Jimmy Page, the legendary guitarist of Led Zeppelin, joined The Black Crowes for a handful of tours and live performances in 1999 and 2000. However, after a successful start, Page abruptly stopped playing with The Black Crowes in the middle of their 2000 tour. There has been much speculation over the years about what caused the split between Page and The Black Crowes. Here is a look at the history of their collaboration and the reasons why it ultimately came to an end.
Jimmy Page Joins The Black Crowes
In 1999, Jimmy Page was looking to get back into playing live music after spending much of the 1990s out of the public eye. Around this same time, The Black Crowes had recently gotten back together after breaking up in the mid 1990s. Chris Robinson, lead singer of The Black Crowes, reached out to Page with the idea of him joining them on tour to perform a set of Led Zeppelin and other cover songs.
Page agreed, and in October 1999 they performed two shows together at the Roseland Ballroom in New York. The concerts were a major success, selling out immediately and receiving strong reviews. Following this, Page continued touring with The Black Crowes, first across North America in late 1999 and then in Europe in early 2000.
Setlists and Performances
The typical Jimmy Page and Black Crowes setlist consisted of about 50% Led Zeppelin covers and 50% Black Crowes songs and other covers. Some of the most commonly played Zeppelin songs included “Celebration Day”, “Heartbreaker”, “What Is and What Should Never Be”, “Ten Years Gone”, and “Shake Your Moneymaker.”
Reviews of their performances were very positive, with critics impressed by how well Page and The Black Crowes complemented each other’s sound and style. As Page did not want to try fully replacing Robert Plant, Chris Robinson sang all vocals in a way that evoked Plant without directly imitating him. Page seemed reinvigorated playing hits and deep cuts from the Zeppelin catalog with a new backing band.
Tensions Develop
However, tensions reportedly developed between Page and The Black Crowes over the course of the 2000 tour. Here are some of the key factors that contributed to the strained relationship:
Financial Issues
There was friction over the financial arrangements and money splits for the tour. The Black Crowes apparently felt that as they were providing the backing band and vocals, they should receive a larger share of profits than Page initially wanted to offer them.
Setlist Disagreements
Page and The Black Crowes disagreed over the setlists, with Chris Robinson wanting to add more Black Crowes songs but Page preferring to focus on Led Zeppelin material and cover songs. This reportedly frustrated Robinson as he felt like Page’s approach turned them into a Zeppelin tribute act.
Guitar Solos
As the tour went on, Page started taking longer and more frequent guitar solos during songs. The Black Crowes felt this distracted too much from the rest of the band. There was a feeling that the concerts were becoming “The Jimmy Page Show” rather than an ensemble performance.
Cancellations
Page had to cancel some tour dates due to a back injury, but The Black Crowes felt he used this as an excuse to avoid concerts he did not want to perform. The cancelled shows caused tensions over lost revenue.
As these factors accumulated, the relationship between Page and The Black Crowes deteriorated. Robinson became increasingly frustrated with Page’s lack of commitment to the band and there were reported verbal fights between the two off stage.
The Breaking Point
The final straw came in mid-2000 while Page and The Black Crowes were on tour in Europe. After a show in Germany, Jimmy Page told the band he would not be able to perform the next four scheduled concerts due to his ongoing back problems. However, he allegedly did not give much notice or details about the cancellations.
Chris Robinson and the rest of The Black Crowes were very frustrated, both with the short-notice cancellations and Page’s lack of communication. They had already dealt with multiple cancelled and postponed dates previously. After heated discussions, The Black Crowes ultimately decided to continue the European tour without Page rather than postpone more shows.
Page’s Response
Page reportedly did not take the news well that The Black Crowes were moving forward without him. He issued a statement saying he was “shocked” by the decision and that it came “completely out of the blue.” Page emphasized his back injury for the need to postpone shows and said he had always intended to complete the tour.
However, The Black Crowes stood by their decision. They completed the Europe tour dates as a standalone band without Page. Shortly after, it was announced that Page would definitively no longer continue touring with The Black Crowes.
Aftermath and Opinions
In the aftermath, Page and The Black Crowes refrained from directly criticizing each other in public. Here are some of the views that emerged on both sides:
Page’s Perspective
Page maintained his stance that the back injury was the primary reason for cancelled shows in 2000 and that he had still hoped to continue collaborating with The Black Crowes after recovering. He expressed some disappointment at how things ended but did not place direct blame on the band.
The Black Crowes’ View
Chris Robinson and the band stood by their view that Page never seemed fully committed to The Black Crowes. They felt Page’s frequent cancelled shows and tour changes demonstrated a lack of respect for their time. The band expressed relief to move forward focusing fully on their own music after the experience with Page.
Outside Speculation
Commentators speculated that Page ultimately saw The Black Crowes as just a temporary backing band for his return to the stage while the band wanted more of an equal partnership. Personality conflicts between Page and Robinson likely contributed as well. The financial disputes also added difficulties in keeping the collaboration going long term.
Post-Split Activities
Here is a look at what both parties pursued musically after ending their partnership:
Jimmy Page
- Continued releasing solo material and collaborating with other artists
- Played various one-off shows and special performances
- Joined Robert Plant for a special Led Zeppelin reunion show in 2007
- Remained active and touring with his band through the late 2000s
The Black Crowes
- Released their album “Lions” in 2001
- Went on hiatus from 2002 to 2005 during which Chris Robinson released solo work
- Reunited for tours from 2005 to 2013 before breaking up again
- Announced in 2019 they will reunite for a 2020 tour to celebrate Shake Your Moneymaker’s 30th anniversary
Could They Have Reunited?
Fans often wonder if it would have ever been possible for Page and The Black Crowes to put aside their differences and reunite. There are a few factors that likely would have made it difficult:
- The personality clashes between Page and Robinson seemed deep-rooted
- The band dynamic became strained, making future collaboration awkward
- Both parties were ready to move on musically after the split
However, never say never. Bands like Fleetwood Mac were able to overcome past tensions to successfully reunite years later. Had Page and The Black Crowes both been eager to tour and record together again, a reunion could have happened despite their 2000 fallout. But they ultimately seemed content to pursue other projects after ending their rocky partnership on less than friendly terms.
Legacy
Despite the tumultuous end, the brief musical partnership between Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes made its mark in rock history. Fans fondly remember the electric concerts where classic Zeppelin tunes were played with new energy from Page’s collaboration with The Black Crowes. And it represented an exciting period where Page stepped back into the musical spotlight after time away from it in the 1990s.
The relationship and tour may have ended messily, but the music itself made its impression. Jimmy Page joining forces with The Black Crowes, even briefly, was an intriguing combination of talents that created memorable moments for rock audiences.
Date | Show Location |
---|---|
October 12, 1999 | New York City, Roseland Ballroom |
October 13, 1999 | New York City, Roseland Ballroom |
October 15, 1999 | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
October 19, 1999 | Boston, Massachusetts |
October 29, 1999 | Las Vegas, Nevada |
Conclusion
The collaboration between Jimmy Page and The Black Crowes was born out of mutual musical respect, but ultimately collapsed under the weight of financial disputes, creative differences, and clashing personalities. While fans hoped to see more tours and albums from the partnership, it was not meant to be. Still, the live shows they did perform together stand as historic moments showcasing the talents of one of rock’s greatest guitarists and one of rock’s best live bands. Though short-lived, Jimmy Page joining forces with The Black Crowes produced some magical musical memories at the turn of the millennium.