Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page is best known as the lead guitarist and founding member of the legendary rock group, Led Zeppelin. A session musician in the 1960's, Page joined The Yardbirds shortly before the band split up and famously assembled the members of what would become Led Zeppelin in order to wrap up the contractual obligations of the band. For twelve years, he toured and recorded with Zeppelin, until the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980 ended the band.

Biography

Page was born on 9th January 1944 in Heston, Middlesex, England. He got his first guitar at the age of 12 and mostly taught himself to play by listening to records. Page cites the guitar work of Scotty Moore and James Burton as influential, especially Elvis Presley's Baby, Let's Play House.

Other influences on Page at the time were Bert Jansch's folk music and the blues playing of B.B. King and Elmore James.

Page would leave school at the age of 14 to focus on his musical career and after playing in a number of bands, was approached by singer Neil Christian to play for his band, The Crusaders. He toured and recorded with The Crusaders for about two years until he fell ill with glandular fever. Although he continued to play, he enroled at Sutton Art College in Surrey.