Jimmy Page Gives Surprise Performance at Rock Hall 2023 Induction
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Jimmy Page performing at the 2023 Rock Hall induction ceremony, Nov. 11, 2023
When the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced its list of presenters and performers for the Class of 2023 induction, there were just a handful of actual classic rock musicians among them. The short list included Elton John and Stevie Nicks, who were among such other non rock acts as Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Ice-T, Common, and Queen Latifah.
So it was a significant surprise that at the 38th annual ceremony on Friday (November 3) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, that none other than Jimmy Page not only presented his fellow legendary guitarist Link Wray for induction but also performed the 1958 instrumental “Rumble” in his honor. It’s believed to be the 79 year-old Page’s first stage performance since 2014. Watch a clip of it below.
From Page: “I was asked to induct Link Wray into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame; a guitarist, instrumentalist and songwriter that I’d admired from the very first taste of the Rumble.
“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 last night to induct one of my heroes.”
The late Wray, who was inducted in the Musical Influence category, is yet another artist who was inducted decades after first being eligible. The performer died in 2005 at age 76. Ironically, “Rumble” was inducted before Wray was! The cut was included in 2018 in a special category for singles.
The one and only @JimmyPage is in the building, absolutely rocking the stage with “Rumble” in tribute to 2023 Inductee @Link_Wray.
Stream #RockHall2023 NOW on @DisneyPlus! pic.twitter.com/6QgI4dBIuo— Rock Hall (@rockhall) November 4, 2023
An audience member shared a clip of how the whole segment unfolded at the ceremony…
2 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationJimmy Page — you can’t get better than that! It’s all you can say besides “Wow!” Rock On! Peace!
Rock on Mr Page. You Rock like no one else. I grew up on you and Zeppelin your posters covered my walls. Nice work with Rumble! Peace out my guitar God✌️