Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has paid tribute to Rory Gallagher at an event to mark the launch of a CD/DVD recording of their only live concert in nearly 30 years.
The three surviving members of the fabled band, Page, singer Robert Plant and bass player John Paul Jones, made a rare appearance together at a press conference to launch the CD/DVD Celebration Day which is a live recording of their one-off concert at the O2 in London in December 2007.
When Page was reminded that Gallagher had beaten him in a poll of best guitarists in the world in Melody Maker 40 years ago, Page replied: "I really liked Rory and I had the pleasure of meeting him at Peter Grant (Led Zeppelin manager) our old manager’s office in the early days".
"He came up to reception with Peter Grant and we had a good chat"
"I liked Rory, he was fine guitarist and singer and lovely man and I know how loved he was in Co. Cork"
The band members were very coy when the inevitable question came up about a potential reunion and tour.
"Let me ask you a question," said Page in response to a reporter’s question. "Have you seen the film? Did you enjoy it? Then we've done our job, haven't we?"
Plant said he didn’t know what the lyrics to Stairway to Heaven meant although he had written them.
“Maybe I didn’t quite feel the same about the lyrics a little bit later on in life, further on down the road,” he said.
“Maybe I’m still trying to work out what I was talking about. Every other f***** is.”
Celebration Day will get a worldwide theatrical release on 17 October, and a multi-format home release on 19 November.
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