“I love Jimmy Page, but John Bonham was like an uncontrolled 18-wheel:” Keith Richards says Led Zeppelin never truly took flight

Guitar legends may admire each other across decades, but that doesn't mean they hear the music the same way.

In his past tell-all with Rolling Stone, Keith Richards spoke candidly about Led Zeppelin; and while he had high praise for Jimmy Page, the man who had co-founded the band, his views on the band’s overall sound weren’t quite as generous. He stated:

“I love Jimmy Page, but as a band, with John Bonham thundering down the highway in an uncontrolled 18-wheeler, no. Jimmy is a brilliant player, but I always felt there was something a little hollow about it.”

The Rolling Stones’ rhythm guitarist has long expressed admiration for Page, calling him:

“one of the best guitar players ever known.”

But Keith Richards has never shied away from critiques, particularly when it comes to Zeppelin’s rhythm section.

Back in 2006, Keith Richards published a video on his website where he shared a similar view:

“As a band, I felt they were aptly named, but they never took off for me, musically. At the same time, Jimmy Page is one of the best guitar players ever known, and Bonham was a hell of a powerhouse drummer. Although I think he was heavy-handed. That's where the 'led' comes in.”

He added a definitive summary:

“If you want to cut the story short: Led Zeppelin was Jimmy Page.”

Jimmy Page, for his part, responded diplomatically in an interview with Classic Rock:

“Keith can say what he wants. He’s Keith Richards. I think he’s done some amazing work. I respect his playing.”

He went on:

“[But] I’m not sure what he means by calling Led Zeppelin hollow. I think he’s got his tongue in his cheek. What we did was really cool.”

“Silence is your canvas:” Keith Richards on why Led Zeppelin’s rhythm didn’t land

Despite the friction, the two guitarists are linked by a shared sense of reverence for American blues. Jimmy Page once told Uncut that Keith Richards was a “true devotee of the Chess catalog.” He reflected on their connection, saying:

“It was similar to me and Jeff [Beck], where we’d just sort of lock in. Because there’s an automatic sort of mutual respect for each other that’s built up over the years.”

Keith Richards’ take on Zeppelin seems rooted in his vision of what makes a rhythm section tick.

Comparing John Bonham to his own longtime bandmate, Charlie Watts, the difference is stark.

In an interview with Howard Stern, Richards explained his approach to percussion:

“He had feel. He had intelligence. Rock and roll doesn't necessarily need the whole battery of drums. It's got to do with when not to hit. If you're making music, silence is your canvas.”

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Both Watts and Bonham have left deep impressions in rock history. But for Keith Richards, it comes down to restraint and groove over power and thunder.

As far as Richards is concerned, the brilliance of Jimmy Page couldn’t fully take flight under the Zeppelin banner, not because of the talent involved, but because the chemistry (at least to his ear) was never quite right.

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