Cactus Posted December 27, 2007 Share Posted December 27, 2007 Did Jimmy continue to paint after art school and has anyone seen any of his work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Baroness Von Zeppelin Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 (edited) Did Jimmy continue to paint after art school and has anyone seen any of his work? Sorry for dredging up an oldish thread but this interests me as well. I remember reading some discussion about the 'Barrington Colby' guy who did the Hermit painting for the fourth album. The gist of it was that no-one had managed to find any other works by him or any other information and it was speculated that BC might have been a pseudonym for Jimmy. I personally doubt he'd have had the time to do it, though. Edited January 6, 2008 by The Baroness Von Zeppelin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Masson Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 He just gave it up. He got too busy in music already in 1964-65. If I remember correctly he thinks himself that he lacks the craftsmanship and skill that he otherwise appreciates in paintings. As we all know he is a long time admirer of the Pre-Raphaelite painters especially, and that can give some idea as to what he means. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 (edited) I remember reading some discussion about the 'Barrington Colby' guy who did the Hermit painting for the fourth album. The gist of it was that no-one had managed to find any other works by him or any other information and it was speculated that BC might have been a pseudonym for Jimmy. Robert and I came up with the design of IV together. Robert had actually bought the print that is on the cover from a junk shop in Reading. We then came up with the idea of having the picture--the man with the sticks--represent the old way on a demolished building, with the new way coming up behind it. The illustration on the inside was my idea. It is the Hermit character from the Tarot, a symbol of self-reliance and wisdom, and it was drawn by Barrington Colby. The typeface for the lyrics to "Stairway To Heaven" was also my contribution. I found it in a really old arts and crafts magazine called Studio, which started in the late 1800's. I thought the lettering was so interesting I got someone to work up a whole alphabet. --Jimmy Page I happen to think Jimmy may have also produced the print on the cover, as it depicts an occult figure, but that's the 64,000 pound elephant in the living room you don't talk about. Here is one example of Jimmy's poetry from the early 70s which was auctioned off: Betwixt the darkness and the dawn Me thought I lost me lady from me arm Edited January 6, 2008 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Baroness Von Zeppelin Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Robert and I came up with the design of IV together. Robert had actually bought the print that is on the cover from a junk shop in Reading. We then came up with the idea of having the picture--the man with the sticks--represent the old way on a demolished building, with the new way coming up behind it. The illustration on the inside was my idea. It is the Hermit character from the Tarot, a symbol of self-reliance and wisdom, and it was drawn by Barrington Colby. The typeface for the lyrics to "Stairway To Heaven" was also my contribution. I found it in a really old arts and crafts magazine called Studio, which started in the late 1800's. I thought the lettering was so interesting I got someone to work up a whole alphabet. --Jimmy Page I happen to think Jimmy may have also produced the print on the cover, as it depicts an occult figure, but that's the 64,000 pound elephant in the living room you don't talk about. Here is a one example of Jimmy's poetry from the early 70s: Betwixt the darkness and the dawn Me thought I lost me lady from me arm That's fascinating! I wasn't aware he'd written poetry. Thank you Steve - you really are a goldmine of interesting facts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyRaven Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Did Jimmy continue to paint after art school and has anyone seen any of his work? I don't think he did- at least while he was in Zep. He most likely didn't have the time, art is a very time consuming thing and when you don't have the time to finish something it seems it just dies- at least that's what happens to me and art. Maybe post Zep he could've started again- but I've never heard anything about it before but he did have the time then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Didn't he paint one of his guitars that he used in the early days of Zep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquamarine Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 That's fascinating! I wasn't aware he'd written poetry. From the example given, he didn't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Masson Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 (edited) Didn't he paint one of his guitars that he used in the early days of Zep? Yes, he did. That was a Fender Telecaster that Jeff Beck gave him in 1966, when he was in the Yardbirds, and it was still Jimmy's main guitar in the early days of Led Zeppelin. This is how the guitar looked when Jimmy first got it - he removed those black dots, and then painted it. Edited January 6, 2008 by Otto Masson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Masson Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 The Yardbirds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Masson Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Early Led Zeppelin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ninelives Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 Thank you so much Otto! That was exactly the guitar I was thinking of. Great shots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
california girl Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 That's fascinating! I wasn't aware he'd written poetry. Thank you Steve - you really are a goldmine of interesting facts! I remember reading an interview where Jimmy said that he did write the earlier songs, but he wanted Robert to write them. Then I read somewhere else that Jimmy and Bonzo would disappear while Robert and Jonesie wrote song Lyrics. By the time Jimmy and Jonesie came back, the song was done. Even now, I can tell which songs were written by robert. His songs are a bit -explicit, shall we say? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
california girl Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 Early Led Zeppelin. OMG! You mean he painted it?! Brilliant! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
featherandhay Posted January 8, 2008 Share Posted January 8, 2008 I believe JP was at art school at the same time as both Sandy Denny and John Renbourn, maybe Jeff Beck too. Can anyone confirm this? (I know he and Beck go waaaaay back). Ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Posted January 8, 2008 Author Share Posted January 8, 2008 I believe JP was at art school at the same time as both Sandy Denny and John Renbourn, maybe Jeff Beck too. Can anyone confirm this? (I know he and Beck go waaaaay back). Ric He knew Beck earlier than that, even as far back as High School i believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aen27 Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 (edited) Robert and I came up with the design of IV together. Robert had actually bought the print that is on the cover from a junk shop in Reading. We then came up with the idea of having the picture--the man with the sticks--represent the old way on a demolished building, with the new way coming up behind it. The illustration on the inside was my idea. It is the Hermit character from the Tarot, a symbol of self-reliance and wisdom, and it was drawn by Barrington Colby. The typeface for the lyrics to "Stairway To Heaven" was also my contribution. I found it in a really old arts and crafts magazine called Studio, which started in the late 1800's. I thought the lettering was so interesting I got someone to work up a whole alphabet. --Jimmy Page I happen to think Jimmy may have also produced the print on the cover, as it depicts an occult figure, but that's the 64,000 pound elephant in the living room you don't talk about. Here is one example of Jimmy's poetry from the early 70s which was auctioned off: Betwixt the darkness and the dawn Me thought I lost me lady from me arm That's very interesting. I was also unaware he wrote poetry. Just curious, where did you see this? Edited January 9, 2008 by aen27 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earlscourt Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 He knew Beck earlier than that, even as far back as High School i believe. Jeff Beck has stated that his sister was the one who introduced him to Jimmy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 That's very interesting. I was also unaware he wrote poetry. Just curious, where did you see this? That passage of poetry was auctioned off well over 20 years ago. For all I know he gave it to some girl as a love note and she sold it. I seem to recall it was authentic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted January 9, 2008 Share Posted January 9, 2008 Jeff Beck has stated that his sister was the one who introduced him to Jimmy. Correct, and he and Jeff have argued back and forth ever since LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
california girl Posted January 13, 2008 Share Posted January 13, 2008 I believe JP was at art school at the same time as both Sandy Denny and John Renbourn, maybe Jeff Beck too. Can anyone confirm this? (I know he and Beck go waaaaay back). Ric The way I heard Jimmy put it in an Interview, Jeff's sister went to school wigh Jimmy. One day she came home and told Jeff there was "This bloke that I go to school with, and he plays guitar like yours". Well, when Jeff heard that, he asked his sister where he lived, and then he went to his house, and the rest is history. So you can thank Jeff's sister for getting them together. I think they were 13 or 14 at the time. Son't quote me on that, though. Talk about B.F.F.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.