A whole generation of musicians was influenced by ZZ Top, one of the most significant Blues Rock bands in history, fronted by guitarist and singer Billy Gibbons. The band performed at the same time as fronted Zeppelin, a British group that combined Blues Rock with Hard Rock.
Gibbons discussed a wide range of groups and performers over the years, such as Jimmy Page, the guitarist for Led Zeppelin.
What is Billy Gibbons opinion on Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin
During a 2018 interview with Music Radar, Billy Gibbons mentioned Jimmy Page, the founding member of Led Zeppelin, as one of the guitarists who truly amazed him. He said, “There’s the collection of great guitar players from Britain. Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Peter Green, Mick Abraham. I’d call all of this the British block in my list.”
“Jimmy Page is one of the greatest. I would invite all of you readers to go check out the nightclub scene from the 1966 movie Blowup, where The Yardbirds are playing. They had Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page at the same time! Listening to the band doing Train Kept A-Rollin’… it’s just ferocious. Both of those guys had tone for days.”
The other well-known guitarist that performed with The Yarbirds, Jeff Beck, is a lifelong admirer of Billy Gibbons’ playing and ZZ Top. His favorite song from the group is “Rough Boy,” which was included on the 1986 album “Afterburner.”
What is Jimmy Page’s opinion on ZZ Top
Jimmy Page, the guitarist for Led Zeppelin, rarely discusses other artists or bands, although he did share his thoughts about ZZ Top in a 1986 Guitar World interview. Paul Rodgers, Chris Slade, Tony Franklin, and Page were all members of the supergroup The Firm at the time that Page was playing with.
In response to the question of whether he enjoyed making the music videos, he mentioned ZZ Top and their video for the song “Rough Boy.” “I think that’s what rock ‘n’ roll is all about. So they really are incredible. They have great music, really fine playing, really solid. they have a sense of humor as well.”
“They’re damn fine. And everyone is enjoying it and they’re enjoying themselves. So as far as their videos go, every one has been a winner, hasn’t it? But I must admit I haven’t had that much to do with videos.”
Billy Gibbons, Slash, Lzzy Hale, Robin Zander, and Rick Nielsen played Led Zeppelin’s iconic song “Whole Lotta Love” at the 2020 NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) exhibit.
In 2004, while Billy Gibbons was still a member of ZZ Top, Keith Richards gave the following speech to induct him into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: “These cats know their Blues and they know how to dress it up.”
Nine years earlier, in 1995, Jimmy Page was inducted into the Led Zeppelin Hall of Fame, having been selected by Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry and singer Steven Tyler. Perry described Zeppelin as “pure chemistry, kind of like Howlin’ Wolf meets the Loch Ness monster” in his address.