Jimmy Page Isn’t Taking Keith Richards’ Led Zeppelin Insult Seriously

It takes a certain amount of confidence to laugh it off when someone has dismissed your life's work as "hollow," but when you're Jimmy Page, not even an insult from Keith Richards can get you down.

Page proved it during a recent interview with Classic Rock Magazine, during which he was asked for his thoughts regarding Richards' less-than-positive description of the Led Zeppelin catalog. "I love Jimmy Page, but as a band, no," Richards is quoted as saying. "With John Bonham thundering down the highway in an uncontrolled 18-wheeler … He had cornered the market there. Jimmy is a brilliant player. But I always felt there was something a little hollow about it, you know?"

"Keith can say what he wants. He’s Keith Richards," Page pointed out in response. "I think he’s done some amazing work. I respect his playing."

Noting that Richards may have been looking to gin up a little extra attention while he was on the press tour for his new Crosseyed Heart LP, Page continued, "He has a solo album out. But if I was promoting a new album, would I be more caustic? The answer is … no."

Page will have a chance to prove that after he finishes his own long-gestating solo record, which he's planning on recording next year, but in the meantime, he can only shake his head in polite bewilderment at Richards' remarks. "I’m not sure what he means by calling Led Zeppelin hollow," he admitted. "I think he’s got his tongue in his cheek. What we did was really cool."

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