Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck release song about difficulties of fame in tribute to Hedy Lamarr | Ents & Arts News

Johnny Depp and Jeff Beck have announced a joint album, which features a self-penned song about a 1940s film star.

Entitled 18, the album contains two original songs alongside a number of classic rock covers.

One track called This Is A Song For Miss Hedy Lamarr dives into the troubles faced by the actress after she rose to fame.

Australian-born Lamarr featured in a number of films in the early 1940s, including Tortilla Flat and H.M. Pulham, before turning her focus to technology, helping to create a device that jams radio signals during World War Two.

“Erased by the same world that made her a star. Spun out of beauty, trapped by its web. She’s a perfect cocoon, entwined in gold thread,” Depp sings in the first verse.

Despite its title, the song will inevitably be interpreted as a reaction to the recent high-profile defamation case brought against him by his ex-wife, Amber Heard.

In one verse, the Pirates Of The Caribbean actor sings: “It’s so hard to talk when no one will hear. And everyone stares as you quiver and fear.

“I don’t believe, I can’t believe, I won’t believe humans anymore,” goes the chorus.

Throughout the trial, sordid details and allegations about the couple’s relationship were revealed, with Heard accusing Depp of abusing her on a number of occasions.

The court case came to an end last week and saw Depp awarded $15m by the court – comprising $10m compensatory damages and a further $5m in punitive damages.

Heard was also awarded $2m in her counter-suit against Depp.

‘It really ignited our youthful spirit’

Since the case concluded, Depp has appeared on stage with veteran rock guitarist Jeff Beck in a number of performances on his UK tour.

The pair first met in 2016 and began recording the album in 2019 while Depp was also playing with Alice Cooper’s supergroup Hollywood Vampires.

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

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

Depp added: “It’s an extraordinary honour to play and write music with Jeff, one of the true greats and someone I am now privileged enough to call my brother.”

18 is due to be released on 15 July.