50 years later, Page recalls riding dragon into Led Zeppelin

Fifty years ago, Jimmy Page painted a dragon on his favorite guitar, and used it to give birth to Led Zeppelin.

Now, in celebration of 50 years of his epic rock band, the beast has come back to life.

The 74-year-old Page tells The Associated Press that the Fender Telecaster was the “Excalibur” that marked the magical days of 1968, when his former band the Yardbirds dissolved and Led Zeppelin began.

He played it on nearly every song on Led Zeppelin’s first album, taking a violin bow to it on the rock classic “Dazed and Confused.”

But a well-meaning house-sitter painted over the guitar and an angry Page put it away for decades.

He recreated it for the band’s anniversary, and Fender is making an edition for the public.