The sad passing of the Beach Boys composer Brian Wilson this week has sent Clash scurrying through the archives – and we’ve found footage of a unique moment, when Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page jammed onstage with the band.
The guitarist is a long-time fan of the Beach Boys, having grown up with their work. A teenage prodigy, Jimmy Page became one of England’s most in-demand session musicians in the mid 60s, and quickly absorbed the impact of Brian Wilson’s studio innovations.
“The man’s a genius! Actually, when you hear other people doing his numbers, it makes you appreciate just how good those original songs are,” Jimmy Page once said as pointed by Brian Wilson’s official website.
While the heavy rock bombast of Led Zeppelin is a world away from the Beach Boys, the careful consideration of studio techniques runs through the English group’s work – and in 1985, Jimmy Page was granted the opportunity of a lifetime.
The Beach Boys – with Brian Wilson in the line-up – pieced together mammoth July 4th concerts in Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Remarkably, Ringo Starr joined at one point to augment the drums, with Jimmy Page taking a starring role at both concerts.
In Philadelphia he performed a rip-roaring take on Little Richard’s ‘Lucille’ – an incredible influence on both groups – while in Washington D.C. he joined the Beach Boys for their immortal hits ‘Surfin’ USA’ and ‘Barbara Ann’.
Jimmy Page obviously retained fond memories of this historic occasion, and once looked back on those concerts for a social media post. “On this day in 1985, I played Independence Day with The Beach Boys. Philadelphia and Washington were played on this memorable day. We travelled by train between the two cities.”
“Mr T. was also on that trip. I became quite friendly with Beach Boy musician Bruce Johnston. It was an honour to meet Brian and Carl Wilson and play with The Beach Boys on this historic day. However, we don’t celebrate July 4th in England,” he noted.
Watch footage of the show below.
