In a recent conversation on the Denim and Leather podcast, Twisted Sister guitarist Jay Jay French defended Jimmy Page against criticism of being a “sloppy” guitarist. French emphasized that Page’s ability to craft memorable solos outweighs technical precision, contrasting it with modern “super shredders”:
“Jimmy gets unfairly labeled as sloppy, but he wrote solos that you could play and remember. That’s much better than a lot of today’s super shredders who just roam all over the neck without any connection to the song. It’s just exercise.”
French’s Perspective on Page’s Playing
This isn’t the first time French has discussed Page’s style. Previously, he noted that while Page’s early performances with Led Zeppelin were impressive due to his session background, he observed a decline in Page’s live performances over time:
“I’ve seen Zeppelin countless times, and Page was undoubtedly great. Initially, he was a session musician who established his credibility. However, as time went on, I felt his playing became sloppy, in my opinion. That’s how I see it, for whatever reason…”
You can view the full interview here.
