named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch’s BDSM-themed 1870 novella, the original Andy Warhol-produced track featuring John Cale’s entrancing electric viola atop Maureen Tucker’s hypnotic bass drum/tambourine crawl sounds as raw as a freshly whipped arse.

However, Beck and Depp’s lavish production gives the Lou Reed classic a decidedly more epic feel.

Pre-order 18 by Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp here.

Rod Brakes

Rod Brakes is a music journalist with an expertise in guitars. Having spent many years at the coalface as a guitar dealer and tech, Rod's more recent work as a writer covering artists, industry pros and gear includes contributions for leading publications and websites such as GuitaristTotal Guitar, Guitar WorldGuitar Player and MusicRadar in addition to specialist music books, blogs and social media. He is also a lifelong musician.