Jimmy doesn't seem to get the credit that he deserves. Not just for his great guitar playing but also for his obvious creative genius. You could see both starting to surface in his early yrs with the "Yardbirds". Out of Beck, Clapton, and Page, (all lead players for the "Yardbirds") Jimmy was definitely the most colorful player of them all. Jeff Beck seemed like the most disciplined and very creative too, while Eric Clapton was obviously the Bluesiest.
But Jimmy in my opinion, is the most creative player/writer since the great "Robert Johnson" (with the only possible exception being Jimi Hendrix of course). Page expanded any boundaries with his recording techniques. He took it to the stage with his effortless, thrilling solos and cool licks.
As far as Ledzeplin stealing licks from the old blues players. I've studied enough blues to know that borrowing and using licks from other blues songs was common practice in the pre and post war blues yrs. I honestly think that Jimmy and Robert Plant picked up on that and continued the practice. Case in point; to this day you can find this lyric in new blues tunes: "My used to be" (X wife or girlfriend). That line was passed around and used by just about all blues writers who have studied and who write blues. And the same with guitar, bass, drum, and harp chops. In fact the simple shuffle movement on the guitar was no doubt someones lick at one time. Jimmy Page is a great rock and blues player! He has inspired thousands of players, and will continue to do so as long as music is played!
