SEATTLE TRIBUTE TO JIMMY PAGE

[truth and beauty]

 

If I lived anywhere near Seattle I'd be trying to get into this.  It makes me wonder ..

 

EMP Museum’s Founders Award - part of an annual fundraiser for the institution’s youth programs. Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, Jerry Cantrell and William DuVall of Alice in Chains, former Black Crowe Rich Robinson, Brian Wheat of Tesla, Lucinda Williams and Page’s former bandmate in The Firm — and Bad Company frontman — Paul Rodgers are among the guest performers, while Seattle-bred Guns n’ Roses bassist Duff McKagen and drummer Barrett Martin of Mad Season and Screaming Trees anchor the house band. 

The sold-out event will take place at the Sky Church, inside the mu

[truth and beauty]

I believe Jimmy was very close to playing live, on a guest basis, at least twice in the last twelve months. 

Today, 19th November, presents a further opportunity.   This time it may suit him. 

[sam_webmaster]

Kalamazoo luthier Ry Charters readies historic guitars for Jimmy Page

-- Led Zeppelin guitar legend Jimmy Page will be honored Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Experience Music Project Museum in Seattle during the 2015 annual Founders Award Celebration, the museum's signature fundraiser to benefit EMP youth programs. 

 

To prepare for Page's visit, the EMP Museum hired Ry Charters, co-founder of Kal-Tone Musical Instrument Co. in Kalamazoo to travel to Seattle in September so he could evaluate, make any small repairs and set up a number of historic guitars from the museum's guitar collection for Page to potentially handle. 

Included in the lot of 10 guitars Charters made stage ready at the EMP Museum were Chuck Berry's Kalamazoo-made Gibson ES-335TD, Muddy Waters' Guild Thunderbird, Bo Diddley's custom-made Gretsch square guitar, John Lee Hooker's 1950's Guild Aristocrat and Howlin' Wolf's Kalamazoo-Gibson-made Epiphone Casino. He spent three weeks repairing the guitars.

"We pulled out a couple guitars he (Jimmy Page) might be interested in," EMP Museum Senior Curator Jacob McMurry said during a recent phone interview — but many of the guitars had issues, and in case there might be the opportunity for Jimmy Page to explore the historic instruments, the museum wanted to have some guitars ready to play. "We had Ry come out and go over several guitars," McMurray said. 

"We first met Ry when he was working for Dusty Strings in Seattle," McMurry said. That was three years ago, when Charters left Kalamazoo to take a position at one of Seattle's premiere acoustic guitar shops, ranked on TripAdvisor's list of attractions in Washington. 

The relationship with the EMP museum has been an a rewarding opportunity for Charters. He has performed conservation work on Jimi Hendrix's Martin D-45, Bob Dylan's first acoustic guitar he purchased in Minneapolis before hitchhiking to New York City and Hank Williams' prized Gibson Southern Jumbo.

Last year, Charters moved back to Kalamazoo to open Kal-Tone Musical Instrument Co. with partner Jay Gavin on the north end of Kalamazoo Mall. The downtown location is just a few blocks away from where Orville H. Gibson first started making mandolins and guitars, and Charter wants to continue Kalamazoo's legacy as a city where fine guitars are handcrafted. 

On Charters' workbench last week was a 1930's Kalamazoo Gibson-made Carson J. Robison guitar in for restoration, a guitar sold by Wards Department Store before WWII. Over the decades, the wood has moved from the string tension and to make it playable again, the neck has been carefully removed and "reset." Charters said "maintenance and modifications" make up half of the workload at the Kal-Tone guitar shop. 

"No matter if it's a vintage instrument, or a $100 Squire," Charters said, the workshop will evaluate all types and levels of instruments for optimal playing and long term care. "You don't have to fight the guitar if it's set up properly, it's more enjoyable to play, you will even play it better, easier -- the notes sound more clear."

Along with the conservation work, getting the EMP's historic guitars ready to play is why Charters was hired.

"We implicitly trust Ry and his suggestions about how to keep our guitars safe for posterity," McMurry said. "He's good to work with."

"It's kinda cool," Charters said. "I've been working on guitars for 17 years, dedicating my life to it and it does feel good to be at the level where I'm trusted by the keepers of historic instruments."

He said it would be great to have worked on something that Jimmy Page might play when he visits the EMP museum, "but it's already cool to have worked on something Muddy Waters played."

The EMP, is a non-profit museum located near the city of Seattle's Space Needle and features exhibits on Music, Sci-fi and pop culture — dedicated to the ideas and risk-taking that fuel contemporary poplar culture. The EMP's building is designed by Frank O. Gehry.

http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2015/11/kalamazoo_luthier_ry_charters.html

 

 

 

[Ddladner]

Sounds like a lovely night for Jimmy and for those fortunate enough to attend!  I love the article that Sam posted, how can Jimmy resist those historical guitars that have been meticulously restored/repaired solely for his playing pleasure.  I love that, wish I were there! 

[mstork]

I believe Jimmy was very close to playing live, on a guest basis, at least twice in the last twelve months. 

Today, 19th November, presents a further opportunity.   This time it may suit him. 

 

What two occasions are you referring to? 

Edited November 19, 2015 by mstork

[KellyGirl]

The above article re: the man preparing historical guitars for Page to handle makes it sound like
Jimmy will pick one up and start playing it at that tribute they have planned for him. What would
even give this guy that impression? In Jimmy's recent interviews he does not come across like he's
ready to be seen playing live. Maybe I am reading the article wrong.
 

[mstork]

The above article re: the man preparing historical guitars for Page to handle makes it sound like
Jimmy will pick one up and start playing it at that tribute they have planned for him. What would
even give this guy that impression? In Jimmy's recent interviews he does not come across like he's
ready to be seen playing live. Maybe I am reading the article wrong.
 

I also know that he often comments on how he hates playing someone else's guitar at these types of jams.  Yeah, I doubt he plays tonight, although it's interesting that they're doing some "just in case" planning...

[KellyGirl]

Ohhh I know lol. I remember the look on his face during the interview in France. 
I do wonder if the fact they have let the public know there are guitars being prepared
for Jimmy is in hope that people (audience) will put pressure on him at this event to
get up and play? It's a shifty idea, but a tad rude. It's like inviting a chef to your home
to have dinner but the night before you announce to your guests you are getting culinary
items that this chef likes to use when he cooks - all In hopes that maybe people will put
pressure on the guest of honor to go back in the kitchen and cook. 

I don't know maybe the band aid needs to be just ripped off?? Hand him a guitar and get
up and play.*unsure*  I do think though a lot of people are just not ready to say "Jimmy Page 
will never be seen playing live again"
 

Edited November 19, 2015 by KellyGirl

[mstork]

Ohhh I know lol. I remember the look on his face during the interview in France. 
I do wonder if the fact they have let the public know there are guitars being prepared
for Jimmy is in hope that people (audience) will put pressure on him at this event to
get up and play? It's a shifty idea, but a tad rude. It's like inviting a chef to your home
to have dinner but the night before you announce to your guests you are getting culinary
items that this chef likes to use when he cooks - all In hopes that maybe people will put
pressure on the guest of honor to go back in the kitchen and cook. 

I don't know maybe the band aid needs to be just ripped off?? Hand him a guitar and get
up and play.*unsure*  I do think though a lot of people are just not ready to say "Jimmy Page 
will never be seen playing live again"
 

the band should play Heartbreaker and hand him a Les Paul with a Marshall when they stop for the a Capella solo. Now THAT would be rude! ?

[Patrycja]

The 'handle' bit stood out and struck me as odd the first time I saw it posted elsewhere. It's a musical instrument. The only way to 'handle' the bloody thing is to play it. There was a Strad special awhile back and the restored violins - hundreds of years old, mind - needed to be played regularly in order for them to maintain their vitality, sort of like vibrations stirring the soul. I suspect it's much the same for musicians. That's not a veiled dig at Jimmy, I can say it directly well enough if I feel it, but it just came across as an unusual phrasing. By the way, I gave Jimmy a hard time about being so hesitant to play the acoustic guitar they handed him in that French interview, but I've since had a second thought about second guessing him. In that Strad special, Itzhak Perlman, on his own instrument, said he did not feel comfortable to just play on the spot (perhaps that means whole pieces, because on his website when he answers questions about playing, he shows what he means in snippets. It's so endearing...). He gave in because it was the interviewer's birthday, but it just goes to show even Perlman, who believe me, if you've never heard live, put near the top of your bucket list, at 68, is the most expressive and technically proficient violinist you'll likely see in your life. Brought me to tears every time I've seen him - vibrations stirring the soul.

 

[Trey]

Jimmy's just walked the red carpet  for these awards tonight. Picture is up on twitter.

[Trey]

Update- Jimmy played guitar on 'rock n roll'  and  jammed with the band in Seattle tonight!  So this is first time in 4 years he's been seen playing live! It's happened! Clip is on twitter. 

Edited November 20, 2015 by Trey

[Ddladner]

Update- Jimmy played guitar on 'rock n roll'  and  jammed with the band in Seattle tonight!  So this is first time in 4 years he's been seen playing live! It's happened! Clip is on twitter. 

Bravo, bravo!  

Lucky you if you were there!  Would love to hear more. 

[SteveAJones]

Red carpet gallery.

http://phototainment.zenfolio.com/p597128875

[SteveAJones]

Update- Jimmy played guitar on 'rock n roll'  and  jammed with the band in Seattle tonight!  So this is first time in 4 years he's been seen playing live! It's happened! Clip is on twitter. 

https://twitter.com/lilyjean_/status/667629217903841280

[sam_webmaster]

 

[Ddladner]

 

Now that's the best post this forum has seen in a while!!  Thanks for posting, Sam!

Great job, Jimmy! 

:D

[mstork]

Glad to see it!  And he took a couple of solos too, wish the sound was a little better.  Good for him!

[sam_webmaster]

Jimmy Page Jams 'Rock and Roll' with Nirvana, GN'R Members at EMP Tribute
Zeppelin guitarist makes surprise appearance to end all-star Seattle benefit show

By Robert Ham | November 20, 2015

For the entire night, the party line was that there was absolutely no way that Jimmy Page was going to perform. No matter that this event, a benefit show held Thursday at Seattle's Experience Music Project Museum, was built to honor the guitarist; Page's people insisted that he wasn't going to take part in the festivities.

Then, as the night was winding to a close, Page, wearing all black and with his white hair pulled back into a small ponytail, scurried on stage and was handed a shiny Gibson Les Paul. And before anyone could catch their breath, he and the rest of the all-star lineup of musicians on hand launched into a disorganized but exultant version of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll."

The vocals by Paul Rodgers (Page's old bandmate in the Firm), Alice in Chains singer William Duvall and John Hogg were muffled and all over the place, and Page's soloing was shaggy and tentative. Perfection wasn't the point. When eight guitarists, including Soundgarden's Kim Thayil and Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen, are pounding out that familiar boogie-blues riff at jet-engine levels of volume, no amount of gaffes were going to clean the smile from a spectator's face.

The biggest grin of the night belonged to Page. There to receive the EMP Founders Award, an honor bestowed in the past on artists such as Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart and Jackson Browne, and then sit in the audience while a cadre of Seattle's finest musicians and a smattering of special guests ran through classics from throughout his five decades as an artist and producer, he never stopped beaming the whole night.

Some of that joy was certainly to do with the fact that the evening was also a successful fundraiser for the museum's youth-arts education efforts, but it was most likely a feeling of pride at watching how a successive generation of musicians expanded upon the mix of psychedelic rock, proto-metal and electric blues that he and his Led Zeppelin bandmates conjured up. As he said in his acceptance speech, it went beyond "the spark to be able to play and make that into a career. You need to pass the baton to the young people."

The players and singers that were brought to EMP last night to reflect Page's greatness back to him were, by and large, part of an era of musicians who carried that baton. The house band featured a rhythm section made up of former (and maybe future) Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan and ex–Screaming Trees drummer Barrett Martin, and the other cast of characters came mostly from that same Eighties/Nineties era.

Guitarist Rich Robinson, whose band the Black Crowes once toured with Page in the early 2000s, put his own twist on the familiar riffs of "Custard Pie" and "Ten Years Gone," before laying into an acid-dripping solo on "Dazed and Confused." That dark spirit didn't get invoked again until Thayil was brought out to calmly tear his way through "Immigrant Song" and a particularly beastly version of "Out on the Tiles," also featuring Nirvana's Krist Novoselic.

The night also took some pleasant diversions into Page's pre- and post-Zeppelin career. Nielsen shuffled on stage to add some tasty psych-rock weirdness to a run-through of "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago," a 1966 single originally recorded by the Yardbirds. And Rodgers proved a still-agile showman and vocalist as he took the band (joined as well by Tesla bassist Brian Wheat) on a tour through two tracks from the Firm's 1985 self-titled album.

There was a small nagging feeling that the show, as great as it was, could have been even better. Apparently the current touring schedules for many of the artists that EMP had on their long list of hopeful participants conflicted with the date of the tribute. If you know anything of the history of Seattle music, it was pretty easy to pick out the glaring absences. One of the guitarists most indebted to Page's fluid playing and sound, Pearl Jam's Mike McCready, only appeared via a small video testimonial. The same went for Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart, the sisters who reduced Robert Plant to tears with their rendition of "Stairway to Heaven" at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors. It also needs to be said that theirs were the only female voices heard all night long (Lucinda Williams was booked to perform, but she backed out at the last minute).

Apart from the overemphasis on Y chromosomes, though, those quibbles are the result of after-the-fact analysis. No, it wasn't a perfect evening. None of the songs went off flawlessly, with dropped notes and the occasional limp solo popping up throughout. (And it was particularly charming watching the band struggle with the rhythmically jagged "Four Sticks.") But those minor flaws were easily overshadowed by the sheer enthusiasm and visible bliss of the people onstage and completely outshined by Page's beatific smile.

Set List

 [With Rich Robinson and John Hogg]
"Ten Years Gone"
"Custard Pie"
"Sick Again"
"Dazed and Confused"

[With Jerry Cantrell and William Duvall]
"When the Levee Breaks"
"Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)"
"No Quarter"
"How Many More Times"

[With Kim Thayil and Duvall]
"Immigrant Song"
"Communication Breakdown"
"Four Sticks"

[With Thayil, Hogg and Krist Novoselic]
"Out on the Tiles"

[With Hogg and Rick Nielsen]
"Happenings Ten Years Time Ago"

[With Paul Rodgers and Brian Wheat]
"Satisfaction Guaranteed"
"Radioactive"

[With all of the above, Jimmy Page and Paul Allen]
"Rock and Roll"

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/jimmy-page-jams-rock-and-roll-with-nirvana-gnr-members-at-emp-tribute-20151120

 

[IpMan]

Well, it like like Jimmy can still play, and pretty good at that from what I could make out. Hopefully a sign of more to come...

[Stairway is NOT stolen]

Page sounded good. Nice to see he can still play.

[Charles J. White]

 

The King has awoken, NOW THAT, really made me smile!!!! LOVE HIM TO BITS!!!!

Edited November 20, 2015 by Charles J. White

[Patrycja]

Well well well... Looks like Jimmy 'handled' his guitar and his detractors in one fell swoop! Oh yeah! BRAVO, Jimmy!!!

[sam_webmaster]

[Strider]

Damn. Looks like I scheduled my Seattle trip a week late. Way to go, Jimmy! Congratulations.