jimmy page biography

James Patrick Page, known as Jimmy Page, (born January 9, 1944) is one of the most influential guitarists in rock and roll. He was the founding member for the band Led Zeppelin and, prior to that, a member of The Yardbirds from late 1966 through 1968.

Page was born in the north London suburb of Heston, Middlesex-Britain. His father was an industrial personnel manager and his mother a doctor's secretary.

Jimmy Page is often thought of as a quintessential rock guitar hero, being in the same class of talent as peers such as Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and the late Jimi Hendrix. Page and Beck, who grew up near each other in England and both spent time as guitarists for the Yardbirds, were among the first guitarists to help popularize the use of electronic feedback and distortion with the Roger Mayer fuzzbox.

Jimmy Page began learning guitar when he was 12. His early influences were rockabilly guitarists Scotty Moore and James Burton, who both played on recordings made by Elvis Presley, and Johnny Day who played guitar for The Everly Brothers. The Presley song "Baby Let's Play House" was an early favourite on his first electric guitar, a second hand 1949 Gibson Les Paul. Page's musical tastes however also encompassed acoustic folk playing particularly that of Bert Jansch and John Renbourn, and the blues sounds of Elmore James and B.B. King. At the age of 14, Page appeared on ITV's Search For Stars talent quest programme.

After graduating from school with an initial aim to work as a lab assistant, Page’s love of the guitar saw him switch to playing for Beat poet Royston Ellis before joining his first band, Red E Lewis and The Red Caps. Page was then asked by Neil Christian to join his band, The Crusaders, which gave him his first taste of touring life and an appearance on a November 1962 single, "The Road to Love". Living from out of the back of a van and intermittent wages however, led Page to take up a totally different focus in painting at Sutton Art College in Surrey. While still a student, Page would often jam on stage at the Marquee with bands such as the Cyril Davis All Stars, Alexis Korner's Blues Incorporated and with guitarists Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton. He was spotted one night by John Gibb of The Silhouettes, who asked him to help record a number of singles for EMI, "The Worrying Kind" and "Bald Headed Woman". It wasn't until an offer from Mike Leander from Decca Records that Page was to receive regular studio work. His first session for the label was the recording "Diamonds" by Jet Harris & Tony Meehan which went to Number 1 on the singles chart in 1963.

After brief stints with the band Mickey Finn, and Carter Lewis and The Southerners, Page committed himself to full-time session work. His studio output in 1963 included Brian Pool & The Tremeloes' "Twist and Shout", Heinz's "Just Like Eddie" and in 1964, The Rolling Stones "Heart of Stone", Marianne Faithfull's "As Tears Go By", The Nashville Teens' "Tobacco Road", Dave Berry's "The Crying Game", and Lulu's hit "Shout". Under the auspices of producer Shel Talmy, Page recorded The Kinks "You Really Got Me" (1964) (although there is a dispute on whether Page or Dave Davies played lead]), the guitar part on Them's "Baby Please Don’t Go" (1965), and recorded a lead guitar part on The Who's first single "I Can't Explain", although there is disagreement over whether or not it was used. In 1965 Page was hired by Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham to act as house producer for the newly formed Immediate Records label, which also allowed him to play on tracks by John Mayall, Nico, and Eric Clapton. Page also formed a brief songwriting partnership with then girlfriend, Jackie DeShannon. It is estimated that Jimmy Page appeared on 60% of rock music recorded in England between 1963 and 1966.

After being invited to replace Eric Clapton in The Yardbirds on March 20, 1965, Page instead turned down the offer and suggested his friend Jeff Beck. On May 16, 1966, drummer Keith Moon, bass player John Paul Jones, keyboardist Nicky Hopkins, Jeff Beck and Page recorded "Beck's Bolero" in London's IBC Studios. The experience gave Page an idea to form a band with John Entwistle on bass (instead of Jones), however the lack of a quality vocalist and contractual problems sent the project down like a "lead zeppelin". Within weeks Page was again offered to join The Yardbirds and at first played bass guitar with the group after the departure of Paul Samwell-Smith, before finally switching to twin lead guitar with Beck when Chris Dreja moved to bass. The musical potential of the line-up however was scuttled by personality differences caused by constant touring and a lack of commercial success. Despite the departure of Keith Relf and Jim McCarty in 1968, Page wished to continue the group with a new line-up. The New Yardbirds eventually evolved into Led Zeppelin.

Page's past experiences both in the studio and with The Yardbirds was critical in the success of Led Zeppelin in the 1970s. As a producer, composer and guitarist for the band, he was one of the major driving forces behind the rock sound of that era, with his trademark Gibson Les Paul guitar and Marshall amplification. His use of distorted fuzz guitar ("Whole Lotta Love"), slide guitar ("Tangerine", "In My Time of Dying"), eastern scales ("Black Mountain Side", "Kashmir"), acoustic guitar ("Gallows Pole", "Bron-Yr-Aur") and recording techniques made Led Zeppelin a prototype for all future rock bands. Page also put to use his bowed playing technique he developed during his session days, and experimented with feedback devices and a theremin.

After Led Zeppelin broke up in 1980, Page attempted to form a supergroup with ex-Yes members to be called XYZ however it came to naught. In 1982, he was commissioned by director Michael Winner to record the soundtrack to the film Death Wish II. Page made a successful return to stage with the ARMS Charity series of concerts in 1983 which honoured Small Faces bass player Ronnie Lane. Page then linked up with Roy Harper for an album and tour. In 1984, Page recorded with Robert Plant in the guise of The Honeydrippers. Various other projects soon followed such as The Firm, with Paul Rodgers, session work for Graham Nash, Box of Frogs, and Robert Plant, a solo album Outrider, a collaboration with David Coverdale in Coverdale Page, and a live album with The Black Crowes. He also reunited with Robert Plant to do two albums and successful tours in 1995 and 1998. They did an MTV UnLedded special showcasing their album No Quarter, a compilation featuring restyled Led Zeppelin songs. Page has been one member of Led Zeppelin that has always left open the option for a group reunion.

Since 1990, Jimmy Page has been instrumental in remastering the entire Led Zeppelin back catalogue and is currently involved in various charity concerts and charity work particularly the Action for Brazil's Children Trust (ABC Trust), founded by his wife Jimena Gomez-Paratcha in 1998. His daughter, Scarlet Page, is a respected photographer.
Jimmy Page's first solo recording was a single for Fontana Records in 1965 which featured "She Just Satisfies". The B-side was "Keep Movin'".

* Death Wish II (1982)
* The Honeydrippers: Volume One (1984), with Robert Plant
* Whatever Happened to Jugula (1985), with Roy Harper
* Lucifer Rising (1987)
* Outrider (1988)
* Coverdale Page (1993), with David Coverdale
* No Quarter (1994), with Robert Plant
* Walking Into Clarksdale (1998), with Robert Plant
* Live at the Greek (2000), with The Black Crowes

Jimmy Page's pre-Zeppelin session recordings can also be found on various compilation albums.

* James Patrick Page: Session Man Volume One (1990)
* James Patrick Page: Session Man Volume Two (1990)
* Jimmy's Back Pages: The Early Years (1992)
* Hip Young Guitar Slinger (2000)
gear:
Fender Telecaster '58 (psychedelic colors): was given to him by Jeff Beck. He played it with the Yardbirds, on Led Zeppelin I, the early tours (68-69), and on the studio version of Stairway.

Gibson J-200 (acoustic): used for the acoustic songs on Led Zeppelin I. Lent to Page by Big Jim Sulivan.

Fender 10-String 800 Pedal Steel: played on Led Zeppelin and Led Zeppelin III.

Gibson Les Paul '58

Gibson Les Paul '58: his main guitar. The original tuners have been replaced by gold-plated Grovers. Due to several neck modifications the serial # was lost.
Gibson '59 Les Paul

Gibson '59 Les Paul: main guitar #2, given to page by Joe Walsh, from which was done the Jimmy Page signature Les Paul. The neck has been shaved to be like the '58s neck. The bridge was rounded, so he can play any string with the bow (and not only the E's). Two spring-loaded switches have been added under the plate (one for in and out phase control and one to put the pickups in series/parallel). The knobs have been replaced by push-pulls for coil tapping, or to play the 4 coils in parallel. The original tuners have been replaced. serial #: 91703
Vox 12-String: played on Thank You (studio version).

Gibson "Black Beauty" Les Paul: Jimmy used it a lot with the Yardbirds, and during the '70 tour. It was equipped with a Bigsby vibrato arm. (I didn't hear him using it much, though). It was stolen during the '70 tour, in April, while going to Canada. Jimmy issued an ad in Rolling Stone, but he never got it back. serial #: 06130 If you happen to get hands on this axe, please be nice and give it back to Jimmy.

Harmony Sovereign (acoustic) : played on Led Zeppelin III and on tour in 1970.

Gretsch Cutaway (12-String acoustic): used on tour in '70.

1971 Martin D28 (acoustic)

1971 Martin D28 (acoustic): played in the studio and on tour after 1970.
Rickenbacker (12-string): used on stage in 1971.

Gibson SG doubleneck

Gibson SG doubleneck: Twelve/six string doubleneck guitar, both fitted with two humbuckers. Jimmy played it on stage for Stairway to Heaven, Tangerine, The Rain Song, and The Song Remains The Same and in the studio for Carouselambra. serial # 911117
'73 Les Paul Std (resprayed cherry red)

Gibson '73 Les Paul Std (resprayed cherry red): it's seen in The Song Remains The Same. Fitted with a Parsons/White B-Bender.
Danelectro ('59 DC body)

Danelectro ('59 DC body): It was made from the best parts of 2 Danelectros, and fitted with a Badass bridge. Used on stage for Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, In My Time Of Dying, and often for Kashmir (especially after '77).
'59 Fender telecaster (botswana brown): first appeared on stage in 1977. Nicknamed "The Brown Bomber". Used on Hot Dog and All My Love during the final tour.
It is actually the body of a '59 Telecaster with the neck of his '58 Telecaster, which was ruined by a "friend" who repainted it (without asking Page). -Thanks to Chef Zeppelin for the info!

'60 Fender Stratocaster (Lake Placid Blue):

'60 Fender Stratocaster (Lake Placid Blue): first used in '79 on stage, especially for In the Evening.
Gibson RD Artist: used at Knebworth for Misty Mountain Hop.

Gibson SG: he seldom used it, during the '80 tour.

'66 Fender Stratocaster (Cream): played for All My Love, during the '80 European tour.



Amps
Supro (unknown model): 1*12" combo used for recording.

Hiwatt 50: seen during the 1970 tour.

Vox AC-30: used for recording. 2*12" Celestion speakers. 36 watt output.

Marshall 1959-SLP: 100 watt head rewired to 200 watt

Marshall 4*12 cabinets

Orange: 100 watt amp and cabinets



Effects:
Gibson overdrive pedal customized by Roger Mayer: mostly used on the first album and the early tours (and before, with the Yardbirds and during sessions).

Overdrive from amp (often from Marshall 1959-SLP).

Dunlop Crybaby Wha-Wha

MXR Phase 90: phaser used on the Wanton Song and Achilles Last Stand.

Eventide H949 Harmonizer.

Maestro Echoplex: echo effect used on stage.

Gizmotron: The Gizmotron is a mechanical string bowing device invented by Lol Creme and Kevin Godley. Jimmy called it a "hurdy gurdy type of thing". Two versions were available: 4 or 6 strings (bass or guitar). It works by having a rubber wheel for each string and a key for each wheel; pressing down on the key engages the wheel with a rotating shaft. The shaft rotates the wheel which then excites the string. It may have been used on Carouselambra and In The Evening to get the drone sound.

Theremin: Theremin: this device was invented by Leo Theremin, in the late 30's. It is a black box with an antenna. When your hand is close enough it produces a shrill sound; the closer your hand, the shriller the sound. It can be heard on Whole Lotta Love and No Quarter.
GUITARS

Alembic Omega Bass:
Used in studio
Dan Electro:
Used on Kashmir 1977-80
Fender '58 Stratocaster:
Used with Bad Company in New York in 1974
Fender '60's Stratocaster:
Used on In the Evening and the Presence album 1979-80
Fender '58 Telecaster:
given to Page by Jeff Beck, used on the first album
Fender '59 Telecaster:
One of Jimmy's favs
Fender '66 Telecaster:
Used on the European tour in 1980
Fender Mandolin:
SE#3611H35
Fender Precision Bass:
Used in studio
Fender Stratocaster:
used with Neil Christian and the Crusaders
Gibson '58 Les Paul:
Jimmy's main studio guitar
Gibson '59 Les Paul:
SE#91703, given to Jimmy by Joe Walsh
Gibson '73 Les Paul:
Painted red, Parsons/white B-string bender
Gibson A4 Mandolin
Gibson Black Beauty Les Paul:
this guitar was stolen from backstage in 1973. Page offered a reward but it was never returned
Gibson EDS 1275:
Gibson ES5 Switchmaster:
Used on the Death Wish 2 soundtrack
Gibson Everly Brothers Acoustic:
One of Jimmy's faves
Gibson RD Artist:
Used at Knebworth on Misty Mountain Hop
Gibson SG Standard:
Rarely used on stage after 1977
Grazzioso:
first guitar acquired
Gretsch Chet Atkins Hollowbody:
Given as a prize in 1974
Harmony Acoustic:
Studio guitar
Martin 000-D28:
Used on Zeppelin's acoustic sets
Martin D-45 Acoustic Guitar
Rickenbacker 12 string:
Studio guitar
Roland GR 300:
Used on Death Wish 2 soundtrack
Roland GR 707:
Used on Death Wish 2 soundtrack
Vega Five String Banjo:
Used on Gallow's Pole
Vox 12-string:
used with the Yardbirds
Yamaha Acoustic:
SE#40607660-0540968, prize at the Golden Lion Roadies Charity 12/81




EFFECTS:

Boss CE-2 Chorus
Boss SD-1 Distortion
Cry Baby Wah Wah
Ecentide H949 Clockwork Harmonizer
Echoplex unit
MRX Phase 90




AMPS:

Hiwatt 50 (rehearsal only)
Marshall 4x12 cabinets (2 angled)
Marshall 4x12 cabinets (2 straight)
Marshall SLP-1959 100 watt heads
Orange 4x12 cabinets (2)
Supro Amp (recording only)
Theramin:
Used on How Many More Times, Whole Lotta Love, and In The Evening
Vox AQC-30 (rehearsal only)




PICKS:

Herco Flex 75
violin bow




STRINGS:

Ernie Ball Earthwoods (acoustic)
Ernie Ball Super Slinky (electric)