+1
The problem with the internet is that you can put every stupid thought you have out there for everyone to see.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Jimmy Page? Meh!
- Thread starter stratovani
- Start date
- Status
The problem with the internet is that you can put every stupid thought you have out there for everyone to see.
I recall Eddie Van Halen saying in an interview (I think it was the 1978 Guitar Player Magazine interview), "Jimmy Page plays like a two-year-old with broken hands." At the time, I thought to myself, I can't believe this "new" guitarist is criticizing a music icon -- Van Halen just ruined his career. Guess when you're good, you can say what you want.
Edit: I paraphrased the quote, but here is a link: Listen to This Eddie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Edit: I paraphrased the quote, but here is a link: Listen to This Eddie - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Last edited:
I used to say, I thought all the members of Zep were great, I just didn't like what they did together, which makes no sense, I realize. (I preferred Plants solo stuff, etc,) Then I heard some early, earl'sy Zep concert recordings and they really blew me away and changed my mind a bit. Have to totally agree with so many posting: his playing would be pretty good then go through phases of not so much. I never understood how he could play to CLEAN on acoustic instruments, yet often sound sloppy on a great Les Paul neck (or Tele early on) strung with super light .009s and some serious volume.
I'm also sure most would say whether you love him or not, even at my most "I just don't like Zeppelin" phase, I could never not appreciate his ability as an arranger/producer. JPJ just gets better every time I hear him play : )
I'm also sure most would say whether you love him or not, even at my most "I just don't like Zeppelin" phase, I could never not appreciate his ability as an arranger/producer. JPJ just gets better every time I hear him play : )
I believe a lot of criticism comes from today's perspective. I've always felt the same about Jimi Hendrix. Really noisy and somewhat disjointed playing...until I consider the time frame. 40 or 50 years ago these guys were doing some pretty cool stuff! I have been and always will we a Zeppelin fan. The music takes me back to my childhood when the biggest concern I had was if I had a flat on my bike.
At least Page & Co. wrote some of their songs.
- Oct 18, 2012
- 6,683
- 5,538
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
I've always liked Page's playing. Never been a huge fan of Plant's voice though. He sometimes sounds screechy. I still Led Zeppelin is one of the greatest rock bands ever.
wmhill
Inactive
- Aug 20, 2012
- 4,054
- 17,209
- Disclosures
- MTD basses endorsed artist Bartolini pickups emerging artist TECAMP bass players gear endorsed
I appreciate Page much as do Jack Bruce or Keith Moon- while I don't personally care for a lot of their stuff (some I do like, but the not the majority)I have a deep respect for the contributions that they made to music. Page influenced a ton of the great players, and that is pretty important to me.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
- 16,223
- 7,613
- 76
- Disclosures
- fEARful Kool-Aid dispensing liberal academic card-carrying union member Musicians Local 72-147
- Sep 14, 2012
- 1,560
- 1,198
- 40
- Disclosures
- Reverend Guitars ; SIT Strings ; Trickfish Amplifiers ; LK Straps ; Rattlesnake Cables
They never did it for me personally. I am not going to be so bold as to question their musical prowess, but I am just not a fan of their music. Most bands from that era do nothing for me musically. They were excellent musicians, and I fully admit that I could not hold a candle to may of them in terms of sheer ability. I still don't like their music though.
Wankers? No. I've always been a fan but prefer the studio albums. I plugged in the BBC Sessions cd the other day and thought it was terrible. They drift too much from the song, its like what song is this again? I thought it was sloppy, probably high or drunk, who knows. I'll stick to their better stuff. I still love them though. I think they started the hard rock revolution, just my opinion.
Well, this is proof that there's no convincing diehard fans. No, friend, I'm not a troll, I'm merely expressing an honest opinion. The Dazed And Confused guitar solo in The Song Remains The Same movie is pure wankery. I don't consider Page sloppy, he hits every note he wants cleanly, it's just that his long-winded, extended solos are epic examples of pure wankery.
FWIW I don't hate Led Zep at all. They've always been one of my favorite bands ever since my high school days back in the late 60s. JPJ and Bonham are a helluva rhythm section. I just think that if Page cut down his solos a bit the he'd look less like a wanker.
I never got the chance to see Led Zep, but I did see The Who back in '74, and while Townshend and Page are two different styles, at least Townshend didn't wank (as far as I can remember).
As a long-time veteran of the Led Zep/Page wars on the internet against people who have the audacity to publicly express that they don't find Page to be as good as his reputation, I applaud your entering into the fury.
It seems that there are many Led Zepplin fans who are like the worst St. Louis Cardinal fans I know- if you don't revere them, they jump to saying you are bashing, hating, attacking them, and that you are ignorant, stupid, or illiterate. My feeling is that Page falls into (to paraphrase the old Playboy Magazine jazz poll category) "Recognition deserving wider talent". He's a master or creating great riffs. He's a tremendously astute record producer. He can be an interesting guitarist, especially "rhythm guitar" or background beds. But he's not a great soloist. I can take slop if it has passion and emotion driving it (witness Neil Young on the SNL performance of "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World" with Charley Drayton on bass). But so much of what I've heard from Page fans trying to convince me of his genius is slop without redeeming passion coming through. My favorite Page solos are the carefully composed ones on "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway...".
The other thing is that I don't think Zep wrote good songs. They made great riffs, and wonderful recordings. But the songs don't hold up without those specific performances, and that's a bad song. A good SONG is NOT the performance, a specific solo, a specific vocal delivery, or a specific recording. A good song can be presented myriad different ways and still get across. "Stairway..." for example is a just about perfect record. The very cool and interesting contrary motion of the classic acoustic intro is great (especially if the D is played right the the F# in the bass - to keep the critical descending bass line of the part going). But the lyrics are worse than the most pretentious and silly Yes lyrics. Ending this huge anthemic build up with "to be a rock and not to roll" is as putrid as "I'll be the day your way"...
Zep's music evokes a time a culture, much like Hendrix does for a (slightly) older group- but Page as a guitar god just falls short of the people with whom he's most often grouped- Jeff Beck, Hendrix, and Clapton (fully understanding how and why many people can't fathom Clapton's reputation/esteem even though I think he's a critical component in the instrument's place in music.
Just don't label people how don't like Page, or have the temerity to publicly express what they see as short-comings as "haters". Most have opinions that are far more nuanced than that.
John
It seems that there are many Led Zepplin fans who are like the worst St. Louis Cardinal fans I know- if you don't revere them, they jump to saying you are bashing, hating, attacking them, and that you are ignorant, stupid, or illiterate. My feeling is that Page falls into (to paraphrase the old Playboy Magazine jazz poll category) "Recognition deserving wider talent". He's a master or creating great riffs. He's a tremendously astute record producer. He can be an interesting guitarist, especially "rhythm guitar" or background beds. But he's not a great soloist. I can take slop if it has passion and emotion driving it (witness Neil Young on the SNL performance of "Keep On Rockin' In The Free World" with Charley Drayton on bass). But so much of what I've heard from Page fans trying to convince me of his genius is slop without redeeming passion coming through. My favorite Page solos are the carefully composed ones on "Whole Lotta Love" and "Stairway...".
The other thing is that I don't think Zep wrote good songs. They made great riffs, and wonderful recordings. But the songs don't hold up without those specific performances, and that's a bad song. A good SONG is NOT the performance, a specific solo, a specific vocal delivery, or a specific recording. A good song can be presented myriad different ways and still get across. "Stairway..." for example is a just about perfect record. The very cool and interesting contrary motion of the classic acoustic intro is great (especially if the D is played right the the F# in the bass - to keep the critical descending bass line of the part going). But the lyrics are worse than the most pretentious and silly Yes lyrics. Ending this huge anthemic build up with "to be a rock and not to roll" is as putrid as "I'll be the day your way"...
Zep's music evokes a time a culture, much like Hendrix does for a (slightly) older group- but Page as a guitar god just falls short of the people with whom he's most often grouped- Jeff Beck, Hendrix, and Clapton (fully understanding how and why many people can't fathom Clapton's reputation/esteem even though I think he's a critical component in the instrument's place in music.
Just don't label people how don't like Page, or have the temerity to publicly express what they see as short-comings as "haters". Most have opinions that are far more nuanced than that.
John
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Legit in the sense that it exists, yes. Legit in the sense that there is a single band even remotely comparable to Led Zeppelin, nope.
- Status
