Watch Jimmy Page & Jeff Beck’s Epic Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Performance
When Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page took the stage together at the 24th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on April 4, 2009, it wasn’t just a reunion — it was a historic meeting of two of rock’s greatest guitar innovators. The performance, highlighted by a fierce rendition of “Immigrant Song”, reignited the fire of the Yardbirds era and reminded the world why these two musicians forever changed the language of the electric guitar.
From the Yardbirds to Legends
Their story stretches back to the mid-1960s, when both guitarists were shaping the future of rock with The Yardbirds. After Eric Clapton left the group in 1965 to join John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Jeff Beck stepped in — his arrival coinciding with the emergence of the fuzz pedal and the birth of the psychedelic sound. His experiments with tone, feedback, and phrasing made him one of the most innovative players of the decade.
When Yardbirds bassist Paul Samwell-Smith abruptly quit in 1966, Jimmy Page, already a sought-after studio musician, joined the band — initially on bass before switching to guitar. What followed was nothing short of electric: Beck and Page together formed one of the most formidable dual-guitar lineups in rock history. “It worked out that we did the dual guitar thing as soon as Chris Dreja could get it together with the bass,” Page recalled years later.
Chaos, Creativity, and Innovation
In a 1977 interview with Guitar Player, Page reflected on those wild Yardbirds sessions: “It was chaotic. We did one tune and didn’t really know what it was. We had Ian Stewart from the Stones on piano, and Mickie Most just said, ‘Next!’ without even hearing it.” Despite the disarray, the period was one of explosive creativity — a fertile ground that would soon give birth to both Led Zeppelin and Beck’s groundbreaking solo career.
Page later admitted that while their dual-guitar chemistry could be volatile, it was also revolutionary. “Sometimes it worked really great, and sometimes it didn’t. But when it did, no one else had done anything quite like it,” he said. The interplay between the two — part harmony, part competition — set a new standard for what twin guitars could achieve in rock music.
The Hall of Fame Reunion
Fast forward to 2009: Jimmy Page inducted Jeff Beck into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, honoring his old friend and rival with words of admiration and respect. But it was their performance together that truly stole the show. With Beck wielding his trademark Fender Stratocaster and Page on a Fender Electric XII, the two launched into a jaw-dropping set that included “Beck’s Bolero” before erupting into a thunderous, instrumental version of “Immigrant Song.”
The crowd at Cleveland’s Public Hall roared as the two legends traded licks with the same fire and precision that once defined their youth. Decades after their Yardbirds days, the chemistry was undeniable — two masters speaking a language only they fully understood.
Two Icons, One Legacy
The performance was more than nostalgia — it was a reminder of how Beck and Page helped lay the foundations of modern rock. Their fearless experimentation, technical brilliance, and mutual respect transcended rivalry and time. As the final notes of “Immigrant Song” rang out, the audience rose in thunderous applause, witnessing history come full circle.
Moments later, Page handed Beck his Hall of Fame trophy. The two smiled, raising it together — a gesture that symbolized not just friendship, but the enduring spirit of innovation that has kept their music alive for generations.
Years later, when Jeff Beck passed away in 2023, fans revisited this performance as one of his defining live moments — a fitting tribute to two guitarists whose partnership once pushed rock ‘n’ roll into uncharted territory.