Johnny Depp made an emotional return to the stage this week, just ahead of this 60th birthday. 

On Thursday, the Hollywood icon dedicated his performance of the David Bowie song, Heroes, to his late friend, Jeff Beck, who died after contracting bacterial meningitis earlier year at 78.

‘I should dedicate this song to one of all of our heroes, Mr. Jeff Beck.’ he told the audience, in a video captured by one attendee.

Social media users were quick to praise his moving tribute, which left them in awe as he pushed through his grief to pay homage to his pal.

Still grieving: Johnny Depp celebrated a bittersweet birthday this week, as he made an emotional return to the stage ahead of this 60th birthday; seen last month

On Thursday, the Hollywood icon (seen during the tribute) dedicated the David Bowie’s song, Heroes, to his late friend, Jeff Beck, who died after contracting bacterial meningitis , earlier year, at 78

‘I should dedicate this song to one of all of our heroes, Mr. Jeff Beck.’ he told the audience, in a video captured by one attendee

Johnny Depp and the Hollywood Vampires honor the late Jeff Beck

‘My eyes filled with tears listening to his voice singing such beautiful words,’ one wrote under footage of Depp’s performance, which was uploaded to YouTube.

‘I could feel the sorrow, the honor and the true emptiness Johnny’s feeling with his dear, dear friend not on stage with him.’

Social media users were quick to praise his moving tribute, which left them in awe as he pushed through his grief to pay homage to his pal. Jeff is seen in 2018

Another commented: ‘I know Jeff is with you!! He will always be in your heart.’

Depp and Beck met in 2016 and became good friends, bonding over their shared love of music and cars.

They eventually started playing music together in 2019, and toured in Europe ahead of their first US tour.

The pair most recently collaborated on their 13-track album, 18, which they released last summer, and went on to perform at a handful of concerts together in late 2022.

Earlier this year, it was reported that the actor was ‘totally devastated’ over his bandmate’s death, as they ‘were extremely close’ and had a ‘really tight friendship.’

‘The sickness came on really quickly and it all deteriorated rapidly,’ a source told People, at the time. ‘Johnny is still processing this news. He’s devastated.’

Depp and Beck met in 2016 and became good friends, bonding over their shared love of music and cars. Depp (R) seen performing on stage with Beck (L) in 2022

Sad: Earlier this year, it was reported that the actor was ‘totally devastated’ over his bandmate’s death as they ‘were extremely close’ and had a ‘really tight friendship’ (seen in October 2022)

Before his death, Beck raved that hadn’t had ‘another creative partner’ like Depp ‘for ages.’

‘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,’ the English guitarist said in a 2022 statement.

In the same release, Depp added that it was ‘an extraordinary honor to play and write music with Jeff,’ who he gushed he was ‘now privileged enough’ to call his ‘brother.’

His latest film Jeanne du Barry was a hit at Cannes Film Festival

The Pirates Of The Caribbean actor’s milestone birthday comes after a major comeback during the Cannes Film Festival in France that took place in late May.

At the festival, the father-of-two was greeted with open arms by his fans.

Depp and his castmates received a seven-minute standing ovation during the screening of the French-language film Jeanne du Barry.

The former 21 Jump Street heartthrob became teary-eyed during the praise.

This comes after years of battling his ex-wife Amber Heard over abuse claims. He was also involved in a very public defamation trial with the actress last year, which he won.

He recently spoke out about his past comments about feeling ‘boycotted’ amid his legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard

The actor recently addressed his past comments, made in 2021, in which he claimed he felt ‘boycotted’ by the industry.

While speaking in a press conference at Cannes Film Festival last month, he said: ‘Did I feel boycotted by Hollywood? Well, you’d have to not have a pulse to feel at that point like this was all just a weird joke.

‘Of course, when you’re asked to resign from a film you’re doing because of something that’s merely a bunch of vowels and consonants floating in the air… Do I feel boycotted now? No, not at all.

‘But I don’t feel boycotted, because I don’t think about Hollywood. I don’t feel much further need for Hollywood — I don’t know about you.’

His career ambitions changed after winning his defamation trial

Depp – who admitted it had been tough for him to move on as a public figure due to the legal battle – also suggested he was disillusioned with Hollywood as a whole.

‘It’s a very strange, funny time when everyone would love to be themselves, but they can’t because they must fall in line with the person in front of them. If you want to follow that line, be my guest. I’ll be on the other side,’ he explained.

Johnny successfully sued Amber for defamation in a lawsuit relating to an op-ed she had written about being a victim of domestic abuse.

In his early days: The artist seen in a film still for the 1990 movie Cry-Baby, which launched his film career

Good work: At the festival the father of two was greeted with open arms. Depp and his castmates received a seven-minute standing ovation during the screening of the French-language film Jeanne du Barry. The former 21 Jump Street heartthrob became teary-eyed during the praise

Painful past: This comes after years of battling his ex-wife Amber Heard over savage abuse claims and a defamation case that he won. Seen with his lawyer in May 2022

His band postponed a number of tour dates due to an injury

In late May, Depp rescheduled a series of concerts after suffering an ankle fracture.

The star recently took to social media to reveal news of his injury and to confirm rescheduled dates for the Hollywood Vampires’ tour of the US.

Johnny – who stars in the band alongside Alice Cooper and Joe Perry – wrote on Instagram: ‘My dear friends, I am sorry to say that I have fractured my ankle, which is a drag.

‘It began as a hairline break but somewhere between Cannes and the Royal Albert Hall it got worse rather than better.

‘Several medical professionals have strongly suggested I avoid any and all activity for the moment and so am sadly unable to travel at this time.

‘To that end, the guys and I are very sorry to miss you in New Hampshire, Boston and New York but fear not, I promise we will bring an amazing show to all of you in Europe and bring our absolute best to the East Coast later this summer and make it up to those who have paid for those shows.’

Ex files: This comes after years of battling his ex-wife Amber Heard over savage abuse claims. He was also involved in a very public defamation trial with the actress, which he won. Seen in May 2014 in NYC

Johnny Depp’s high-profile libel claim against the publisher of The Sun is over allegations he was violent towards his ex-wife Amber Heard during their relationship – claims the Hollywood star vehemently denies.

The pair met in around 2011 on the set of The Rum Diary, a film adaption of a novel by Depp’s friend Hunter S Thompson, before they started living together in around 2012.

Here is a timeline of the key events in their relationship and the bitter legal battle that has ensued.

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Battle:  Johnny Depp and Amber Heard (both pictured at court in London) went to war in a very nasty court case