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Joe Jammer "Led Zeppelin" Connection

Members of our road crew relax before unloading equipment in
New York, 1969.
From left: Joe 'Jammer' Wright, Clive Coulson, a friend, and
Mick Turner (Eric Clapton's Assistant).
(The Richard Cole Photo Collection)
(above excerpt 'upper right hand corner')
From the 'Stairway To Heaven' book by Richard Cole.

     Many people played an important role in helping me reach the point of writing this book.
     Thanks to my mother and father, who gave me love and steered me in the right direction;
to Jenny Canon for Ibiza in the summer of 1984, and to Dr. Brian Wells, Mickey Bush, and
Andrew Lane who shared their experience, strength and hope with me.
     I am also appreciative of Richard Trubo for his writing talent and perseverance, Tom Miller
and Jim Hornfacher, my editors at Harper-Collins, Jane Dyed, my agent of Acton & Dyxtel, Inc.
and her assistants, Marium Godriech and Skip Chernov for his encouragement and faith in the book.
Bernie Rhodes, Roger 'Snake' Klien and Alan McDougall pestered me to write this book.
Alan along with Toni Young and Carol Boothby, helped with he transcripts.
Taylor and his fine publication, Zeen, proved to be an excellent resource of Led Zeppelin History.
     I appreciate the assistance and camaraderie of Led Zeppelin road crew over the years;
Joe 'Jammer' Wright, Kenny Pickett, Clive Coulson, Mick Hinton, Ray Thomas,
Sandy McGregor and Brian Condliff.
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Early in his career, Jimmy Page's most precious guitar was a Gibson Les Paul Custom-Black Beauty model. Bought in 1962, it was one of his main guitars during the session era and in the early days of
The Yardbirds. Though rarely used live, he did begin to feature it with Led Zeppelin during their early tours. Unfortunately it was stolen on a flight change en route to Canada in April 1970. Jimmy takes
up the story: "The Gibson stayed with me until it was stolen in the States. I never took it on the road
much but things were going so well I decided to start using it.
It had a big tremolo are and Joe Jammer custom wired it.
I started to use it more then. It disappeared off the truck at an airport as we were on
our way to Canada. We advertised for its return but no luck even though it was
very recognizable with all the custom work on it."
One of its last live outings was at the January 9th, Royal Albert Hall show in 1970.
The 'Wanted' advertisement for it was inserted into the
July 19th, 1973 edition of Rolling Stone magazine.
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REWARD FOR RETURN OF BRITISH ROCK MUSICIAN'S LOST OR STOLEN
BLACK GIBSON GUITAR LES PAUL CUSTOM WITH BIGSBY ARM
#06130 WITH EXTRA SWITCHES.
MISSING IN U.S. FOR ABOUT ONE YEAR. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.
CONTACT TED ROSENBLATT:
444 MADISON AVE. NEW YORK, NY 10022 / 212-752-1330
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More of Jimmy Page's Stolen Guitar story from CREEM Magazine / Winter 1980
featuring Led Zeppelin w/Jimmy Page & Robert Plant on the cover with a full cover story
and a full, in depth interview inside.

Jimmy Page quotes: "Then I got a Les Paul Custom which I stayed with until it was nicked in the
States during the first 18 months of Zeppelin-the second or third tour. Usually I never took that on
the road, because it was so precious. But things were going so well for us that I eventually took it
over and it suddenly went.
It had a big tremlo arm and Joe Jammer custom wired it for me. I was starting to use it more than
anything else. It got nicked off the truck at the airport-we were on our way to Canada. Somewhere
there was a flight change and it disappeared. It just never arrived at the other end.
I advertised for it in Rolling Stone. Just a photograph-no name-and a reward. No luck though,
even though it was very recognizable for all the custom work that Joe Jammer done on it."
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(further excerpts from the CREEM Magazine interview w/Jimmy Page)

Q: Any final hints to the budding guitarists ? I'm thinking more in terms of short cuts.
Like you taught Joe Jammer a lot of tricks when he was your roadie, right ?

A: "Oh, sure, right. But I mean, Joe Jammer, he already knew how to play so he just did it
by listening and watching all the time. That's the trick, really. You should always check out with
someone who already had the rudiments down pat. I mean, there's always someone who knows
how to play a guitar even if they live in the next village."
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