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Light and Shade: Conversations with Jimmy Page
This “oral autobiography� of Jimmy Page, the intensely private mastermind behind Led Zeppelin—one of the most enduring bands in rock history—is the most complete and revelatory portrait of the legendary guitarist ever published.
More than 30 years after disbanding in 1980, Led Zeppelin continues to be celebrated for its artistic achievements, broad musical influence, and commercial success. The band's notorious exploits have been chronicled in bestselling books; yet none of the individual members of the band has penned a memoir nor cooperated to any degree with the press or a biographer. In Light & Shade , Jimmy Page, the band’s most reticent and inscrutable member, opens up to journalist Brad Tolinski, for the first time exploring his remarkable life and musical journey in great depth and intimate detail.
Based on extensive interviews conducted with the guitarist/producer over the past 20 years, Light & Shade encompasses Page’s entire career, beginning with his early years as England’s top session guitarist when he worked with artists ranging from Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, and Burt Bacharach to the Kinks, The Who, and Eric Clapton. Page speaks frankly about his decadent yet immensely creative years in Led Zeppelin, his synergistic relationships with band members Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones, and his notable post-Zeppelin pursuits. While examining every major track recorded by Zeppelin, including “Stairway to Heaven,� “Whole Lotta Love,� and “Kashmir,� Page reflects on the band’s sensational tours, the filming of the concert movie The Song Remains the Same , his fascination with the occult, meeting Elvis Presley, and the making of the rock masterpiece Led Zeppelin IV , about which he offers a complete behind-the-scenes account. Additionally, the book is peppered with “sidebar� chapters that include conversations between Page and other guitar greats, including his childhood friend Jeff Beck and hipster icon Jack White.
Through Page’s own words, Light and Shade presents an unprecedented first-person view of one of the most important musicians of our era.
More than 30 years after disbanding in 1980, Led Zeppelin continues to be celebrated for its artistic achievements, broad musical influence, and commercial success. The band's notorious exploits have been chronicled in bestselling books; yet none of the individual members of the band has penned a memoir nor cooperated to any degree with the press or a biographer. In Light & Shade , Jimmy Page, the band’s most reticent and inscrutable member, opens up to journalist Brad Tolinski, for the first time exploring his remarkable life and musical journey in great depth and intimate detail.
Based on extensive interviews conducted with the guitarist/producer over the past 20 years, Light & Shade encompasses Page’s entire career, beginning with his early years as England’s top session guitarist when he worked with artists ranging from Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey, and Burt Bacharach to the Kinks, The Who, and Eric Clapton. Page speaks frankly about his decadent yet immensely creative years in Led Zeppelin, his synergistic relationships with band members Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones, and his notable post-Zeppelin pursuits. While examining every major track recorded by Zeppelin, including “Stairway to Heaven,� “Whole Lotta Love,� and “Kashmir,� Page reflects on the band’s sensational tours, the filming of the concert movie The Song Remains the Same , his fascination with the occult, meeting Elvis Presley, and the making of the rock masterpiece Led Zeppelin IV , about which he offers a complete behind-the-scenes account. Additionally, the book is peppered with “sidebar� chapters that include conversations between Page and other guitar greats, including his childhood friend Jeff Beck and hipster icon Jack White.
Through Page’s own words, Light and Shade presents an unprecedented first-person view of one of the most important musicians of our era.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
88 people are currently reading
1039 people want to read
About the author
Brad Tolinski
172books6followersBrad Tolinski (born 1958) was the editor-in-chief of Guitar World Magazine for 25 years (1989�2015). He also served as editorial director of NewBay Media's music division, which also includes Guitar Aficionado and Revolver magazines. He then moved to Harris Publications as the editorial director of special projects, and then became editorial director of special projects for AMG Parade in New York City.
Currently he is a writer and author of several acclaimed books, His most recent release is 'MC5: The Oral Biography of Rock's Most Revolutionary Band,' out October 8, 2024.
Currently he is a writer and author of several acclaimed books, His most recent release is 'MC5: The Oral Biography of Rock's Most Revolutionary Band,' out October 8, 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 167 reviews
August 20, 2013
When I bought KISS's Alive! album I knew I wanted to play guitar. I was an ardent member of the KISS Army, and they were my first concert in 1977. I wanted to be Ace Frehley with that magnificent Les Paul slung low.
My obsession lasted a while, but then I discovered Led Zeppelin. Man, you wanted to talk about obsession? Zeppelin took me through all the Good Times, Bad Times of high school and beyond. I was just about torn to pieces when I heard on the radio that the Montreal concert that would kick off their In Through the Out Door tour would not happen because John Bonham had died. I had his three circle symbol drawn on the back of my hand for days.
The mighty Zeppelin: John Bonham, arguably the best drummer who ever lived; John Paul Jones, probably the most under-rated musician ever; Robert Plant, the quintessential Rock God presence and inimitable pipes to back it.
And Jimmy. The mysterious wizard of it all, his playing technique at times sloppy as hell, but beautiful and tender when warranted. MY IDOL. (With that magnificent Les Paul slung low.)
For many years after the fall of Zeppelin, the elusive Page remained so, rarely caught for interviews, and my hungry self could only satisfy my glimpses of the man in action through repeated viewings of The Song Remains the Same.
Now, many years later, I play in a band with a bunch of great guys, landing the occasional gig, and I am comfortable with where my playing is at (which is a good balance of rhythm and usually overlong solos, using minor and major pentatonics, minor scale, relative minor, dorian, mixolydian. Yeah, I can use all of these and people will say, Man, you guys are AWESOME!, and I'll embarrassingly say, well thanks, we had a blast).
To someone who doesn't play, I guess I look pretty good. But I know the truth. Jimmy Page was and is sheer brilliance and can draw out more emotion from a simple pentatonic bend than I could ever do with my bag o tricks. I'd be embarrassed to even pick up his guitar.
This book was awesome for me. It is a compilation of interviews with Jimmy, and it steers away from the legendary decadence of Zeppelin's heyday. Instead, this is ALL about the music. Jimmy goes into lavish detail on his playing, and mostly about his production of those timeless albums. He has nothing but great things to say about his bandmates (especially Bonham. Jimmy was adamant that drums being the backbone of any band, they should be at the forefront, and this had a lot to do with his mic placements for Bonham's set, ensuring that the music was built around it, not merely as a backdrop).
If you are a fan of Led Zeppelin, and want to know more about this guy and how the music came about, read this and you will give it five stars, like I just did.
My obsession lasted a while, but then I discovered Led Zeppelin. Man, you wanted to talk about obsession? Zeppelin took me through all the Good Times, Bad Times of high school and beyond. I was just about torn to pieces when I heard on the radio that the Montreal concert that would kick off their In Through the Out Door tour would not happen because John Bonham had died. I had his three circle symbol drawn on the back of my hand for days.
The mighty Zeppelin: John Bonham, arguably the best drummer who ever lived; John Paul Jones, probably the most under-rated musician ever; Robert Plant, the quintessential Rock God presence and inimitable pipes to back it.
And Jimmy. The mysterious wizard of it all, his playing technique at times sloppy as hell, but beautiful and tender when warranted. MY IDOL. (With that magnificent Les Paul slung low.)
For many years after the fall of Zeppelin, the elusive Page remained so, rarely caught for interviews, and my hungry self could only satisfy my glimpses of the man in action through repeated viewings of The Song Remains the Same.
Now, many years later, I play in a band with a bunch of great guys, landing the occasional gig, and I am comfortable with where my playing is at (which is a good balance of rhythm and usually overlong solos, using minor and major pentatonics, minor scale, relative minor, dorian, mixolydian. Yeah, I can use all of these and people will say, Man, you guys are AWESOME!, and I'll embarrassingly say, well thanks, we had a blast).
To someone who doesn't play, I guess I look pretty good. But I know the truth. Jimmy Page was and is sheer brilliance and can draw out more emotion from a simple pentatonic bend than I could ever do with my bag o tricks. I'd be embarrassed to even pick up his guitar.
This book was awesome for me. It is a compilation of interviews with Jimmy, and it steers away from the legendary decadence of Zeppelin's heyday. Instead, this is ALL about the music. Jimmy goes into lavish detail on his playing, and mostly about his production of those timeless albums. He has nothing but great things to say about his bandmates (especially Bonham. Jimmy was adamant that drums being the backbone of any band, they should be at the forefront, and this had a lot to do with his mic placements for Bonham's set, ensuring that the music was built around it, not merely as a backdrop).
If you are a fan of Led Zeppelin, and want to know more about this guy and how the music came about, read this and you will give it five stars, like I just did.
June 5, 2012
While fans of Led Zeppelin will get a lot out of this book, this series of interviews are a joy to read for anyone. Brad Tolinski is the editor of Guitar World, and he has brought to this book a technical sensibility missing in most other Zeppelin texts. Readers looking for scandalous rock exploits and tour horror-stories are advised to look elsewhere; Light and Shade is a book focussing first and foremost on Jimmy Page's craft and career.
Music buffs are bound to get a lot of enjoyment from Tolinski's access to the normally reticent Page. These candid interviews cover his career from the pre-Zeppelin days, right through to recent collaborations and the reunion concert.
Towards the end of the book the interviews are rounded out with a detailed breakdown of Page's guitar collection, a look at his occult leanings and some other esoterica. The photos (I believe from Page's own collection?) are a nice touch. A thoroughly enjoyable biography, and recommended.
Music buffs are bound to get a lot of enjoyment from Tolinski's access to the normally reticent Page. These candid interviews cover his career from the pre-Zeppelin days, right through to recent collaborations and the reunion concert.
Towards the end of the book the interviews are rounded out with a detailed breakdown of Page's guitar collection, a look at his occult leanings and some other esoterica. The photos (I believe from Page's own collection?) are a nice touch. A thoroughly enjoyable biography, and recommended.
December 27, 2013
See, I can finish books. I liked the interview parts. No so much the filler chapters. There's one all about his astrological sign, and one about his clothes. *sigh*
My favorite Jimmy Page performance, Dazed and Confused live. Especially when he goes crazy on the guitar after 4 minutes:
Led Zeppelin is now on Spotify by the way, so you can play their stuff for free. I like 'Tea For One'. Don't be faked out by the intro. The 2nd live Dazed and Confused on the BBC Sessions is good too.
I think I prefer Ten Years Gone with Jimmy and the Black Crowes:
Some quotes:
"Who were the greatest drummers that you've heard or played with?"
"It's sort of obvious, but I've got to say John Bonham. I don't know if you've heard any of the bootleg tapes of, say, "Trampled Underfoot", when he's trying all these other rhythms and he's moving around so much on the ride cymbal. His independence was just second to none. All you ever hear about jazz drummers is their independence. He just pissed all over them."
"There is something else unusual that unites both of you [Jack White and Jimmy Page]: Zeppelin wrote lots of great riffs, great hooks, and refrains, but rarely did the band write what I would call a conventional chorus. Zeppelin's biggest hits--"Stairway to Heaven", "Kashmir", "Over the Hills and Far Away"--don't have choruses. The same is true of many of the White Stripes' biggest songs, including hits like "Seven Nation Army" and "Blue Orchid". Was that intentional?"
"PAGE Yes, it was done purposely. We wanted every part of the song to be important and have movement. There was no need to retreat to the security of having a big chorus in every song. If you emphasize one part of the song, it trivializes the rest of the music."
"While some of your lengthier songs ran over twenty minutes, your approach to jamming was quite different from what bands like the Dead or Cream were doing at the time. It wasn't just a matter of trading solos--your lengthy improvisations were almost like connected set pieces."
"They were more like "unset" pieces. "Dazed and Confused" is the most obvious example. It had several triggers throughout the song that the band used to signal the next section. If we hit one of the triggers, you would know that you had to start shifting gears. But between each cue, anything could happen."
My favorite Jimmy Page performance, Dazed and Confused live. Especially when he goes crazy on the guitar after 4 minutes:
Led Zeppelin is now on Spotify by the way, so you can play their stuff for free. I like 'Tea For One'. Don't be faked out by the intro. The 2nd live Dazed and Confused on the BBC Sessions is good too.
I think I prefer Ten Years Gone with Jimmy and the Black Crowes:
Some quotes:
"Who were the greatest drummers that you've heard or played with?"
"It's sort of obvious, but I've got to say John Bonham. I don't know if you've heard any of the bootleg tapes of, say, "Trampled Underfoot", when he's trying all these other rhythms and he's moving around so much on the ride cymbal. His independence was just second to none. All you ever hear about jazz drummers is their independence. He just pissed all over them."
"There is something else unusual that unites both of you [Jack White and Jimmy Page]: Zeppelin wrote lots of great riffs, great hooks, and refrains, but rarely did the band write what I would call a conventional chorus. Zeppelin's biggest hits--"Stairway to Heaven", "Kashmir", "Over the Hills and Far Away"--don't have choruses. The same is true of many of the White Stripes' biggest songs, including hits like "Seven Nation Army" and "Blue Orchid". Was that intentional?"
"PAGE Yes, it was done purposely. We wanted every part of the song to be important and have movement. There was no need to retreat to the security of having a big chorus in every song. If you emphasize one part of the song, it trivializes the rest of the music."
"While some of your lengthier songs ran over twenty minutes, your approach to jamming was quite different from what bands like the Dead or Cream were doing at the time. It wasn't just a matter of trading solos--your lengthy improvisations were almost like connected set pieces."
"They were more like "unset" pieces. "Dazed and Confused" is the most obvious example. It had several triggers throughout the song that the band used to signal the next section. If we hit one of the triggers, you would know that you had to start shifting gears. But between each cue, anything could happen."
June 16, 2018
Brad Tolinski is easily one of the most qualified people on the planet to interview Jimmy Page and the quality of content on Jimmy Page's music and guitar wizardry is unparalleled here. From the formative Yardbirds years to the dizzy heights of Led Zeppelin to the sobering 90s projects and the relevance Jimmy Page has in today's music - its all in here. Jimmy's interest and dabbles in metaphysics , Aleister Crowley and the dark side is all covered in an objective way that refreshing to read. Origins of Led Zeppelin songs like “Friends,� “Immigrant Song,�, “Since I’ve Been Loving You� "Bron-Yr-Aur" - the list goes on, are covered in riveting detail. In true Brad Tolinski fashion, Jimmy's guitar rig across the years is also covered along with emphasis on solos. For example, jimmy's uplifting comments on the "Stairway to Heaven" solo - "A solo is like a meditation on the song. You find a piece of filigree and then try to play something in total empathy with everything else that’s going on. You can get quite spiritual about soloing. "
The conversations with Jimmy interspersed with interludes with commentary with key people familiar with that period of Jimmy's life are wonderful to read.
If "hammer of the gods" was all about urban legend , this book sets the record straight.
The conversations with Jimmy interspersed with interludes with commentary with key people familiar with that period of Jimmy's life are wonderful to read.
If "hammer of the gods" was all about urban legend , this book sets the record straight.
January 21, 2019
Some interesting insights into one of the more enigmatic rock 'n roll superstars, and I enjoyed the interludes from fellow musicians and collaborators. Jimmy remains guarded throughout, which is unsurprisingly given his treatment by the press over the years. You end up wanting more, but you cannot blame the author for the answers he gets. All in all, its a fun,quick read for any Zeppelin fan.
May 1, 2013
I admit it. Jimmy Page is an idol of mine. I saw him play live once...in 1995 or 1996, along with Robert Plant on the Page/Plant Unledded tour. I bought scalp tickets minutes before the event, obtaining seats on the side of the stage with nothing between us and the band. Only about 20 feet of air separated me from the guitar player.
At some point during the show, Jimmy and I had a moment. Our eyes locked in a "we get it" instant. It was, shall we say, pretty transcendent.
So now that I have established my man crush, let's chat about Brad Tolinski's excellent "Light & Shade: Conversations With Jimmy Page." Tolinski has been a long-time editor with "Guitar World," so he naturally focuses on the types of instruments and amplification Page used. "Light and Shade" does get a bit technical at times, especially for semi-bad non-musicians like me, but it also highlights perhaps the most underrated portion of Page's career: his role as a session man and producer.
Tolinksi focuses on Page's enormous talents as an engineer, revealing him as a revolutionary figure in the studio. Kind of like Jimi Hendrix, Page is properly recognized as a virtuoso player, but his studio innovations were just as important to his band's sound.
Throughout "Light & Shade," Tolinski intersperses interviews with commentary about different aspects of Page's life...his fascination with the occult, fashion sense, his time with the Yardbirds (as told by band mate Chris Dreja). In the end, as Tolinski puts it, this book "deepens the mystery" of this great musician...which should be the ultimate goal of any artist. "Light & Shade" is a must read for any fan of rock music, Led Zeppelin, or Page himself.
At some point during the show, Jimmy and I had a moment. Our eyes locked in a "we get it" instant. It was, shall we say, pretty transcendent.
So now that I have established my man crush, let's chat about Brad Tolinski's excellent "Light & Shade: Conversations With Jimmy Page." Tolinski has been a long-time editor with "Guitar World," so he naturally focuses on the types of instruments and amplification Page used. "Light and Shade" does get a bit technical at times, especially for semi-bad non-musicians like me, but it also highlights perhaps the most underrated portion of Page's career: his role as a session man and producer.
Tolinksi focuses on Page's enormous talents as an engineer, revealing him as a revolutionary figure in the studio. Kind of like Jimi Hendrix, Page is properly recognized as a virtuoso player, but his studio innovations were just as important to his band's sound.
Throughout "Light & Shade," Tolinski intersperses interviews with commentary about different aspects of Page's life...his fascination with the occult, fashion sense, his time with the Yardbirds (as told by band mate Chris Dreja). In the end, as Tolinski puts it, this book "deepens the mystery" of this great musician...which should be the ultimate goal of any artist. "Light & Shade" is a must read for any fan of rock music, Led Zeppelin, or Page himself.
May 2, 2013
I love Jimmy Page. His influence in rock and roll is simply staggering, and aside from a bit of drug abuse and a silly curiosity about the occult (ahem, probably not uncorrelated to the drugs), he's managed to conduct himself with a surprising amount of grace. I am just a huge, huge fan, and so was really looking forward to this book.
The good: in these interviews, he is clearly both aware of and proud of his achievements, but he is incredibly generous with his praise of others. He comes across as a class act who worked very hard but went out of his way to surround himself with very talented people and was very aware of the role they all played in his success. This book does a pretty good job of chronicling his career and giving some glimpse into what he is like.
The bad: this book is utterly vacuous. The titular "conversations" are just interviews he's given throughout the years; not at all something he sat down for in anticipation of this book. The author cuts and pastes them together so that he can trace through Page's career chronologically, and then fills in the most basic and widely known factoids and anecdotes to keep the book moving forward.
I guess if you're a huge Jimmy Page fan, no reason not to read it. It's light and fluffy, and you can finish it quickly. But unless you're just in the mood for it, there is so little content here that it can pretty easily be skipped. Recent autobiographies of Keith Richards (which I've read), Pete Townshend (which I own but haven't read), and Neil Young (which I doubt I'll get to, but I feel guilty for saying so) are all supposed to be much better.
The good: in these interviews, he is clearly both aware of and proud of his achievements, but he is incredibly generous with his praise of others. He comes across as a class act who worked very hard but went out of his way to surround himself with very talented people and was very aware of the role they all played in his success. This book does a pretty good job of chronicling his career and giving some glimpse into what he is like.
The bad: this book is utterly vacuous. The titular "conversations" are just interviews he's given throughout the years; not at all something he sat down for in anticipation of this book. The author cuts and pastes them together so that he can trace through Page's career chronologically, and then fills in the most basic and widely known factoids and anecdotes to keep the book moving forward.
I guess if you're a huge Jimmy Page fan, no reason not to read it. It's light and fluffy, and you can finish it quickly. But unless you're just in the mood for it, there is so little content here that it can pretty easily be skipped. Recent autobiographies of Keith Richards (which I've read), Pete Townshend (which I own but haven't read), and Neil Young (which I doubt I'll get to, but I feel guilty for saying so) are all supposed to be much better.
January 28, 2013
I have mixed emotions about this book. The author’s hero-worship, fanboy leading questions turned me off in most places, it was more technical than I expected, but yet I think I came away with a greater appreciation of Led Zeppelin’s music, and for Jimmy Page’s prowess as a musician artist and producer.
For me, the highlights were the direct quotes and interviews, particularly during the interviews from the earliest days and the post-Zeppelin days. There wasn’t really anything new in this book, though, or anything that surprised me. From that perspective, it was a little flat.
That being said, I finished the book. I was more of a fan of The Firm than Led Zeppelin, but it was interesting to return to that time having been a teen during Led Zeppelin’s heyday. I don’t think I will listen to their songs in quite the same way after reading this book, and I mean that in a very good way.
I do wish the author had toned down his obvious adulation for his subject when writing the book. I thought it took away from the factual content, which was obviously very well researched.
Some of the information at the end, such as the fashion piece and the astrology piece, while moderately interesting, seemed to be filler material, but the pictures included between chapters made up for that, I think.
Overall, glad I read this.
For me, the highlights were the direct quotes and interviews, particularly during the interviews from the earliest days and the post-Zeppelin days. There wasn’t really anything new in this book, though, or anything that surprised me. From that perspective, it was a little flat.
That being said, I finished the book. I was more of a fan of The Firm than Led Zeppelin, but it was interesting to return to that time having been a teen during Led Zeppelin’s heyday. I don’t think I will listen to their songs in quite the same way after reading this book, and I mean that in a very good way.
I do wish the author had toned down his obvious adulation for his subject when writing the book. I thought it took away from the factual content, which was obviously very well researched.
Some of the information at the end, such as the fashion piece and the astrology piece, while moderately interesting, seemed to be filler material, but the pictures included between chapters made up for that, I think.
Overall, glad I read this.
April 10, 2013
Not your typical rock star biography. This is all about the music, how it evolved, his early days touring the hard way, as a studio set man, with the Yardbirds, the forming of Zeppelin, how Page, Plant, Bonham, and Jones meshed and became, as Page puts it, "Four elements that made up a fifth," and his philosophy and goals post Zeppelin. Good stuff.
February 28, 2013
Can't put this book down, if you love Led Zeppelin, you,ll love this book.
March 28, 2017
This is an incredibly refreshing take on the whole genre of the music biography. Led Zeppelin and its extant members have always had strained relationships with the press, and it's not hard to see why: nobody really wants to talk about the music. All they want to do is rehash the Shark Incident and speculate about who was snorting what and banging whom. Frankly I couldn't care less about all that, so hats off to (Brad) Tolinski for making a break with that lurid tradition and sitting down to talk to one of the most significant guitarists/producers in the history of rock about how he actually made music. Led Zeppelin naturally looms large and the backbone of the book is of course provided by Page himself, but some of the most illuminating soundbites are provided by those who tend to get overlooked: John Paul Jones and Chris Dreja, for example. It's a comprehensive, engaging, and well-balanced read, and my complaints minor. The making of In Through the Out Door is largely bypassed, for some reason, and the last chapter--which focuses on JP's personal interest in astrology--feels inconclusive and anticlimactic. However, it's not enough to undermine the overall impact of the book. An essential edition to any music lover's library.
August 26, 2022
A very interesting, long-overdue conversation with one of rock's greatest guitar players! This book revealed a lot about Jimmy who was often aloff and mysterious. As revealed in this "long" interview, Jimmy was not only great on guitar, he excelled in production, arrangements, art (he went to art school) and yes, style. He was a pioneer, an innovator, a master who remained humble through the years. Misunderstood because of his extracurricular activities, Jimmy is a man with a vision. He ushered in the new age of the hard rock, blues rock music. His Collab later extended his creative streak and is now the ambassador of 🎸. This is the second time that I read this. It remains a good read.
June 24, 2024
A solid read, giving me more insight into the mental workings of a personal guitar hero: Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
August 16, 2021
S E N S A C I O N A L
March 2, 2014
Jimmy Page was apparently always reluctant to speak with journalists, so it is not surprising that when he agreed to do a series of interviews that would result in a book about him, it would be with a writer who worships the ground that Page walks on. However, worshipping the subject of a biography does not usually make for good writing, and this book is no exception. The beginning of the book is the best part. The writer presents Page's early life: his boyhood friendships with Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, his work as a session musician, and his time with the Yardbirds. I also found the material on the early years of Led Zeppelin quite interesting. However, by the middle of the book, the author's refusal to do anything but present Page's story as one of genius gets tedious. The twenty minute versions of "Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotta Love" are not self-indulgent but works of art. The private planes, trashed hotel rooms, alcohol and drugs are not evidence of extravagance and narcissism , but simply part of the "lifestyle" of '70's rock stars. What really got me, however, was how the book presented John Bonham's death. The man choked on his own vomit after a night of heavy drinking, but Bonham's death is presented as dispassionately as if he simply got hit by a bus. And there was not a single question, not one, for Page about the death of one of the most significant people in his life. I wasn't expecting the author to ask something along the lines of "do you think that the hedonistic lifestyle of your band had anything to do with Bonham's death," but I was expecting something. There's an entire chapter devoted to Page's guitars, but not one word from him about what he felt about the death of one of rock's greatest drummers. In short, the first half of the book provides a lot on insight into the origins of Britain's early blues/rock world, but after that it's not worth reading.
February 27, 2013
Not far off four stars. 'Light & Shade' really does feel like a cozy fireside chat with Jimmy Page. Brad Tolinski's 'conversations' with the Led Zep span his musical career from 1958 all the way to the publication year of 2012. As Tolinski is Editorial Director of 'Guitar World' mag, and has interviewed our axe hero many times over the previous twenty years, this is a very informative book, that makes a refreshing change from the usual format of rock biography.
Young Jimmy's discovery of a discarded guitar, c1957, led to becoming a session musician in the early sixties, before joining The Yardbirds and eventually forming Zep in 1968. The rest, as they say, is mystery. Page has long kept the music media at arms length, so these intimate and revealing conversations make a good read. Perhaps the non guitar player may not appreciate the 'techie' aspects of the guitar modifications, recording and amplification methods, effects pedals, or the various alternate tunings employed in this track, or that 'live' performance. As well as a legendary guitar player, Page is a wizz of a record producer, so Tolinski is naturally interested in discussing these topics.
Young Jimmy's discovery of a discarded guitar, c1957, led to becoming a session musician in the early sixties, before joining The Yardbirds and eventually forming Zep in 1968. The rest, as they say, is mystery. Page has long kept the music media at arms length, so these intimate and revealing conversations make a good read. Perhaps the non guitar player may not appreciate the 'techie' aspects of the guitar modifications, recording and amplification methods, effects pedals, or the various alternate tunings employed in this track, or that 'live' performance. As well as a legendary guitar player, Page is a wizz of a record producer, so Tolinski is naturally interested in discussing these topics.
September 4, 2016
Good stuff for Led Zeppelin's fans
I love Led Zeppelin, so the review is biased as hell :) Book gathers various interviews of the author with Jimmy Page over the years and chronicles his life. What I like about it, is how much it is focused on the music itself. It allows to understand story and evolution of Led Zeppelin's music over the years (and Jimmy himself), backstories of the albums and songs. The author goes sometimes very deep into technical analysis, to the level comprehensible only by musicians (which I'm not), but it only proves ingenuity of Jimmy Page. It lacks juicy scandal stories from band life (whereas was full of it) yet Jimmy does not deny in the talks amount of drugs used over his life :D The book is also a bit less detailed about post-LZ era (solo career and various reunions with Plant up till 2007 concert), but is an interesting read.
What can I say.. Led Zeppelin is still the best band in the world and I respect Jimmy Page even more after reading this.
I love Led Zeppelin, so the review is biased as hell :) Book gathers various interviews of the author with Jimmy Page over the years and chronicles his life. What I like about it, is how much it is focused on the music itself. It allows to understand story and evolution of Led Zeppelin's music over the years (and Jimmy himself), backstories of the albums and songs. The author goes sometimes very deep into technical analysis, to the level comprehensible only by musicians (which I'm not), but it only proves ingenuity of Jimmy Page. It lacks juicy scandal stories from band life (whereas was full of it) yet Jimmy does not deny in the talks amount of drugs used over his life :D The book is also a bit less detailed about post-LZ era (solo career and various reunions with Plant up till 2007 concert), but is an interesting read.
What can I say.. Led Zeppelin is still the best band in the world and I respect Jimmy Page even more after reading this.
February 2, 2013
I absolutely loved this book! Even though I have been playing guitar or many years and was a fair-weather Led Zeppelin fan, I picked up this book after being just amazed from watching the "Celebration Day" DVD. After reading this book, I can say that I have new found respect for the man as a musician, businessman, and especially a producer.
This book tells a great story of how hard work, determination, creating a brand, and building the proper team can create an extremely successful venture. I highly recommend this book to any musician (not just guitar players), as it provides a wealth of insight in capturing sound, performance, etc.
I would agree with other reviews however that non-musicians may get lost in it at times as there are a lot of technical references to playing, production, etc.
This book tells a great story of how hard work, determination, creating a brand, and building the proper team can create an extremely successful venture. I highly recommend this book to any musician (not just guitar players), as it provides a wealth of insight in capturing sound, performance, etc.
I would agree with other reviews however that non-musicians may get lost in it at times as there are a lot of technical references to playing, production, etc.
August 4, 2017
Gave a lot of insight to the musicians that influenced Jimmy Page as well as what motivated him. However, I found it rather sterile, most guardedly written. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but got the feeling he didn't want anything personal revealed about himself, all business writing. One thing that bothered me was when he commented that he priced his photographic biography of his musical career Jimmy Page by Jimmy Page so high as to insure that only true, dedicated Led Zeppelin fans would buy it. (paraphrased) I was thinking, "Well you know, "poor" (!) people are dedicated fans!" I think that maybe this is why he came out with an abbreviated version 2 years ago. Overall, it was a a pretty fascinating read.
July 18, 2013
A very entertaining book. I always knew that Page formed Led Zeppelin, but I had no idea how involved he was in the band's production, musical direction and even their look. The interviews with Page provide tremendous insight into a very private musical genius.
April 18, 2024
I saw “Light & Shade� by Brad Tolinski (2012), whose tagline is “Conversations with Jimmy Page�, at the library so I picked it up this week. It’s not really a biography of Page and, indeed, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t really learn much about him as a person from reading this book. It’s more about Page’s career in music and other things that are already public knowledge.
I’ve been a Led Zeppelin enjoyer for as long as I can remember but I never paid nearly as much attention to the Yardbirds or what Page did after Zeppelin’s breakup. Those parts were new and interesting to me. The bulk of the book, however, is about Zeppelin’s rise and Page’s role in it. I never knew that Page was the producer of the band or that he was largely responsible for what little mixing they did (he worked as a session guitarist before being invited to the Yardbirds and learned a lot about recording there). The book was a fast read, but it would have been faster if I didn’t keep stopping to play a Zeppelin song to listen for details that I’d never heard before. Some interesting effects were achieved simply by creative microphone placement (e.g.: the drums on “When the Levee Breaks� were recorded in an old house with the microphone on the other side of an interior wall), which made me want to listen to the songs again while I read.
The work ethic of the band also seems to break with the archetype of the 60’s and 70’s rock star, which explains how Zeppelin released so many albums in such a short time. Page’s control over the band, thanks to his status as producer, allowed them to get the exact sound they wanted, even when the critics didn’t get what Zeppelin were trying to do.
The layout of the book is often one short chapter of the author explaining an era followed by a chapter in a Q&A format where Page (or someone else) is interviewed about the era. It’s a format that works but I could see how some people might not care for it. There were some sections where they got deep in the technical details about how guitars were tuned or what settings were used on amplifiers but even I, with my minimal knowledge on those topics, didn’t find these parts overbearing. There were a few photos included as well.
You might enjoy this one if you’re a Page/Zeppelin fan but it’s a little bit surface-level too, so don’t expect to learn anything about Page in this book that isn’t already public knowledge.
I’ve been a Led Zeppelin enjoyer for as long as I can remember but I never paid nearly as much attention to the Yardbirds or what Page did after Zeppelin’s breakup. Those parts were new and interesting to me. The bulk of the book, however, is about Zeppelin’s rise and Page’s role in it. I never knew that Page was the producer of the band or that he was largely responsible for what little mixing they did (he worked as a session guitarist before being invited to the Yardbirds and learned a lot about recording there). The book was a fast read, but it would have been faster if I didn’t keep stopping to play a Zeppelin song to listen for details that I’d never heard before. Some interesting effects were achieved simply by creative microphone placement (e.g.: the drums on “When the Levee Breaks� were recorded in an old house with the microphone on the other side of an interior wall), which made me want to listen to the songs again while I read.
The work ethic of the band also seems to break with the archetype of the 60’s and 70’s rock star, which explains how Zeppelin released so many albums in such a short time. Page’s control over the band, thanks to his status as producer, allowed them to get the exact sound they wanted, even when the critics didn’t get what Zeppelin were trying to do.
The layout of the book is often one short chapter of the author explaining an era followed by a chapter in a Q&A format where Page (or someone else) is interviewed about the era. It’s a format that works but I could see how some people might not care for it. There were some sections where they got deep in the technical details about how guitars were tuned or what settings were used on amplifiers but even I, with my minimal knowledge on those topics, didn’t find these parts overbearing. There were a few photos included as well.
You might enjoy this one if you’re a Page/Zeppelin fan but it’s a little bit surface-level too, so don’t expect to learn anything about Page in this book that isn’t already public knowledge.
December 8, 2020
Jimmy Page was the driving force behind the massive 1970s rock band Led Zeppelin. During that decade Zeppelin broke all the rules by doing it all bigger, better, louder and more over the top than anyone. Their driving rhythmic funk, their guitar solos, the powerful and visual stage show. And, of course, their off stage antics. There have been many books written about all these things but this is not one of them.
This book is Page, in his own words, discussing his craft and his career. His praise of other musicians and his memories of how and why he chose to play certain songs in certain ways. He speaks of his equipment, his years as a hired gun so to speak, as a session musician. How the band formed, his time in the Yardbirds, Zeppelin, the Firm and after. He talks of his studio craft and technical prowess without sounding arrogant about it.
For Led Zeppelin or Jimmy Page fans this will be a must read, for those interested in music, especially classic rock it is one that should be read. For others sit might not have the same luster. For me, it was great to hear Jimmy's thoughts on Hendrix, Clapton, Beck and other contemporaries. His thoughts on why Led Zeppelin worked so well and which shows and tours came off the best from an insiders view. Even though I am not a guitar player I found it interesting when he described the different turnings he used on songs and why he went for that.
There is really nothing hear about the debauchery of their tours, the excess, the groupies, the drugs, the destruction, the wives or children. This book is all about the music both in the studio and on stage. A master describing his craft for others to get a better understanding of how he did what seemed impossible at the time. An honest and insightful book with no need for exaggeration. An interesting read.
This book is Page, in his own words, discussing his craft and his career. His praise of other musicians and his memories of how and why he chose to play certain songs in certain ways. He speaks of his equipment, his years as a hired gun so to speak, as a session musician. How the band formed, his time in the Yardbirds, Zeppelin, the Firm and after. He talks of his studio craft and technical prowess without sounding arrogant about it.
For Led Zeppelin or Jimmy Page fans this will be a must read, for those interested in music, especially classic rock it is one that should be read. For others sit might not have the same luster. For me, it was great to hear Jimmy's thoughts on Hendrix, Clapton, Beck and other contemporaries. His thoughts on why Led Zeppelin worked so well and which shows and tours came off the best from an insiders view. Even though I am not a guitar player I found it interesting when he described the different turnings he used on songs and why he went for that.
There is really nothing hear about the debauchery of their tours, the excess, the groupies, the drugs, the destruction, the wives or children. This book is all about the music both in the studio and on stage. A master describing his craft for others to get a better understanding of how he did what seemed impossible at the time. An honest and insightful book with no need for exaggeration. An interesting read.
April 5, 2019
Somewhat interesting, but unfocused and inconsistent. Could have used a better editor.
The chapters were disjointed, and some of the non-Jimmy-Page interviews were real head-scratchers. You're reading about Jimmy Page's guitar playing, and then � out of nowhere —an interview with fashion designer John Varvatos? Really? And the chapter toward the end about astrology was utter nonsense.
Another core problem: this book doesn't know who its audience is. Sure, at face value it's Jimmy Page fans � but what kind? Casual fans? Hard-core fans? Fellow guitar players? At times, the writing gets quite technical —about specific amps and pedals, or about specific chord voicings� assuming reader familiarity. At other times, it assumes no knowledge.
The interviews themselves were the interesting part, but even those were awkward. The author's questions had a cloying undercurrent of "I'm trying to distance myself from all other journalists by demonstrating my knowledge about you." And while some of Page's answers are interesting, many are short and guarded.
For hard-core fans only.
The chapters were disjointed, and some of the non-Jimmy-Page interviews were real head-scratchers. You're reading about Jimmy Page's guitar playing, and then � out of nowhere —an interview with fashion designer John Varvatos? Really? And the chapter toward the end about astrology was utter nonsense.
Another core problem: this book doesn't know who its audience is. Sure, at face value it's Jimmy Page fans � but what kind? Casual fans? Hard-core fans? Fellow guitar players? At times, the writing gets quite technical —about specific amps and pedals, or about specific chord voicings� assuming reader familiarity. At other times, it assumes no knowledge.
The interviews themselves were the interesting part, but even those were awkward. The author's questions had a cloying undercurrent of "I'm trying to distance myself from all other journalists by demonstrating my knowledge about you." And while some of Page's answers are interesting, many are short and guarded.
For hard-core fans only.
October 13, 2021
I love Jimmy Page as a musician, guitarist and artist. The music he makes can be exquisitely beautiful, or raw and sexual, or majestic and powerful. It speaks to us on a deep emotional level in a way that only music can, and words cannot. While this book acknowledges the mystique of Page as an artist, it doesn't attempt to articulate it. And maybe that's impossible anyway. But I do wish this book attempted to explore deeper questions than it does about the world inside Jimmy Page's head and heart. Who knows what shapes an artist, but that mystery is what engages us, makes us fall in love, and what makes certain art a touchstone for us...sometimes, throughout our entire lives. Somehow, it imprints upon us, and to some extent shapes our world. It feels profound. Light and shade. Like life itself. I would like to hear Jimmy's reflections about things like this, on living as an artist and what that means.
April 18, 2025
I consider Jimmy Page the best rock guitarist who ever lived. I recently saw the movie "Becoming Led Zeppelin" and it inspired me to get out the Led Zep albums and check out their DVD. This is a pretty good collection of interviews with Page, covering basically his whole life and career up to whenever this was published.
Three things I'll note:
1. This can get fairly technical at times, going into quite a bit of detail about various guitars, amps, and other tools of the trade;
2. Page isn't shy about touting his accomplishments and can come across as a little arrogant at times;
3. He basically does not discuss his private life, which of course is certainly his right, but Tolinski fills in a lot of details.
If you enjoyed Zep, the Yardbirds, the Firm, etc, this book is worth a read!
Three things I'll note:
1. This can get fairly technical at times, going into quite a bit of detail about various guitars, amps, and other tools of the trade;
2. Page isn't shy about touting his accomplishments and can come across as a little arrogant at times;
3. He basically does not discuss his private life, which of course is certainly his right, but Tolinski fills in a lot of details.
If you enjoyed Zep, the Yardbirds, the Firm, etc, this book is worth a read!
May 2, 2018
Не ми беше в списъка за четене, поне не в обозримото бъдеще, но биографията на Мик Уол ми остави отвратителен вкус в устата и се усетих, че покрай нея възприемам Пейдж като някаква смесица от Крисчън Грей, Волдемор, Носферату и Паганини. Което, както би казала щерката, "не е О.К.".
Тази книга, обаче, не оправи нещата. Ако предишната ми жълтееше, то тази ми розовее. А и пълна с излишни подробности, като интервюта с дизайнер и астролог. Амбицията явно е да се опише една сложна и противоречива личност, като бъде разгледана от всички ъгли. Но усещането е като за пълнеж. По-добре да беше сложил още няколко страници със снимки.
Прочетена на български под заглавието "Светлини и сенки: Разговори с Джими Пейдж".
Тази книга, обаче, не оправи нещата. Ако предишната ми жълтееше, то тази ми розовее. А и пълна с излишни подробности, като интервюта с дизайнер и астролог. Амбицията явно е да се опише една сложна и противоречива личност, като бъде разгледана от всички ъгли. Но усещането е като за пълнеж. По-добре да беше сложил още няколко страници със снимки.
Прочетена на български под заглавието "Светлини и сенки: Разговори с Джими Пейдж".
July 12, 2019
A few interesting insights to be found amongst a whole lot of Jimmy Page being told how awesome he is by the interviewer, and Jimmy Page agreeing with said interviewer:
i.e. "Led Zeppelin was one of the greatest live acts of all time. Did your experiences working as one of the greatest studio guitarists of the '60s contribute to the great greatness of your live shows in the '70s?"
"We really were weren't we. It was all planned from the beginning..."
Page is notoriously prickly with press, so I can see why the author had to take this approach, but it's resulted in a fairly boring, repetitive and occasionally obnoxious book. As a guitarist I was excited to read this one, but the lack of any illuminating info from Page himself was a big disappointment.
i.e. "Led Zeppelin was one of the greatest live acts of all time. Did your experiences working as one of the greatest studio guitarists of the '60s contribute to the great greatness of your live shows in the '70s?"
"We really were weren't we. It was all planned from the beginning..."
Page is notoriously prickly with press, so I can see why the author had to take this approach, but it's resulted in a fairly boring, repetitive and occasionally obnoxious book. As a guitarist I was excited to read this one, but the lack of any illuminating info from Page himself was a big disappointment.
June 9, 2017
Gave a lot of insight to the musicians that influenced Jimmy Page as well as what motivated him. However, I found it rather sterile, most guardedly written. Don't get me wrong, it was interesting, but got the feeling he didn't want anything personal revealed about himself, all business. One thing that bothered me was when he commented that he priced his photographic biography of his musical career Jimmy Page by Jimmy Page so high as to insure that only true, dedicated Led Zeppelin fans would buy it. (paraphrased) I was thinking, "Well you know, poor people are dedicated fans!" I think this is why he came out with an abbreviated version 2 years ago, my opinion.
February 9, 2021
This is a nice collection of interviews between the Author and Jimmy Page over the years and supplemented with supporting details of the events and people in Jimmy’s life. It gives great insight into Page and the influences that lead to his groundbreaking work with Led Zeppelin and beyond. I enjoyed the stories of he, Clapton, Beck and others jamming together before they broke into the lime light Influencing each other and taking gigs in each other’s place as they found their ways in the rock world.
May 20, 2022
So as per usual no one gets anything interesting out of him at allllllll. He is a closed book and will not budge on anything interesting. Unless you're into the same catalog of stories he's told for decades about the yardbirds and how he got started and being in the studio and their tours-all strictly about the music. It's not wrong to be curious about your favorite artist and to want to see behind the vale a bit and it's also not wrong for him to have his walls up high. Just makes for very boring interviews. Unless it's the ones with chuck Klosterman. Those are hilarious. Highly recommend.
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