The Most Embarrassing Moment Of Jimmy Page’s Career

Led Zeppelin is one of the best-selling bands in the entire world, as their global sales are estimated to be around $200 and $300 million. They have been considered the pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal since their formation in 1968, under the name the New Yardbirds.

The band consisted of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and the late drummer John Bonham. However, like many successful bands, all members had a history with music before achieving fame with Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page was a session musician who played the guitar for various names.

While still a student, Page chased musicians who needed a temporary guitarist to help them out in the studio. Among those names were well-known Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Van Morrison. At the time, he was known as Lil Jim Pea and was loved by the musicians he worked with. The guitarist has also been involved with the Irish band Them, which launched Van Morrison’s career.

What Was Jimmy Page’s Experience With Them?

Because he was involved in many gigs at the time, Jimmy Page doesn’t even remember the songs he contributed to. This is understandable since the now-iconic guitarist used to play six days a week, three different gigs a day. However, his experience with Them was memorable as he considered it the most embarrassing session of his musical career.

He recorded Them’s 1965 song ‘Baby, Please Don’t Go,’ which achieved critical acclaim and found a place in the UK top ten, becoming one of their two most popular hits. Page talked about working with them in an extended interview with Trouser Press on June 16 and 17, 1977, revealing why it was embarrassing.

According to Page, he was called to that session as a second choice, ‘as insurance,’ just in case something happened to the original guitarist. There were a lot of musicians in the sessions that would be there for insurance, and Them kept replacing their original members with session musicians. This was embarrassing for Page, and he wished he wasn’t there sometimes.

Here is what he said back in 1977:

“A most embarrassing session. Before we even start, I should say that I was mainly called into sessions as insurance. It was usually myself and a drummer, though they never mention the drummer these days, just me. On the Them session, it was very embarrassing because you noticed that as each number passed, another member of the band would be substituted for by a session musician.

Talk about daggers! God, it was awful. There’d be times you’d be sitting there – you didn’t want to be there, you’d only been booked – and wishing you weren’t there.”

You can listen to the song ‘Baby Please Don’t Go’ below.