Joe Jammer and Led Zeppelin
hootch...@my-deja.com
for someone who has never made the "big time" is probably the most
amazing guitarist I've ever witnessed (for 20+ years now).
His connnection to Led Zeppelin? He used to be Jimmy Page's guitar
tech, hired in the middle of one of their 1969 tours.
He was a house roadie at the Kinetic Circus here and got to meet the Who
and Jimi Hendrix among others. When Zeppelin first came to Chicago,
Pagey, Bonzo, and Robert heard Joe jamming (sorry for the ridiculous
pun) on his guitar during some downtime and the three walked over to
check out who was playing. Joe recalled that they began bidding among
themselves for his guitar without even asking if it was for sale. Joe
wouldn't sell. Jimmy was impressed (and sympathized?) with one man's
love for a guitar and asked him to be his tech.
I used to think his stories were bull/fantasies. But in the years
since I come to learn they are not. I once saw an interview with
Jimmy and he mentioned him. He's in Cole's "Stairway To Heaven" book (I
think a photo), but is discussed more in detail in Aerosmith's "Walk
This Way" book (they write that he stood in for Joe Perry once during a
practice session?) when Brad Whitford first joined the band and
Jammer blew Whitford off the stage (this was before Aerosmith got huge).
Joe since then has played with a lot of people, including Maggie Bell
and the Pretty Things (Swan Song acts?), Roger Glover of Deep Purple,
plus others I can't remember. He's written and performed the Montreal
Canadian's hockey team's theme song (OK, not Zep related but what the
hey).
He plays a killer version of White Summer/Black Mt. Side, along with
rock, funk, and the blues.
One hell of a guitarist.
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