Jimmy Page and his surprise performance at the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony was one of the best highlights of the show. Following the performance, the guitar icon took to social media to discuss what the performance meant to him.
Page wrote, “I was asked to induct Link Wray into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame; a guitarist, instrumentalist and songwriter that I’d admired from the very first taste of the ‘Rumble.’”
He continued, “I first heard it when I was 14, roaring from a jukebox in my hometown of Epsom. As a guitar instrumental, the attitude of it was totally unique in its mystery, imagination and execution — it had a profound effect on me.”
Page concluded, “Link Wray and ‘Rumble’ stand alone at the pinnacle in the world of instrumentals, and I was thrilled to stand on stage in New York with drummer Anton Fig and bassist Tim Givens at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last night to induct one of my heroes.”
Jimmy Page and His Long Love Affair with “Rumble”
It was a surprise to see Page show up at the 2023 Rock Hall ceremony. However, the least surprising thing is his fandom of Wray. This was on full display during the 2008 documentary It Might Get Loud.
In the documentary, Page can be seen talking about “Rumble.” The camera crew films Page going through his record collection to find his 45 of the track. He puts it on, and his face exudes pure joy. Oh, and he plays air guitar to the song. It’s still one of the coolest things ever recorded on film. It might be one of the few times in history where we mortals are on the same level as Page.
