Keith Richards on Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, and Why Something Never Quite Landed

There’s always something fascinating about rock legends speaking their minds, especially when they do it with the kind of honesty that only decades in the spotlight can afford. When Keith Richards talks, people listen. And when he talks about Jimmy Page and Led Zeppelin, the entire music world leans in.

Keith Richards has never been one to sugarcoat. He called Jimmy Page “one of the best guitar players ever known,” and the praise is genuine. Both Richards and Page came up through the British blues scene in the 1960s, and both cut their teeth in studio sessions and early rock bands. But that’s where the similarities start to bend in different directions.

Page eventually launched Led Zeppelin, a band that changed rock music forever with its thunderous power and experimental edge. Richards, of course, helped shape The Rolling Stones into one of the greatest blues-influenced rock bands of all time. And yet, for all his admiration for Page, Richards has always had a complicated view of Zeppelin.

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Why does Keith think Led Zeppelin felt ‘hollow’?

Richards has been consistent in his views on Zeppelin, and it mostly comes down to how the band sounded as a unit. In an interview with Rolling Stone back in 2015, he laid it out clearly: “I love Jimmy Page, but as a band, with John Bonham thundering down the highway in an uncontrolled 18-wheeler, no.”

It wasn’t about musicianship. It was about vibe. Page could play anything, and Bonham was, without a doubt, a powerhouse. But for Keith, there was something off about how it all came together. Something “hollow,” as he put it. In a separate video posted to his website even earlier, Richards doubled down: “They were aptly named, but they never took off for me, musically.”

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He didn’t dismiss their legacy, though. He called Bonham a “hell of a powerhouse drummer,” and added, “if you want to cut the story short: Led Zeppelin was Jimmy Page.”

Did Jimmy Page respond?

Of course he did. But in classic Page style, he kept things classy. Speaking with Classic Rock, he didn’t take the bait. “Keith can say what he wants. He’s Keith Richards.” He followed it up with genuine respect for Richards’ work and left it at that.

Page didn’t agree with the ‘hollow’ comment, though. “I’m not sure what he means… What we did was really cool,” he said. For Zeppelin fans, that’s putting it lightly.

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Was it really just about the drums?

It kind of was. And maybe more than that, it was about approach. Richards always raved about Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones’ beloved drummer, who passed away in 2021. For Keith, Charlie brought feel and restraint—never overplaying, always knowing when not to hit. That space and control mattered to Richards. It helped define the Stones’ sound.

“Rock and roll doesn’t necessarily need the whole battery of drums,” he once told Howard Stern. “Silence is your canvas.” That quote says a lot about what he values in music.

Compare that to Bonham’s relentless, wild energy—undeniably brilliant, but different. Led Zeppelin thrived on that intensity. The Stones, meanwhile, preferred the subtle swing that Charlie brought. It’s not about who’s better. It’s about chemistry and what serves the music.

Has Keith Richards always had strong opinions on guitarists?

Absolutely. He’s not shy about calling someone a bad fit. He’s said Jeff Beck wouldn’t have worked in the Stones because Beck was “an individualist.” He’s shared his opinions on players like Harvey Mandel and Ronnie Wood, talking candidly about studio chemistry and what makes a band truly feel right.

Keith’s the kind of guy who trusts instinct over flash. Alternate tunings, old cassette recorders, and acoustic guitars helped save Stones classics like Jumpin’ Jack Flash and Street Fighting Man. It’s not about showing off. It’s about finding the groove and riding it.

So when he says Zeppelin felt a little hollow, he’s not trying to knock them down. He’s just sharing how it hit his ears. And when you’ve spent 60 years making music that defined a generation, you’ve earned the right to say exactly what you think. Even if it starts a debate that’ll never really end.