Johnny Depp brought his tour with Jeff Beck at the Hackensack Meridian Health Center at the Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, NJ, Tuesday night, four months after a jury awarded the actor $10 million in damages following his Virginia defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard.
The pair kicked off their U.S. tour in Washington, D.C. just a few nights earlier, on Oct. 5, after releasing the joint album “18” this summer, and Tuesday’s show capped off a two-night New Jersey stand that attracted a crowd of fervent Depp supporters who regularly screamed “I love you, Johnny” and showered the actor with bras, cards and notes tossed to the stage, regardless of his recent, highly publicized court battle with ex-wife Amber Heard.
Beck, who turned 78 in June, was in fine form, as he skillfully gave a guitar masterclass in touch, tone and technique, playing in perfect sync with his bassist Rhonda Smith, drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Robert Stevenson. He opened the show with a setlist that kicked off with the freewheeling “Freeway Jam” and “Loose Cannon” and included covers of the Beach Boys’ “Caroline, No” and choice selections. Beck was all smiles, with a playful smirk even as the dapper gentleman buttoned his vest seamlessly between tunes. He was generous with the spotlight, allowing Smith to shine on a funky bass solo, and riffing magnificently off Nilles, whose impeccable drum fills and precision melded with Beck’s trademark perfectionism. Beck seemed touched when a woman yelled, “I’ve loved you since the Yardbirds!”
The crowd rose to its feet when Beck announced that his “beautiful baby” — Depp — was about to join the stage. The actor, wearing a newsboy hat, flannel-patterned jacket, sunglasses, bandanas, chains and holding a cigarette, strolled out to the sounds of Link Wray’s “Rumble,” joining Beck in a hug as the crowd exploded in applause. Depp and Beck played off each other, backed by Nilles’ pulsating beat, as Depp swayed from side to side, grinning and acknowledging screaming fans in the crowd, holding his hand to his heart.
Depp then switched to an acoustic guitar for the somber “This Is a Song for Miss Hedy Lamarr,” a song that tackles the conundrum of fame, as the lyrics spin a tale of the starlet “erased by the same world that made her a star.” He then took a moment to appreciate Beck’s solo at the end of the song.
Depp and Beck cruised through the rest of the set, with a performance of John Lennon’s “Isolation,” an instrumental of the Beatles’ classic “A Day in the Life,” a swirling odyssey through the Velvet Underground’s “Venus in Furs” and a fiery finale of Killing Joke’s “The Death and Resurrection Show.”
Show opener Desure used his time wisely, making an impression with an acoustic set that was well received by the audience. Armed with an acoustic guitar, Desure deftly navigated a nine-song set that featured songs from his new record, “Still Blue,” including the single, “Threads.” The stripped-down setting gave Desure’s lyrics a chance to shine, particularly on “Cinderella” and a song written for the singer’s hometown of “Los Angeles.” With a guitar and harmonica, Desure’s sound passed for a certain New Jersey singer, and the indie artist endeared himself to the New Jersey audience with a sweet version of Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire.”
In a recent interview with Collider,Knightley was asked about the possibility of reprising her role as Elizabeth Swann in the upcoming “Pirates of the Caribbean” films. She responded by saying that she has not yet been approached about the project, but would definitely consider it if the opportunity arises.
“I don’t know if it’s happening,” Knightley said. “I haven’t heard anything about it. But, you know, I would always be open to the idea of revisiting Elizabeth Swann. It was a huge part of my life and career, and I’m very fond of the character.”
Knightley first appeared as Elizabeth Swann in the original “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” in 2003. She continued to play the character in the following two sequels, “Dead Man’s Chest” and “At World’s End,” before sitting out the fourth installment, “On Stranger Tides.”
While Knightley’s character was not present in “On Stranger Tides,” the film still managed to gross over $1 billion worldwide. The most recent entry in the franchise, “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” was released in 2017 and also went on to earn over $794 million globally.
It remains to be seen what the future holds for the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, which has seen its fair share of ups and downs in recent years. Johnny Depp, who played the lead role of Captain Jack Sparrow, was dropped from the series following allegations of domestic abuse. The studio has since announced that it is planning to reboot the franchise with a new cast and crew.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of the franchise, Knightley’s potential return to the series would undoubtedly be a welcome sight for fans. Her portrayal of Elizabeth Swann was a key factor in the success of the early “Pirates of the Caribbean” films, and her absence from the later entries was felt by many.
Knightley has remained busy in the years since her last “Pirates” film, taking on a variety of roles in both independent and big-budget productions. She has been nominated for two Academy Awards for her performances in “Pride & Prejudice” and “The Imitation Game,” and has also appeared in films such as “Atonement,” “Anna Karenina,” and “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.”
Whether or not Knightley ultimately returns to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, her fans can look forward to seeing her in a variety of upcoming projects. She is set to star in the upcoming biographical drama “Silent Night,” as well as the action thriller “The Essex Serpent