In 1963 Jimmy Page Wanted to Become an Artist

Jimmy Page at 19-years-old had already had become a session guitarist- something not easily done at such a young age. But, he had been playing guitar for 4 years professionally at that point. Page actually left school at age 15 to pursue music full time after beginning learning guitar at age 12. In a casual interview in 1963 (before Page was even 20) he was asked how he managed it at such a young age, to which he replied, “I don’t know, perhaps they thought I had a feel for it.”

Page noted that most of the session gigs went to older musicians who were part of the union (“the old chaps need the work”). But, in his hand throughout the interview is what looks like a pad of sketch paper as Page deep down wanted to be an artist.

At the time in 1963 Page was performing in the band The Crusaders. But, when asked if he wanted to make a record of his own and what his goals were he answered that he would rather become “an accomplished artist.” He also said, “I hope to finance my art by the guitar.” But, before that in 1958 he had said he wanted to become a biological researcher– showing that Page is a man of many interests who had many different dreams.

Only a few years later Page would perform with The Yardbirds and in 1968 would go on to form Led Zeppelin, one of the most influential rock bands to date. It’s hard to imagine what modern music might sound like if Page had become an artist instead. We’d be living in a world without “Stairway to Heaven”!

Watch the interview with 19-year old Page in the video below.