Meta Description: Explore Mick Jagger’s admiration for Jimmy Page and how it contributes to the enduring rock legacy of The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.
From his position at the pinnacle of rock stardom, Mick Jagger has seen countless young artists rise and fall throughout his legendary career. While few have achieved the monumental fame of The Rolling Stones, Jagger has never hesitated to praise promising talents, including a young session musician who would become iconic in his own right—Jimmy Page. This admiration highlights the deep connection between these rock legends and is a testament to Jagger’s influence on the rock legacy.
After The Rolling Stones formed in 1962, they swiftly brought their rebellious blues-infused sound to the masses. Mick Jagger quickly ascended to global rock star status, with the tracks he co-wrote alongside Keith Richards becoming cornerstones of rock music history. As The Stones evolved, so did their music, growing in complexity, which led them to collaborate with session musicians like Jimmy Page, whose guitar work left a lasting impression on Jagger.
Jagger’s admiration for Page extended beyond the studio. Reflecting on their early days, Jagger once told BBC Radio Two, “The thing was, I knew Jimmy [Page] very, very early on, going back ten years before that. I used to be a producer. It was fun for me… One of the backing musicians was Jimmy Page; he was one of the best session guitarists at the time; he was very young.” This acknowledgment of Page’s early talent underscores the rock legacy that Page would go on to cement with Led Zeppelin.
When Page formed Led Zeppelin in 1968, their impact on hard rock and heavy metal was profound. The Stones themselves began exploring harder rock sounds in the 1970s, making it no surprise that Jagger would find Led Zeppelin’s music captivating. Jagger noted his surprise at Page’s meteoric rise, stating, “So that’s how I met Jimmy, and that’s how I met John Paul Jones… Then ten years later, or a bit less, they’ve made this very successful kind of band.”
Jagger’s admiration for Led Zeppelin extended to their live performances, which he described as “a great, thunderous, wonderful racket, brilliant.” Even after the band’s breakup in 1980, Jagger expressed disappointment, saying, “I was so disappointed that they didn’t actually go out and tour… But that’s their business, not mine.”
The rock legacy of Led Zeppelin, as recognized by Jagger, continues to resonate with fans worldwide. Though Led Zeppelin has reunited occasionally, the early magic of their live performances remains unmatched—a legacy that Jagger and rock enthusiasts alike cherish.
