Confession Time. I hate Led Zeppelin. That's not true. I don't hate them, I just never bought into all the hype.
I tried. Especially in high school. I even drew the ZoSo symbols from their fourth album on the white rubber part of my black Chuck Taylors in 9th grade. I chalk it up to peer pressure.
Robert Plant has a cool voice; Agreed. Jimmy Page is a solid guitar player; No argument here. John Bonham kicked ass on the drums; No doubt. Individually they are brilliant. But put them all together and you've got a decent band, but not the defining moment in rock.
What most Zeppelin fans won't ever admit (regardless of how often these deep dark thoughts creep into their sweatly little heads) is that the idea of Led Zeppelin, the legend behind the band - everything from the wild groupie sex stories to the rumors of Satan worship - is far, far greater than the band's actually musical contribution.
I know I'm going to get challenged on this one. Name a song that you can't possible live without. Stairway to Heaven? Whole Lotta Love? Rock and Roll? I'll take a Replacement's song any day of the week.
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15 comments:
Ramble On, for me. But seeing "The Song Remains the Same" at the midnight movies is what secured Led Zep in my heart. And Robert Plant is damn sexy.
Alright I'm not really anonymous, I just can't be bothered to make up an account just to write this
I wrote the Zoso symbol on my schoolbag, without ever actually liking the band either. I pretended to like them (peer pressure of course), but they never actually meant anything to me. I like most classic rock well enough from Beatles to the Who, Black Sabbath, Queen and so on, so I'm *supposed* to love Led Zep. Frankly, I just can't stand them now. The reluctant pseudo fan of the band I once was has become an active disliker.
I kind of feel the same way about the Velvet Underground and Elvis Costello. They evoke a sense of indifference in me. Don't tell the other hipsters.
I'm right there with you on the Velvet Underground.
Guess it's clear which side of the Led Zeppelin/The Who debate you fall on. I'm a better Who fan than Led Zepp, but my all time favorite Led Zepp song likely isn't tops on anyone's mind: Thank You. Anyone? Despite it being a ballad, it's one of my all time favs... Chalk it up to high school puppy love -- MP
I have always totally hated Led Zeppelin since I was a teenager and they truly are one of the worst bands or "music" I have ever had the misfortune of hearing!
They along with Queen and Pink Floyd are the only 3 groups that I have to get up off of my chair even if I'm very tired and turn off immediately! It's really mindboggling how many people can find Led Zeppelin's horrible screaming screaching noise remotely good much less great!!!!
I have read many people on message boards saying they hate the sound of Robert Plant's voice and his annoying screaming and screaching which he does most of the time instead of singing!I have also found many people on music boards saying they hate Led Zeppelin too and feel they are one of the worst bands ever even some people on heavy metal fan sites!
The Who,The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix are all a *MILLION * Times Better and The Beatles are a *ZILLION* times better!!!!
I just posted a long post and it said my comments were saved but they didn't appear on your site!
LED ZEP FOREVER! ANYONE WHO SAYS OTHERWISE SUCKS! GO BACK TO AC/DC.
Whole lotta Love. Can live without it. And it was before you were born. I did not know you felt this way considering you got me there box set last Christmas.
Your Dad
Finally somebody said it (er, wrote it). Zeppelin has some decent tunes, but does not live up to the hype.
The fact that you left out John Paul Jones, the most dynamic of all the musicians in the band, just tells me why you hate zeppelin--because you have no concept of being a musician.
I can't live without Tea For One. Led Zeppelin gave blues-rock a new meaning and appeal.
As for those of you who think they're over-hyped, some people say that about the great Jimi Hendrix as well. Go figure.
I am in agreement w/you. I started HS in the late 70's and if you didn't like LZ or Lynnrd Skynrd (sp?) or even Aerosmith you'd get your ass beat. The only thing lamely interesting about Robert Plant was the debatable size of his crotch-otherwise he wasn't all that hot. If I didn't hear LZ for the rest of my life I would not care. The same for Elvis Costello and those types too.... I have tried to like LZ and even watched the 'Song Remains the Same' on VH1 a couple of weeks ago and it only re-affirms the fact that I have no affinity for their music at all. When I listen to 70's music I'd rather listen to Frank Zappa, The Who or Yes....
What happens when you can't play guitar?
You don magical costumes, make poseur faces and gestures and prance about the stage like a dandy.
The mass of Zep fans have tin ears along with Page himself who never could feel the rhythm of Bonham and Jones behind him while on stage.
The best songs of Zeppelin aren't close to being the most popular, with the exception of RnR.
As to Stairway to Heaven, the song sucks, at least the parts that Page didn't steal from Randy California.
Nearly every song from their first recording and many of the second were stolen from other musicians, either their outright compositions or their arrangements of traditional folk songs.
Most of the songs have ridiculously long intros, one, unimaginative, droning riff per son and incessant cat-in-heat screeching from pretend singer Robert Plant.
If you are going to bother listening to Zeppelin, skip the hype and find these songs:
Wanton Song
Rock and Roll
Hots on for Nowhere
Royal Orleans
Living Loving Maid
When the Levee Breaks
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