Called the “original Punk”, the American guitarist and singer Link Wray was born in 1929 in Dunn, North Carolina and started his musical career in 1955. His biggest hit was the instrumental track “Rumble”, that influenced a whole generation of guitar players, including Led Zeppelin‘s Jimmy Page, who paid tribute to Wray at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Wray was inducted into the Hall last November 3 and Page performed the track “Rumble”, which he had already praised on the 2007 documentary “It Might Get Loud”. Wray passed away in 2005 at the age of 76.
Besides Link Wray, in 2023 were inducted Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against The Machine, The Spinners, DJ Kool Herc, Don Cornelius, Chaka Khan, Al Kooper and Bernie Taupin.
See Jimmy Page performing Link Wray’s “Rumble” at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction
On his official Instagram, Jimmy Page talked about the performance, recalling how much Wray inspired him when he was a young player.
“I was asked to induct Link Wray into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame @rockhall; a guitarist, instrumentalist and songwriter that I’d admired from the very first taste of the Rumble.”
“I first heard it when I was 14, roaring from a jukebox in my hometown of Epsom. As a guitar instrumental the attitude of it was totally unique in its mystery, imagination and execution — it had a profound effect on me.”
“Link Wray and Rumble stand alone at the pinnacle in the world of instrumentals and I was thrilled to stand on stage in New York with drummer Anton Fig and bassist Tim Givens at the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame last night to induct one of my heroes,” Jimmy Page said.