That was the infamous moment of my life when Dazed and Confused fell into the loving arms and hands of Jimmy Page.by Jake Holmes.
He recalled so in an interview with Will Shade.
Holmes opened for the Yardbirds' gig there at a Greenwich Village gig in August 1967.
As documented by Perfect Sound Forever magazine.
And what says Yardbirds drummer Jim McCarty. He described going to a record shop the next day to buy a copy of Holmes's album.
We decided to do a version,he said.
We worked it out together with Jimmy contributing the guitar riffs in the middle.
In fact, the path that leads from Holmes to Page is very well known, according to The Guardian.
When the Yardbirds broke up in 1968, Page brought the song to his new band, releasing it on Led Zeppelin's self-titled first album.
But although Holmes's contribution to the tune is often commented upon – and even dominates Dazed and Confused's Wikipedia page – Page is credited as the track's sole songwriter.
What says Jimmy?
In 1990, Musician magazine quizzed Page on the subject, asking if Holmes was the original composer.
I don't know about all that.
I'd rather not get into it because I don't know all the circumstances. What's he got – the riff or whatever?
I haven't heard Jake Holmes so I don't know what it's all about anyway.
Page replied.
Usually my riffs are pretty damn original.
Yes, usually.
Page,
now I want to take couple of the original rhythms, and put them in your song.
By the way, I never like it the end of your song ..Dazed and Confused.
I can't stand this teasing, I'm starting to crack
You're out to get me, you're on the right track
Secrets are fun to a certain degree
But this one's no fun cause the secret's on me