Led Zeppelin was a bit before my time (born in 78) and I never was a fan of their music growing up. I know their hits but not much of their B side music. That being said, I was shopping for new pickups and the whole lotta humbucker pickups led me to start watching jimmy page stuff on YouTube. To say I was not impressed would be an understatement. I don’t mean to be disrespectful at all, but just being honest I was floored at how sloppily he seemed to play, and his solo riffs were incredibly drab, simple and uninspiring. It sounded like someone putting together songs after only picking up the guitar a year ago. Am I missing something here? I completely admit I may be very wrong. He just didn’t seem to be the guitarist I had always heard about. If someone could direct me to some clips of him playing well...I mean if you heard it and didn’t know it was jimmy page and still would be impressed...I would love to see it.
Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
- Thread starter Joejitsu
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Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
IMHO the whole band is overrated. I started with rock listening to led zep first of all, whole lotta love being the first song/riff I learned (on a classic guitar) just the riff, the solo back then sounded just divine!. I really liked Led Zep I, Led Zep II (IMHO their best album) and a little bit of Led Zep IV. Never could made it to hear the whole Led Zep III or any of their next albums, the only exception was the song "In the evening" of their last album where Page kind of plays something that sounds like rock guitar, and all this was while I was ultra crazy about this band. I still like a song or two (e.g. Baby I am gonna leave you).
However dont judge him by modern standards, when the average shredder from the hood can play faster and cleaner than most of the "Gods" of the 60s. You gotta judge him in his context.
IMHO the whole band is overrated. I started with rock listening to led zep first of all, whole lotta love being the first song/riff I learned (on a classic guitar) just the riff, the solo back then sounded just divine!. I really liked Led Zep I, Led Zep II (IMHO their best album) and a little bit of Led Zep IV. Never could made it to hear the whole Led Zep III or any of their next albums, the only exception was the song "In the evening" of their last album where Page kind of plays something that sounds like rock guitar, and all this was while I was ultra crazy about this band. I still like a song or two (e.g. Baby I am gonna leave you).
However dont judge him by modern standards, when the average shredder from the hood can play faster and cleaner than most of the "Gods" of the 60s. You gotta judge him in his context.
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6stringerguy
New member
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
No there’s another Jim who is
No there’s another Jim who is
Gtrjunior
New member
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
Part of Jimmy’s charm is that he might crash and burn at any moment...but NEVER does.
Plus, the guy practically wrote the book on rock guitar.
I admit that his electric playing is sloppy but his acoustic playing is phenomenal. Keep in mind too, that there is a high likelihood that in those live clips you saw he was probably wasted.
And although not “guitar” specific but he produced all of those Zep albums. The production of those albums still stand up today.
I try to look at Page as the musician rather than the guitar player. In that respect it’s hard to find fault.
FWIW, I’m only a few years older than you (‘72) so I kinda missed them too...
Part of Jimmy’s charm is that he might crash and burn at any moment...but NEVER does.
Plus, the guy practically wrote the book on rock guitar.
I admit that his electric playing is sloppy but his acoustic playing is phenomenal. Keep in mind too, that there is a high likelihood that in those live clips you saw he was probably wasted.
And although not “guitar” specific but he produced all of those Zep albums. The production of those albums still stand up today.
I try to look at Page as the musician rather than the guitar player. In that respect it’s hard to find fault.
FWIW, I’m only a few years older than you (‘72) so I kinda missed them too...
Gtrjunior
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JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
Definitely overrated, IMO. Not bad, just overrated.
He actually has great technical chops. He was just undisciplined, combined with being self produced for his most famous output. When there was an outside producer controlling him and using him wisely, he was friggin' great.
Definitely overrated, IMO. Not bad, just overrated.
He actually has great technical chops. He was just undisciplined, combined with being self produced for his most famous output. When there was an outside producer controlling him and using him wisely, he was friggin' great.
oilpit
New member
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
Jimmy Page was a prolific and unbelievably talented studio musician earlier on in his career, he played in The Yardbirds, and can be heard on a ****load of old pop music. His riffs may sound drab to you but that is almost definitely a case of them being so groundbreaking that going back to listen to them after hearing literally decades of music inspired by it, yeah, it's gonna sound boring.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny
That being said heroin is a hell of a drug and some of those later live performances are downright hard to watch.
I think anybody who claims he is the greatest of all time is probably overrating him a bit, but I think the reasons you listed are definitely not the ones most people would cite if you asked them.
It's a complicated issue that can't be answered in a yes/no question.
Jimmy Page was a prolific and unbelievably talented studio musician earlier on in his career, he played in The Yardbirds, and can be heard on a ****load of old pop music. His riffs may sound drab to you but that is almost definitely a case of them being so groundbreaking that going back to listen to them after hearing literally decades of music inspired by it, yeah, it's gonna sound boring.
https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeinfeldIsUnfunny
That being said heroin is a hell of a drug and some of those later live performances are downright hard to watch.
I think anybody who claims he is the greatest of all time is probably overrating him a bit, but I think the reasons you listed are definitely not the ones most people would cite if you asked them.
It's a complicated issue that can't be answered in a yes/no question.
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
Jimmy Page was a much better composer than he was a player. Some of his recordings are so far ahead of their time it was an unbelievable thing to listen to when it first came out.
I find this has become something that is being lost with time and proficiency. When someone now is introduced to something then, they compare it to now, instead of putting into context for then. At the time, Jimmy Page was IT. There was no Van Halen. There was no Yngwie Malmsteen. There was no Steve Vai. There was no Jason Becker.
If you listen to the music that came out of that era as a stand alone, it is remarkable what he did.
And to answer your question. No, he is not the most overrated quitar player. That distinction goes to Kurt Cobain. Brilliant songwriter, but guitar player? Not so much.
Jimmy Page was a much better composer than he was a player. Some of his recordings are so far ahead of their time it was an unbelievable thing to listen to when it first came out.
I find this has become something that is being lost with time and proficiency. When someone now is introduced to something then, they compare it to now, instead of putting into context for then. At the time, Jimmy Page was IT. There was no Van Halen. There was no Yngwie Malmsteen. There was no Steve Vai. There was no Jason Becker.
If you listen to the music that came out of that era as a stand alone, it is remarkable what he did.
And to answer your question. No, he is not the most overrated quitar player. That distinction goes to Kurt Cobain. Brilliant songwriter, but guitar player? Not so much.
Chistopher
malapterurus electricus tonewood instigator
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
Jimmy Buffet is a national treasure. If you don't like it, you can leave.
Jimmy Buffet is a national treasure. If you don't like it, you can leave.
guitartwonk
New member
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
I don't think he's the most overrated, no. I think that honour goes to Steve Vai. Don't get me wrong, he's technically amazing and immensely skilled, but to me he lacks feeling. Just my opinion of course, I know others will disagree and I respect that.
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I don't think he's the most overrated, no. I think that honour goes to Steve Vai. Don't get me wrong, he's technically amazing and immensely skilled, but to me he lacks feeling. Just my opinion of course, I know others will disagree and I respect that.
Sent from my Phone using Tapatalk
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
I think we're talking apples and oranges here. Just because you don't like an artist, doesn't mean he or she is overrated. If he is technically amazing and immensely skilled, how can he be overrated? I understand what you mean, but find it confusing.
I think we're talking apples and oranges here. Just because you don't like an artist, doesn't mean he or she is overrated. If he is technically amazing and immensely skilled, how can he be overrated? I understand what you mean, but find it confusing.
Re: Is Jimmy Page the most overrated guitarist?
This is what I don't get. Jimmy Pages compositions run circles around anything Billy Gibbons has ever done. I enjoy both their music, but saying that someone who wrote "The Rain Song" and "Kashmir" is overrated when comparing someone who made most of a career playing 12 bar blues is just weird to me.
This is what I don't get. Jimmy Pages compositions run circles around anything Billy Gibbons has ever done. I enjoy both their music, but saying that someone who wrote "The Rain Song" and "Kashmir" is overrated when comparing someone who made most of a career playing 12 bar blues is just weird to me.
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