The making of Led Zeppelin: Watch a 13-year-old Jimmy Page play the guitar on a BBC talent show, 1958
We take a look back at the humble beginnings of a certain legendary guitarist Jimmy Page and his relatively unknown skiffle band. Prior to being in one of the biggest bands to have ever graced the planet, Page had always been a budding guitarist and, in 1957, the youngster was handed his chance to show the nation just what talent he had with his very first TV performance.
Page, the now-iconic musician, songwriter and record producer who achieved worldwide success as the founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin, appeared on BBC children’s television programme All Your Own to show off some of his impressive guitar playing skills.
The show, which also provided the first television appearance for John Williams and the King Brothers, handed Page his very first taste of the limelight when he performed ‘Mama Don’t Want to Skiffle Anymore’ in the late 1950s.
The premise of the show was for children to share a particular skill or burgeoning talent to the show’s host Huw Weldon. The show would feature some notable talents including Jacqueline du Pre, who was an exceptional cellist, and Earl Okin who would become a wonderful songwriter contributing to both The Beatles and Wings’ back-catalogue.
Wheldon, who is presenting at the time, asked a young Page what he plans on doing after he completes his studies at school, to which the 13-year-old replied: “I want to do biological research to find a cure for cancer if it isn’t discovered by then.”
While Page didn’t grow older to find a cure for cancer, he did form arguably one of the most successful, pioneering, and influential rock groups in history. Alongside his bandmates Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham, Page went on to become one of the best-selling music artists in the history of audio recording.
See the clip, below.
