New music is on the horizon fromJohnny Depp.
On Thursday — eight days after the actor, 59, emergedvictorious in his defamation trialagainst ex-wifeAmber Heard— he andJeff Beck, whom Depp hasbeen touring the U.K. withas of late, announced their upcoming album, titled18, set to be released on July 15.
“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,” Depp said in a release.
The duo also releasedan official music videofor their first single off the new album, titled “This is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr” and which Deppteased on InstagramWednesday.
“I haven’t had another creative partner like him for ages,” Beck, 77, said of Depp in the release. “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.”
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Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp.Christie Goodwin
Last week, a seven-person jury consisting of five men and two women found both Depp and Heard, 36, liable for defamation, but sided mostly with thePirates of the Caribbeanstar. He was awarded $10.35 million in damages, while theAquamanactress was awarded $2 million.
Depp and his fans celebrated the verdict, with the actor saying the “jury gave me my life back” in a statement. Heard called thedecision a “setback” for women; her lawyer Elaine Bredehoft said last week that her client plans to appeal the verdict.
Depp has maintained that he has not assaulted Heard, and has instead accused herof physically harming him.
Depp was not present in the Fairfax County, Virginia, courtroom when the verdict was read on June 1, as he had"previously scheduled work commitments"and was in the U.K., performing with Beck.
Shortly before the verdict was read, the star was spotted hanging out with Beck and fellow musician Sam Fender –who posted a picture with Deppon social media – at the Bridge Tavern in Newcastle, England, where an onlooker told PEOPLE, “He was in a great mood.”
Gary Spedding, another pub patron who was at the establishment at the same time as Depp, also opened up about his experience interacting withTheRum Diaryactor and what the atmosphere was like “about 45 minutes” before the verdict was read.
“Heseemed very happy and comfortable. I think that’s really good,” Spedding said, in part. “I’m glad that he’s in the U.K. with members of a band that he’s friends with and enjoying some music and enjoying himself because he deserves that.”
source: people.com
