10 Guitarists Who Inspired The Sound Of Modern Rock & Metal Music
3. Jimmy Page
Like Eric Clapton before him, Jimmy Page’s career started as a fledgling guitarist making his name for himself in London’s music scene of the late sixties, with a stint playing in the Yardbirds alongside another legendary guitar player, Jeff Beck. It was Jimmy's next band that he will be forever known for, possibly the most influential band of the following decade, Led Zeppelin.
The mark that they left on the world of rock and the inspiration they would have on the next generation of artists coming through is unrivaled, and at the heart of it all was Jimmy Page’s guitar playing. Led Zeppelin produced some of the finest and most well-known rock songs of the decade, including Dazed and Confused and Communication Breakdown from their self-titled debut album (1969), Ramble On and Whole Lotta Love from Led Zeppelin II (1969), and Immigrant Song from Led Zeppelin III (1970).
It would be with Led Zeppelin IV (1971) - one of the biggest selling albums of all time with over 37 million copies sold - that the band recorded their defining record. With tracks including Black Dog, Rock and Roll and one of the greatest rock songs of all time, Stairway To Heaven, Led Zeppelin and Jimmy Page cemented their legacy. During that monumental three-year run, Page created the vast majority of Led Zeppelin’s music; with singer Robert Plant writing the lyrics, the blues and folk-based influence to Jimmy's playing and soloing at the time was uniquely impressive.