The terrifying occult experience that made David Bowie avoid Jimmy Page for life
The supernatural and rock ‘n’ roll have long been closely associated. This otherworldy fascination started with the legendary blues guitarist Robert Johnson supposedly selling his soul to the devil in return for artistic prowess in the 1930s. Things then took a much darker, arcane turn in the 1960s. The era’s counterculture was underpinned by the surreal writings of William S. Burroughs, who often drew on mystical and occult themes, Eastern Philosophy, and magic. These enchanting shades enticed many prominent musicians, including Jimmy Page.
While this facet of hippiedom will forever be affixed to darkness, thanks to the Manson Family Murders and other evil that eclipsed the original countercultural dream, it also crops up in the stories of a slew of its most famous artists. However, Led Zeppelin leader and guitarist Jimmy Page has the most explicit connection. Openly fascinated with the esoteric since he was young, Page has discussed the occult many times, including at his Oxford Union address.
Page’s love of the dark side started when he was a schoolboy, after reading controversial English occultist Aleister Crowley’s Magick in Theory and Practice. Since then, he’s opened an occult bookshop and publishers, taken his famous Led Zeppelin IV “Zoso” symbol from a 16th-century grimoire, and even lived in Crowley’s terrifying old abode, Boleskine House on the shores of Loch Ness, a suspected portal to hell.
Despite his reported ties to Crowley and Lucifer, Page has never described himself as a Thelemtie – Crowley’s religion – or been initiated into The Typhonian Order, Kenneth Grant’s magical organisation that he has also been linked to.
Several occult anecdotes make Jimmy Page’s story more fascinating. One of the most intriguing involves David Bowie, and it is undeniably terrifying. However, judging the veracity of it is up to the reader.
On a 2019 episode of Jake Brennan’s Disgraceland podcast, the host recounts a 1974 encounter between Page and Bowie, which was first told by a confidant close to the musician. In it, the Led Zeppelin guitarist attempts to communicate telepathically with Bowie.
At one point in the evening, Page told Bowie of a horrifying paranormal encounter he had one night at Boleskine House. Bowie, another drug-addled star who had a lifelong obsession with the occult thanks to the influence of his older brother, was mesmerised and urged Page to tell him more. As the two persisted on their cocaine-snorting odyssey, Bowie pressed Page about what he knew of the occult. Allegedly, with each question, Page would look startled and stare into space blankly. It would become awkward, but Bowie tried his best to placate the guitarist with politeness.
At one point during this atmospheric encounter, as Bowie finished hoovering up another white slug, he noticed that Page’s demeanour had changed. He’d gone from looking like he’d seen a ghost to smirking, which is interesting, as usually, with cocaine, it’s the other way around. Bowie felt a pang of unease and a shiver run over him.
He couldn’t be sure due to the copious amounts of narcotics coursing through his bloodstream, but the ‘Starman’ musician could have sworn that he saw the apartment lights flickering. Page was still smiling blankly and continued to stare into his soul. Bowie was confident that this wasn’t due to the stimulus of the alkaloid.
“I’d like you to leave,” a vexed Bowie finally said. However, instead of responding, Page pointed over Bowie’s shoulder at an open window. “Why don’t you leave through the window?” Bowie angrily replied. You could hear a pin drop, and inertia set in. After what felt like a lifetime, Page got up and left without a word.
That was it for Bowie; there would be no more flirting with the dark arts. He had his home exorcised and avoided Jimmy Page from that moment on.
Listen to the episode of Disgraceland below.
