Editor’s Pick
JANUARY 7, 2011 7:22AM
If The Sun Refused to Shine I'd Still Be Lovin' Jimmy Page
Ladies and gentlemen: Jimmy Page.
James Patrick Page, better known as Jimmy Page of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin, turns 67 years old on January 9th. The glossy black hair has mellowed to a silver mane, but those fingers...oh lord, those fingers how they still fly across the fretboard. He moves from acoustic, to hard rock, to blues with effortless ease; the envy of any guitarist. He steps onto stage and it becomes a master class for any musician. Dubbed a "guitar god" by many, his style has been described as melodic, bluesy, flashy, spontaneous, and diverse. I think the solos shown in the video above exemplify all those descriptors.
At the ripe old age of 14 he was already making television appearances. Although the host of this show really creeps me out, it's amazing to see the young boy version of Jimmy just beginning to hone his craft.
Jimmy's career began as a session musician playing for The Who, The Kinks, Marianne Faithful, The Rolling Stones, Petula Clark, and Van Morrison to name a few.
In 1966 he joined The Yardbirds and stayed with the band until 1968. Jimmy wanted to stay with his preferred heavy style of playing and the others wanted to play folk and classically influenced music so they parted ways. Shapes of Things, the next video, is considered by many to be one of the first psychedelic rock songs.
1968 was a banner year of music. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and Jon Bonham joined forces to form one of the greatest and most influential bands of modern times, Led Zeppelin. With Jimmy carrying the song, Bonham and Jones driving it forward and Plant keeping it soaring upward they filled stadiums with their sound. Anne Bredon, the composer of this next song Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You, wrote it in the late 1950's while she was a student at U.C.Berkeley. First covered by folk singer Joan Baez, it soared in popularity once Led Zeppelin got their fingers on it.
Rolling Stone magazine has called Led Zeppelin the heaviest band of all time, the biggest band of the 70s, and one of the most enduring band in rock history. I love the dark, heavy sound that Jimmy sets in this performance of Dazed and Confused. If you don't care to watch the whole performance skip to 2:45 when Jimmy breaks out the violin bow. Such an innovation for the time.
A softer side of Jimmy from 1972 bootleg Bombay Sessions.
Stairway to Heaven is perhaps the most well-known rock anthem of the era. With its very recognizable guitar solo intro, every new rock guitarist wants to master it. Labeled the greatest guitar solo of all time by both Guitar World magazine and Total Guitar magazine, it is one of the most recognized riffs in rock. One You Tube version I found of this song has over 20 million hits on it. Just a small testimony to its popularity. At 10+ minute long this video requires attention , but give Jimmy a couple minutes of your time and watch him weave his magic.
Does anyone else remember this scene from the Wayne's World movie?
Along with hundreds of thousands of other fans I jumped into the lottery ticket pick to try to see Led Zeppelin when they got back together for one show in London in 2007. No such luck. I was interested to hear Jimmy's take on the show in the weeks prior during this interview and his opinion on why the band doesn't come back together for good.
Robert Plant, Page's friend and bandmate, had this to say about Jimmy when honoring him at the 2007 Classic Rock Magazine Awards and his Living Legend Award.
Jimmy is one musician I have never had the pleasure to see perform live. I've enjoyed every album, every DVD, and cd remastering. But seeing him play in concert is one thing I have yet to achieve. I have not given up hope. For now, I can crank up the volume and appreciate his talents. Call me a groupie if you will. I wear the banner proudly. Happy birthday, Jimmy! And thank you.
Thank You-released on 1969's Led Zeppelin II
image from bing.com
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Comments
Very cool post indeed.
Best Wishes,
Blittie
Lezlie
He sang them well.
Thanks for all the memories.
The rating buttons are whacked out again but I finally got it.
Rated with hugs
`R
I remember seeing The Yardbirds at a club in my teens, but have never seen Led Zeppelin on stage, unfortunately.
So hard to believe all these brilliant musicians (and me who isn't) are now pensioners.
♥
And Jimmy Paige was my favorite Zep.
I have always discounted "strutters" although Robert Plant truly did set the bar as far as "strutters" go.
But Jimmy always both elegantly and eloquently counter pointed Plant's histrionics brilliantly, even breaking new ground regularly but with exceptional taste and unfailing musical genius.
As does your post.
" Best use of You Tube in the exegesis of any rock icon!"
This not only deserves an EP, but the cover of The Rolling Stone.
Kudos!
Lezlie: Thanks for reading!
sophieh: Happy to provide a soudntrack for you today.:)
Catherine: Thanks for your constant support. I appreciate it.
Michael:::waving my groupie banner high & proud. Glad you enjoyed it.
Mission: Jimmy is an amazing musician. And he always makes it look so effortless.
culchiewoman: Bravo to another fan!
Sheila: Thanks!
Linda: I'm all over that gray hair.
Steven: Kashmir is my absolute fav. Zeppelin song, but since I used it in my Robert Plant post I didn't want ot repeat myself.
maryway, Yes, it's timeless IMHO.
scanner: You have the absolute right way to read these posts: listen to/watch the videos in their entirety. I know many don't have time, and that's fine, but the true diehards I hope will appreciate the song choices.Thanks, friend! Your kind words humble me.
Larry: Thanks! Nice to see you here.
Linda C.: You saw The Yardbirds?! Can I touch you? LOL One of the benefits of living across the pond.
GeeBee: I read that same info. Smart, really, for the young dude to get exposure to all kinds of music and make those contact connections.
Andy: I have the next one in the works. Hope to see you back.
Fusun: It's such an iconic song. I never tire of it.
Fred! That's the kindest thing I've heard all day(blushing). I so appreciate your time here. I love Jimmy's style: calm & heavy all at once, grounded and soaring at the same time, always taking me there. Such an artist. You might enjoy the post I did on Robert Plant.
trilogy: Another lucky duck seeing Zep! How I envy you and am happy you had those experiences all at the same time.
Cranky: Ha! That's why I keep my windows rolled up. I'm always singing at the top of my lungs as I drive.
Steven: Perfect! Ha!
To Linda Cooper: You saw the Yardbirds?? Crivens! Now THAT's impressive.
Just Cathy: Thanks so much!
VA: Happy New Year, friend! Glad to see you back. I love that one,too. 10 years old in 1973...crikey, I'm old.
Bonnie: Thanks for stopping in. I remember that book. I wonder if I still have it laying around here somewhere...
Salty917: Glad to jog a memory or two for you.
white and black: A great story your son has to tell! Thanks for sharing it here.
Catherine: Thanks for the kind words.
in it he answers a question about the video games like Rock Band. he was dismissive and said that kids should learn how to play a real guitar instead.
HEY JIMMY. the game rock band 3 just added a REAL GUITAR and it will be out in march. can you PLZ,PLZ,PLZ license zeppelin songs for Rock Band?!?! it would be the biggest music game of all time Im sure, probably outselling the beatles, dont you think? and if the beatles can do it, why cant you?!?
LC: Glad you gave it your stamp of approval, rock sistah!
Chicago guy: You are so right on that. My 28 year old son and friends have a great appreciation for it all.
vzn: Seen it several times. Fantastic documentary. Didn't know about the release of Rock Band w/ a real guitar. How cool is that?!
Hey Cranky,
Imagine how strange it must look to the desperately faking sanity crown to see me @ 71, siiting in my Jag with the top dwon and "groovin" along with all of this great music.lol
abrawang: Yes, he played on many albums as a session musician.
atwood: I think that's the best current photo I have seen of him. The stance and the sneer-love it.
neil paul: Well you can rest easy knowing that never could be another JP. Thanks for stopping in!
There are two great Jimmy Page moments - of many great things in the movie. One is at the start, Page is rambling around his massive house and he is going through records in his study. He pulls out a the 50's guitar song "Rumble" plays it on his turntable, and then he giddily air guitars along with it. He looks like some teenager with his favorite record. Up to that point, he has this air of being a rock legend with his bio and his interviews, and then he just gets all giggly about the song and goofs along with it. It is utterly charming and cool.
The second great moment is when they are playing each others' songs. They play U2's I will follow, White Stripes Dead Leaves and Dirty Grass, and then I forget which other Zepplin song. They play two. But one Zepplin song Page plays is the riff from Whole Lotta Lovin. He starts into that, and Edge and White just literally gape slack jawed at him. Two famous iconic guitarists, and they are staring at Page like 6 year olds staring at Santa Claus. Like they cannot believe they are in the same room. It is awesome.