ROBERT Plant has paid tribute Jeff Beck, remembering the “limitless energy and enthusiasm” the late guitarist brought to projects.

The Led Zeppelin frontman and Wyre Forest resident joins titans within the world of rock music who have paid tribute to Beck following the news of his death aged 78, after contracting bacterial meningitis.

Sir Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood also recalled playing alongside the “groundbreaking” guitarist, and Alice Cooper described him as the “greatest of all time”.

Beck collaborated with countless musicians throughout his career including Plant who he featured alongside on tracks released under a band named The Honeydrippers in the 1980s, a post-Led Zeppelin side project for Plant.

On Facebook, Robert Plant said: “This is tragic news. Hard to take in. Jeff always appeared timeless, ever evolving.

“He embraced project after project with limitless energy and enthusiasm. He surfaced in an extraordinary time. He took his place side by side with the virtuosos of the period, his mates.

“The scene was on fire, he introduced a cool template moving from Yardbird to Bolero to Truth, Beck-Ola with Rod (Stewart) the perfect foil… the singer and guitarist syndrome, plenty of sparks, great results.

“He cooked up magic through all the passing eras, always up for the next, unknown, unlikely collision, back in time to homage Cliff Gallup, forward to Johnny Depp.

“His gift was enormous. He was funny, challenging and eager. My feelings are with Sandra today. RP.”

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The trailblazing musician first rose to prominence with rock band The Yardbirds and went on to have a successful solo career, fronting Beck, Bogert & Appice, and The Jeff Beck Group.

Beck was born Geoffrey Arnold Beck in Wallington, Surrey, to parents Arnold and Ethel Beck and developed a passion for music as a child.

A chance meeting with Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page led Beck to join the Yardbirds in 1965 – replacing the band’s former guitarist Eric Clapton.