It’s no surprise that Jimmy Page has an eye for talent. As a prolific session musician, he collaborated with some of the biggest names of the 1960s, and by the time he rose to fame with Led Zeppelin, he was paying homage to legends like Robert Johnson in “The Lemon Song,” Muddy Waters in “Whole Lotta Love,” and Joni Mitchell in “Going to California.”
Since establishing himself with Led Zeppelin, Page has consistently been hailed as one of the greatest guitarists in history. Known for his meticulous playing and exceptional studio musicianship, Page’s skill often overshadows his talents as a songwriter. Like many artists, there are a few individuals he finds astonishingly gifted.
During his early career as a session musician, Page encountered a young folk singer poised to revolutionize electric rock and roll: Bob Dylan. Dylan is widely regarded as a cultural icon of rock music, largely due to his electrifying performances that have inspired countless stadium-sized rock bands.
Many musicians and bands view Bob Dylan as the pinnacle of songwriting, largely due to his deeply poetic lyrics. Yet, it’s particularly noteworthy that an esteemed artist like Page recognizes Dylan’s extraordinary talent. For Page, it was during Dylan’s folk phase that they first crossed paths.
In an Instagram post from 2019, Page reminisced about witnessing Dylan live for the first time. “In May 1965, I experienced the genius of Bob at the Albert Hall,” Page wrote. “He accompanied himself on acoustic guitar and cascaded images and words from such songs as ‘It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)’ and ‘She Belongs To Me’ to a mesmerized audience. It was life-changing.”
He continued, “In 2013, Bob Dylan played at the Albert Hall again – this was the first of three nights – when he would feature songs from his latest album Tempest and some rearranged earlier material including ‘She Belongs To Me’ and ‘Tangled Up In Blue.’ It was intoxicating.”
Page wasn’t the only member of Led Zeppelin who admired Dylan. “Something happened when Dylan arrived,” Robert Plant shared with The Guardian in 2007. “I had to grapple with what he was talking about. His music references Woody Guthrie, Richard and Mimi Farina, Reverend Gary Davis, Dave Van Ronk, and all these great American artists I knew nothing about.”
“He was absorbing the details of America and bringing it out without any reservation at all, igniting a spectacular social conscience. In these Anglo-Saxon lands, we could only gawp because we didn’t know about the conditions he was singing about. Dylan was the first one to say, ‘Hello, reality.’ I knew that I had to get rid of the winkle-pickers and get the sandals on quick.”
This rapid cultural shift marked a surge of activity throughout the British Isles as Bob Dylan’s influence permeated the rock scene. Having already transformed John Lennon into a confessional pop icon, Dylan’s impact was felt nationwide, inspiring a wave of songwriters interested in deeper themes and more substantial content.
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