Jimmy Page Reveals His True Masterpiece—And It’s Not ‘Stairway to Heaven’
When the conversation turns to legendary rock guitar solos, Jimmy Page’s explosive performance on Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” usually tops the list. Its soaring, emotive phrasing has become an enduring symbol of classic rock perfection—celebrated, imitated, and revered for generations. Yet, for the man who played it, that solo—iconic as it is—isn’t his personal best.
Jimmy Page, known for his meticulous, often visionary approach to guitar work, sees things differently. Before leading Led Zeppelin to musical immortality, he had already carved out a name as a guitar virtuoso with The Yardbirds. As Zeppelin’s sonic architect, he brought layers of complexity and nuance that often placed him one step ahead of even his brilliant peers.
While “Stairway to Heaven” remains his most beloved creation in the public eye, Page views it as a moment of inspiration rather than a career-defining pinnacle. Speaking to Classic Rock in 2016, he reflected on its creation: “No,” he said when asked if it was his greatest solo, “but it’s pretty damn good.” He described the process as surprisingly swift—the bottleneck and other foundational tracks were already in place before the solo itself was recorded. With only a few takes available, Page captured lightning in a bottle.
But for a true measure of his artistry, Page pointed elsewhere: “Achilles Last Stand.”
Featured on the 1976 album Presence, “Achilles Last Stand” is an ambitious, 10-minute epic often overshadowed by Zeppelin’s more radio-friendly tracks. For Page, though, it was a deeper test of his creativity and technical ability. The solo required layering six distinct guitar parts into one cohesive soundscape—an engineering feat accomplished in a single night.
“It was testy, to say the least,” Page recalled in a 2007 Rolling Stone interview. His vision was so complex that his bandmates were initially unsure what to make of it. “To be honest with you, the other guys didn’t know: ‘Has he gone mad? Does he know what he’s doing?’ But at the end of it, the picture became clear.” What emerged was a rich, cinematic journey—one that even surpassed the structured beauty of “Stairway” in terms of scope and ambition.
Robert Plant, Zeppelin’s enigmatic frontman, has long had mixed feelings about “Stairway to Heaven,” particularly its lyrics. Yet even he acknowledges its musical brilliance, once calling it “a very beautiful piece.” His comments reinforce the divide between public perception and artistic intent—between what fans cherish and what the artist considers his true masterwork.
In the end, both solos represent milestones in rock history, each capturing a different facet of Page’s genius. “Stairway to Heaven” may forever be the anthem of a generation, but for Jimmy Page, “Achilles Last Stand” is the moment he truly pushed the boundaries of what a guitar—and a guitarist—could do.
