Jimmy Page: A talk with one of rock's elusive legends
By Liz Derringer, New York Daily News, 28 April 1985
The Firm was formed by two of rock's legendary figures: Paul Rodgers, the powerful lead singer for Bad Company and Free, and Jimmy Page, the guitar virtuoso of the '60s and '70s supergroup, Led Zeppelin.
In this conversation, the elusive Page talks about his new band, The Firm, and reminisces about his old, Led Zeppelin—about his relationship with Robert Plant and the devastating loss of his close friend, drummer John Bonham.
Q: Tell me how The Firm came about.
A: Paul (Rodgers) and I were acquainted on sort of nodding terms for many years. Everyone was saying we should get together. I think Bad Company had broken up before Led Zeppelin. Anyway, we played some things, and that's where the embryonic part of the group happened. When we got together, we worked on "Midnight Moonlight," that's a song on The Firm record.
Q: That's the first song you wrote together?
A: Yeah. If it hadn't been for that, there would have been no ARMS tour (the 1983 Action Research into Multiple Sclerosis project). There would have been no Firm. Nothing. We both, deep down in our hearts, wanted to get back on stage and neither of us had a vehicle. The English press carried on about it, even before we started. There was a picture of myself and Paul from the ARMS tour and it said "Dead Hippies Wake."
Q: How did you and Paul originally get together for the ARMS tour?
A: I felt that it would be professional suicide to do such a thing, not having played on stage for so many years. All these chaps like Jeff (Beck) and Eric (Clapton) have solo careers, and I didn't have one at all. In London, when it started up, Steve Winwood was singing on my set. It was discussed, going to America, and Steve didn't really want to go. So I didn't have a singer any more, I didn't have a solo career, and I was in a bind. I thought, well, I'll give Paul a call and explain the whole ARMS project and see whether he's interested. He could have been committing professional suicide as well, coming with me to do something like that.
Q: What does The Firm mean?
A: The term "the firm" in England is when all the boys go out together at night, without the wives or girl friends.
Q: Did you want to form a different band when Led Zeppelin ended?
A: Well, when Led Zeppelin ended I couldn't possibly conceive of playing with any other drummer, because I lost a very close friend. Somebody I felt was the best drummer in the world. He was the ultimate for me John Bonham. When he was gone, it took me months and months to realize he was really gone. I couldn't believe it. Anyone who has lost a close friend, you always think they're going to walk in the door the next minute.
Q: Is that why Led Zeppelin never got back together?
A: Well, anyone who ever saw Led Zeppelin on stage would know why we never got back together again under that name. It would have been an insult to that 25% that made up the band.
Q: What did you do at that point?
A: I didn't do anything. I just sat there feeling sorry for myself. If I saw the guitar I didn't want to touch it, because it reminded me of everything.
Q: One of the highlights of the ARMS tour was your "Stairway to Heaven" solo.
A: After not playing on the stage for three years, what it was, was the feedback from the audience. It was like "Good to see you back!"
Q: Of all the Led Zeppelin rumors, satanic messages always come up. They say "Stairway to Heaven" was "Satan Is Lord" backwards.
A: I have heard it played backwards and it was quite amusing, as opposed to amazing. When I was in my teens, I was trying to learn guitar from records. If I'd spent my life playing my record collection backwards, I wouldn't be where I am.
Q: But some people try to hear messages in songs.
A: I suppose. It was like the whole thing about Paul's dead, from the Beatles. It was really just some guy with a sense of humor. Yes, I guess someone could hear something that could possibly sound like that.
Q: Did you do that consciously?
A: What do you think? It was quite possible it might work out that way in reverse. But honestly, if you say "Stairway to Heaven," you should ask Robert (Plant) because he did the lyrics.
Q: Well you know people like to start rumors.
A: Stupid people. They try to advertise the fact that they've found some great key to something. They wouldn't understand the key if they even heard it in the first place. Those records were extremely emotional, and the way they interpret it, deep intense emotion was satanic. They've got no idea what we were about.
Q: Many people equate the name Jimmy Page with black magic. You bought Allister Crowley's house and all that. You must be interested in it.
A: Sure, I'm interested in it. I'm interested in all theology. I studied religions of the world. As far as I'm concerned, that's equally as important as other things I've read. You know some musicians read as well as play. People find one area they hear you've been into, and suddenly you're a black musician. What is black magic to them, a chocolate? It is in England, it's a chocolate.
Q: Do you do incantation or anything like that?
A: I have never practiced any black magic in my life.
Q: Let's talk about the '60s. Remember coming down to the Scene Club?
A: That was incredible, Warhol did all these interior decorations with aluminum foil. And the Velvet Underground were there, and they were brilliant. That really was the sort of band that I could always relate to and always will relate to. They were wonderful times. There was a fusion of music going on then.
Q: Tell me about the crazy Led Zeppelin days.
A: It was all good. I don't have bad memories at all. It was a privilege, an honor, to have been in that band. The music that we put together said a lot for human nature. We knew that when it happened. John was a great friend. There was so much there—and there still is today.
Q: What about all the infamous stories?
A: I've done everything you've ever heard. In a way, people will think I've had a better life than I really have had.
Q: You have a daughter, Scarlet?
A: Fourteen. She's a lovely girl, a beautiful little lady.
Q: Are you a good father?
A: I don't know. If she thinks I am, then I am very privileged to hear her say it. She's had a pretty irresponsible father. I mean she's 14, and my mental age is probably 12. She is very strong, very wise, she's Aries for a start. She's really head/brain orientated.
Q: What does Jimmy Page, "The Legend," mean?
A: Well, that baffles me. At certain points it's almost frightening because of what's expected of me, especially when I came back from the ARMS tour. I wasn't playing anywhere near the way I was playing when I was in Zeppelin. I was rusty as hell, but me being a compulsive gambler, I had to do it just to see, even if I had a bad reaction. The way I'm playing now in this particular tour, I don't think I disappointed anyone who is a real Zeppelin fan, though they know I'm not doing Zeppelin material.
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