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"Jimmy Page is not yet in Eric Clapton's class". I do believe Yorke's comment reflected more on him as a music critic than it did on Jimmy Page.
1969:
There has been some discussion about Jimmy Page's reference to Ritchie Yorke as having capitalized from Led Zeppelin by writing an unauthorized book. In my opinion this was not a slur on Yorke, who was Led Zeppelin's "man in Toronto", who toured with the band, and was regularly granted interviews with them.
Ritchie Yorke (1944-2017) was a journalist and music critic. He wrote three books on Led Zeppelin (actually two, since one was just a new edit): The Led Zeppelin Biography (1976), Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography (1994) and Led Zeppelin: the Definitive Biography (1999 update to the 1994 book). Although Yorke's 1994 book claims to be "authorized" (the word is in quotes on the back cover) that's not actually true. The band's having freely offered the interviews and not objecting to the book is not the same thing as Led Zeppelin's officially approving or endorsing it.
When it comes down to it, you could say that every book and website and blog (including this one) is actually capitalizing on Led Zeppelin or the individual members. Some, of course, are better than others.
Yorke's books are generally considered to be the most accurate and least fabricated of all the books written about the band, however, that Ritchie Yorke ever wrote "Jimmy Page is not yet in Eric Clapton's class" makes me have serious doubts about the journalist's aesthetic appreciation and critical thinking capabilities.
My personal favorite book is George Case's Jimmy Page: Magus, Musician, Man: An Unauthorized Biography because it focuses on Jimmy Page rather than Led Zeppelin. I highly recommend it.
♪ Led Zeppelin (Toronto Canada at The Rock Pile - second show, 02 February 1969)
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| 1969 02 February On This Day Led Zeppelin at the Rock Pile, Toronto |
- 1967 The Yardbirds - Auckland, New Zealand at Auckland Town Hall
- 1969 Led Zeppelin – Toronto Canada at The Rock Pile (two shows, one night)
1969:
There has been some discussion about Jimmy Page's reference to Ritchie Yorke as having capitalized from Led Zeppelin by writing an unauthorized book. In my opinion this was not a slur on Yorke, who was Led Zeppelin's "man in Toronto", who toured with the band, and was regularly granted interviews with them.
Ritchie Yorke (1944-2017) was a journalist and music critic. He wrote three books on Led Zeppelin (actually two, since one was just a new edit): The Led Zeppelin Biography (1976), Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography (1994) and Led Zeppelin: the Definitive Biography (1999 update to the 1994 book). Although Yorke's 1994 book claims to be "authorized" (the word is in quotes on the back cover) that's not actually true. The band's having freely offered the interviews and not objecting to the book is not the same thing as Led Zeppelin's officially approving or endorsing it.
When it comes down to it, you could say that every book and website and blog (including this one) is actually capitalizing on Led Zeppelin or the individual members. Some, of course, are better than others.
Yorke's books are generally considered to be the most accurate and least fabricated of all the books written about the band, however, that Ritchie Yorke ever wrote "Jimmy Page is not yet in Eric Clapton's class" makes me have serious doubts about the journalist's aesthetic appreciation and critical thinking capabilities.
My personal favorite book is George Case's Jimmy Page: Magus, Musician, Man: An Unauthorized Biography because it focuses on Jimmy Page rather than Led Zeppelin. I highly recommend it.
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| 1969 Ritchie York review of Toronto show |
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| 1969 John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Toronto |
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| 1969 Jimmy Page / Led Zeppelin, Toronto |
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♪ Led Zeppelin (Toronto Canada at The Rock Pile - second show, 02 February 1969)
