On hand at the Barclays Center to induct guitarist Link Wray in the Musical Influence category, the Led Zeppelin icon gave an inspired and passionate speech about the early rocker’s breakthrough 1958 rock instrumental “Rumble”.
Wray’s US Top 20 hit was among the first to feature both distortion and tremolo.
"What is this?,” said Page as part of a pre-taped induction speech. “In those days, there were many guitar instrumentals, but as a 14-year-old kid who could barely play the guitar, it really had an effect on me. The vigor and the strength and the power in it. And you know something else – it was fearless. It was just phenomenal. The essence of cool."
Following the video, Page was joined for his first live performance in eight years by drummer Anton Fig (who had recorded with Wray) and bassist Tim Givens to perform “Rumble” to a surprised and enthusiastic crowd.
“I was asked to induct Link Wray into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame @rockhall; a guitarist, instrumentalist and songwriter that I’d admired from the very first taste of the ‘Rumble’”, commented Page after the event. “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.
“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 n Roll Hall of Fame to induct one of my heroes.”
Page’s last public onstage performance took place in 2015 at Seattle’s Experience Music Project Museum, when he was honored with a Founder’s Award; he joined an all-star cast to perform the Led Zeppelin classic, “Rock And Roll” – watch it here.
Pick up some Link Wray music for your collection here.
See also:
Robert Plant announces UK tour with Saving Grace
Led Zeppelin stream 1973 Madison Square Garden performance of The Ocean
Led Zeppelin stream 1973 performance of Over The Hills And Far Away
Led Zeppelin and John Lennon classics added to US National Recording Registry
Search Led Zeppelin at hennemusic
