Jimmy Page’s opinion on Metallica

Jimmy Page was a key figure in the evolution of Heavy Rock music and without his guitar playing in Led Zeppelin this kind of music could have been quite different. Although Black Sabbath was certainly the biggest inspiration for Heavy Metal bands his band was also an important part of the influence on many famous guitar players who went on to make their own music and find their own style. Metallica was one of the groups inspired by both British bands, Jimmy Page has been familiar with their albums and has already given his opinion on them.

What is Jimmy Page’s opinion on Metallica

Jimmy Page is a fan of Metallica and when the band celebrated its 30th anniversary he was unable to attend the event, but recorded a testimonial video. He said: “Hi there James, Rob, Kirk and Lars. You’re having a bit of a party there, aren’t you? At the Fillmore and rightfully so, what a celebration it must be with all your fans there after 30 years of your contribution to some of the best Rock around, let’s face it.”

“I wish I could be there with you. But when you come to London I’ll certainly be there to come and hear you if that’s ok. Just enjoy your evening, all you guys there, the fans, the band. All the very best!” Jimmy Page said in 2011 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

Curiously, he loves one of the most hated Metallica albums, which is “St. Anger”, released in 2003. Producer Bob Rock recalled that the British musician praised the record. “Jimmy Page, not to drop names, but he’s kind of a friend. He was at the Sunset Marquis (hotel), he was sitting eating breakfast on the other side of the pool.”

“Somebody walked by and said, ‘I’m here seeing Bob Rock’. Jimmy said, ‘Oh, Bob’s here?’ He came over and talked to me, which blew my mind, coming from Winnipeg, that Jimmy Page even knows my name, you know? And he said, ‘By the way, I love St Anger, it’s a great album’. So I’m OK: those two guys (Jack White as well, who told him he liked the album) bought the record. I’m OK with that!” Bob Rock told Classic Rock in 2023.

When Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck played with Metallica

Two years before Metallica’s 30th anniversary, in 2009, Jimmy Page was at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to induct his friend Jeff Beck. Metallica were also among the inductees. That night all of them took the stage to perform “Train Kept A Rollin'”, one of the most influential songs for Page’s and Beck’s generation. However, Metallica weren’t familiar with the track and had to be taught how to perform it by the Led Zeppelin guitarist and Beck. Hetfield later said that he felt out of place sharing the stage with the two legendary guitarists.

“I know individually we’re all really average players, but when you put us together something happens. Something really happens. Getting up and jamming with people is like a nightmare for me. I felt so inadequate. And it’s a head game for me. I’m a perfectionist. And kind of a people pleaser. Most musicians are insecure,” he told Cigar Aficionado in 2023. Aerosmith’s Joe Perry was also there that night and he was the one who recalled Metallica had to learn the track.

He said:

“When Metallica was inducted into the Hall Of Fame they had Jimmy Page. I think that Jeff Beck was being inducted too and me coming up to play with Metallica. The song is ‘Train Kept A Rollin’, Metallica didn’t know it. They did not know ‘Train Kept A Rollin’. It was like a drummer not knowing ‘Wipeout’ (By The Surfaris). Jimmy and Jeff kind of looked at each other like ‘Okay, we will have to run through for them’. They had the teleprompter and of course it was no pun intended, but it was a trainwreck after Jeff brought the ‘train’.”

“I mean, we made it through it. But it just showed that a generation in Rock and Roll can be two years. Like Alice (Cooper) said, we’ve learned from these guys. Even though they were maybe a couple years older than us, maybe even younger,” Joe Perry told A-Sides in 2015 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

James Hetfield chose “Stairway to Heaven” as the best song of all time

All members of Metallica are big fans of Led Zeppelin and James Hetfield even listed Robert Plant as one of the greatest singers of all time, playing him in front of names like Steven Tyler, Freddie Mercury and Johnny Cash. In an interview for the podcast Metallica Report in 2025, James said that “Stairway to Heaven” could be considered the best song of all time.

“There is a (best) song for every mood, every day, every action. You know, when I’m driving ‘Ace of Spades’ (Motörhead) is the best song. But the best song written… I mean, as far as songwriting goes there’s so many avenues to go down. As stupid and simple as it sounds, I think ‘Stairway to Heaven’ (Led Zeppelin) is just one of those songs that so many bands have tried to emulate. You start off light and end up heavy. (Lynyrd Skynyrd) ‘Free Bird is that (way), ‘One’ (Metallica). There’s so many songs that have emulated that,” James Hetfield said (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage).

It was one of the first guitar intros the American frontman learned to play. After his parents gave him a guitar, he gathered the family and said, “Check it out! I can play this!” But their response was: “Where’s the rest of the song?” Later on in high school, with his band Obsession, Hetfield covered many of their tracks, including “Rock and Roll”.

Jimmy Page advised Kirk Hammett to buy Peter Green’s guitar

Back in 2014, Kirk Hammett had the chance to buy the famous “Greeny” guitar, previously owned by Peter Green, best known for his early work with Fleetwood Mac. Although he thought it would be a great guitar to play, he first asked Jimmy Page for advice.

“The evening of the day I looked at it. I sent a message to Jimmy Page through a friend of mine. (I said) ‘Jimmy, what do you think of this guitar?’ And Jimmy’s reaction was, ‘I remember that guitar. You should absolutely buy it.’ So I guess I should throw that in for the record that I have Jimmy Page’s approval. When Jimmy says, ‘Yes, you should buy it, Kirk,’ then it doesn’t get much better than that!’ Kirk Hammett told Guitar World in 2017.