Led Zeppelin’s success was not just due to their unique talents. Their musical abilities needed to combine and form something larger than solo instrumentation. There’s a reason why some consider Led Zeppelin members to be the best bassists, guitarists, vocalists, and drummers. Not only were they talented, but they could work together as a band to bring out the best in one another.
Jimmy Page appears to have used that approach in crafting one of his favorite riffs. There are undoubtedly some riffs that the guitarist is responsible for. Upon hearing them, he will have realized it would be a success. It’s difficult to listen to the opening of ‘Black Dog‘ and not get swept away by Page’s fingers dancing up and down the fretboard. Everyone remembers the notes of “Whole Lotta Love” the moment they hear it. They are performed the minute they are played. But when it came to Page’s favorite, it was the whole impact of the band that made it stand out, not just his guitar. John Bonham played a key role in that composition.
Page has always been candid about the fact that there is little procedure when it comes to creation. “Riffs come out of the ether, out of nowhere,” he remarked. Can you tell me where it is? Because nobody knows.”
In an interview, when asked about his favorite Led Zeppelin riff, Page hesitated to respond. While the creative process may be obscure, the result is incredibly intentional. “It’s difficult to be asked, ‘What’s your favorite Zeppelin song?’ They all were. “They were all meant to be on those albums.” However, after some thought, Page concluded, “I suppose ‘Kashmir’ has to be the one.”
Page’s affection for the Physical Graffiti track stems not only from the guitar but also from the entire band’s effort. “All the guitar parts would be on there,” he went on to say, “But the orchestra needed to sit there, reflecting those other parts, doing what the guitars were but with the colors of a symphony.” The orchestra was led by John Paul Jones, while the famed drummer John Bonham was present during the track’s early stages.
Jimmy Page and John Bonham sat in the studio and worked on the basic ‘Kashmir‘ riff and the cascading section that separates it. “It’s it the first thing I ran through with Bonzo,” Page recalled. “I just know that Bonham is gonna love it, and he loves it, and we just play the riff over and over and over, because it’s like a child’s riff.”
One individual can be a terrific musician, but consistently producing genre-defining songs necessitates the participation of all members. This is what distinguished Led Zeppelin from other bands at the time. Everyone contributed to the development of Physical Graffiti.
