News The iconic artist Jimmy Page called a “genius”
Prior to the creation of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page had already established himself as one of the most renowned guitarists in London, having worked as a session musician with a series of iconic artists throughout the 1960s. With an extensive career in the music industry, Page has developed a keen appreciation for true genius, reserving the term for those rare occasions when an exceptional talent is born, and he doesn’t use it lightly.
It takes somebody of immense talent for Page to stand up and give them deserved plaudits. When armed with a guitar, few people can operate on his level, and Page helped bring heavy rock to the masses, leaving an imprint on rock ‘n’ roll, which can still be felt in the vibrations today.
Furthermore, as the principal songwriter with Led Zeppelin, Page wrote a collection of rock anthems which have stood the test of time. When he was at the top of his game, the musician was a master craftsman who also helmed production duties and micro-managed almost every element of his band’s output.
While the duo’s styles differed significantly, another musician who operated in a similar vein to Page is The Beach Boys maestro Brian Wilson, who made the Led Zeppelin founder look work-shy in comparison. Famously, Wilson poured everything he had into the making of Pet Sounds, which led to the creation of a timeless masterpiece but also came at a tremendous personal cost.
Wilson prioritised his art over his own sanity and made sacrifices that continue to haunt him today. Musically, the former Beach Boys member stands as a unique figure who single-handedly played a crucial role in propelling pop to new heights. And with that, Page holds nothing but admiration for the singer-songwriter.
On Wilson’s official website, a quote attributed to Page reads: “The man’s a genius! Actually, when you hear other people doing his numbers, it makes you appreciate just how good those original songs are.”
Following the disbandment of Led Zeppelin, Page had an ample amount of free time on his hands. Therefore, when the opportunity arose for him to join The Beach Boys for two performances in 1985 on Independence Day, he couldn’t resist sharing a stage with Wilson.
Decades later, Page shared an image of him with The Beach Boys on social and recalled: “On this day in 1985, I played Independence Day with The Beach Boys. Philadelphia and Washington were played on this memorable day. We travelled by train between the two cities.”
“Mr T. was also on that trip. I became quite friendly with Beach Boy musician Bruce Johnston. It was an honour to meet Brian and Carl Wilson and play with The Beach Boys on this historic day. However, we don’t celebrate July 4th in England,” he added.
