Ok but he has been saying this kind of thing for a long time now.

Ok but he has been saying this kind of thing for a long time now.

Exactly,Him and Gregg are the worst procrastinators.

http://thenortheasttoday.com/jimmy-page-of-led-zeppelin-reveals-solo-album-and-live-return-plans/

Jimmy Page of the infamous band Led Zeppelin

Really???

nice idea,Led Zeppelins a hard act to follow. I remember when he did that after Zeppelin before. It just fell flat,despite all the anticipation. I remember being in front of the stage & all the adoration from fans. He was good on the Page & Plant tour though. Hope his next one's better

It's an interesting pickle. Pretty much every great 60s/70s band released some really iffy albums during the 1980s. Whether the ABB, the Stones, Neil, Dylan, the Dead, Sabbath, Purple, Springsteen, Yes, Jackson Browne, you name it: all of the gods fell to earth in the 1980s.

Zeppelin escaped that fate due to Bonham's death. They dodged the lousy production, big synths, mechanical drums, corny outfits and haircuts, dopey music videos, all of the embarassments of the 1980s.

Obviously, as solo acts, they did feel the 1980s curse, but the Zep name did avoid that terrible dip. Thus, Zepp remains this untouchable level of quality to strive for.

As far as Page goes, I agree with Betty Hynes; Page's post-Zep work has not been strong, yet his every appearance has been greeted with adulation. The Firm had very mediocre material and iffy live shows, but the crowd went nuts. Page's solo album "Outrider" really needed an editor, someone with the balls to tell Jimmy that the music needed more work. The crowd went wild, but the album disappeared fast. The Page/ Coverdale albums was and is Page's best post-Zepp work, but it does have some serious hair metal stink on it. They only played 7 live dates before folding. The Page/Plant new studio stuff really didn't light any fires either, though the shows had some OK moments; on their first tour, they took some chances live. On their second tour, they played it VERY safe, with lots of "just like the record" versions.

Page seemed to have stopped practicing guitar in like 1973, getting sloppier and sloppier live. I love his playing, but that really is the way it seems. His big buzz did not help.

He is stuck in the ego-crushing position that so many greats have been in : your new stuff will never be loved like your old stuff. And his old stuff is untouchable.

I myself think he should pull a "Van Halen" and dig through his old demos and find some unreleased stuff with the mojo on it, and use that as a blueprint. I also think he should drink lots of coffee, be sober, and take lessons to get his old chops back. I would love to see him find a sounding board person who will honestly tell him when a song or recording is not up to snuff. Maybe John Paul Jones could be that guy.

Or maybe he could listen to the last few Robert Plant albums and realize what genius sounds line when it follows its own muse.

It's an interesting pickle. Pretty much every great 60s/70s band released some really iffy albums during the 1980s. Whether the ABB, the Stones, Neil, Dylan, the Dead, Sabbath, Purple, Springsteen, Yes, Jackson Browne, you name it: all of the gods fell to earth in the 1980s.

Zeppelin escaped that fate due to Bonham's death. They dodged the lousy production, big synths, mechanical drums, corny outfits and haircuts, dopey music videos, all of the embarassments of the 1980s.

Obviously, as solo acts, they did feel the 1980s curse, but the Zep name did avoid that terrible dip. Thus, Zepp remains this untouchable level of quality to strive for.

As far as Page goes, I agree with Betty Hynes; Page's post-Zep work has not been strong, yet his every appearance has been greeted with adulation. The Firm had very mediocre material and iffy live shows, but the crowd went nuts. Page's solo album "Outrider" really needed an editor, someone with the balls to tell Jimmy that the music needed more work. The crowd went wild, but the album disappeared fast. The Page/ Coverdale albums was and is Page's best post-Zepp work, but it does have some serious hair metal stink on it. They only played 7 live dates before folding. The Page/Plant new studio stuff really didn't light any fires either, though the shows had some OK moments; on their first tour, they took some chances live. On their second tour, they played it VERY safe, with lots of "just like the record" versions.

Page seemed to have stopped practicing guitar in like 1973, getting sloppier and sloppier live. I love his playing, but that really is the way it seems. His big buzz did not help.

He is stuck in the ego-crushing position that so many greats have been in : your new stuff will never be loved like your old stuff. And his old stuff is untouchable.

I myself think he should pull a "Van Halen" and dig through his old demos and find some unreleased stuff with the mojo on it, and use that as a blueprint. I also think he should drink lots of coffee, be sober, and take lessons to get his old chops back. I would love to see him find a sounding board person who will honestly tell him when a song or recording is not up to snuff. Maybe John Paul Jones could be that guy.

Or maybe he could listen to the last few Robert Plant albums and realize what genius sounds line when it follows its own muse.

Well said, Jim....Totally agree with the "Van Halen" idea...That was a brilliant move on the part of VH and I think it could work for Page. If, however, Page actually has any left over material we haven't heard before. Given Page and company have released what seems like multiple re-releases, remixed versions, "live at the BBC", type projects, etc. he may not have much old material left to mine.

Ok but he has been saying this kind of thing for a long time now.

exactly. i'll believe it when i see it

It's an interesting pickle. Pretty much every great 60s/70s band released some really iffy albums during the 1980s. Whether the ABB, the Stones, Neil, Dylan, the Dead, Sabbath, Purple, Springsteen, Yes, Jackson Browne, you name it: all of the gods fell to earth in the 1980s.

Zeppelin escaped that fate due to Bonham's death. They dodged the lousy production, big synths, mechanical drums, corny outfits and haircuts, dopey music videos, all of the embarassments of the 1980s.

Obviously, as solo acts, they did feel the 1980s curse, but the Zep name did avoid that terrible dip. Thus, Zepp remains this untouchable level of quality to strive for.

As far as Page goes, I agree with Betty Hynes; Page's post-Zep work has not been strong, yet his every appearance has been greeted with adulation. The Firm had very mediocre material and iffy live shows, but the crowd went nuts. Page's solo album "Outrider" really needed an editor, someone with the balls to tell Jimmy that the music needed more work. The crowd went wild, but the album disappeared fast. The Page/ Coverdale albums was and is Page's best post-Zepp work, but it does have some serious hair metal stink on it. They only played 7 live dates before folding. The Page/Plant new studio stuff really didn't light any fires either, though the shows had some OK moments; on their first tour, they took some chances live. On their second tour, they played it VERY safe, with lots of "just like the record" versions.

Page seemed to have stopped practicing guitar in like 1973, getting sloppier and sloppier live. I love his playing, but that really is the way it seems. His big buzz did not help.

He is stuck in the ego-crushing position that so many greats have been in : your new stuff will never be loved like your old stuff. And his old stuff is untouchable.

I myself think he should pull a "Van Halen" and dig through his old demos and find some unreleased stuff with the mojo on it, and use that as a blueprint. I also think he should drink lots of coffee, be sober, and take lessons to get his old chops back. I would love to see him find a sounding board person who will honestly tell him when a song or recording is not up to snuff. Maybe John Paul Jones could be that guy.

Or maybe he could listen to the last few Robert Plant albums and realize what genius sounds line when it follows its own muse.

What did the 80s ever do to you? 😛

Paul Rodgers is probably my favorite vocalist. The two Firm albums they did were awesome. I would love for them to collaborate again.

I like the Firm albums also. The only thing that I could do without is Tony Franklin's fretless bass. Using it on every song is too much for me.

But the songs and playing are great. They were unfairly compared to Led Zeppelin. Page has gotten stuck with comparisons while the others have not. Plant has definitely released some great albums but he also has some pretty shitty ones that people seem to forget.

Death Wish II is not considered a solo album but it is and there are some great tunes on there as well.

Instead of pairing with Coverdale whose voice was getting shot by then, he should have just found some young guy who could sing all the old material as well as new. I like the album and most tunes but Coverdale screeches all over it. And I like Coverdale and Whitesnake but his voice has seen better days.

Many older artists released albums where they were trying to match their glory days by rehashing the same riffs and basically writing the same tunes over and over. I'm glad that Page did not do that.

[Edited on 11/30/2015 by CanadianMule]

I too like that coverdale/page disc but lest be honest that was clear past rehashing in its finest

John McLaughlin is even ahead of Bo Diddley in terms of chops!! Lol. Plenty of jazz players are beyond most rock or blues guys in terms of technique, complexity, and harmonic novelty. Apples and oranges.

Page wrote great riffs and arranged powerful songs. He played some very memorable solos. He also understood recordingv techniques better than most.

He did shamelessly plagiarize, though he also wrote some great stuff. I do think he has been trading on past glory for years now, though.

I too like that coverdale/page disc but lest be honest that was clear past rehashing in its finest

Sure but because he only released a couple of albums over a long period, he didn't beat them to death as some did.

John McLaughlin is even ahead of Bo Diddley in terms of chops!! Lol. Plenty of jazz players are beyond most rock or blues guys in terms of technique, complexity, and harmonic novelty. Apples and oranges.

Page wrote great riffs and arranged powerful songs. He played some very memorable solos. He also understood recordingv techniques better than most.

He did shamelessly plagiarize, though he also wrote some great stuff. I do think he has been trading on past glory for years now, though.

And there are many classical guitarists and jazz guys who far exceed McLaughlin in terms of technique and abilities. So what?

McLaughlin is great and can't write a memorable song if his life depended on it. Don't think that he even bothered trying.

Why are all those others better known? The ability to write a popular song or a song period.

Besides Page never claimed to be the best at anything. EVH has played the same tapping solo for 40 years and has pissed away much of his career so he really shouldn't talk. Besides I have seen interviews where he praises Page's obvious talent.

The blues artists are far greater than Page? In what way exactly as that is comical? Skill? No. Music theory? No. Arranging skill? No. Song writing? No. Sales? No.

Even the songs that people should have been credited for are in most cases so far removed from the originals that co-writing credits are given. Bring It On Home has 30 seconds of similarity and then is a completely different song. In most cases, it was the lyrics that were the issue.

It was not right and credit should always be given. But the originals were

A) Blues progressions that existed long before artists like Dixon. So they lifted the songs first anyway.

B) Not songs that stretched over the 7 minute mark. Musically they were hardly copies.

It is hilarious that some seem to think Zeppelin are the only ones to steal a riff or lyrics. The music industry is built on it. Besides Zeppelin has been copied and ripped off far more than any artist they stole from so it all came full circle.

If Page had never done a thing after In Through The Out Door, he would still be a legend and go down as one of the most successful ever. When trailing only the Beatles, that says quite a bit.

Everything else has just been a bonus. Trading on past glories? Sure. But all of those classic artists are. The ABB set lists till the end were comprised of songs over 40 years old. Past glories.

Some great stuff on this thread! I tend to agree with JimSheridan on most points, especially the '80's "curse" (not a huge fan of Plant's albums, though, and wouldn't call it "genius") but I think Page did a good job playing with the Black Crowes, although they just did Zepp songs.

I've seen McLaughlin and Page and I prefer Page for many of the reasons already stated. I just hope he does make some new music. I'd like to hear it.

Although I hate the circumstances that caused many great artists to pass away before the 1980s, their legacy was enhanced by not having recorded during that decade. I was born in 1976, so all of the new music that I was exposed to as a child was from the 80's and that's a lot to overcome for child. 🙂

I would have hated to hear an Allman Brothers Band album from 1985. We should all be thankful they were apart at the time.

The Firm is a prime example. I love Free and I love Led Zeppelin, so it should be a no brainer that I would love Paul and Jimmy working together. However, the album sounds like 1985. (I also don't think the songs were really there either, but I could probably overlook it with better production.) The 80's recording techniques and production killed many a great artist and song.

All that said, Jimmy Page saying he is going to record new stuff is much like when Gregg Allman says it. You hope for the best.

Ahhhhh, the '80's..

It is hilarious that some seem to think Zeppelin are the only ones to steal a riff or lyrics. The music industry is built on it. Besides Zeppelin has been copied and ripped off far more than any artist they stole from so it all came full circle.

Everything else has just been a bonus. Trading on past glories? Sure. But all of those classic artists are. The ABB set lists till the end were comprised of songs over 40 years old. Past glories.

I basically agree with your point about Zeppelin although it would have been nice if they had acknowledged a bit more. I like how Dickey said on stage and in recordings that a particular song is considered a traditional song. Isn't imitation the sincerest from of flattery?

Regarding your ABB statement, I agree with that as well. They have covered all kinds of stuff. Lots of bands have. I do think the ABB have given the bands they covered their due.

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It is hilarious that some seem to think Zeppelin are the only ones to steal a riff or lyrics. The music industry is built on it. Besides Zeppelin has been copied and ripped off far more than any artist they stole from so it all came full circle.

Everything else has just been a bonus. Trading on past glories? Sure. But all of those classic artists are. The ABB set lists till the end were comprised of songs over 40 years old. Past glories.

I basically agree with your point about Zeppelin although it would have been nice if they had acknowledged a bit more. I like how Dickey said on stage and in recordings that a particular song is considered a traditional song. Isn't imitation the sincerest from of flattery?

Regarding your ABB statement, I agree with that as well. They have covered all kinds of stuff. Lots of bands have. I do think the ABB have given the bands they covered their due.

I meant more in the sense that past work is the peak and keeps them relevant. New material does not stand a chance in matching past material or success. Even if it was as good, it would not be viewed as such because of the familiarity of the old material.

Nobody has maintained their peak level over 50 years or even 10 years for that matter. The Stones, Who, Clapton etc all release material and it is accepted and not every release compared to their peak. Clapton will never release an album of the quality of Layla and each release not compared directly. Everything Page has ever done is compared directly to Led Zeppelin.

I never really got why that is.

Page lost his chops. He was seen as one of the greatest in rock in the late 60s / early 70s. Cutting edge guitar.

It seems like he stopped practicing in the mid 70s and just started catching a huge buzz that left him wrecked in terms of ideas and skills by the early 1980s. You watch that Led Zepp Danish tv b & w footage from 1969; it is a MASTER CLASS in guitar. By comparison, at Live Aid or with The Firm, he couldnt play a coherent solo. It's pretty telling that with Coverdale and with Plant, he would either aim to approximate the studio record solo or else would strum. To put it another way, there are not many Jimmy Page solos post-1982 that are memorable. In "Unplugged," the best he did was recall some licks in "Since I Been Loving You"; in the 2007 reunion gig, he just strummed and arpeggiated through "Song Remains the Same."

Think about the singles he has been on; Coverdale / Page's "Pride and Joy" has no lead guitar, just harmonica. Outrider's "Wasting my Time" had a very basic slide riff, no real lead. Unplugged offered "Gallow's Pole" - strumming, no lead. The Walking into Clarks disc had "Most High" and "Shining in the Light" - no lead guitar.

By contrast, Santana or Jeff Beck still BLAZE. Clapton can play circles around Page; in fact, it is worth comparing their Live Aid sets, if you want to see a turning point in fortunes. The world wanted a Zep reunion more than anything; it got a sloppy Page. By contrast, Clapton came out and played a 60s hit, a 70s hit, and an 80s hit, all with blazing guitar and powerful vocals. He made a real statement.

I think everyone DOES compare Stones and Who releases to their 60s and 70s work and finds it wanting, but Keith and Pete were not gunslingers the way Page was. If Page, Townsend, and Richards had all disappeared in 1981, it would not have mattered. Their best work was done. Some of my other lead guitar heros had huge declines; Peter Green and Mick Taylor both lost some chops. Tommy Bolin in 1976 could not play like he did in 1973. Tragic.

I maintain that Page can still write some decent riffs, but he needs lead guitar lessons, an editor / producer, and a good strong singer. He can't serve up "Radioactive" or "Prison Blues" or "Boys Are Feeling Hot Tonight." Here's hoping.

I think everyone DOES compare Stones and Who releases to their 60s and 70s work and finds it wanting, but Keith and Pete were not gunslingers the way Page was. If Page, Townsend, and Richards had all disappeared in 1981, it would not have mattered.

I think the same could be said about pretty much every 60s-70s artist. Clapton, Floyd, Deep Purple, ABB etc. All hit their peaks by the mid 70s.

While releases may be compared with others it is to a much lesser degree than Page for some reason. When he releases something, he is crucified for it not matching Zeppelin's standards. While Plant can release an album of mostly cover songs that is pretty much put together by the producer and be praised.

Richards releases a solo album that comes no where close to classic Stones level and yet it gets rave reviews. In some reviews, it gets 8 or 9 out of 10. That must mean Sticky Fingers is a 15 out of 10. Townshend can release old demos and crap concept albums and gets called genius for them. Clapton releases a blues cover album that doesn't come close to matching Cream/Layla era and yet it is called a masterpiece. Does an Unplugged album where the band and material are put together for him and again is praised.

One reason for this is that most of those artists have released lots of crap where Page has not. Perhaps that drives up the expectation level.

Another is that Page is reluctant to give up any control. The only time that he did was around the Outrider period where John Kalodner was pulling strings for far too many artists. His influence had a negative effect on that album. Most of the other artists like Clapton will allow someone to come in and do all the heavy lifting. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't and you get bad albums produced by Phil Collins.

Can we please face the facts. The guy was a great guitarist. For whatever reason he chose to lay low for many years. Celebration Day had very little to celebrate. Much like Dickey Betts post ABB , Page seems to have lost his chops. I would have no desire to pay big $ to see Page. If it's a freebie, maybe.

I would have agreed but then I saw some absolutely stellar shows on the Page/Plant tours especially on the No Quarter Tour. Having an extra guitarist allowed him to focus more on his leads.

Has he lost some chops? Definitely as long stretches without playing much will do that. And there have been many long stretches since before Bonham died. From 75 on, lots of things went wrong and there would be long gaps. That with a dose of heroin/alcohol can make picking up a guitar unappealing. The same happened with Clapton and when he returned, I saw shows where the other guitarist would take plenty of the leads. Only after he gave up the alcohol did his mojo start to return.

Page is a legend and I don't need him to match his prime anymore. Would I enjoy an album and tour? Definitely.

I would have agreed but then I saw some absolutely stellar shows on the Page/Plant tours especially on the No Quarter Tour. Having an extra guitarist allowed him to focus more on his leads.

Has he lost some chops? Definitely as long stretches without playing much will do that. And there have been many long stretches since before Bonham died. From 75 on, lots of things went wrong and there would be long gaps. That with a dose of heroin/alcohol can make picking up a guitar unappealing. The same happened with Clapton and when he returned, I saw shows where the other guitarist would take plenty of the leads. Only after he gave up the alcohol did his mojo start to return.

Page is a legend and I don't need him to match his prime anymore. Would I enjoy an album and tour? Definitely.

Ditto -- the No Quarter tour in 1994 at the Garden was frickin great -- fantastic -- they came back later that year and played in the new FleetCenter -- didn't go to that one but it was well reviewed
Jimmy is the man -- Zep rocks forever

[quote

Page is a legend and I don't need him to match his prime anymore. Would I enjoy an album and tour? Definitely.

Good posts c mule, and the above sums it up for me.

The crowd loves Jimmy Page. I saw The Firm tour for their second album, and the crowd was nuts. Great time. I did listen to a Firm bootleg today to see what i thought. Meh.

I saw one show from each Page / Plant tour, and again the crowd was rabid. Every song was met with approval. I liked the experimental nature of the first tour better. I was a bit miffed that the second guitarist played some of the more nimble parts, but he sounded good. They took more chances. They had the middle eastern players; they did one solo Plant song (Calling to You) that KILLED, they did a Coverdale / Page tune that must have killed Plant (Shake my Tree), and they dven did a song by the Cure. They did more experimenting with the songs. For the next album, i saw them play as a 4 piece, much more conservative, aiming for the recorded version as much as possible. I think i went deaf during Page / Crowes, but it was great to hear Zepp songs with 3 guitar players. It is a bummer that they couldnt put Crowes songs on the live CD.

I'll buy an album by Page. I'd debate seeing him live at this point.

He released some rare stuff on limited release vinyl, i guess the Kenneth Anger Lucifer Rising soundtrack. Anyone get that or hear it?