When Johnny Depp's trial against his former wife Amber Heard ended on June 1 after six weeks of trials, Depp himself was not in the courtroom in Fairfax, Virginia.

While Heard had to endure the devastating verdict, her ex demonstrated that all marital and court disputes are long an inglorious past for him: he stayed in London, where he played a few concerts with his musician buddy Jeff Beck.

The message: Even if the film career falters and the image is scratched, a Johnny Depp still has big-name friends and other ways to express himself and have fun.

And enough fans who want to watch him do it.

Jorg Thomann

Editor in the “Life” section of the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sunday newspaper.

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The fact that he - and Jeff Beck - is not just about relaxed jamming is shown by the joint album that will be released these days.

Its title "18" is intended to express that both felt taken back to their youth through the collaboration, which is a little longer for the 78-year-old Beck than for Depp at the age of 59.

As a special guest, Depp is now also present at a number of concerts on Beck's European tour, including in Munich and - this Wednesday evening - in Offenbach.

A city that, with all the respect expressed from Frankfurt, seems as far removed from Hollywood as Depp does from a harmonious coffee party with Amber Heard.

This makes the appearance of the unlikely duo even more interesting.

Beck is considered a brilliant guitarist who never became a world star;

Depp is a world star, but not because of his music.

The most famous Johnny Depp song, the dubious Mallorca party hit "Johnny Däpp", has absolutely nothing to do with its almost namesake.

Depp has lived the life of a rock 'n' roller for years without being one, and paid dearly for it.

In the meantime, he lost a fingertip in an alcohol- and drug-fuelled argument with Heard under circumstances that will probably never be fully clarified.

The same mishap happened to Jeff Beck recently, albeit while chopping carrots.

You can be a great rock 'n' roller without living like one.

Men for Beck, women for Depp

In the Offenbach town hall there are many older men with gray manes, bald heads or both, the women in the hall are mostly younger.

Exemplary for the audience are Martin, 64, and Rabea, 32, the father in the Jeff Beck tour shirt, on the daughter's shirt a youthful Johnny.

The fact that Depp is there today, says the old Beck fan Martin, "that doesn't bother me".

Rabea fell for Depp in 2003 with the first "Pirates of the Caribbean" film when she was 13. She followed the process and is certain that Heard's allegations were lies and Depp "is a dear, nice person".

Depp has a voice similar to Keith Richards, who is always allowed to sing two songs at Stones concerts, the father talks shop, and the daughter says: "He definitely has a voice that you recognize."