Jimmy Page has been named GQ's Rock God of the Year. The award is accompanied by a candid interview in which Page shows class in responding to questions about Robert Plant, but is clearly angry about rumors of his previous drug use and its affect on the recording of Zeppelin's last album.

Regarding Plant's refusal to perform with Led Zeppelin again, Page responded, "Sometimes I raise my eyebrows at the things he says, but that's all I can say about it. I don't make a point to read what he says about Zeppelin. But people will read me things he has said, and I will usually say, 'Are you sure you're quoting him correctly?' It's always a little surprising. But I can't answer for him. I have a respect for the work of everyone in the band. I can't be dismissive of the work we did together. I sort of know what he's doing. But I don't fully understand it."

When Page was asked whether he ever went into rehab to cure his rumored heroin problem, Page snapped: "How do you know I had a heroin problem? You don’t know what I had or what I didn’t have. All I will say is this: My responsibilities to the music did not change. I didn’t drop out or quit working. I was there, just as much as anyone else was."

When reminded about the reports that he was absent from portions of Zeppelin's final album, 1979's "In Though The Out Door" — with Plant and John Paul Jones taking over the reins of the band — Page shot back: "The second thing to take on board is the fact that I am the producer of 'In Through the Out Door.' That’s what I did. It’s right there in black and white. If there were controversy over this, if John Paul Jones or Robert Plant had done what you’re implying, wouldn’t they have wanted to be listed as the producers of the album? So let’s just forget all that."

Read the complete interview at GQ.com.

-Spencer
 

(Photo by Marco Grob)