The legendary guitarist Pete Townshend called “arrogant”
Confidence is a necessary attribute for a lead guitarist in a rock band. They need the audience to believe they are the real deal and think they are the epitome of cool, even if it’s thanks to a manufactured persona. Performing has never come naturally to The Who’s Pete Townshend, but nobody would ever guess that from watching him live.
Especially during The Who’s early days, Townshend had to trick himself into becoming a different beast when he stepped on stage. He may have been shy and reserved in everyday life, but Townshend successfully transformed into a different animal with a penchant for smashing guitars once he was standing in front of a rowdy audience. Others were born to be in the limelight and to entertain crowds through rock ‘n’ roll. According to Townshend, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page falls into this category, and he was ready-made for fame long before finding any mainstream success.
Page was first on Townshend’s radar many years before Led Zeppelin came to fruition. In fact, their story dates back even further than when Page announced himself as hot property as a session musician on the London music scene, contributing to songs such as The Who’s ‘I Can’t Explain’ in 1964.
Despite appreciating Page’s talent since they were teenagers, Townshend has spoken disparagingly of Led Zeppelin on multiple occasions over the decades. In 2019, he accused them of ripping off The Who, telling Rolling Stone: “We sort of invented heavy metal with (our first live album) Live at Leeds (1970). We were copied by so many bands, principally by Led Zeppelin, you know heavy drums, heavy bass, heavy lead guitar.” Meanwhile, in 1995, Townshend said of the group: “I don’t like a single thing that they have done, I hate the fact that I’m ever even slightly compared to them.”
He added, “I just never ever liked them. It’s a real problem to me cause as people I think they are really, really great guys. Just never liked the band. And I don’t know if I have a problem because they, well, became so much bigger than The Who in so many ways, in their chosen field, I’ve never liked them.”
While Led Zeppelin have never been Townshend’s cup of tea from a musical standpoint, there is no grudge against Page. He recognises him as one of the most talented musicians ever to play the guitar, and he also had the aura to match, even as a young student of his craft. “I first saw Jimmy Page when I was 14 or 15 and he was already in a professional band,” Townshend once reflected about the first time he witnessed the guitarist. “He was one year older than me, and he was in a professional band at 16 when I was just still in school. He was playing really fast stuff. He was an extraordinary player, arrogant, flash.”
Page was playing in Neil Christian’s band, The Crusaders, who recruited him as a 15-year-old. While he should have been in school, Page was getting his education on the road by performing live in a rock group, which taught him more than he’d ever learn in a Geography lesson. He eventually enrolled back into education as an art student after leaving The Crusaders due to health problems before music again became his priority.
Even though he’s spoken negatively regarding Led Zeppelin, Townshend isn’t blind to Jimmy Page’s magical technical ability as a guitarist. Although he labelled Page “arrogant”, the comment was meant as a compliment and delivered with love. Due to his talent, Page had every right to walk around the stage as if he owned the venue.
