2. Jimmy Page (The Yardbirds/Led Zeppelin)
For as great and innovative a guitarist as Page is, he’s just as respected for his work as a composer. First, with the Yardbirds, then, of course, Led Zeppelin. Some of his best work can be found on Zeppelin’s self-titled 1969 debut. Rock fans were introduced to a sound that was heavy, dark, sometimes fast and usually emotional — all while not being too complex. It’s hard to pick even a handful of examples of Page’s best stuff, because his innovation can be heard throughout Zeppelin’s catalog.
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