I took the train from Central London to Gatwick Airport to catch my plane home to the U.S. I have done this over 200 times in the past 16 years and I can almost do the steps with my eyes closed. As I was leaving the train at Gatwick Airport to make my way to the warmth and gratitude of the Northwest Airlines ticket clerk, I saw an older guy waiting to board the train with what appeared to be a 5- or 6-year-old boy; I figured it was a grandchild.
I brushed past this gentleman, took three steps when I felt I had been hit by a bolt of lightening. That's Jimmy Page! It was Jimmy Page, founder and lead guitarist of what many feel was the finest rock band of all time -- Led Zeppelin. I looked back as he very gently lifted his grandson onto the train and took his seat. I figured, if not now, when?
I hopped back on and gently asked him "Are you Jimmy Page." He stood up and respectfully said yes while shaking my hand. I was speechless. Am I a 51-year-old groupie? The train had 15 minutes before leaving to go back to Central London. I asked Jimmy if I could chat with him for a few moments. He said, "Yes, of course, please sit down. I do not get the opportunity to chat with fans very often," probably thinking -- yeah, a fan this old!!
First question I asked was, "Why don't you guys reunite and tour. Put the great John Bonham's son Jason on the drums? " Jimmy said he would love to tour, but that lead singer Robert Plant was not interested at the moment. Ever the gentleman, Jimmy said, "You know, I am over 60 years of age, and the rest are approaching 60. We need to do this soon!"



