A GUITAR CASE STORY - Jimmy Page's Guitar Case Returned After 47 Years

[sam_webmaster]

A GUITAR CASE STORY

by Jeff Curtis:

After 47+ years, I can finally share the following story:

In June, 1972 I went to see Led Zeppelin perform at the Nassau Coliseum here on Long Island. There was one particular roadie, Mick Hinton, John Bonham’s drum tech, who I had said hello to the previous year, when the group played in Madison Square Garden in 1971. After the latter concert ended, I went up to the row of seats behind the stage at the coliseum and yelled down to him again. He seemed to recognize me from the 1971 concert and yelled hello back. On a whim, I asked if I might come down and help them pack up the equipment. To my complete surprise, he says yes. “How do I get down there?” He then picks and tosses a guitar case to me! I walked down, past two security checkpoints with the case in hand, up onto the stage, and handed it back to Mick. After the few minutes it took to pack up the drums, he says to me, “You can have that.” I was speechless, to say the least! “Where will the guitar go?” He took me over and showed me Jimmy Page’s number one Les Paul guitar in its brand new anvil road case. The case I was given was being discarded that night since its back was crushed and no longer afforded protection to the guitar. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

So began my decades-long possession of a genuine rock n’ roll artifact. But I also realized from that point onward that it was something I couldn’t talk about. While there have been a small handful of friends over the years who were aware that I had it, I had kept this a deep secret over the past 47 years in fear that someone might either burglarize my house or worse, threaten me in order to steal it. For this reason, I had decided a couple of years ago that I no longer wanted the guitar case.

Despite its certain significant monetary value to a collector, I had also decided that I wouldn’t ever sell it since making money off someone else’s fame is simply against my principals. I decided that I would find a way to personally return it to Jimmy Page. But how to accomplish this? How would I get in touch with the right people to set up a meeting?

Back in July, I went to see the “Play It Loud” exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Jimmy Page’s number one Les Paul guitar was one of the instruments on display. I got the idea that maybe I could be put in touch with his people via the exhibit’s curator. A few days later, I called the museum and spoke with the curator’s assistant who asked me to send an e-mail with photos, which I did. About two weeks later, I got a call from a gentleman, Perry, who works with Jimmy. He asked to set up a meeting to personally examine the case and take several more detailed photos. About a month later, I received word that Jimmy wanted to meet me and have the case returned.

So, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon in a hotel lounge in New York City, my two daughters, a close friend and I had the pleasure of a 1-hour sitdown and conversation with Jimmy, with him finally getting the guitar case back. When I opened it up, the look on his face was priceless: “What memories this brings back!” “Thank you so much!” In person, he is a genuinely warm and very welcoming gentleman. We talked about Led Zeppelin, he asked about my musical influences, asked my daughters what type of music they enjoyed and various other topics. I gave him copies of both my CDs, which he said he would listen to. He also had brought me a special limited box set edition of “Led Zeppelin 2” and signed its book as well as another book I had brought with me. I can honestly say that after the first few minutes, my nervousness completely disappeared and it felt like I was talking with an old friend. Nevertheless, the experience of having had the opportunity to sit down with the very person whose music not only greatly influences my own but also inspired to me to initially pick up and learn to play the guitar almost 50 years ago is something that I will never forget! Thanks so much Jimmy and thank you Perry! Mission accomplished.

 

[badgeholder]

Great story! Look at that thing! It's beat to shit! Ha!

[bluecongo]

That’s a frickin amazing story ! Wow 😮 

[PeaceFrogYum]

It really does not get better than that. You Sir are a true gentleman, one of the few of a dying breed of people who place principals and honor above personal gain. I must say you have made my day. I feel like Diogenes having finally succeeded.

[June72]

Story's like this are always great reads. Gives you a sense of how music brings people together and all that junk, it's fascinating and heart warming to read this stuff.

[reids]

😎🎸👍

R😎

[SteveAJones]

So astonishing and that Indiana Jones hat -- so appropriate!

 

[rm2551]

Jeff my good man, you truly do win at life. No matter what luck or fortune finds or evades you - your character ensures you WIN.

Good on you and good luck to you sir! Thanks for sharing that fantastic ditty.

[Sticks of Fire]

And there it it in one of my favorite pictures!!

[Sticks of Fire]

MSG 1971

[The Only Way To Fly]

Those are some awesome photo's indeed! 

Great story!

[Jimmy's Dragon Suit]

Great story indeed! Buy why in the world would he wear that hat and bring Jimmy Page some of his home recordings? He's going to meet Jimmy Page and this chump is thinking "maybe Jimmy would like to hear me strum my geetar and hum." I am sure over the years Jimmy Page has been given hundreds of tapes from amateur musicians that I doubt he could give two shits about. You really think Jimmy Page is going to waste his time? Be thankful you are going to meet and spend some time with the man... and don't wear hat that is big enough for your small stature to live in!

Edited September 18, 2019 by Jimmy's Dragon Suit

[Sticks of Fire]

Funny to see the MSG 1971 photo doesn’t have the word FRAGILE stenciled onto the case but you see it added in the Melbourne 1972 photo.  

The case was used and worn and should have been retired ages ago but instead they just paint FRAGILE on it like that would help protect the guitar.  😜

[Autumn Moon]

On 9/17/2019 at 1:40 AM, sam_webmaster said:

He also had brought me a special limited box set edition of “Led Zeppelin 2” and signed its book

Jimmy could have picked any ltd box set, he decided to give Jeff LZ II, that speaks volumes.

[Sticks of Fire]

Melbourne 1972

[SteveAJones]

6 hours ago, Jimmy's Dragon Suit said:

Great story indeed! Buy why in the world would he wear that hat and bring Jimmy Page some of his home recordings? He's going to meet Jimmy Page and this chump is thinking "maybe Jimmy would like to hear me strum my geetar and hum." I am sure over the years Jimmy Page has been given hundreds of tapes from amateur musicians that I doubt he could give two shits about. You really think Jimmy Page is going to waste his time? Be thankful you are going to meet and spend some time with the man... and don't wear hat that is big enough for your small stature to live in!

Jeff Curtis is actually a humble guitarist who wears big hats that match his big heart.

 

[Sticks of Fire]

8 hours ago, Jimmy's Dragon Suit said:

Great story indeed! Buy why in the world would he wear that hat and bring Jimmy Page some of his home recordings? He's going to meet Jimmy Page and this chump is thinking "maybe Jimmy would like to hear me strum my geetar and hum." I am sure over the years Jimmy Page has been given hundreds of tapes from amateur musicians that I doubt he could give two shits about. You really think Jimmy Page is going to waste his time? Be thankful you are going to meet and spend some time with the man... and don't wear hat that is big enough for your small stature to live in!

Ouch...pretty dickish comments...Jeff seems like a great guy.   

Edited September 18, 2019 by Sticks of Fire

[Xolo1974]

10 hours ago, Jimmy's Dragon Suit said:

Great story indeed! Buy why in the world would he wear that hat and bring Jimmy Page some of his home recordings? He's going to meet Jimmy Page and this chump is thinking "maybe Jimmy would like to hear me strum my geetar and hum." I am sure over the years Jimmy Page has been given hundreds of tapes from amateur musicians that I doubt he could give two shits about. You really think Jimmy Page is going to waste his time? Be thankful you are going to meet and spend some time with the man... and don't wear hat that is big enough for your small stature to live in!

Pfft. “Chump”???? 

What an unnecessary post, and totally at odds with the spirit of this thread.

[June72]

8 minutes ago, Xolo1974 said:

Pfft. “Chump”???? 

What an unnecessary post, and totally at odds with the spirit of this thread.

My thoughts exactly... this is a community type thing, nobody should ever be going at someone else for actions as innocent as that here.

[Xolo1974]

9 hours ago, June72 said:

My thoughts exactly... this is a community type thing, nobody should ever be going at someone else for actions as innocent as that here.

The mind boggles. 

[LAP99]

What a great freakin story! ✌️

[luvlz2]

9 minutes ago, LAP99 said:

What a great freakin story! ✌️

+1

 

 

[kirchzep27]

Such a cool story... and yet another testament to duct tape. 

[Silverseas]

On 9/18/2019 at 9:56 PM, Xolo1974 said:

Pfft. “Chump”???? 

What an unnecessary post, and totally at odds with the spirit of this thread.

Agreed.  What a jackass. 

[Lightning]

What would that guitar case be worth to a collector today if you had to put a price on it