At Odds with Most
The guitarist decided to move away from being an anonymous rocker in London studios working with some of the biggest stars of the early ‘60s. Instead, he steered towards playing sweaty gigs at American universities and gyms-turned-clubs across the pond. The move was thrilling, but Page was feeling smothered. The Yardbirds’ manager and producer Mickie Most was becoming a burden.
Mickie Most. Photo by Roger Bamber / Associated Newspapers / Shutterstock
Most was old school – a strict follower of the three-minute pop song. He and Page butted heads more often than not. Page was paying close attention to what the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Cream, and Jimi Hendrix were doing at the time. He noticed what they were doing with the album format and wanted to do the same with his band.