The “dirty” 1955 song that made Jimmy Page pick up a guitar: “I wanted to be part of it”
A 1955 hit by Link Wray, ‘Rumble’, is described as a formative influence on Jimmy Page, helping inspire him to pick up the guitar. The instrumental’s raw, distorted sound stood apart from the cleaner popular music of its era and became influential in the development of rock music.
Released in 1958 rather than 1955, ‘Rumble’ reached number 16 in the US charts despite some radio stations banning it over concerns that its title encouraged violence. Page reportedly admired its rebellious atmosphere and has cited the track as an example of the sound and attitude he wanted to join; its use of power chords and distortion also influenced later guitar-led rock.
- Link Wray’s ‘Rumble’ helped inspire Jimmy Page to play guitar.
- Its distorted sound challenged the musical norms of its era.
- The track became a major influence on rock guitar music.