Name: Jimmy Page
Born: 9th of January, 1944, London
Band's he's been in: Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds, The Crusaders
Preferred Guitar: Gibson EDS-1275 or Gibson Les Paul
Favourite Songs Jimmy Page plays:
Stairway to Heaven
Trampled Under Foot
Early Years:Jimmy Page first picked up a guitar when he was 12 and took a lesson or two, but most of his talent is self-taught. Then after two years of playing the guitar, he entered a talent quest called 'All Your Own'. But no, this was not the way he entered the music world. Instead, at the same age of 14, he dropped out of school to pursue his music career. Not long after dropping out of school, Jimmy joined a band called 'The Crusaders'. He toured with The Crusaders for almost 2 years, but unfortunately fell seriously ill and had to stop. The illness had been glandular fever and because he had to stop touring, Page decided to follow another passion of his, art. He enrolled in Sutton Art College in Surrey. Although he was there for art, Jimmy often jammed on stage with Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.
One night, after a jam, Page was approached by John Gibb from 'The Silhouettes', who had been watching him for some time. Gibb asked Page if he would help record a few singles for 'EMI'. Page agreed to help and recorded many singles, including 'The Worrying Kid'. After many more offers and recordings, in 1964, Page was offered with replacing Eric Clapton in 'The Yardbirds'. But due to Page's friendship with Clapton, he politely declined the offer. But in 1965, Clapton left The Yardbirds and Page was officially offered his spot, but again declined it and said that Jeff Beck should be able to fill the place. The reason he did this was because he was still worried about his health if he were to go around touring again. The Yardbirds were very persistent and in 1966, Page was offered the place of the bass guitarist because the former bassist left. This time Page accepted. Soon after joining, he moved to twin lead guitar, while Chris Dreja moved to bass guitar.
Offers
One night, after a jam, Page was approached by John Gibb from 'The Silhouettes', who had been watching him for some time. Gibb asked Page if he would help record a few singles for 'EMI'. Page agreed to help and recorded many singles, including 'The Worrying Kid'. After many more offers and recordings, in 1964, Page was offered with replacing Eric Clapton in 'The Yardbirds'. But due to Page's friendship with Clapton, he politely declined the offer. But in 1965, Clapton left The Yardbirds and Page was officially offered his spot, but again declined it and said that Jeff Beck should be able to fill the place. The reason he did this was because he was still worried about his health if he were to go around touring again. The Yardbirds were very persistent and in 1966, Page was offered the place of the bass guitarist because the former bassist left. This time Page accepted. Soon after joining, he moved to twin lead guitar, while Chris Dreja moved to bass guitar.
Led Zeppelin
In 1968, The Yardbirds lost their vocalist and drummer, but Page wanted to keep touring. So he contacted vocalist Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham. They both accepted to join and so The Yardbirds continued touring, but under a different name, 'The New Yardbirds'. Halfway through the tour though, Keith Moon, Page's friend, suggested the name Lead Zeppelin. Page liked this band name and everyone in the band agreed to it. So The New Yardbirds became Lead Zeppelin. Lead Zeppelin was then changed to Led Zeppelin to avoid the mispronunciation of Leed Zeppelin. In the 70's, Led Zeppelin performed sell out concerts and in one of those concerts, Page performed what some say is the greatest guitar solo of all time in the epic song that is Stairway To Heaven. Despite all the success, the band disbanded due to the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980.
'Nuff Said
