“Once I get onstage the tension explodes and I’m fine. I’m in another world – in a trance almost, doing what I love best, expressing myself through guitar.”

You absorb so much from whatever your environment is, as an artist, and you learn to take from it what can help you create.

I do not worship the devil. But magic does intrigue me. Magic of all kinds. I bought Crowley’s house to go up and write in. The thing is, I just never get up that way. Friends live there now.

The idea of a hypnotic riff as the prime mover of a piece of music has been around for a long time, whether you’re talking about the Delta blues or music from Middle Eastern and African cultures.

I deal in emotions. It’s the harmonic side that’s important. That’s the side I expected to be much further along on than I am now. That just means to say that I’ve got to keep at it.

There’s so much that can be done on the guitar. And that’s what is so good about the guitar – everyone can really enjoy themselves on it and have a good time, which is what it’s all about.

From the classical guitar right through to the furthest electrical experiments and everything in-between, it’s amazing what the guitar can actually do. I mean, when one thinks about sounds.

Domesticity and all that isn’t really for me.

The element of change has been the thing, really. We put out the first one, then the second… then a third LP totally different from them. It’s the reason we were able to keep it together.

The way I see it, rock & roll is folk music. Street music. It isn’t taught in school. It has to be picked up.

The key to Zeppelin’s longevity has been change.

I don’t know whether I’ll reach 40. I don’t know whether I’ll reach 35. I can’t be sure about that. I am bloody serious. I am very, very serious. I didn’t think I’d make 30.

I’m at my best when I’m exhausted and under pressure.

You can’t buy time. Everything, for me, seems to be a race against time. Especially musically.

I believe every guitar player inherently has something unique about their playing. They just have to identify what makes them different and develop it.

All my houses are isolated. Many is the time I just stay home alone.

Music is the one thing that has been consistently there for me. It hasn’t let me down.

To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won’t be here long, so don’t get too attached.

You never help others by allowing them to getaway with giving less than their best efforts.

Sometimes the best way to create balance in your life is to realize you don’t have to do it alone.

The best time for gum is just before getting onstage. I need a minty-fresh microphone.

The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it.

Nobody makes me do anything I don’t want to do. It’s my decision. So the biggest devil is me. I’m either my best friend or my worst enemy.

Anger is my biggest enemy in life.

Do not hate the people who are jealous because they recognize that you are the best.