Jimmy Page

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Page's musical journey started in the Miles Road house in Epsom, where he discovered an unclaimed Spanish guitar at age 12. Largely self-taught after taking a few lessons in Kingston, he practiced six or seven hours daily with schoolmates Rod Wyatt and Pete Calvert. His early influences included rockabilly players Scotty Moore and James Burton, as well as blues artists like Elmore James, B.B. King, and Freddie King. Inspired by Presley's "Baby Let's Play House," Page bought his first electric guitar, a second-hand 1959 Futurama Grazioso, after saving money from a milk round. By age 14, billed as James Page, he played in Malcolm Austin and Whirlwinds before forming The Paramounts. After leaving school at 15 to pursue music, he briefly joined Neil Christian's Crusaders but fell ill with glandular fever. He then paused his career for 18 months to study painting at Sutton Art College while living on ten dollars a week.

In Their Own Story

By the early 1960s, Page transitioned into full-time session work, often called 'Lil' Jim Pea' to distinguish him from Big Jim Sullivan. He was frequently hired as "insurance" for recording sessions where a second guitarist was needed. Under producer Shel Talmy, he played on tracks for the Who and the Kinks, including acoustic twelve-string guitar on "I'm a Lover Not a Fighter." His extensive 1964 and 1965 session list included Marianne Faithfull's "As Tears Go By," The Rolling Stones' "Heart of Stone," Van Morrison & Them's "Baby, Please Don't Go," Shirley Bassey's "Goldfinger," and Petula Clark's "Downtown." He also contributed guitar to the incidental music for the Beatles' 1964 film A Hard Day's Night. In 1965, Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham hired Page as house producer for Immediate Records, allowing him to produce tracks by John Mayall, Nico, and Clapton.

Reader's Guide

Page joined the Yardbirds in 1966 before founding Led Zeppelin in 1968. The band operated until 1980 when drummer John Bonham died. Post-Zeppelin, Page collaborated on projects like the 2007 reunion released as the 2012 film Celebration Day and appeared in the 2008 documentary It Might Get Loud alongside the Edge and Jack White. Rolling Stone ranked him No. 3 on its 2015 list of "100 Greatest Guitarists" behind Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, and again No. 3 in 2023 behind Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix. Gibson placed him No. 2 on their "Top 50 Guitarists" in 2010. Page was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice: first as a member of the Yardbirds in 1992, then as a member of Led Zeppelin in 1995.

Did You Know?

• Page was originally nicknamed 'Lil' Jim Pea' to avoid confusion with fellow session guitarist Big Jim Sullivan.
• At age 13, Page told BBC presenter Huw Wheldon he wanted to do biological research to find a cure for cancer.
• He left school at age 15 after having a major row with Deputy Head Miss Nicholson about his musical ambitions.
• Page played rhythm guitar on the Who's first single "I Can't Explain," though Pete Townshend was reluctant to keep his contribution on the final recording.
• In 2007, Page participated in the Led Zeppelin reunion concert that was later released as the film Celebration Day in 2012.