It was late 1999, and the world was panicking about Y2K. Meanwhile, at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, something way more interesting was happening. Jimmy Page, the man who basically built the blueprint for hard rock, walked onto a stage with the Black Crowes. This wasn't some polished, corporate "supergroup" tour. It was loud. It was greasy. Honestly, it was a little dangerous.
For two nights in October, they tore through a setlist that most Zeppelin fans would have sold a kidney to see. We’re talking "The Wanton Song," "In My Time of Dying," and "Ten Years Gone"—tracks Page hadn’t touched in years because Robert Plant wasn't exactly jumping at the chance to revisit those vocal-shredding highs.
Fast forward to 2025 and 2026, and we're finally getting the full story. The 25th-anniversary reissue has changed the narrative of Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes Live at the Greek forever.
The Mystery of the Missing Crowes Songs
If you bought the original CD back in 2000, you probably noticed something weird. The album was called Live at the Greek, but it was almost entirely Led Zeppelin covers and old blues standards.
Where were the Crowes?
Contractual red tape. Basically, the Crowes’ label, Columbia, wouldn't let their songs appear on a release for another label (TVT/MusicMaker.com). It was a total buzzkill. Fans at the show got to hear Page playing on "Remedy" and "She Talks to Angels," but the people listening at home were left out in the cold.
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The 2025 reissue fixed this. It restored 16 tracks that had been sitting in a vault for a quarter-century. For the first time, you can actually hear how Page fits into the Crowes' own groove. He didn't just stand there; he used his signature B-bender guitar to add this weird, beautiful country-rock twang to "She Talks to Angels" that makes the original version sound almost naked.
Why Chris Robinson Succeeded (Where Others Failed)
Replacing Robert Plant is a suicide mission. Just ask the guys who tried it during those ill-fated Zeppelin reunions in the 80s. But Chris Robinson didn't try to be Plant.
He stayed Chris.
He leaned into that Otis Redding, Steve Marriott, soul-shouting vibe he’s always had. When they played "Celebration Day," he didn't aim for the high-pitched "Golden God" wail. He kept it gritty. It worked because the band behind him—Rich Robinson, Audley Freed, Steve Gorman, and Sven Pipien—was a well-oiled machine that played with a swing Zeppelin hadn't really had since 1975.
Page himself has said in recent interviews that performing with the Crowes felt like "heaven." He could finally play those layered guitar parts from Physical Graffiti because he had two other guitarists (Rich and Audley) to cover the rhythm. In Zeppelin, Page had to do everything himself. Here, he was free to just... be Jimmy Page.
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The Drama Behind the Scenes: What Really Happened?
If things were so great, why did it end? This is where it gets messy.
By the summer of 2000, the collaboration was dead. The official story at the time was that Page had a back injury. That was true—he did. But there’s always more to it.
Steve Gorman, the Crowes' drummer, dropped a bombshell in his book a few years back. He claimed that Rich Robinson basically insulted Page by turning down an offer to write music together. Imagine that. One of the greatest songwriters in history says, "Hey, let's write some tunes," and you say, "Nah, we're good."
Rich has denied this, calling the story "absurd," but the tension was real. By the time the tour hit the East Coast, the honeymoon was over. It’s a classic rock 'n' roll tragedy: the music was perfect, but the personalities were a ticking time bomb.
The "Jams" and the Soundcheck Rarities
One of the coolest parts of the 25th-anniversary box set isn't even the concert itself. It’s a track simply titled "Jams."
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It’s exactly what it sounds like. Page and Rich Robinson just messing around during a soundcheck. It sounds like a lost session from Physical Graffiti. You can hear them feeling each other out, finding a riff, and riding it until it falls apart.
There's also a version of "In The Light" that features Greg Rzab on bass. Rzab was brought in after Sven Pipien was fired (and literally airbrushed out of the original album photos—cold move). These additions make the project feel like a living document rather than just a dusty live record.
Actionable Insights for Fans Today
If you’re looking to dive into this era of rock history, don't just settle for the old 2000 CD release. Here is how to actually experience Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes Live at the Greek the right way:
- Look for the 36-track 25th Anniversary Edition: This is the only version that includes the Crowes' original songs like "No Speak No Slave" and "Hard to Handle."
- Watch the Documentary: A short film titled The Making of Live At The Greek was released recently. It features new interviews with Page and the Robinsons that fill in the gaps about their creative process.
- Listen for the B-Bender: If you're a guitar nerd, pay close attention to the tracks "She Talks to Angels" and "Ten Years Gone." Page’s use of the B-bender is a masterclass in how to use gear to expand a song's emotional palette.
- Compare the Mixes: The new Kevin Shirley remaster is significantly punchier than the original MusicMaker.com files. The drums actually have some weight to them now.
The Greek Theatre shows weren't just a nostalgia trip. They were a brief moment where the past and the present of blues-rock collided and actually created something new. Even with the drama and the "what ifs," the recordings stand as some of the most vital playing Jimmy Page has done since 1980.
Go find the 6LP box set if you can afford it. If not, the streaming version will do. Just turn it up loud enough to annoy the neighbors. It’s what Jimmy would want.