Jimmy Page: The Definitive Biography

Jimmy Page: The Definitive Biography
Chris Salewicz

Founder of one of the most influential and successful rock bands of all time, legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has nevertheless remained an enigma. In this definitive and comprehensive biography of his life so far, Chris Salewicz draws on his own interviews with Page and those closest around him to unravel the man behind the mystery.Having sold over 300 million copies worldwide, Led Zeppelin was the biggest band of the ’70s and has been loved by the legions ever since. From his own conversations with Jimmy, the rest of Led Zeppelin, old girlfriends, tour managers and session musicians to name but a few, Salewicz reveals the many trials and tribulations which transformed the middle class boy from the Surrey suburbs into one of rock’s most enigmatic frontmen.Detailed, thrilling and expertly researched, Salewicz discovers a man who was prepared to die for his art; who justified heroin use so he could harness its narcotic focus whilst making albums, and who overcame numerous death threats during this time. A warrior magician, Salewicz delves into the many skeletons and eccentricities in Page’s closet, contextualising him against a background of London gangsters, deaths, and power struggles which Page has continued to rail against to this day, even within his own band.As entertaining as it is insightful, and from a writer who experienced first-hand the Led Zeppelin furore, this promises to be as close to a Jimmy Page autobiography as fans can get.

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Copyright (#u9f42648e-3e1c-5cb0-9932-1087e0f7fd79)

HarperCollinsPublishers

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First published by HarperCollinsPublishers 2018

FIRST EDITION

© Chris Salewicz 2018

Cover layout design Claire Ward © HarperCollinsPublishers 2018

Cover photograph © Gijsbert Hanekroot/Redferns/Getty Images

Extract from I’m With the Band: Confessions of a Groupie by Pamela Des Barres published by Omnibus Press © Panela Des Barres

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Chris Salewicz asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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Source ISBN: 9780008149291

Ebook Edition © July 2018 ISBN: 9780008149307

Version: 2018-06-21

Dedication (#u9f42648e-3e1c-5cb0-9932-1087e0f7fd79)

For Alex and Cole

Contents

Cover (#ud76057b8-0314-5b94-9fa2-d11804311f62)

Title Page (#ucb0379db-d644-53a7-a074-a5b13c8e27bb)

Copyright (#udf05ea9a-26ab-57fc-bc43-cb6c10ceb966)

Dedication (#u8d5e81fa-305d-5cd2-932f-0d0ee7b76562)

Preface (#u055defcc-b8d5-582b-9590-e174468a461b)

Introduction (#ud2578b28-4167-5033-8253-53ed5faa6f00)

1 SPANISH GUITAR IN SURREY (#u0bb596da-93f8-5186-93b3-ca81bca15d54)

2 FROM NELSON STORM TO SESSION PLAYER (#u590d91a5-b3cd-502a-ac9d-6f869e2c6720)

3 SHE JUST SATISFIES (#ua2137d07-172c-5aba-9434-646bcccde7ac)

4 BECK’S BOLERO (#ube463ace-27cf-59f4-a4b0-c9629423e606)

5 BLOW-UPS (#u4fe2abfd-326a-5819-84c3-6e5ad85acbee)

6 ‘YOU’RE GOING TO KILL ME FOR A THOUSAND DOLLARS?’ (#u59fbe45b-fef9-578d-9c6a-b0ae06c63c19)

7 ‘LIKE A LEAD ZEPPELIN’ (#litres_trial_promo)

8 AMERICAN ADVANCES (#litres_trial_promo)

9 ‘WHOLE LOTTA LOVE’ (#litres_trial_promo)

10 LED ZEPPELIN II (#litres_trial_promo)

11 ‘DO WHAT THOU WILT’ (#litres_trial_promo)

12 THE BEAST 666 (#litres_trial_promo)

13 ALL THAT GLITTERS (#litres_trial_promo)

14 THE LEGEND OF ZOSO (#litres_trial_promo)

15 CITY OF ANGELS (#litres_trial_promo)

16 THE KING AND JIMMY PAGE (#litres_trial_promo)

17 COCAINE NIGHTS AND HAUNTED HOUSES (#litres_trial_promo)

18 AN ACCIDENT IN EXILE (#litres_trial_promo)