James Patrick Page (1/9/1944) of Epson England is one of of the most influential and innovative rock guitarists of all time. A two time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin) and one of the trinity of great British guitar players (along with fellow Yardbirds alumni Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck). Influenced by American blues and Elvis Presley, Page took up the guitar at age 13 and largely was self taught. Attending art school (as did so many British rockers), Page eventually left to pursue his passion for music. Eventually he went into session work and his talents being quickly recognized he quickly worked on recordings with such groups and performers as The Who, The Kinks, Them, Donovan, and Marianne Faithfull. Eventually tiring of session work he joined The Yardbirds in June 1966 and was their lead guitar player (replacing Jeff Beck) until the band broke up in July 1968.
The Yadbirds had unfulfilled commitments in Scandinavia so Page took it upon himself to fill the commitments and formed a band called The New Yardbirds along with another great session player bassist John Paul Jones, a young singer named Robert Plant and a drummer named John Bonham. In October 1968 the group changed their name to Led Zeppelin which was what The Who’s bass player John Entwhistle sarcastically said it would takeoff as when a new super group was proposed back in 1966.
Lead by their brilliant manager Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin became (despite the critics) the most successful band of the 1970’s. They refused to put out singles so if their fans wanted a song they would have to buy the album. Page, drawing upon his vast experience as a session man and in The Yardbirds was known for this brilliant solos such as Stairway to Heaven and his innovation – for example he would draw a bow string across his guitar for certain sounds. Page made Led Zeppelin a prototype for countless future rock bands and was a precursor for Heavy Metal, and was one of the major driving forces behind the rock sound of that era, influencing a host of other guitarists. Sadly after John Bonham died, Led Zeppelin decided to break up and Page for several years drifted into heroin abuse.
After Led Zeppelin, Page collaborated with several other artists including his band mate Robert Plant in the group “Plant and Page”), with the Black Crowes, as well as produced the sound tracks to several movies. In late 2007 Led Zeppelin had reunion performance (John Bonham’s son Jason was on drums) which was widely praised and the hottest ticket in London.
In 1957, a 13 year old Jimmy Page appeared on this British T.V. show playing “skiffle” (Skiffle being a type of popular music with jazz, blues, folk, roots and country influences, usually using homemade or improvised instruments). Funny how he says on the show his career goal is to go into biological research.
In January 1967 Page appeared with the Yardbirds on a German TV show called Go, Go, Go. The song is called “Shapes of Things” and I love his solo at 1:46
Led Zeppelin performing “Whole Lotta Love” at Madison Square Garden in 1973
In 2009 a documentary “It Might Get Loud” was released which dealt with the careers and guitar palying styles of Jimmy Page, Jack White (of White Stripes), and The Edge (U2). Here Page shows how he came up with the sound for “Kashmir”.
I put this 1983 video up only because it was one of the rare times that all three British guitar playing Gods, Eric Clapton (singing) Jeff Beck (on the right wearing the cut offs) and Jimmy Page (gray sport jacket on the left) were on stage together. Also on stage are bass player Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones (with cigarette in his mouth), and drummer Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones.
Tags: Jimmy Page
