In 1974, Michael Corby was living in London, immersed in the music scene and forming the band The Babys. His focus was on crafting a sound that would soon bring John Waite to the spotlight. But fate had a different plan in store for him.
One day, during this pivotal time, Corby crossed paths with members of Led Zeppelin. Little did he know, this brief encounter would lead to an unexpected turn of events.
Corby’s most prized possession, a guitar he cherished, would soon find its way into the hands of one of rock’s greatest legends: Jimmy Page. The story of how it happened is as intriguing as the guitar itself.
A Surreal Encounter with Led Zeppelin
In 1974, Michael Corby was living in London and forming The Babys, while owning a prized three-pickup Gibson Les Paul “Black Beauty.” The guitar caught the attention of the right people, and Corby later said, “I was living in Battersea, South London, and was engaged in putting together a rock’n’roll band which subsequently became known as The Babys.”
Through a connection with his manager’s associate, Corby was introduced to Raymond Thomas, Jimmy Page’s guitar roadie. This led to a meeting at Led Zeppelin’s rehearsal spot in a disused cinema in Fulham, owned by Emerson, Lake & Palmer. Corby explained, “An associate of my manager, the late Adrian Millar, called Noddy Mackenzie was friendly with Raymond Thomas who was Jimmy Page’s guitar roadie.”
At the time, Corby was unaware that his guitar would soon be in the hands of Jimmy Page. “I didn’t know it was all going to happen like that. It was pretty surreal,” he recalled. The encounter marked the beginning of a unique chapter in both Corby’s and Page’s musical journeys.
A Guitar Deal with a Guitar Legend
To Corby’s surprise, he found himself jamming with Led Zeppelin for two weeks. During this time, he and Jimmy Page had heated debates over the price of Corby’s beloved guitar. Corby never intended to sell his favorite instrument, but eventually, he found himself parting with it. “After informing Raymond that I was the custodian of a three pick-up original Gibson Les Paul ‘Black Beauty,’ I found myself commanded to appear at the court of Led Zeppelin at their rehearsals in a disused cinema in Fulham,” Corby recalled.
What started as a casual encounter quickly turned into a prolonged negotiation. Despite his hesitation, Corby eventually agreed to sell the guitar. The result was the famous red, modified 1952 Les Paul that Page is now synonymous with, a guitar that helped shape the sound of Led Zeppelin.
Corby never expected such an outcome. “I had no intention of selling it, but sometimes things just happen,” he said. The guitar’s legacy lived on through Page, but for Corby, it marked the beginning of an unforgettable chapter in his own musical journey.
Jamming with Led Zeppelin and the Guitar That Changed Hands
“Little did I know that I would find myself jamming with the godfathers of rock on and off for the next two weeks,” Corby recalled. At the time, he never planned to sell his guitar. “Jimmy and I argued over the price of a guitar that I had not had the least intention of selling when I set out.”
The guitar in question would eventually become Jimmy Page’s famous red, modified 1952 Les Paul. Despite his initial reluctance, Corby parted with it. “How I managed to end up parting with it and how I spent so many hours jamming with Jimmy and the entire line-up of Led Zeppelin is something I still have difficulty in coming to terms with,” he said.
The jam sessions with Led Zeppelin were a surreal experience. What started as a chance encounter led to one of rock’s most iconic instruments changing hands, marking a significant chapter in both Corby’s and Page’s musical journeys.
A Lesson from Jimmy Page
During their time together, Jimmy Page asked Corby to show him some of the licks he had been playing. Corby was thrilled, but also struck by the difference in their playing abilities. “What I had taken months to learn, he had learned in hours,” Corby marveled.
After about ten days of intense negotiations over the price of Corby’s prized Les Paul, the guitarist was surprised when Jimmy asked for a private lesson. “Here was a man whose life and style had enriched my very being, what chance did I have of keeping my guitar?” Corby recalled. It was a moment of mutual respect, but one that also hinted at the inevitable outcome.
Corby followed Page to a small ante room, where he showed the legendary guitarist his collection of chord structures. In that quiet moment, Corby gained an unforgettable insight into Page’s talent. “It was at that moment and in private that I had the most remarkable, intimate and memorable insight to his playing,” Corby said.
A Surreal Experience with Led Zeppelin
Looking back, Corby still struggles to come to terms with parting with his prized guitar and jamming with Led Zeppelin. It was a surreal experience that seemed almost impossible at the time. “My ego was crestfallen but I had expected nothing less,” Corby said, reflecting on the whirlwind events that unfolded.
Despite his initial shock, Corby was thrilled by the opportunity to play alongside the legendary band. “God knows, I was still in shock that he had even spoken to me let alone played with me,” he recalled. The experience only grew more surreal when he was invited to play Jimmy Page’s treasured ’59 Tigerstripe guitar through an old Marshall Major 200 amp.
The jam sessions, which included Bonham, Plant, and John Paul Jones, left Corby with memories he would never forget. “It was an intimate experience that I will never forget,” he said, still in awe of the moment.