One-time hotel wrecking rocker becomes respectable, dignified and honored

It’s a sign of the times, and perhaps age, when a one-time hotel wrecking, hell-raising, legendary band member and supergroup rocker gets a very dignified badge of respectability and honor. You don’t really expect to hear that sort of thing when you recall all the stories from way back. But hey, everyone moves on and there is no doubt that great musicians deserve recognition and awards. 

Jimmy Page, the guitar legend extraordinaire from Led Zeppelin, picked up an unusual award this week. It was at a very exclusive event in Washington, DC at the British Embassy. Formally hosted by the British Ambassador Karen Pierce and Charles Roxburgh, the Permanent Secretary to the UK Treasury. That's all very formal and establishment-like for a rocker like Page who was once said to have had to be chained to a hotel toilet to stop him trashing the room. 

It wasn’t just the Brits in attendance though at the formal dinner. Pierce and Roxburgh had some high-powered US officials in support too.  They included US Attorney General Merrick Garland, Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, and Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Brett Kavanaugh. It’s probably not the usual crowd for a Page appearance but he didn't seem to mind at all.

Rocker Jimmy Page picks up Led Zeppelin honor

The purpose of the event was reported to be recognizing Page and Led Zeppelin for “their brilliant music and philanthropy”.  Gosh, don't they make these things sound grand! The brilliant music makes sense and to be fair the band and its members have supported many great causes and charities over the years. I guess most of us might just have said that in a more down-to-earth way. 

Organized by Catherine and Wayne Reynolds from the Academy of Achievement, however, you might prefer to describe the purpose, it was a big honor for Page and the band. He wasn’t performing at the event but Grace Potter did take the audience back to the band's heyday with her live version of “Whole Lotta Love”. She had plenty of Led Zeppelin classics to choose from but has performed this song a few times on TV shows and on stage, making it a great choice for the occasion. 

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