'Light & Shade: Conversations With Jimmy Page' Book Author Speaks To 'Rock Book Show' (Video)

Guitar World's Brad Tolinski recently spoke to "Rock Book Show" about his newly released book, "Light & Shade: Conversations With Jimmy Page" (Crown). You can now watch the chat below.

Jimmy Page was the leader, mastermind, guitarist and producer of LED ZEPPELIN, described by Rolling Stone magazine as "the biggest band of the Seventies" and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history." While there is no shortage of written material out there on LED ZEPPELIN's legacy, no member has written their own memoir and rarely have they cooperated with the press or a biographer — certainly neverPage. For the most part, their exploits are merely the stuff of legend. On the rare occasions that Page has opened his doors to journalists, he has done so with caution.

Over the last twenty years, Brad Tolinski, editorial director of Guitar World, Revolver and Guitar Aficionado magazines, has interviewed Page more than any other journalist in the world and by asking incisive questions, he's been able to gain the trust of this greatly misunderstood artist. Sifting through over fifty hours of conversations that touch on everything from the 1960s music scene and his early years as England's top session guitarist working with artists like THE WHO, THE KINKS, and Eric Clapton, to his wild years in LED ZEPPELIN, and post-ZEP projects, "Light & Shade" will provide readers with the most complete picture of the media-shy guitarist ever published.

Says Slash (VELVET REVOLVER, GUNS N' ROSES): "This is the most comprehensive and compelling collection of interviews, insights and historical anecdotes of one of rock and roll's premier guitarists, songwriters and producers ever compiled. A fascinating must-have for Jimmy Page fans like myself."

Added Kirk Hammett (METALLICA): "'Light & Shade' illuminates the haunted genius of Jimmy Page in an original and completely satisfying way. The conversational dynamic between the author and the subject reveals a wealth of info about the man, the music, and the magick."

Said Billy Gibbons (ZZ TOP): "Jimmy Page... the one and only! From mild to wild, Jimmy sez it all. This fine work will rock you!"

Following are quotes from Jimmy Page as told to Brad Tolinski in various interviews over the years.

"I really don't like showing people how I play things; it's a little embarrassing because it always looks so simple to me." - Jimmy Page, as told to Brad Tolinski, Greg Di Benedetto and Andy Aledort in the December 1993 edition of Guitar World.

"I can't speak for others, but for me drugs were an integral part of the whole thing, right from the beginning, right to the end. And part of the condition of drug taking is that you start thinking you're invincible. I'll tell you something that is absolutely crazy. I remember one night climbing out of a nine-story window in New York and sitting on one of those air conditioning units, looking over the city. I was just out on my own and I thought that it might be an interesting thing to do. It was totally reckless behavior. I mean, it's great that I'm still here to have a laugh about it, but it was totally irresponsible. I could have died and left a lot of people I loved. I've seen so many casualties." - Jimmy Page, as told to Brad Tolinski in the July 2003 edition of Guitar World.

"We were never a band that did 96 takes of the same thing. I had heard of groups that were into that kind of excess around that time. They'd work on the same track for three or four days and then work on it some more, but that's clearly not the way to record an album. If the track isn't happening and it creates some sort of psychological barrier, even after an hour or two, then you should stop and do something else. Go out: go to the pub, or a restaurant or something. Or play another song." - Jimmy Page, as told to Brad Tolinski and Greg Di Benedetto in the January 2002 edition of Guitar World.

"[We] did record a lot of shows, but many of the board tapes were stolen from me many years ago. They were sort of 'relieved' from my house in the early Eighties when I wasn't there. All of that stuff, along with the recordings of our rehearsals, were stolen and surfaced as bootlegs, which is a drag." - Jimmy Page, as told to Brad Tolinski in the July 2003 edition of Guitar World.

An excerpt from the book can be found exclusively on CBS Local.