“Forget the myths, it was all about the music”: New book charts life of Led Zeppelin legend Jimmy Page

JIMMY PAGE is one of the world’s greatest rock guitarists, but there’s much more to him than just that.

Martin Power, the author of a comprehensive new book about the musician, tells Murray Scougall The Honest Truth about the Led Zeppelin legend.

What’s your background?

I’ve been involved in music most of my life and have been lucky enough to write about it for more than 20 years.

Why did you write a book about Jimmy Page?

Jimmy’s one of the few artists whose career spans almost the entire history of rock and roll.

That gave me the chance to explore the three distinct stages of his musical life – from his earliest bands, involvement with London’s ’60s sessions scene and work in The Yardbirds to the glory years of Led Zeppelin and all that came after.

It’s packed full of detail – how long did you work on the book?

From original idea to actually finishing the manuscript, probably the best part of two years.

Who were some of the people you interviewed?

I was fortunate to interview a variety of people, including producers and musicians with whom Jimmy worked as a musician in the ’60s to his colleagues in The Yardbirds and those involved in various solo projects following the end of Zep. A great cast of characters who were kind enough to share their time with me.

Have you ever interviewed Jimmy?

Sadly, no. That said, I’ve tried hard to honour his six decades in music, so I genuinely hope he likes the book.

What’s your earliest memory of Jimmy?

I remember hearing Stairway To Heaven on the radio back in the early ’70s and thinking “What the hell was that?” Until then, all I’d really known was my mum’s Elvis and Johnny Cash records, so Zep sounded like they were from another planet.

My interest was piqued.

How did Jimmy start out as a musician?

He took up the guitar after hearing Lonnie Donegan playing skiffle. After that, it was a short walk towards rock and roll and then blues.

By the time he was 16, Jimmy was already one of the most promising guitarists in the UK.

Who were some of the people he worked with as a session musician?

Jimmy played guitar on hundreds of sessions in the ’60s, from Shirley Bassey’s Goldfinger and Petula Clark’s Downtown to Donovan’s Sunshine Superman and Joe Cocker’s With A Little Help From My Friends.

Any little-known facts you discovered about Jimmy?

I was shocked by just how much music he was involved in before forming Zep in 1968. Film soundtracks, jingles, singles, albums, the list appeared endless. Tracking down information about that time was great fun but also a lot of hard work.

Your favourite song or album from Jimmy?

I love the big guitar riffs – Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog to lesser-known gems such as The Ocean and Out On The Tiles. But in terms of Jimmy and Zep’s sense of ambition, I think Kashmir is hard to beat. For me, that’s the essence of the band right there.

Do you think we’ve seen the last of Led Zeppelin or do you believe they might have one final hurrah?

As time goes by, it seems less likely we’ll see them on stage again, but I’d love to think they’ll give it one more throw of the dice.

What will Jimmy’s legacy be?

Jimmy once said: “Forget the myths, it was all about the music.” And I’m sure that will be his real legacy. Placing aside all the legends surrounding him and Zep, with anthems as timeless as Stairway, Kashmir and Whole Lotta Love, it’ll be the music he’ll be remembered for.

No Quarter: The Three Lives of Jimmy Page is out now from Omnibus.