Jimmy Page

The founder of Led Zeppelin who began his career as a London studio session musician.

James Patrick Page, born on 9 January 1944 in Heston, West London, is an English musician and producer who founded the rock band Led Zeppelin. Before achieving international success with the group, which was active from 1968 to 1980, Page established himself as a notable session guitarist in Britain by the mid-1960s. He was also a member of the Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968. Following the band's breakup and the death of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham in 1980, Page continued performing with various projects including XYZ, the Firm, the Honeydrippers, Coverdale–Page, and Page and Plant. He remains recognized as one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time.

Quick Facts

Birth name

James Patrick Page

Born

9 January 1944

Birthplace

Heston, Middlesex, England

Years active

1957–present

Occupation

Musician
record producer
songwriter

Spouse

Patricia Ecker, 1986, 1995, Jimena Gomez Paratcha, 1995, 2008

Children

5, including Scarlet

Partner

Scarlett Sabet (2014–present)

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.

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.