Joe Bonamassa shared his thoughts on Jimmy Page’s reputation for being a ‘sloppy guitarist.’
In a recent interview with Guitar Player, Bonamassa praised Page’s talent, explaining why he believes the criticism doesn’t hold up.
Bonamassa recalled listening to Led Zeppelin’s debut album ‘Led Zeppelin (1969)’ for the first time, saying, “I still remember the first time I heard Zeppelin, and it’s definitely a game-changer. It changes your perspective on everything as far as rock and guitar, that’s for sure.”
He then reflected on Jimmy Page’s guitar playing. “Are you f—king kidding me? It’s like try to copy those parts. It’s impossible. People forget that Jimmy was a first-call session guy. People would not have called him if he was a ‘sloppy’ guitar player. Jimmy Page was as bad as he wanted to be. And what a producer, too!”
According to Bonamassa, Page was a first-call session guitarist before joining Led Zeppelin. In the world of session work, precision is key, and only the best players are chosen for the job. This, he says, proves that Page wasn’t sloppy, but rather someone who could play as well or as loosely as he wanted.
Jimmy Page’s playing style was brought up by others in the past. Ace Frehley also called himself and Page ‘sloppy’ players. Frehley admitted that while his style isn’t the cleanest, it’s what makes his sound unique. He compared this to Page, whose playing, he said, had a similar raw quality. Frehley argued that technical skill doesn’t always make a guitarist stand out.
Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister also weighed in on the debate. He defended Page’s style, saying that Page wrote solos that connected with people and were easy to remember. He also compared Page’s style to modern ‘super shredders,’ saying that Page’s playing carried more emotion and fit the songs better than today’s faster but less memorable solos.
