Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers Supergroup: The Firm Story

After Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page’s Dark Period

The death of John Bonham in September 1980 shattered Jimmy Page’s world. The legendary Led Zeppelin drummer’s passing marked the end of one of rock’s greatest bands. Page retreated into darkness, struggling to find his footing. Friends worried he might never recover from losing such a close friend and musical partner.

Page’s early 1980s output was sparse and uncertain. He contributed to the Death Wish II soundtrack. He made a shaky appearance at the 1982 ARMS charity concert. These were mere glimpses of the guitarist who once commanded stadiums with Stairway to Heaven. The light seemed to have gone out.

What was the Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers supergroup called? The answer would soon emerge as The Firm. But first, Page needed to rediscover his passion for music. He needed someone who understood his pain. Enter Paul Rodgers.

The Paul Rodgers Connection

Paul Rodgers wasn’t doing much better in the early 1980s. The voice behind Free’s All Right Now and Bad Company’s Feel Like Makin’ Love had left Bad Company following an acrimonious split. He was recovering, processing his own career crossroads.

The connection between Page and Rodgers ran deep. Free and Led Zeppelin had been blues-rock contemporaries in the late 1960s. Bad Company became Swan Song labelmates with Zeppelin. They were managed by the same legendary Peter Grant. Most importantly, they shared mutual respect and understanding.

When Rodgers joined Page on the 1983 ARMS tour across America, something clicked. Rodgers later recalled that Page would visit his home studio. They started writing songs without any definite plans. Rodgers knew Page needed to write again. He had watched his friend Paul Kossoff from Free struggle and fade. He wasn’t going to let that happen to Jimmy Page.

Formation of The Firm

In 1984, the Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers supergroup officially formed as The Firm. The lineup expanded to include drummer Chris Slade from Uriah Heep and bassist Tony Franklin. They weren’t Page and Rodgers’ first choices. Bill Bruford from Yes was contracted elsewhere. Fretless bass virtuoso Pino Palladino couldn’t leave his gig with Paul Young.

The band’s ambitions were remarkably modest. Page simply wanted to play rock and roll and enjoy himself. Rodgers viewed it as a vehicle to help Jimmy get back on his feet musically. This was classic rock news that generated excitement, but expectations were kept deliberately low.

Studio sessions proved surprisingly smooth. Engineer Julian Epps remembered no cross words, just great vibes. Jimmy was incredibly easygoing. Everyone clicked. Perhaps it came together too easily, though nobody questioned it at the time.

Radioactive Success and Chart Performance

The Firm released their self-titled debut on February 11, 1985. The album peaked at number 17 on the Billboard 200. It reached number 15 in the UK. These weren’t Led Zeppelin or Bad Company numbers, but they were respectable.

The real breakthrough came with Radioactive. Rodgers wrote the song in just five minutes. He called it a finger exercise that sounded robotic. The track topped Billboard’s Top Rock Tracks chart. It broke into the Top 40 on mainstream radio. Satisfaction Guaranteed hit number four on the rock charts.

Critics were mixed on The Firm. Some praised the musicianship. Others found the sound too commercial, too different from their previous bands. The funk-tinged production puzzled fans expecting heavier classic rock artists material. Yet the Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers supergroup had proven they could create hits together.

Midnight Moonlight: Led Zeppelin’s Lost Song

The Firm’s most intriguing track was Midnight Moonlight. This nine-minute epic held a secret. It was based on an unreleased Led Zeppelin song called Swan Song. Page had first developed it during the Physical Graffiti sessions.

Page brought Rodgers a 19-minute cassette tape. Rodgers listened and found it unbelievable. He suggested shortening it. Then he noticed something curious about the chorus. It had an extra beat. Page laughed and confirmed it was intentionally in 5/4 time.

For Led Zeppelin fans, Midnight Moonlight offered a glimpse of what might have been. It connected The Firm to Page’s illustrious past. Yet it also signaled new creative directions. The song became a bridge between eras.

The Touring Reality

The Firm toured from February through May 1985. Page was eager to hit the road. Rodgers was less enthusiastic, feeling burned out from years of touring. Still, they went out and discovered it was actually fun.

The band played only two UK concerts. One at Middlesbrough Town Hall, another at London’s Hammersmith Odeon. They refused to play material from their former bands. Instead, they focused on Firm songs plus solo material. However, Midnight Moonlight sometimes featured sections from White Summer and Kashmir.

Audiences gave the Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers supergroup sellout crowds. Fans were curious to see these legends together. The reality was that while performances were solid, they lacked the earth-shattering power of their previous bands.

Mean Business and Creative Challenges

The Firm released their second album, Mean Business, in 1986. The response was cooler than their debut. The album reached number 22 in America but only number 46 in the UK. Critics felt the band was running out of ideas.

The songs featured a more commercial sound. Tony Franklin’s fretless bass added soulful undertones. Yet something was missing. The chemistry that made Led Zeppelin and Bad Company special wasn’t quite there. The magic proved elusive.

Page and Rodgers both later indicated The Firm was never meant to last beyond two albums. This revelation surprised fans who hoped for more. The classic rock supergroup experiment had a built-in expiration date.

Job Done: Why The Firm Disbanded

By late 1986, The Firm had run its course. Rodgers felt that Jimmy was up and running again. Page was in fantastic form. The mission had been accomplished. Rodgers thought, job done.

The band dissolved without drama or acrimony. They left on a high note. Both artists believed they might collaborate again someday. That reunion never materialized. The Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers supergroup became a fascinating footnote in rock history.

Did The Firm save Jimmy Page? Page himself said yes. The band pulled him from the darkness. It gave him purpose after Bonham’s death. For that alone, The Firm succeeded beyond commercial metrics.

The Legacy and Impact

The Firm occupies a unique space in rock history. They were a supergroup that underperformed expectations yet achieved their real goal. Critics sometimes used harsh terms like supersludge. Fans debated whether the albums captured the members’ true potential.

Yet The Firm demonstrated something important. Sometimes success isn’t measured in platinum records. Page needed to play again. Rodgers helped him find that spark. They created memorable songs together. Radioactive remains a classic rock radio staple.

The Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers supergroup showed that even legends need support during difficult transitions. The band’s modest two-album run accomplished exactly what it needed to. Page returned to music full-time. His creative fire was rekindled.

What Happened to The Firm Members

After The Firm disbanded, each member found new paths. Page released his solo album Outrider in 1988. He later formed Coverdale Page with Whitesnake’s David Coverdale. He reunited with Robert Plant for multiple projects in the 1990s.

Paul Rodgers continued his solo career with renewed energy. He eventually joined Queen for several years as Queen + Paul Rodgers. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Bad Company in 2025. His influence on rock vocalists remains profound.

Chris Slade joined AC/DC in 1989, drumming on The Razors Edge. Tony Franklin formed Blue Murder with John Sykes. Both continued successful careers as respected musicians. The Firm proved to be a valuable chapter in their journeys.

Looking back, The Firm wasn’t the massive supergroup success many predicted. The Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers supergroup was something more personal and meaningful. It was about healing, friendship, and rediscovering the joy of making music together.

🎸 THE FIRM MUSIC COLLECTION 🎸

Essential Albums from the Jimmy Page Paul Rodgers Supergroup