Imagine being a legendary guitarist like Jimmy Page, only to look back and cringe at one particular gig. Yes, even rock icons have their regrets. While Page’s name is synonymous with Led Zeppelin’s iconic riffs, his journey as a session musician was far from glamorous. And this is the part most people miss: before the fame, there were gigs he’d rather forget—like the time he played with Van Morrison’s early band, Them. But here’s where it gets controversial: was it Them’s chaotic approach that made the experience awkward, or was it Page’s own expectations clashing with their half-formed ideas? Let’s dive in.
Jimmy Page’s rise to stardom wasn’t just about talent; it was about adaptability. From The Rolling Stones to Shirley Bassey, he could walk into any session and deliver. But session work wasn’t all glitz—it was about reading the room, blending in, and adding your flair without stealing the show. It’s a tightrope walk most musicians never talk about. Page’s ability to craft the perfect guitar part came from these gigs, but not every session was a masterpiece. Take Them, for example.
Them, led by a young Van Morrison, was a band on the brink of greatness. Their hit ‘Gloria’ cemented their place in rock history, but behind the scenes, it was a different story. When Page joined them in the studio, he found himself in a bizarre situation: band members were being replaced by session musicians mid-session. ‘Talk about daggers,’ Page recalled. ‘It was awful. You’d be sitting there, wishing you weren’t.’ For a perfectionist like Page, it was a nightmare. But was it Them’s fault, or was Morrison’s visionary—yet solitary—approach to music the real issue?
Morrison’s genius became undeniable with Astral Weeks, but during his Them days, he was still finding his voice. His tendency to wander musically often clashed with the band’s structure. Here’s the bold question: Was Them’s disorganized approach a sign of their potential, or just a recipe for studio chaos? Page, who thrived on Led Zeppelin’s improvisational energy, couldn’t connect with Them’s disjointed process. Yet, even in frustration, he learned something: sometimes, stepping out of your comfort zone—even into a mess—can spark growth.
For session musicians, every gig is a lesson, even the ones you’d rather forget. Them may not have been Page’s cup of tea, but it taught him the value of adaptability. So, here’s the debate: Can a ‘bad’ gig still be a good teacher? Share your thoughts below—did Page’s experience with Them shape his future success, or was it just a footnote in his legendary career?
