“The Guitar That Changed Rock History: Joe Walsh Recalls the Day He Gave Jimmy Page His Beloved Les Paul”
In the vast tapestry of rock ‘n’ roll history, there are a few moments where fate, friendship, and sound align so perfectly that they help define a generation. One such moment came not in a studio or on a stage, but during a quiet, generous transaction between two guitar legends—Joe Walsh and Jimmy Page.
Decades later, Joe Walsh still tells the story with a kind of casual awe, like a man who knew he was giving away something important—but couldn’t quite imagine just how important it would become.
“Jimmy was still playing the Telecasters that he played in the Yardbirds,” Walsh recalled in a recent interview. “He was looking for a Les Paul and asked if I knew of any, ’cause he couldn’t find one that he liked. And I had two. So I kept the one I liked the most, and I flew with the other one.”
What sounds like a simple act of generosity turned into a defining moment for Jimmy Page—and, by extension, for Led Zeppelin and the sound of hard rock itself. The guitar that Walsh delivered became Page’s go-to instrument, the now-iconic 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard, which would go on to shape the sonic signature of Zeppelin’s most thunderous, layered work.
“I laid it on him and said, ‘Try this out,’” Walsh continued. “He really liked it. So I gave him a really good deal. I had to hand-carry it; I flew there and everything. So whatever my expenses were, that’s what I charged him. But again, I just thought he should have a Les Paul, for god’s sake!”
At the time, neither man knew that this particular guitar—affectionately referred to by Page as “Number One”—would become one of the most legendary instruments in the history of rock. It wasn’t just another axe to hang on the wall or rotate in and out of a set. It was the guitar. Page used it extensively on Led Zeppelin II, which was recorded in May shortly after Walsh made the handoff. The album went on to become one of Zeppelin’s most defining works, filled with riffs that shook the foundation of modern rock.
From the opening thunder of “Whole Lotta Love” to the blistering solos on “Heartbreaker” and “The Lemon Song,” the Les Paul brought a new depth and growl to Page’s playing. It helped separate Zeppelin from their blues-rock peers, lending weight and majesty to their ever-expanding sound.
“It had a thickness to it, this incredible sustain,” Page once said of the Les Paul. “And it sang, almost like it had its own voice. That guitar just felt right. I bonded with it immediately.”
As the years passed and Page acquired more guitars—many of them Les Pauls—he never lost his connection to that first one from Walsh. He referred to it reverently as his “Number One,” and it became a fixture on stage and in the studio for the better part of Zeppelin’s storied run.
The instrument itself even became a kind of visual emblem of Page’s artistry. Fans can picture it slung low on his hips during the “Stairway to Heaven” solo, or catching the light as he rips into “Black Dog” live at Madison Square Garden. It was more than a guitar—it was a partner in crime, a vessel for the mysterious blend of blues, mysticism, and power that made Zeppelin the giants they were.
And none of it might have happened without Joe Walsh’s gut feeling and generosity.
“I didn’t think it was a big deal at the time,” Walsh admitted with a laugh. “But looking back on it, I guess I passed along a little piece of history.”
Indeed he did.
Joe Walsh, best known for his work with the James Gang and later the Eagles, may not be the first name people think of when they hear Led Zeppelin. But his fingerprints are all over one of the band’s most essential tools. That act of generosity didn’t just change Page’s tone—it arguably helped elevate Zeppelin’s sound to something mythic.
In an industry often marred by ego and competition, Walsh’s story stands out as a rare example of musicians looking out for each other—for the sake of the music. No contracts. No conditions. Just one guitarist recognizing what another needed and making it happen.
And for that, rock fans everywhere owe Joe Walsh a quiet thank-you.
Because sometimes, the right guitar in the right hands really can change the world.
