In 1969, Jimmy Page was too busy for his favourite guitarist. To this day, he still regrets it
Jimmy Page has said he regrets never seeing Jimi Hendrix perform live. In the late 1960s, Page’s work with The Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin kept him touring and recording, so he repeatedly put off seeing Hendrix until another time.
Page recalled that the bands worked almost continuously during their first years, leaving him exhausted when Hendrix was playing nearby. The article suggests that watching Hendrix create his distinctive sound on stage might have influenced Page, though that remains speculation; Page continued developing his own style throughout his career.
In short
- Jimmy Page never saw Jimi Hendrix play live.
- Busy touring and recording, he kept postponing it.
- He still wonders what he might have learned from Hendrix.
Explained simply
Jimmy Page is an English guitarist who first became known as a member of The Yardbirds, then helped form Led Zeppelin in 1968. Jimi Hendrix was an American guitarist whose live performances and use of electric guitar made him one of the most influential musicians of the late 1960s.
Both musicians were working and performing during a period when rock music was changing rapidly. Page has said that touring and recording left him too tired to see Hendrix play when they were in the same area. Their careers are often discussed together because of their impact on electric guitar, though any influence Hendrix might have had on Page from a live performance is uncertain.