Was Jimmy Page Really A Sloppy Guitar Player?

[@cfb30]

Bottom line, Plant said it best - “The critics thought we were shit, and some nights we were. But on other nights, we were the greatest thing that has ever been on a stage.”

[@damonpolkjr2927]

greatest is crazy 😭😭

[@TheMeeper68]

​@damonpolkjr2927 not crazy whatsoever when you're talking about a band like Led Zeppelin Greatest. Band. Ever.

[@AndI0td763]

@@TheMeeper68 I think that while Zeppelin beat The Who in the studio album department, The Who were better on the stage. But there is no “greatest band ever” all bands have strengths and weaknesses.

[@ShakeyDarkStar]

@@TheMeeper68the greatest live band (emphasis on live) is and always will be the Grateful Dead

[@cbcacbca]

I'd say that's close to right. I saw Zepplin live 3 time's in the early 70's but they were only great on one occasion. Bath Pavilion, 1971.

[@DoobTube71]

Booze and heroin definitely dulled Jimmy's live solos and playing at times. However, Jimmy Page is a bona fide master musician, early session guy, songwriter and producer.

[@robert.m4676]

He also broke his hand and the show still had to roll on!

[@charliesaucier3352]

@robert.m4676 At least on 2 separate tours in the 70's. There are even old pics of the band standing around being photographed, and Page is wearing a bandage on his left fretting hand. I believe in one incident he had his hand slammed by a train door, ouch! No doubt, that had to affect his playing big time!

[@robert.m4676]

@@charliesaucier3352 yeah Page caught a ton of flack for playing sloppy. Anyone with a really bad hand injury knows you can’t do things anywhere near like how you would had that injury not happened. It’s kinda too bad he didn’t just tell crowds about the injuries but then again he’s got a job to do and many people on the Crue need the paychecks. I have had to o deal with a hairline fracture in my wrist doing tree work. It changes how I do everything. Page kept the show going and that’s more important!! I still had to work as well.

[@charlesdobbs4570]

He had a serious heroin problem. And it definitely effected his playing. He sucked live because he was always high.

[@NovChivon]

I forget who but some famous guitar player called Jimmy page a slopster

[@BrianOates]

Musicians who saw them live in the late 1970s commonly went away disappointed with Jimmy’s obvious impaired performances. He had a drug problem and didn’t bother to sober up for their shows. Eric Clapton was like this then too, he played shows sloppy drunk too.

[@robbieclark7828]

At least Clapton could still play when he was screwed up

[@bloozedaddy]

​@@Yeahok-pc2jdnever dug the over-use of the whammy bar...felt like my ears needed Dramamine. To each his own.

[@bigbadsauce92]

yeahhh Jimmy literally use to get loaded before every show, and *routinely* during the actual shows as well. Even in "Song Remains the Same" you can see he was fking blitzed but maybe not too drunk/doped out on downers.

[@ashura9706]

Same for Pete Townshend. He’s a trainwreck in Kilburn 77.

[@M-A-Y-H-E-M]

*"HENDRIX"* in his time was often *performing* under the influence too, and so does MAJORITY of *"rockstars"* thereafter - but he was NOT: *"Mr. SLOPPY"* ☝🏽 . . . 💯% ✅️ 🤷🏻‍♂️ 👌🏽 👍🏼 🤦🏻

[@Mr29roses]

You fail to mention one very important point: Led Zeppelin would have super long improvisations, not to mention 3 1/2 hr concerts every night ('73/'75/'77). He became a heroin addict in 1977 and that tour had some rough moments. He was fine at Kenworth. I've heard HUNDREDS of Zep bootlegs - they jam a lot. I credit them for that.

[@jakkbatt4711]

Fatigue, influence, he also had injured his hand badly, and possibly stage fright could affect his talent

[@MrSalsa1973]

I work 10-12 hrs a day 6 days a week sometimes on Sundays too… My paycheck it’s never sloppy.

[@jakkbatt4711]

@@MrSalsa1973 they also went on benders the entire time🤣 so they where all loaded on stage

[@cal.anonymous7970]

Nice point. Staying power...& Pacing himself....

[@michaelmorningstar8645]

​@@jakkbatt4711not true.

[@yanghan1094]

I remember there’s a video of Led Zeppelin and The Doors doing a show together. Jimmy Page’ playing was great in that video. Myself is a professional guitarist, I know when my body doesn’t feel good, I won’t play good. A lot of musicians now starting to notice take care of the health is most important thing to their careers.

[@RickDanner]

im 65 and its a struggle . Breaking both legs in a car accident didnt help . I can still play but everything hurts LOL

[@GordiansKnotHere]

Health is everything in mind, body and soul. These musicians were frickin amazing. Imagine how much more amazing they could've been if you took dope out of the equation...

[@VishalKumar-zz7ql]

What ? Really ? What is that video called ? Where is it ? Never heard of it ! I'd die to see that !

[@kareguritsu]

​@@GordiansKnotHere imagine if people realized Mary Jane is still a drug too. seriously! those of You who might fight with Me about this will realize it later on. not kidding one bit. any of those drugs with screw you up when You're playing. many of us learn later in life some of the things we missed out on while high, drunk or buzzed. not saying all highs are bad. but real natural highs You get. those are the best You'll ever have. hell, even when You play a video game when You pass a level, beat an opponent, pass a mission and feel that accomplishment, that's a natural high and it feels great. achievements give You better highs IMHO than any drug. Believe Me, I've done a good number of different substances. but life happens and when You're on any of those highs, when the best things happen You won't remember them as well as You'd like (lucky I was sober when I lost My virginity), and it's terrible when some of the worst happens and You can't do as well as You need to when it's time to adjust to the situation. lets say someone has a heart attack or is in a car wreck, You'll end up feeling lower than You were when You were high because You can't help as much as You want and go places You need to. seriously...just give what I'm saying a thought and work it out in Your head. ask Yourself those questions. not trying to be a buzz kill but I'll be that if it actually helps someone not have to deal with those situations. there, a legitimate public service announcement without all the BS.

[@chriskroll4166]

No such video exists that guy is dreaming.​@@VishalKumar-zz7ql

[@Dan-zq5wt]

I think this was a fair assessment of Page’s live career. After 1973, particularly in 1977 and beyond (at least until he returned more cleaned up in the late 80s), Page’s concerts were sometimes on point, and sometimes not, depending on his state. I think he always tried to do his best, but I think he also lost the fluid connection of brain and fingers where he could really improvise some “wow” moments. I think it’s unfair of some people to call Page “sloppy” pre 1975 - he was bringing the “guitar army” in one man every night - it required huge focus and energy which was obviously depleted in the late 70s, even as the songs became more complicated and the catalogue bigger. In his prime, even if Page’s soloing style was sometimes disjointed, he had 100% control of the song - rhythm, riff, fills, various touches and subtleties. The guy knew what he was doing and had huge balls, feel and emotion.

[@BarelyBoomer]

I have a ton of BlueRay footage of Page in the early seventies... He is a technically shitty guitarist then too. But he's very creative. But he certainly was a slop king... He can't play to save his life now! Beck was killing it weeks before he passed away. Clapton is better too. But Clapton is simple. Beck was extraordinary always. And he was always getting better... No decay.

[@AlbertoJorgeSoares]

@@BarelyBoomer He was a shitty live guitarist pre-1973, for instance??? You just don't know what you're talking about...!

[@isaacverrall8782]

@@BarelyBoomerim 28 you been on the planet way longer then me and still have no clue what you're talking about 🤣🤣

[@BarelyBoomer]

Almost.... I've got a 3 disk DVD set that spans Zeppelins entire career. Page was definitely sloppy most of the time he was with Zeppelin. When pick attack doesn't match the timing of a fretted note, when you play wrong notes and chords by mistake, when you have tempo issues and cannot hear that your guitar isn't in tune... that is sloppiness. When a person plays with these attributes that is sloppy. It's just a descriptive technical description. It's not giving Jimmi or anybody else a hard time. I saw them in 77... 🤮😪 Awful. I'm not a Humble Pie fan, but they blew Zeppelin off the stage. They played songs. In the studio you can punch in over mistakes, or just re-record the track. Live is merciless. Yes, before heroine he was a great session musician, but as an aging guitarist who is beginning of arthritis, I know how frustrating it can be to know what to do because I've done it thousands of times, but my hand intermittently won't be cooperative. But at those times I play sloppy. Is what it is, not what we'd like it to be.

[@BarelyBoomer]

@@isaacverrall8782 I witnessed it live. I grew up with others who saw them and had very similar opinions. And i still own video proof incase a forget! 😆 I play (pretty well). But I haven't a clue about what I'm talking about? 🤔... OK. 😉 And Biden has no cognitive issues... People believed that too, despite all the recorded evidence....

[@tomstegall1346]

Heroine really took its toll on Jimmy and jeopardized the well being of the band. He was sadly the creator and the destroyer. Still the greatest innovator of all time and as good of a producer that ever broke the threshold of a studio….

[@Muff_Master]

Your comment reminds of the movie “The Commitments” about a band put together in Ireland playing soul and R&B. Good movie, check it out. Anyway, they misspell “Heroin” as “Heroine” when doing an early free benefit gig. They were onstage with “HEROINE” in big letters with the “E” at the end crossed out. It was funny. That’s a polite way of bringing the misspelling to your attention and at the same time telling you about a good movie. Cheers! Oh, and yeah, your comment sums it up pretty good I think.

[@tomstegall1346]

Owe welll eye got me pointe acros

[@Muff_Master]

@@tomstegall1346 LOL Yes indeed.

[@baddaytrader]

@@Muff_Masternothing wrong with helping people out with their spelling. Language is important, and online the way we type is the only indicator we have of people’s ability. Not saying smart people don’t make typos, but I’m quicker to dismiss somebody’s opinion if they don’t know how to write what they are trying to say. Everybody has an opinion, everybody has ideas, not everybody’s are worth giving the same weight.

[@Muff_Master]

@@baddaytrader Ok, well…thanks?

[@newyorkeranew]

I’ve known Jimmy Page as a neighbor. The most unfailingly polite person you’ll meet. Truly a delight. I’m grateful he overcame what was, obviously, a major addition.

[@Toberenamedonedaymaybe]

whats he like? has he ever revealed any zeppelin fun facts?

[@SakinCorap]

Do you happen to be Robbie Williams? 😅

[@beckblowbyblow]

More Fake news...

[@caseD5150]

Who the FUCK says some shit like this… “Oh, Jimmy Page was my neighbor…” like BRUH 😂😂😳 Pics or it didn’t happen

[@beckblowbyblow]

@@newyorkeranew More Fake News....

[@FrankLopez-rm6yj]

I play guitar because of the way Jimmy handled the guitar in the movie the song remains the same when I was a teenager

[@felixmartinez5792]

@FrankLopez-rm6yj yep 💯% The Song Remains the Same... Is the most influential ⚡ inspiring music film of the 70's . Just like in the 2000's Irom Maiden Flight 666 ✈️

[@Voxguitarsrock]

At his worst Jimmy was a lot better than most. At his best he was incomparable.

[@zeppelinmexicano]

Saw him in the Nineties. His playing was excellent. When he pointed the headstock to the sky during Hearbreaker I knew the old Jimmy was back. The solo was clean, and that ain't no easy solo. The crowd went insane. I never heard a crowd that insane over anything including a Larry Bird buzzer beater.

[@LeanBearMusic]

Biggest pile of dog puke solo ever.

[@duwanemcknight8842]

I seen him on the American leg of the Outrider tour he was amazing

[@alexkx8599]

Da hell is a, "Larry Bird buzzer beater"?!

[@zivkovicable]

I lived in Windsor (UK) in the 80s, where Jimmy had a home. I used to hang out in the local music store where my friend worked, and the man himself came in to try a couple of guitars they had in stock. He noodled around for five minutes or so, then his head dropped followed by the sound of gentle snoring..He stayed there until closing time when my friend woke him up to close the store. A few other customers came in and couldn't quite believe what they were witnessing.

[@duwanemcknight8842]

Things that never happened for 300 please Alex

[@zivkovicable]

@@duwanemcknight8842 I'd make up a more interesting story than that...

[@alexkx8599]

@@duwanemcknight8842 Lol.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Nobody put on athletic shows like he did... just watching him is exhausting. You're going to be a little sloppy moving around like him, whereas most dudes just stand there. Page was a showman.

[@tims8603]

Robert Plant was considering leaving Led Zeppelin due to Jimmy's drug use. He would sometimes be right on but other times not so much.

[@Jimmybarth]

What about his Satanism and love of young girls?

[@jacobtomsovic1232]

Meanwhile Robert plant was best friends with John Bonham who was an alcoholic. Don’t quote me but I have seen sources that say when Bonzo choked on his puke and died he had well over a gallon of booze in his blood. No drugs though just booze. I’m almost positive the facts are that Bonzo consumed 50+ drinks in 24 hours with no sleep and little food. I am personally an alcoholic and after 20 I’m blacked out and lucky to wake up the next day in me own bed not in jail and alive.

[@turnsufficient4971]

That's not correct at all ! LOL. When and what year was this fairy *tail supposed to have happened ? I'll listen

[@tims8603]

@@turnsufficient4971 It was in a documentary that I saw. I can't remember the details, it was a long time ago. There was a lot of talk about Jimmy's drug use and how the band members weren't happy about it. It was based on interviews with the band members and people who knew the intimate details.

[@turnsufficient4971]

@tims8603 That is not an accurate statement and the documentary would be 100% wrong. Robert considered leaving Led Zeppelin in 1977/78 - due to his son, Karac, dying on July 26th, 1977, while Led Zeppelin was on tour in the US. It had nothing to do with Jimmy Page or any other band member.

[@Billymccarthy-x8o]

Rock ‘n’ roll is imperfect and it should be especially live

[@dinosaur6756]

I could always tell. What made Zeppelin so great was that Jimmy had a heavy workload playing live. But, so did Plant, Bonham, and JPJ. That's why, together, they were absolutely amazing. I loved how they set up for live shows, as well. They played very close to each other, center stage, no matter how large of a stage they were on. So cool.

[@tonyadams6985]

I understand these comments. (BUT), I’m not so sure that the songs would have any of the same charm or character..,and I’m speaking of his technical approach to playing on records here too.. I’ve made a career in playing since 79’ and still doing it, so from my understanding of myself touring and recording (in old school studios), etc as a professional musician, I agree that Jimmy was not always “on” it, but weaving his way around it. I had a sound engineer/producer working on an album of mine years back say he couldn’t enjoy Led Zeppelin because he couldn’t stand Jimmy’s loose playing, even on records, of which I was listening to when he stated this.. I’ll confess, it made me scrutinise his playing right there & then, but then I got annoyed, because subconsciously as a musician having to play with click tracks etc., I knew his playing wasn’t “on” but really, on an artistic level, I’d never before outwardly criticised or heavily scrutinised Jimmy either, because I enjoyed and even appreciated the reckless attack and feel he employed, way over precision, and sometimes his playing felt like he was wrestling in a storm which added great tension to a song. So I’d have to admit if Jimmy’s playing was always “tidy,” and dare I say “safe,” it would be missing much of the essence which added a certain level of excitement, even complexity!

[@22julip]

There’s a big difference from playing 3 chord rock and blues , to playing Achilles last stand and you shook me !! Yes he was a little more rough around the edges, but that kind of song and others take a lot of work Plus he had the built in problem of not remembering night to night how to play it the same way . Not sloppy difficulty level .

[@josevillarreal9920]

Of course, just to hear his live take on studio cuts is amazing. Take 'Ten Years After' played in different ways on different guitars.

[@scottbaxendale323]

I’d much rather see/hear someone put it out there on the edge of destruction every solo than to play it safe and copy the record. Sometimes a little slop is better.

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

You don’t have to play exactly like on the record and still be successful in re-imagining songs for the live stage. Page was excellent at improvising, the whole band was. At some point from 1975 onwards tho that was not the case. Sometimes he would deliver but that thing he had before was gone by that point and no, sloppy playing is never good period, no matter who does it.

[@scottbaxendale323]

@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 I’ll take sloppy Page over pristine Eric Johnson every day of the week,……it’s still ALL about the song no matter how many perfect licks you play. When you are on tour doing one nighters after a month it gets very grueling and exhausting. This leads most bands into stimulants and booze to make it through the tour. Record labels and band mgmt folks NEVER consider the health and mental well being of any of the artists. Their goal is ALWAYS to make as much money in the shortest time possible. Page in a drunken stupor still plays better than 99% of mere mortal guitarists.

[@jordanprysmiki5361]

I don't know. I kind of want to hear it like the album

[@M-A-Y-H-E-M]

​@@scottbaxendale323: If a particular song (by any artist) becomes part of my *FAVORITE songs* "all-time" - I would definitely WANT to HEAR/watch it *"EXACTLY as it is"* in live concert! 💯% . . . ☝🏽 ✅️ 🤷🏻‍♂️ 🤦🏻

[@scottbaxendale323]

@@jordanprysmiki5361 Just play the album then.

[@paulwestmoreland8498]

Saw him with "The Firm" in '85, great show and his playing was excellent.

[@richardreed2839]

I saw him with the Firm. It was in Largo MD. It was absolutely amazing.

[@820hurleyj]

Jimmy was lucky he could stand in those concerts. Sober, he's great!

[@jonbon7219]

he got sickly looking, drugs.

[@820hurleyj]

@@jonbon7219 he looks better now than then.

[@jerald6023]

Yea, the lifestyle caught up to him & affected his playing, so yea, compared to his younger self, not as good, but people dont realize that a slightly compromised Jimmy is STILL better than 99% of all guitarists alive-

[@Local-Bus]

Maybe 98 percent

[@costamesa22]

Well said.

[@dingoduster]

Maybe 95%

[@JCDenton95]

More like worse than. Sorry buddy.

[@JCDenton95]

Worse than 99% of all guitarists who ever lived.

[@patriot3636]

As a guitarist, gigging for the last 30 years, here's my take. There's a big difference between studio playing and live playing. In the studio, you can do multiple takes and get things perfect. On stage, you're not only playing music, but putting on a show. Some of the musicians ship suffers, due to the show. For me, when playing solos, I try to play those note for note. Some of the rhythm stuff, I change, so it's easier to play. It sounds the same, but not playing the same. With that being said, I also believe that Jimmy Page, as big of a legend he is, did get sloppy. I've always looked at it as, he's Jimmy F**king Page, he can play however he wants.

[@nochannelmusician769]

The “he’s X, he can do what he wants” argument is enabling sloppiness. He’s one of the greats, but he ceases to be great in those moments. A bad solo is a bad solo, despite the amazing track record of the soloist.

[@todds79jag]

You can be gigging for 30 hours days or years. I just think it’s common knowledge that all guitarists mess up live , vocalists can’t hit high notes properly or thr flat a lot of the times. But yeah, Alex someone said the booze and heroin definitely dulled that part of his brain to improvise and perhaps play better

[@alvodin6197]

He's overrated, period. Eddie Van Halen was sloppy, but at least he had something original. Jimmy had nothing but stolen fucking blues licks. Prove me wrong. Go ahead

[@EbonyPope]

Can anyone please explain to me how he was so much better on acoustic though? I mean even at his best he still wasn't a really clean player but as soon as he picks up an acoustic and plays black mountain side he can play blistering fast without all that slop that people complain about? How is this possible? Can please someone make a video about it? I have never heard anyone addressing that. It's still a mystery to. Acoustics are known to be harder to play than electric. So how come he is cleaner when he plays and acoustic???

[@badastronaut2112]

Alex Lifeson always played the same if not better live...

[@Cerulean9002]

I have an awesome story. One day I was driving home, when all of a sudden the Lord came to me in spirit. I felt very close to Him. I knew if I asked him to play any song on the radio he would, I guess to bless my faith. So I said "ok, Lord play "Come as you are". I turned on the radio and the song started playing right there on the spot, perfectly… I started getting flooded with chills like a waterfall, crying, and trembling. He stayed with me for 10 minutes in my driveway. until I got outta the car. A couple months after that I started getting amazing prayers answered way more often, because it helped me quit doubting when I pray and I was lined up with biblical instructions. It's 7 years later and I still get answered prayers in Jesus name.

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

On top of the drugs and booze, he also broke some fingers during the Physical Graffiti tour. And I don’t care what anyone says, you CAN recover, but those fingers are never “like new” again! Often, arthritis will attack joints and bones damaged years earlier in life! I know this from personal experience! Jimmy playing “sloppy” is still better than most guitarists! In his live performances, he would always improvise, not to exactly recreate what he played before, sometimes it works, sometimes not! Even now, he is not competing against other guitarists, but against himself in his younger years!

[@br1rocks]

Yeah I don’t know about impaired performances, but I do know that Page was improvising a lot on stage, and really pushing it melodically in ways that “cleaner” players never do. The moods and lines he was creating live are really unparalleled in their breadth and deprh. He was more like an impressionist painter as a lead player, going for big ideas and shades of meaning rather than absolute perfection. Oh and his lead on Achilles Last Stand at the Knebworrh 79 show is even better than the album, and almost brings me to tears. The sense of yearning and desperation he achieved on that lead was just amazing.

[@insidelight1]

A pesar de lo sloopy que suelen decir muchos yo creo que Page estaba explorando otros territorios creativos cada vez que tocaba sus canciones y eso es genial y probablemente su metodo de composición favorito. Saludos! Jammin' to new Songs

[@charliesaucier3352]

You are right about JP pushing the envelope live. Nothing can compare to his amazing guitar improvisation on the 27 minute Dazed and Confused performance from 1973 TSRTS. That ranks as some of the best, if not the best, guitar improvisation I've ever heard. It's a masterpiece that could never be duplicated!

[@davidpaterson3443]

His unedited No Quarter guitar solo in The Song Remains the Same is fire me his finest improvised and greatest solo. Absolutely magnificent - and that solo was all live, not edited in any way.

[@rustyshackleford509]

Exactly.

[@costasavarikas1891]

Yea I agree totally

[@freddyt55555]

The solo on Stairway from the Song Remains the Same soundtrack was considered sloppy, but I don't care. That was one of the greatest live solos I've ever heard.

[@theguitarmusicchannel]

That solo he did on Stairway live at MSG in 1973 is the most recognizable live version of the song. Definitely the best live version by the band. Jimmy was at his PEAK.

[@ianstuart5660]

Yes, one of my all time faves!!

[@chiyo-chanholocaust8143]

The internet can't not grasp the greys of life, it's either black or white. So don't you DARE say Jimmy Page who created legendary iconic solos could play sloply live, NO he's perfect forever. That noise and those dirty notes you say? No man that's just how rock'n roll is! it was the drugs! he had road fatigue! He never found a pick he was confortable with while touring! His girlfriend had just broken up with him that week! his dog had died! He actually didn't have both arms! Etc etc

[@nochannelmusician769]

This is the correct take

[@masterofreality5528]

Fkn right, bro! Can't stand thise type of fanboys

[@RosannaMahon]

🤔 Saw him n he was sloppy

[@grinja73]

Yaaaaaah

[@ignaciod06]

Sloppy.

[@Rocknrolldaddy81-xy8ur]

Playing your best has a lot to do with practicing. Guitar skill is like a muscle, the moment you stop practicing it starts to fade.

[@rigorhead01]

Also, once you're touring and very busy daily schedule, practicing is almost impossible. So during those times where people thought his playing had suffered he was probably never practicing. He'd probably just show up at the gig (and after a night's partying) and just start playing the show.

[@ScratchGlass9]

We saw Zeppelin in 77. They were frikkin ' GREAT. 100 FEET FROM STAGE. MAIN FLOOR. $15.00 and we were pissed it was so expensive !

[@My.Name.Is.Dark.]

Wow $15! That is incredible 😂

[@xFORESTCRUNKx]

Can barely get a meal at a fast food spot for that much now.

[@chuckr1951]

I was never a huge Zeppelin fanatic, but Jimmy Page was a guitar player for the ages IMO.

[@Acalmujannahmalaysia]

Hear Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, and Brian May.

[@illsubrecords]

You could say the same about 90% of musicians from his time. The standards were just being set. Bands made more money back then so they could get high and not care.

[@markl5998]

This is a pretty fair take.

[@illsubrecords]

@markl5998 thanks, i try to be fair but speak my truth. I don't like idol worshipping the greats but i think respect for them is necessary.

[@TheNaFun]

I think there were two modes then: the Pink Floyd note-for-note perfect copy of the studio album, and the live improv recreation with a stripped down band of Zeppelin.

[@illsubrecords]

@TheNaFun idk if thats true. Plenty of bands do improv and arent sloppy drunks. Vulfpeck is the tightest band ever and they probably make way less money. I think the attitude carried things further back then. Also no video evidence of sloppy playing so fans would keep buying tickets where as today if you're a drunk idiot everyone calls you out in the comments. Only a dumbass pays to see lars ulrich play live LOL.

[@angrylittlespider4593]

I'll just go with maybe "Jimmy's Hard Rock lifestyle was beginning to catch up to him and affect his live playing," but he still brought his best to the stage and the studio. I'll leave it at that.

[@RNicolasRuvalcaba]

Playing electric guitar and touring is tricky. Because different venues have different acoustics and you're constantly trying to adjust your levels to accommodate different situations. And you usually have limited time to set everything up and dial everything in. I have to tweak my settings every time I play my guitar and I'm just sitting in my living room. My point is, if you're not loving your tone it can definitely affect your playing. Thus, some good shows, some bad shows.

[@WaitingtoHit]

Heroin addiction impairs your motor skills. Duh.

[@andrewbowen6875]

Add alcohol as well and you done for.

[@brandall101]

I mean... sorta. Keep in mind many of the jazz greats were regularly on smack. Prime GnR Slash had a massive heroin problem. I feel like alcohol is actually the thing that impairs live performances.

[@andrewbowen6875]

@brandall101 yeah you right it’s alcohol. The only time heroin users have a problem is when they don’t have it

[@WaitingtoHit]

​@@andrewbowen6875 Science would disagree. People like Slash and Charlie Parker would be the exception, not the rule. However, Parker himself said that he wasn't playing at his best while deep in addiction.

[@Jake-pz7oi]

That’s not actually true. It actually can relax you and make you play more fluid. It’s the alcohol that will greatly impair motor function

[@TylerAnthonyRomelMusic]

No one can copy those sloppy improvised live licks I think he is the best acoustic guitarist ever. a studio master. When every song is technically diverse and in a different tuning you cant deny the mastery. Timeless

[@moonie1980]

pagey is my hero as a guitar player myself, but may i suggest you check out a japanese page clone here on youtube, his name is MR Jimmy...just search him, he plays any page performance note for note , studio or live, jason bonham even used him on recent tours with his zep revival band....the guy wants to be page and is so close to his playing,its freaky...trust me you wont be dissapointed, he keeps the best music ever created alive.and jimmy page himself has approved him.

[@justbob242]

Imagine being high as balls on heroin and still being one of the best guitar players alive.

[@nochannelmusician769]

He was NOT one of the best when he was high. That’s the whole point.

[@melvinwhitejr9968]

Even Jimmy can't imagine it

[@SmokingBirds]

Imagine you miss the whole point of him being not an amazing guitar player live.

[@Frankenfukstein]

😂 The only person who thought he was the "best alive" when he was on Heroin, was himself. I saw while he was whacked out, ARMS benefit concert. He was completely embarrassing himself. Drooling on himself during Stairway. Total joke.

[@ignaciod06]

He's okay, i can name like 25-30 better guitarists.

[@marvelherman419]

Honestly i think its his style mostly. He puts his parts at a cerrain part of the beat. Like a swing but not. Iall his parts are shifted a bit. I think he learned this from playing so much. Look at keith richards. The guy plays comp chords like its the world series in a sparse weird zone of the section. Its the Page. I dont get the criticism. I think alot of folks were extremely envious or jealous. Maybe a few crazy bits sure but man they gave it their all. Page is awesome.

[@danjf1]

The point = don't use drugs and alcohol. For me, as a retired drummer, your body needs to be in peak condition. Playing a concert has been proven scientifically as akin to playing in a full professional football/soccer match! That is not an easy feat. So when your favorite bands from the 80s live cut them a little slack. Or save your money and watch it at home ^^

[@A_Final_Hit]

After '75 is when Page was in the throes of a serious heroin addiction. Sadly, this had a noticeable effect on his playing at live gigs. And while that may explain the sloppy performances, it certainly doesn't excuse it, either.

[@GRIMUPNORTH1990]

FFS ITS CALLED HERION & BOOZE stop the waffle JIMMY PAGE is is without a doubt 1 of GREATEST ROCK GODs EVER ....LED ZEPPELIN music will live 4 ever ...& Jimmy was untouchable from 69 _75 💯

[@Teatowelman-u7c]

I’m sorry but did he say in the video that he wasn’t any of those things? Stop crying

[@MonTube2006]

What a shame

[@steveryan7786]

We are lucky he’s still with us

[@jamesbone105]

I believe that Jimmy always brought his intensity to the studio and the stage. The condition he was in when he hit the stage grew a little more out of control with alcohol and substances from 1975 through the 1980's that made him a little to loose.Jimmy had a couple of accidents to his left hand, one which involved his hand being smashed in a train door. Jimmy said his hand was never the same. I saw Jimmy with Led Zeppelin and the Firm. He was my second guitar hero the first being another Jimi!

[@MatthewCohen-bb8rc]

So we all know the arcs of life. Go ahead and criticize him, if it somehow makes one feel better. Haven’t we all seen ourselves have these arcs and valleys, in whatever endeavor? Iconic albums and live performances to his credit, this the man that came up with the Whole Lotta Love and Moby Dick riffs - utter legend and sorcerer. I’d be humbled shaking the man’s hand.

[@grawman67]

That's not the point. People paid him good money to see him live and he by the late 70s, he cared more about the drugs than giving a good show

[@vitom5513]

I've been saying this for years. He got VERY sloppy. Listen to THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME songs and then listen in 1977 (MSG), it was sloppy and stuttered, like the pick was getting stuck after a note.

[@freddieelias6794]

Keep and mind that TSRTS was heavily edited, spliced, and overdubbed. Listen to the bootlegs of 1973 msg, he sounds a little more ‘sloppy’ than what were presented in the film. Either way still my favorite of all time

[@austingode]

Many , many retakes on tsrts…….

[@digiorno1142]

To be fair though, TSRTM has been edited to hell. It wasn’t just one concert, it was a compilation of recordings from 3 different nights at MSG and they spliced together all of the best moments to make it seem like one continuous concert. Which is why Robert’s vocal performance is seemingly very good with no cracks, which is unheard of for him in 1973. If you want to see Jimmy Page at his peak, 1971-1972 are absolutely his best years. Stairway to Heaven live in Orlando 1971 is just unbelievably good. The best STH solo of all time. Late 1971 is peak live playing for Jimmy Page.

[@AndyBeal-bananapeelindustries]

I wouldn't consider Jimmy to be my favorite guitar player of all time, but he is someone I acknowledge and admire. I share your feeling that he got sloppy, but wonder if it was more that he had a legend like Jon Bonham in his corner. I read somewhere that Phil Collins ended up filling in for John Bonham during LiveAid, and Phil said playing with Jimmy Page was far from the experience he was expecting. Aside from the substance abuse, do you think that maybe Jimmy was spoiled by having a drummer like John Bonham in his corner, or was it just he got sloppy..?

[@vitom5513]

I recently realized that besides being a little sloppy, it was made worse by his guitars. They had very little sustain, so notes are very separated. That makes him sound sloppy when he's playing the leads correctly.

[@EdwardHester3615]

The fact that his solos were sloppy live only added to how cool it was..he would push himself to the edge of his abilities live and it was beautiful

[@jayinwood647]

A brief encounter with heroin possibly could have affected his performances. It certainly affected mine

[@sunnyztmoney]

"Brief" "Could have" "Possibly" Lmao

[@pyaeger911]

Unfortunately, he fought heroin addiction back in those days. I’ve known what it’s like to be in the ups and downs of opioid use, due to chronic pain. It can affect every aspect of your life, even when you’re not addicted. He’s still one of my favorite guitarists of all time.

[@bldallas]

Definitely a huge Jimmy Page fan, but I recall thinking he seemed sloppy and at times kind of a half beat behind as he played, way back in high school (77 to 80). I haven’t heard it in years, but that goofy country song “Hot Dog,” was where I really felt it first. His jabber-jawed playing was almost cringe worthy. My buddies told me I was nuts, when I mentioned it back in those days. Keeping in mind this was way before the internet, it was years before I heard others make similar observations. Regardless, I chalked it up as his “style” - sort of like no Clapton being called “Slow Hand,” and tried to look past the imperfections.

[@stephenhosking7384]

Future generations will have no idea of what "way before the internet" meant. We got very little information about our rock music heros. There was just a mix of the the official publicity and third hand rumors. A music magazine may have a good article, but if you didn't get that edition, you'll only get the third hand version, years later.

[@stephenhosking7384]

BTW, that "goofy country song, Hot Dog" was always one of my favourites from the first time I heard it, on In Through the Out Door! I took his "sloppy" playing to be deliberate. But, maybe your ears are better than mine. Very interesting difference of opinion!

[@bldallas]

@@stephenhosking7384 I agree, but I was also a Rolling Stone subscriber for many years. Also Spin, when it fired up. Used to read that stuff cover to cover.

[@bldallas]

@@stephenhosking7384 don’t get me wrong, I like the song. Just feels like he’s struggling to keep up. But like you said, it may have been on purpose, too.

[@stephenhosking7384]

@@bldallas Love that phrase “goofy country song”! 😂 I’ve already used it in a conversation in YT with an excellent acoustic guitar cover of it! Neat!

[@stephenshepherd1917]

Imperfections = PERFECTION ❤

[@NeptunesLagoon]

Sloppily fantastic 😮 and one of the true greats!😊 still… ever see the O2 arena show…? 🎉❤

[@cryptogumbyckb1183]

so tired of this nonsense. As guitarists we should all strive to be as sloppy as Jimmy😅😅😅

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

Bro why you being a fan girl? Is it that hard to admit when one of your musical heroes can’t play like he used to or that he has sloppy moments?

[@andydudley1775]

@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 not change what he said .

[@cryptogumbyckb1183]

@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 he's not sloppy you just have a boy band crush and probably love choreography and a possy

[@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020]

@@cryptogumbyckb1183 if you think he’s not sloppy then you need to get your ears checked. Most musicians who saw him play in the late 70s, those they still had respect for him as a musician said that he was sloppy when playing. Now these are rock musicians who know more than you do and what boy band do i have a crush on? Tell me cos last i checked, I don’t listen to boy bands, nothing against them they’re just not my type of music. Choreography is an art form tho, and you make it seem like it’s a bad thing which really makes you sound daft. You should listen to more sloppy guitar players tho, sounds like you have a thing for them.

[@cryptogumbyckb1183]

@@itslikethesamebutdifferent8020 you take bad takes to an art form..

[@DanaWebb2017]

I've noticed that the most successful musicians started young and have a foundational understanding of music theory; they have honed in on things about music, and its foundation is like a science to them. They don't spend their time intoxicated.

[@LeloCraveiro]

Good video, that's exactly it, people seem to forget that until the mid 70's Jimmy was spectacular both in the studio and live, he played extremely well live until the rock style of life and unfortunately alcohol and other things ruined his way of playing and performing live. Jimmy was not a slouch throughout his career as many make it out to be.

[@matthewblanchard9301]

Heroin will do that to you......🎸💉👀🙏 He's lucky to be alive after those final years with Led Zep, '75 through '79. He was amazing at Knebworth in '79, but still had a way to go but Bonzo's death at Page's home no less ended everything Led Zep. When I saw him at the last A.R.M.S. concert in December '83 he still looked thin and ragged. But did play well at that show, with Paul Rogers performing 'Midnight Moonlight'(soon to recorded on the Firms first album) Performing an instrumental version of 'Stairway to Heaven' with Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton backing him, and with Beck, Clapton and the rest of that all star band touring for that A.R.M.S. BENEFIT, the encore that night was 'With a little help from my friends' with of course Joe Cocker on lead vocals(Page performed on that Cocker debut album and that's Page's intro riff on 'With a little help from my friends'. From that point on Page has played extremely well from The Firm to Outrider, Coverdale/Page, Page & Plant, with the Black Crows to the O2 Reunion to the Link Wray induction and performaning 'Rumble' at the RRHOF two years ago at age 80. Will he play again? Yes. Will he tour? Maybe, but again he's 80. Jimmy Page has always been an inprov guitarist and sometimes it's clean and sometimes sloppy, I saw him with The Yardbirds with and without Beck, with Led Zeppelin and all the for mentioned bands after Post - Zeppelin. It is what it is, 'The Song Remains The Same'? Not Really......🕶️

[@Jake-pz7oi]

It ain’t the heroin that made him sloppy it was the alcohol

[@matteopaolucci6801]

Heroin is a bad companion, cut the guy some slack

[@jujuUK68]

cut the guy some crack? That's not going to help!

[@АбищкеЯкубова]

Один из лучших гитаристов в мире. Что хотите, пишите. Это ничего не изменит. Пейдж, легендарный музыкант

[@BurgerMeisterGang]

The rule seems to be to give a different version for a live sound since the audience may have heard the plastic record, and to give a new sound to it.

[@drivesideways6550]

Heroin, cocaine and drinking might make it hard to pull off some licks live. He's still the best because you knew what he had done.

[@Clearlight201]

This is a BS discussion. The thing I always appreciated the most about Jimmy Page was he never lost that ability to create and be innovative even during a live performance. He didn't 'play to a formula' but instead he went wherever he wanted in his playing. Probably didn't even care about the occasional "wrong" note as long as he didn't lose the spontaneity. In this respect he was just like Hendrix and a few others from the era where even live music was like a jam session where creativity and innovation was valued. I'm not saying he didn't have a drug problem which affected other areas of the band but I don't find fault with his later playing. I think those who judge him to a formula are missing the point, not really fit to judge one of the greatest ever.

[@Guitarplayer724]

Great comment.

[@jennybaji421]

Your comment should be the ONLY COMMENT on here‼️‼️ Page is Gods gift to us in this tough world we got to survive in & somehow not be depressed living in!!! The world is corrupt ! Thank you for LED ZEPPELIN ‼️ Their MUSIC has given me hope ,happiness made life much more Tolerable and magical!!! Amen!

[@roboi2241]

Well said, I'd rather hear Page and Hendrix's bad performances than most of the clean flawless guitarists who never put a finger or tuning out of place yet sound like a sonic vacuum to my ears and do nothing for me. It's a bit like calling Picasso and van Gogh sloppy because they didn't paint clearly defined depictions of the subject matter they were conveying in their art.

[@Clearlight201]

@@roboi2241 good analogy!

[@Clearlight201]

@@jennybaji421 thank you, and well said!

[@ashtonh4430]

Sloppy or clean, he played with emotion. Thats a fuckin musician.

[@elevationblue]

Commenter said something really relevant... It's Jimmy Page and he can play however he wants. PERIOD.

[@chrisbenson6683]

He literally can't if he's impaired.

[@freepressright]

​@chrisbenson6683 don't shatter someone else's illusion/delusion based on who someone is and nothing else, lol. Don't you know, they're immune to sucking because of their past accomplishments. They could dangle their junk down the guitar neck and fart into the pickups and some people would hear that and tell you that it was still awesome because they can't get past the illusion and find objectivity. I love all kinds of legendary guitarists, including Page. But if a performance royally sucked, or they let their skills deteriorate because of dope and booze, I'm calling it out, without shame.

[@jakobtemple1297]

Personally I think much of that Knebworth show was a return to form for not only Jimmy but the band as a unit. Before then though, I want to say somewhere around 74’, he broke the ring finger on his left hand if I remember correctly and his playing was never quite the same again… especially live. And between 75’-79’ with Zep the lifestyle was certainly taking its toll as well.

[@kevinmccahill9276]

Jimmy Page was the best by far. 73 at the garden was the perfect concert and absolutely perfect guitar. Keith Richard’s was amazed they didn’t have another guitar and page was able to cover. He can play flawlessly in his sleep and was 100% into the excess that the band provided he started playing freely on the ladder side of the bands days.

[@JamieKoutras]

I read the Led Zeppelin biography by Bob Spitz and it started with the booze addiction, then he heavily got into cocaine and eventually heroin, hence his sloppy playing. I have nothing against Zeppelin nor Page as I am a big fan of both Zeppelin and Page and I see him as an idol.

[@skeezix8156]

All I know is I sound better when I’m shitfaced drunk 😂

[@ZoSo_LedZep]

Even your neighbors say so 😅

[@Guitarplayer724]

@@ZoSo_LedZeponly when they’re shit-faced drunk too! 😂

[@messi8921]

68 to 75 Page was the man!

[@TheHumbuckerboy]

Hendrix was the man until his untimely death

[@messi8921]

@@TheHumbuckerboy Hendrix is like Yngwie, both have raw talent. Unbelievable talent. But history tells us that Page was the man, followed by EVH.

[@BrianOates]

@@messi8921 LZ fans have overblown the importance of LZ in the context of the period they were making recordings. They were great of course, but there were many bands that gave much more focused live shows and there were a lot of bands that played intricate music with tons of parts to remember but they still pulled them off flawlessly live. LZ was one of many great recorded bands of the era not the only one at all.

[@michaelcavallacci2945]

I saw both Zep in 1977 and The Who in 1976 at MSG in NYC. I absolutely love Zep , but The Who were FAR superior live. At that point in time anyway. It wasn’t even close. I knew the Who had a ferocious live reputation, but I’d heard that Moon had lost a step by 76 from all of his vices. Not that night. He was supernatural. Zep was good but they were all over the place that night it seemed (except for Bonzo of course). JPJ seemed disinterested, Plant did too much “ooos” and “aaaahs” and Jimmy sounded repetitive and fuzzy. By contrast Entwistle sounded like a freight train, Daltreys voice was incredibly powerful and of course Pete was flying around like a maniac. I was surprised at the clear difference between the two monster bands. In a live setting. And I’m a huge Zeppelin fan.

[@theguitarmusicchannel]

Must’ve been an awesome show. Keith Moon was an animal behind the drum kit.

[@wurm90125]

I think this is bang on. He was always a bit sloppy, but he deteriorated in the latter part of Zeppelin's career and I think the reasons why are well known and documented.

[@cobar5342]

Live he was useless after 1975. Heroin was taking its toll

[@scottculross4470]

I saw him for his outrider tour in '89 I think @ the fabulous forum and he blew the doors off that place...

[@cbcacbca]

His studio playing is brilliant. The riffs and the layers he lays down are just brilliant. I've seen Zepplin live 3 times, but only 1 gig was standout great. Bath Pavilion 1971.

[@whatsgrowingon]

Watching him play Achilles last stand is mesmerizing. He's soaked from shredding

[@theguitarmusicchannel]

One of Jimmy’s best performances.

[@whatsgrowingon]

@@theguitarmusicchannel facts

[@ericruiz9255]

Well is very important to mention that Jimmy broke his hand in two separate occasions once breaking his pinky and the 2nd time his ring finger both times his left hand (fretboard hand)

[@fredzep01]

There's no two ways about, the man is a bona fide rock star for a genuine reason, but for me Every Zep performance never ever showed them in their best light, only their first TV shows were first rate, it's probably because the venues they played weren't conducive to rock, even soundgarden realised playing massive venues affected the bands overall sound, come the end SG did smaller shows just to get back the intimacy and the sound of their earlier days...

[@scottramirez49]

I saw him at the Oakland Coliseum on Day On The Green with Rick Derringer and Judas priest and even though it was a very long time ago, some of the guitar solos, it did seem a little sloppy, but it didn’t really matter to me because I was seeing Led Zeppelin and I was only 14 years old.

[@donhagerty5669]

❤ WHEN I SAW THEM IN 1977 HE SURE WAS PLAYING REAL GOOD❤

[@EXPALIDOTIOUS]

Circa 1975; Jimmy was interviewed by William S. Burroughs for Crawdaddy magazine. Burrows is known for his writings but also his open use of Heroin. I think you know where this is going.....

[@MyWritingJourney9]

I love the version of Achilles last stand in Knebworth

[@theguitarmusicchannel]

That version is the best!

[@dennisfolse2226]

Dude!!!!!! He's a Fucking Rock Star!!! Excuse him for not being a perfectionist for the Historical record! They were having Fun Making a living.

[@theguitarmusicchannel]

It’s rock and roll after all. Of course it’s not gonna be perfect.

[@Ccfatfat8427]

If you’re gonna miss, miss big.

[@stashmark7105]

I think JP was sloppy intentionally as an artistic give on how "sloppy drugged " their audiences were becoming 😮 in the later stages of the hippy dippy weathermen population.

[@Pkstp1]

Stairway to heaven solo in How the west was won is far from sloppy. Zeppelin in their prime right there

[@michaelthornburg2491]

I am a huge Page fan just like everyone else. My opinion is he was a better studio, producer, arranger, musician. Many of Zeppelins tracks had multiple guitars overdubbed on them. That was just the genius of Page. Im sure it was hard to recreate alot of those songs live. It did appear that he wasnt healthy in the late 70s. He was extremley frail. But without a doubt Zeppelin was the greatest band ever. No one will ever top what they acheived.

[@semp36445]

The two warm up shows in Copenhagen and to a slightly lesser extent the first Knebworth show in 79, Jimmy was on fire. There’s a couple shows from the 1980 tour over Europe and quite a few from the 77 US tour where Jimmy was on fire as well. Not as consistent as he was in the earlier days, and not saying smack didn’t hamper him, which it did, but thru the entirety of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy was doing things on stage nobody else could do. It’s also the era, nobody can outright say “oh he was on dope this gig” click tracks and loopers and a small army’s worth of tech guys running a rig and what not weren’t around back then. He definitely did get sloppy but quite a bit, that sloppiness and over the edge playing worked out for the better more often than not

[@SL-vi4tk]

Jimmy in the blue and white vest was 1970 Royal Albert Hall. Masterful.

[@david-gg8sk]

I was elated to see him along with his band mates receive recognition at the Kennedy Center Award Ceremony.

[@michaelsaville9985]

From their Royal Albert Hall concert and BBC Sessions to How The West Was Won and the Song Remains the Same was their best live era. After Physical Graffiti came out it was very noticeable Jimmy’s heroin addiction and alcohol abuse had changed him for the worse unfortunately. They still made great songs but if you watch Led Zeppelin DVD it’s obvious he was so strung out he could barely stand. 🫠

[@blazinchalice]

If you haven't heard his "Achilles Last Stand" performance from the Knebworth concerts, you haven't heard Led Zeppelin at their creative apogee. Page was on another level.

[@JayLamb-d9p]

After 1975... We are just lucky he was even there!🎉

[@supadupahilton6848]

He would often play "loose" slightly ahead or behind the beat, which is what gave Zeppelin that sound. This was done deliberately, as Page was a skilled Studio guy. To the un initiated, they would often perceive this as "sloppy" lol.

[@bobdooggie]

Jimmy Page is like probably in my top 5 favorite guitarists category. A friend of mine used to talk crap about him saying he needed guitar lessons but I think he said that because Page didn’t play like Van Halen but that’s unreasonable to think that way because before EVH there was Jimmy Page !!!!! And EVH was very inspired by Clapton and maybe Page as well

[@jonathanlambarena9754]

I honestly think the Royal Albert Hall show was Zeppelin at its best. The BBC live recordings are GOLD I wish they had those on video but having it available to hear in great quality is good for me lol

[@djhoneylove5710]

I was worried that he was going to die when I was in Highschool in the early 80s. He looked so ill at that time and his interviews were incoherent. His work in The Firm was really, really, basic stuff because that's all he could do. He is much healthier and gives excellent interviews now.

[@benjaminnewberry363]

I was working backstage at Knebworth for the Led Zeppelin concert... I noticed Jimmy Page was holding a Cocktail Glass (vodka/tonic possibly) in his hand in the moments before the show!!! I even said something to the guy I was working with... His playing was noticeably ridged and sloppy!!! I thought they were horrible that night, they never congealed as a band!!! I was the GTR Tech for the New Barbarians who opened up earlier!!!

[@Kiyarose3999]

Oh come on man apart from 1 or 2 little slips ups, he played excellently at Knebworth in 79 I was there and even watching it on KZbin all these years later. I still am in awe at his playing especially on Stairway, No Quarter, 10 Years After etc etc, it was a magical experience!.

[@chrisschmitt291]

I definitely believe he did not play with pinpoint accuracy like Eddie Van Halen. However his guitar pieces sometimes were three or four different layers of guitar work and he's playing them all by himself. So sometimes it was meant because he was trying to get all the pieces in with just one set of hands.And later on , his lifestyle deftly came into play with a slightly diminished performance level live. At Knebworth , some of his finest moments live were done that night. ACHILLES LAST STAND was amazing!

[@christophersanders5007]

I saw led Zeppelin in 1977, and he did hit a few sour notes, but with the Firm in the 80's he was perfect.

[@zgamer1154]

Them playing When the Leeve Breaks with Neil Young at the RnR Hall of Fame was atrocious

[@ernestobarten8940]

Nobody would imagine that the rock groups of the 60s were a product of the Tavistock Institute, that's where the new era current came from 🤔🤔🤔🤔 Thus managing to change the world forever.