The best classic rock artists influence other classic rock artists. For example, The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus” inspired one of Donovan’s songs. Donovan also revealed that a member of Led Zeppelin was a fan of his drumming.
The Beatles’ ‘I Am the Walrus’ inspired Donovan to make up a word for 1 of his songs
If you thought the lyrics of The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus” had odd lyrics, just listen to Donovan’s “Barabajagal.” It’s so nonsensical it uses fake words. The BBC reports the word “barabajagal” was derived from the line “Goo goo g’joob” from “I Am the Walrus.”
During a 2016 interview with Best Classic Bands, Donovan discussed his heavier songs, such as “Barabajagal,” “Atlantis,” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” “I’m not really Buddy Holly or The Everly Brothers and I’m not really Elvis, and I’m not rhythm and blues, like Brian Jones,...
The Beatles’ ‘I Am the Walrus’ inspired Donovan to make up a word for 1 of his songs
If you thought the lyrics of The Beatles’ “I Am the Walrus” had odd lyrics, just listen to Donovan’s “Barabajagal.” It’s so nonsensical it uses fake words. The BBC reports the word “barabajagal” was derived from the line “Goo goo g’joob” from “I Am the Walrus.”
During a 2016 interview with Best Classic Bands, Donovan discussed his heavier songs, such as “Barabajagal,” “Atlantis,” and “Hurdy Gurdy Man.” “I’m not really Buddy Holly or The Everly Brothers and I’m not really Elvis, and I’m not rhythm and blues, like Brian Jones,...
- 3/25/2024
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Drummer Jason Bonham, the son of the legendary John Bonham, is bringing his “Led Zeppelin Evening” concert experience to 12 cities across Canada and the Pacific Northwest this spring.
The outing kicks off April 16th in Montreal and runs through May 3rd in Portland, Oregon. Other stops include Quebec City, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Jason’s son Jager Henry will provide support.
A Live Nation ticket pre-sale for select dates begins Thursday (February 29th) at 10 a.m. local time using the code Energy. General ticket sales start Friday (March 1st) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Fans can also look for deals or get tickets to sold-out dates via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.
Get Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening Tickets Here
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening sees the drummer performing some of the band’s most iconic songs, plus a few deep cuts,...
The outing kicks off April 16th in Montreal and runs through May 3rd in Portland, Oregon. Other stops include Quebec City, Minneapolis, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. Jason’s son Jager Henry will provide support.
A Live Nation ticket pre-sale for select dates begins Thursday (February 29th) at 10 a.m. local time using the code Energy. General ticket sales start Friday (March 1st) at 10 a.m. local time via Ticketmaster. Fans can also look for deals or get tickets to sold-out dates via StubHub, where your purchase is 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s Fan Protect program.
Get Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening Tickets Here
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening sees the drummer performing some of the band’s most iconic songs, plus a few deep cuts,...
- 2/27/2024
- by Jon Hadusek
- Consequence - Music
There’s a reason the word honors is in the title. To help celebrate the lifetime contributions of artists in music, dance, theater, opera, movies and TV, the Kennedy Center Honors routinely pay tribute to its recipients by rewarding them with memorable performances.
Scores of artists have been feted since the Honors got their start in 1978, but there are certain tributes that remain sketched in our hearts forever. In anticipation of the 46th annual event honoring Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick on Dec. 27, we look back at some of the show’s most unforgettable performances — starting with Lenny Bernstein’s opening speech from the very first Kennedy Center Honors, of course.
Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris and Rosanne Cash honor Johnny Cash in 1996
Three of country’s greats performed hits from Cash’s eclectic songbook — “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “Folsom Prison Blues.” and...
Scores of artists have been feted since the Honors got their start in 1978, but there are certain tributes that remain sketched in our hearts forever. In anticipation of the 46th annual event honoring Billy Crystal, Renée Fleming, Barry Gibb, Queen Latifah, and Dionne Warwick on Dec. 27, we look back at some of the show’s most unforgettable performances — starting with Lenny Bernstein’s opening speech from the very first Kennedy Center Honors, of course.
Kris Kristofferson, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris and Rosanne Cash honor Johnny Cash in 1996
Three of country’s greats performed hits from Cash’s eclectic songbook — “Sunday Morning Coming Down,” “Folsom Prison Blues.” and...
- 12/26/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Standing in the basement of the Harrah’s Cherokee Center in downtown Asheville, North Carolina, Billy F. Gibbons is recalling the moment he received his first guitar. He was only 13.
“It was Christmas Day,” the 73-year-old Zz Top frontman tells Rolling Stone. “[All these years later], there’s so many different ways to remain creative and the expressiveness seems to remain as a challenge — it’s exciting.”
Gibbons was part of the guitar summit (including a number of players on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time) that erupted onstage...
“It was Christmas Day,” the 73-year-old Zz Top frontman tells Rolling Stone. “[All these years later], there’s so many different ways to remain creative and the expressiveness seems to remain as a challenge — it’s exciting.”
Gibbons was part of the guitar summit (including a number of players on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time) that erupted onstage...
- 12/10/2023
- by Garret K. Woodward
- Rollingstone.com
The Beatles were primarily a rock and pop band, but they still showed appreciation for soul music. Ringo Starr revealed he was a big fan of an Al Green song because of its incredible drumming. That tune appeared on an album that had an unusual impact on the American pop chart. On the other hand, the album was completely ignored by the public in the United Kingdom.
Ringo Starr loved the hi-hat in an Al Green song
During a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, a reporter asked Ringo if “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles was an influence on his drumming style. “No, I know the song really well,” he said. “I listened to the records, but I wasn’t, like, big on listening to the drums.” Ringo’s comments are surprising since Paul McCartney praised him for being able to recreate the feel of “What’d I Say.”
Ringo...
Ringo Starr loved the hi-hat in an Al Green song
During a 2020 interview with Rolling Stone, a reporter asked Ringo if “What’d I Say” by Ray Charles was an influence on his drumming style. “No, I know the song really well,” he said. “I listened to the records, but I wasn’t, like, big on listening to the drums.” Ringo’s comments are surprising since Paul McCartney praised him for being able to recreate the feel of “What’d I Say.”
Ringo...
- 12/6/2023
- by Matthew Trzcinski
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Drummer Steve Riley, a classic member of the bands W.A.S.P. and L.A. Guns, has died at the age of 67. The veteran musician passed away after a severe bout with pneumonia.
Riley’s passing was confirmed by his family, who issued the following statement via Facebook: “We are devastated to share that Steve Riley has passed away at the age of 67. Steve had been battling a severe case of pneumonia for several weeks, and on Tuesday, Oct. 24, succumbed to the illness. His wife Mary Louise and son Cole were by his side in his final moments.”
Riley was a member of W.A.S.P. from 1984 to 1987, appearing on the metal band’s gold-certified sophomore album, 1985’s The Last Command, and its follow-up, 1986’s Inside the Electric Circus, as well as their popular 1987 live album, Live… in the Raw.
In 1987, he joined L.A. Guns, and was part of the...
Riley’s passing was confirmed by his family, who issued the following statement via Facebook: “We are devastated to share that Steve Riley has passed away at the age of 67. Steve had been battling a severe case of pneumonia for several weeks, and on Tuesday, Oct. 24, succumbed to the illness. His wife Mary Louise and son Cole were by his side in his final moments.”
Riley was a member of W.A.S.P. from 1984 to 1987, appearing on the metal band’s gold-certified sophomore album, 1985’s The Last Command, and its follow-up, 1986’s Inside the Electric Circus, as well as their popular 1987 live album, Live… in the Raw.
In 1987, he joined L.A. Guns, and was part of the...
- 10/27/2023
- by Spencer Kaufman
- Consequence - Music
Robert Plant briefly put aside his differences with one of his greatest adversaries — “Stairway to Heaven” — and performed the Led Zeppelin opus for the first time in 16 years at a benefit concert organized by Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor.
The last time Plant played “Stairway to Heaven” on stage was Dec. 10, 2007, when the surviving members of Led Zeppelin — Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones — reunited for a one-night-only set at an Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert in London (the band was joined by John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums...
The last time Plant played “Stairway to Heaven” on stage was Dec. 10, 2007, when the surviving members of Led Zeppelin — Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones — reunited for a one-night-only set at an Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert in London (the band was joined by John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums...
- 10/23/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Rock icon Bob Geldof is collaborating on a stage musical about the global phenomenon that was Live Aid. The show, called Just For One Day, devised and directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet), will have its world premiere at the Old Vic Theatre in London early next year.
Live Aid was a concert like no other, organized by Geldof and fellow rock ‘n’ roller Midge Ure in July 1985 to raise funds and awareness for the famine crisis then taking place in Ethiopia.
Just For One Day will run at the Old Vic from January 26-March 30.
The UK leg of Live Aid kicked off at Wembley Stadium where the likes of Queen with frontman Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Elton John, George Michael, Sting, Sade, The Who, Paul McCartney, U2, Geldof’s the Boomtown Rats, Ure, Paul Weller and tons of others rocked and raved in the presence of thousands of spectators — including Charles and Diana,...
Live Aid was a concert like no other, organized by Geldof and fellow rock ‘n’ roller Midge Ure in July 1985 to raise funds and awareness for the famine crisis then taking place in Ethiopia.
Just For One Day will run at the Old Vic from January 26-March 30.
The UK leg of Live Aid kicked off at Wembley Stadium where the likes of Queen with frontman Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Elton John, George Michael, Sting, Sade, The Who, Paul McCartney, U2, Geldof’s the Boomtown Rats, Ure, Paul Weller and tons of others rocked and raved in the presence of thousands of spectators — including Charles and Diana,...
- 10/1/2023
- by Baz Bamigboye
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s late afternoon in the back of the Princess Theatre in downtown Decatur, Alabama. Sitting in front of a brightly-lit mirror in the green room of the historic venue, blues-rocker Samantha Fish is readying herself for the show alongside her musical-partner-in-crime of late, Jesse Dayton. The duo is in the midst of a whirlwind tour for their album Death Wish Blues.
“The blues speaks to people of all generations at different times in their life — it’s just kind of your soul,” Fish tells Rolling Stone backstage. “Watching a great [blues] band,...
“The blues speaks to people of all generations at different times in their life — it’s just kind of your soul,” Fish tells Rolling Stone backstage. “Watching a great [blues] band,...
- 9/17/2023
- by Garret K. Woodward
- Rollingstone.com
Everyone knows the definition of a tribute band. But is there a difference between that and a “revival” band? Whatever one chooses to call it, when is such a project a money-making exercise in nostalgia — and when is it a sincere, concerted (pun intended) effort to recreate and sustain a genre of music that suddenly feels on life support? And exactly how short were those sleeves on Jimmy Page’s open-chested jacket from 1973?
These and other questions are addressed and grappled with in Mr. Jimmy, Peter Michael Dowd’s weirdly...
These and other questions are addressed and grappled with in Mr. Jimmy, Peter Michael Dowd’s weirdly...
- 8/30/2023
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
This past week we lost one of the industry’s best. As Dan Green pulls his chair up to the great drawing board in the sky I look back on an amazing career. For me, Dan Green was probably the first inker I knew the name of. This comes from hunting down my back issues of Wolverine. Marc Silvestri and Adam Kubert were two of my favourites to track down issues of and Green was always the third name in the credits. Perhaps this is doing inkers a discredit. They are like drummers in rock bands in that regard. Essential to creativity but one step behind the limelight. If someone like Joe Sinnott was like the old-school drumming of Ringo Starr, then Green is more akin to the style of John Bonham. In my opinion, he was the first rock star inker.
The journey began for Dan Green in Detroit.
The journey began for Dan Green in Detroit.
- 8/30/2023
- by Ian Wells
- Nerdly
’70s rockers Led Zeppelin are adored among musicologists, as well as its members singer Robert Planet, the extraordinary wildman drummer John Bonham, the quieter bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and of course, the guitarist and often principal riff writer Jimmy Page. Docs of this band have been made, and docs about each member could probably stand their own treatment too. But the doc “Mr.
Continue reading ‘Mr. Jimmy’ Trailer: Led Zeppelin’s Legendary Guitarist Jimmy Page Gets The Rock Doc Treatment at The Playlist.
Continue reading ‘Mr. Jimmy’ Trailer: Led Zeppelin’s Legendary Guitarist Jimmy Page Gets The Rock Doc Treatment at The Playlist.
- 8/17/2023
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham stood apart from his peers with a bag of tricks that made his sound impossible to copy. Yet he was like many other classic rock drummers in one way — he rarely received songwriting credits with his band. Still, Bonham wrote several Led Zeppelin songs, including one without any assistance at all.
John Bonham received writing credits for Led Zeppelin songs and revamped blues tunes
One of the traits that set Led Zeppelin apart from their contemporaries was the amount of democracy in the band. Founder Jimmy Page and ace multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones came to the band with songwriting chops, but in time Bonham and singer Robert Plant became key contributors to all of Led Zeppelin’s songs.
Many of Zep’s early tunes were reworkings of blues standards. Page said he divided songwriting credits evenly in those cases.
Bonham’s favorite drinking song inspired...
John Bonham received writing credits for Led Zeppelin songs and revamped blues tunes
One of the traits that set Led Zeppelin apart from their contemporaries was the amount of democracy in the band. Founder Jimmy Page and ace multi-instrumentalist John Paul Jones came to the band with songwriting chops, but in time Bonham and singer Robert Plant became key contributors to all of Led Zeppelin’s songs.
Many of Zep’s early tunes were reworkings of blues standards. Page said he divided songwriting credits evenly in those cases.
Bonham’s favorite drinking song inspired...
- 7/31/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin’s music was always about the sound Jimmy Page had in his head. He was the driving force behind the band’s music. The guitarist always pushed to make his vision a reality, such as when he had to scream at the recording engineer to put backward echo on “You Shook Me.” Page fought for and got his way when he recorded the signature Zeppelin song “Whole Lotta Love” in a studio meant for classical recordings.
Why Jimmy Page recorded the Led Zeppelin song ‘Whole Lotta Love’ in a classical music studio
“Stairway to Heaven” is the most-streamed Led Zeppelin song. Page and singer Robert Plant professed their love for “Kashmir” as the band’s signature tune. You’d have to include “Whole Lotta Love,” the lead track from Led Zeppelin II, in the mix with those epics.
The hard-driving riff, Plant’s libidinous lyrics, and the tight...
Why Jimmy Page recorded the Led Zeppelin song ‘Whole Lotta Love’ in a classical music studio
“Stairway to Heaven” is the most-streamed Led Zeppelin song. Page and singer Robert Plant professed their love for “Kashmir” as the band’s signature tune. You’d have to include “Whole Lotta Love,” the lead track from Led Zeppelin II, in the mix with those epics.
The hard-driving riff, Plant’s libidinous lyrics, and the tight...
- 7/30/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Ringo Starr has lived in the spotlight for decades. It didn’t take him long to see it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. The Fab Four brought Ringo fame, but he still got bored in the time between recording sessions and other obligations. The Beatles drummer played in the most popular band ever, met and had intimate relationships with other famous entertainers, and enjoyed a rarefied lifestyle few people from a working-class Liverpool neighborhood could dream of. Sometimes, he wished he could go back.
Ringo Starr said his Beatles fame contributed to his boring life
Ringo partied with Charlie Watts and John Bonham. He formed friendships with T. Rex’s Marc Bolan and Harry Nilsson. The drummer and Nilsson lived with John Lennon in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. Starr partied so hard the bright sun hurt his eyes, so he made his room into a den of darkness,...
Ringo Starr said his Beatles fame contributed to his boring life
Ringo partied with Charlie Watts and John Bonham. He formed friendships with T. Rex’s Marc Bolan and Harry Nilsson. The drummer and Nilsson lived with John Lennon in Los Angeles in the mid-1970s. Starr partied so hard the bright sun hurt his eyes, so he made his room into a den of darkness,...
- 7/27/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It seemed like Ringo Starr would do anything for The Beatles. He put up with Paul McCartney’s drumming instructions for years. He rushed to Yoko Ono’s side when John Lennon was killed. Out of principle and respect, the drummer even refused to record a song John gave him shortly after his bandmate died. Ringo nearly died just to get the perfect shot in the Beatles movie Help!
Ringo Starr risked drowning just to get the perfect shot in ‘Help!’
Years before Ringo proved his acting talent in serious movies, he acted in two Beatles movies. The Fab Four released A Hard Day’s Night in 1964 and followed up with Help! in 1964.
The drummer was the star of the show in that latter movie. The bejeweled ring a fan gave him was really a key piece of a sacrificial ritual, and the rightful owners want it back. Ringo’s willingness...
Ringo Starr risked drowning just to get the perfect shot in ‘Help!’
Years before Ringo proved his acting talent in serious movies, he acted in two Beatles movies. The Fab Four released A Hard Day’s Night in 1964 and followed up with Help! in 1964.
The drummer was the star of the show in that latter movie. The bejeweled ring a fan gave him was really a key piece of a sacrificial ritual, and the rightful owners want it back. Ringo’s willingness...
- 7/15/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin has countless incredible guitar riffs in their music. Whether it’s the opening of “Whole Lotta Love” or “When the Levee Breaks,” audiences are still amazed by Jimmy Page’s work with the band. However, Page’s work would be incomplete without bass player John Paul Jones, who wrote one of Led Zeppelin’s most iconic guitar riffs while riding the train.
John Paul Jones wrote the guitar riff for Led Zeppelin’s ‘Black Dog’ while on a train
“Black Dog” has an infectious guitar riff playing during the hook, making the track a fan-favorite. It’s one of the best-performing Led Zeppelin songs on the charts, reaching No. 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. While it’s easy to give Page all the credit for the guitar performance, some of the credit has to go to Jones. In an interview with Bass Player (shared via Guitar World...
John Paul Jones wrote the guitar riff for Led Zeppelin’s ‘Black Dog’ while on a train
“Black Dog” has an infectious guitar riff playing during the hook, making the track a fan-favorite. It’s one of the best-performing Led Zeppelin songs on the charts, reaching No. 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. While it’s easy to give Page all the credit for the guitar performance, some of the credit has to go to Jones. In an interview with Bass Player (shared via Guitar World...
- 7/14/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
George Harrison and Mick Jagger were members of two of the biggest bands in the world when Led Zeppelin broke onto the scene. They would go on to achieve similar success as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. At first, though, Harrison and Jagger couldn’t see what was so great about Led Zeppelin. A producer tried to play the band’s first album for Harrison and Jagger, but neither showed any interest.
George Harrison and Mick Jagger didn’t care for Led Zeppelin’s work
Led Zeppelin’s first album came out in 1969. They worked with producer Glyn Johns, who had previously worked on albums for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. He found the young band’s sound thrilling.
“I don’t think I’ve come down yet from the staggering buzz I got from being in the room; it was unbelievably inspiring and incredibly easy to record,...
George Harrison and Mick Jagger didn’t care for Led Zeppelin’s work
Led Zeppelin’s first album came out in 1969. They worked with producer Glyn Johns, who had previously worked on albums for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. He found the young band’s sound thrilling.
“I don’t think I’ve come down yet from the staggering buzz I got from being in the room; it was unbelievably inspiring and incredibly easy to record,...
- 7/11/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant and John Paul Jones spent more than a decade creating some of the best classic rock music. The band’s list of songs includes some of the most timeless tunes ever written. Just don’t ask Jones to name them by title or sing the lyrics. Plant said the bassist never listened to them.
Robert Plant said John Paul Jones never listened to Led Zeppelin’s lyrics or knew the songs by name
Jones and Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page shared a common background. They were both highly skilled and sought-after session musicians before teaming up in the band.
Though Page was an underrated composer of intricate pieces, Jones was the jack of all trades. As a trained multi-instrumentalist, he composed songs, arranged them, and played bass, keyboards, mandolin, and more.
Jones was so in tune with the music that he never knew the song...
Robert Plant said John Paul Jones never listened to Led Zeppelin’s lyrics or knew the songs by name
Jones and Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page shared a common background. They were both highly skilled and sought-after session musicians before teaming up in the band.
Though Page was an underrated composer of intricate pieces, Jones was the jack of all trades. As a trained multi-instrumentalist, he composed songs, arranged them, and played bass, keyboards, mandolin, and more.
Jones was so in tune with the music that he never knew the song...
- 7/9/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
For as long as there’s been classic rock, there have been musicians more than willing to sing about their vices. Namely sex, booze, and drugs. As with so many other things they did, The Beatles turned songs about smoking pot into mainstream successes. Let’s look at their tune “Got to Get You Into My Life” and six more of the best classic rock songs about weed.
1. ‘Got to Get You Into My Life’ Artist: The Beatles
The Fab Four incorporated marijuana into their creative process soon after Bob Dylan got them high and pranked them in 1964. Two years later, Paul McCartney wrote an ode to pot, “Got to Get You Into My Life,” disguised as a boy-girl love song. Which it was, if the boy was McCartney and the girl was nicknamed Mary Jane. Paul’s song appeared on The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver, which many music fans considered the first psychedelic record.
1. ‘Got to Get You Into My Life’ Artist: The Beatles
The Fab Four incorporated marijuana into their creative process soon after Bob Dylan got them high and pranked them in 1964. Two years later, Paul McCartney wrote an ode to pot, “Got to Get You Into My Life,” disguised as a boy-girl love song. Which it was, if the boy was McCartney and the girl was nicknamed Mary Jane. Paul’s song appeared on The Beatles’ 1966 album Revolver, which many music fans considered the first psychedelic record.
- 7/4/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin weren’t just a hard-rocking blues band. They excelled at that, but they also proved their folk-rock skills while also penning songs that proved they had a soft side. Led Zeppelin’s long-lost soul song stayed in the vaults for 25 because Jimmy Page said the backing vocals weren’t clever enough to meet the band’s exacting standards.
Jimmy Page revealed why ‘Baby Come on Home’ sat in the Led Zeppelin vaults for 25 years
Page didn’t waste much time assembling Led Zeppelin when the Yardbirds broke up in the summer of 1968. Within weeks, he recruited John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, and John Bonham. The quartet hit it off at their first rehearsals and soon recorded their first album in an astonishingly short time — just over one day.
The band worked quickly on the debut record (as well as others), but they still had some scraps. Page’s shimmery guitar,...
Jimmy Page revealed why ‘Baby Come on Home’ sat in the Led Zeppelin vaults for 25 years
Page didn’t waste much time assembling Led Zeppelin when the Yardbirds broke up in the summer of 1968. Within weeks, he recruited John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, and John Bonham. The quartet hit it off at their first rehearsals and soon recorded their first album in an astonishingly short time — just over one day.
The band worked quickly on the debut record (as well as others), but they still had some scraps. Page’s shimmery guitar,...
- 7/1/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Bonham was an incredible drummer for Led Zeppelin. He was so irreplaceable that after he died in 1980, the band decided to break up instead of continuing with another drummer. His death was a shock to the other members, but they all try to keep his memory alive. Lead singer Robert Plant said one Led Zeppelin song, in particular, reminds him of John Bonham.
Robert Plant says John Bonham’s drumming on Led Zeppelin’s ‘Achilles Last Stand’ overpowered his vocal performance
Led Zeppelin was one of the first bands from the U.K. to introduce heavy rock to a mainstream audience. Bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones popularized rock ‘n’ roll, but Led Zeppelin pushed the boundaries of what bands could do with instruments. Bonham was an intense drummer and played many impressive solos that added a hardcore beat to each track.
In an interview with Vulture,...
Robert Plant says John Bonham’s drumming on Led Zeppelin’s ‘Achilles Last Stand’ overpowered his vocal performance
Led Zeppelin was one of the first bands from the U.K. to introduce heavy rock to a mainstream audience. Bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones popularized rock ‘n’ roll, but Led Zeppelin pushed the boundaries of what bands could do with instruments. Bonham was an intense drummer and played many impressive solos that added a hardcore beat to each track.
In an interview with Vulture,...
- 7/1/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin was one of the best live bands of their era. Jimmy Page, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and Robert Plant formed an exquisitely tight and talented group. Seeing Zep live was like torture for Queen’s Brian May because they set the bar so high. Woodstock remains one of the most iconic music festivals of all time.iSo why didn’t Led Zeppelin play at Woodstock? It seems like it would have been a match made in heaven, but Zep saying no was in line with their approach to everything else.
Led Zeppelin didn’t play at Woodstock because the bill was too crowded
Woodstock promised music fans three days of peace and music in August 1969, and it didn’t disappoint.
The list of performers read like a who’s who of bands that became classic rock staples. Santana, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead,...
Led Zeppelin didn’t play at Woodstock because the bill was too crowded
Woodstock promised music fans three days of peace and music in August 1969, and it didn’t disappoint.
The list of performers read like a who’s who of bands that became classic rock staples. Santana, The Who, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead,...
- 6/29/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
It would be hard for music fans to argue Led Zeppelin didn’t leave a massive mark on popular music. In a little over a decade together, the band’s songs left their mark on fans everywhere, and manager Peter Grant’s strong leadership and business savvy helped the band make a fortune. Yet Grant never saw Led Zeppelin win a Grammy — he saw a fake band he managed win the award decades before Zep did.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham with their manager Peter Grant | Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images Peter Grant managed a made-up band that won a Grammy decades before Led Zeppelin did
Led Zeppelin featured four expert performers at the peak of their powers.
Jimmy Page solidified his spot as an all-time guitar legend. John Paul Jones showcased the wealth of musical talents that made him...
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham with their manager Peter Grant | Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images Peter Grant managed a made-up band that won a Grammy decades before Led Zeppelin did
Led Zeppelin featured four expert performers at the peak of their powers.
Jimmy Page solidified his spot as an all-time guitar legend. John Paul Jones showcased the wealth of musical talents that made him...
- 6/11/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
A click track helps musicians stay in sync, but Ringo Starr has never felt he needed to use it. The Beatles’ drummer has worked with a number of musicians over the years, and many have noted his impeccable timekeeping. He said that part of this talent comes from his belief that no musician is perfect. This knowledge allows him to better keep time with the other musicians in a band.
Ringo Starr | Lester Cohen/Getty Images Ringo Starr said he never plays with a click track
Guitarist Steve Lukather has worked with Starr in his All-Starr Band and finds himself endlessly impressed with the former Beatles’ skill.
“Ringo’s brilliant, man, very soulful, and a bad-a** drummer,” Lukather said, per The San Diego Union-Tribune. “Ringo is the chicken that laid the first egg for all the rest of the drummers in the world. There would not be any of these other rock drummers,...
Ringo Starr | Lester Cohen/Getty Images Ringo Starr said he never plays with a click track
Guitarist Steve Lukather has worked with Starr in his All-Starr Band and finds himself endlessly impressed with the former Beatles’ skill.
“Ringo’s brilliant, man, very soulful, and a bad-a** drummer,” Lukather said, per The San Diego Union-Tribune. “Ringo is the chicken that laid the first egg for all the rest of the drummers in the world. There would not be any of these other rock drummers,...
- 6/10/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin had a significant impact on music, and it wasn’t only because of their tunes. Their manager, Peter Grant, changed everything about leading a group. But Led Zeppelin wasn’t his first showbiz rodeo. Before he guided that group, and before Allen Klein took over The Beatles, Grant threatened Klein and literally shook him down over $12,000 in a display of the managerial tactics he employed when Led Zeppelin formed.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, singer Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones | Ian Cook/Getty Images Before managing Led Zeppelin, Peter Grant threatened Allen Klein over a $12,000 debt
Grant and Klein’s reigns over two of the biggest bands in the world briefly overlapped. Klein recognized Jimmy Page’s starpower while he managed the Yardbirds, and he stuck with the guitarist when he formed Led Zeppelin in 1968. Klein took over The Beatles just before the band completely disintegrated.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, singer Robert Plant, and bassist John Paul Jones | Ian Cook/Getty Images Before managing Led Zeppelin, Peter Grant threatened Allen Klein over a $12,000 debt
Grant and Klein’s reigns over two of the biggest bands in the world briefly overlapped. Klein recognized Jimmy Page’s starpower while he managed the Yardbirds, and he stuck with the guitarist when he formed Led Zeppelin in 1968. Klein took over The Beatles just before the band completely disintegrated.
- 6/8/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page rarely let outsiders enter Led Zeppelin’s creative inner circle. The guitarist said he had a split personality in the band, and both kept nonmembers at bay. Partly out of necessity, the Led Zeppelin founder freely collaborated with many notable musicians after the band folded. One unlikely mashup was Page’s single with Diddy, “Come With Me.” The trained musician said the rapper knew nothing about music, but he still praised the rapper’s “fantastic imagination.”
(l-r) Jimmy Page; Diddy | Dave M. Benett/Getty Images; Neil Munns – Pa Images/Pa Images via Getty Images Jimmy Page said Diddy knew nothing about music, but the rapper had a ‘fantastic imagination’
Page was the creative center of Led Zeppelin. Outside of cover tunes, he, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham wrote and performed all the songs (with “The Battle of Evermore” being the one exception to the rule...
(l-r) Jimmy Page; Diddy | Dave M. Benett/Getty Images; Neil Munns – Pa Images/Pa Images via Getty Images Jimmy Page said Diddy knew nothing about music, but the rapper had a ‘fantastic imagination’
Page was the creative center of Led Zeppelin. Outside of cover tunes, he, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham wrote and performed all the songs (with “The Battle of Evermore” being the one exception to the rule...
- 6/4/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham is considered one of the greatest drummers of all time, but Paul McCartney wouldn’t necessarily have wanted him in The Beatles. He believed Ringo Starr was a much better fit for the band. McCartney shared why he might have been wary of working with Bonham, even though he liked Led Zeppelin.
John Bonham | Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Paul McCartney compared Ringo Starr to John Bonham
Starr and Bonham are both widely considered to be among the best drummers of all time. Starr was an expert timekeeper, but Bonham was adaptable, powerful, and lively with his drumming. Their respective bands played different types of music, and McCartney said he would rather have Starr. He gave his bandmates a sense of comfort that Bonham wouldn’t have been able to.
“The first few minutes that Ringo is playing, I look to the left at George [Harrison] and...
John Bonham | Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Paul McCartney compared Ringo Starr to John Bonham
Starr and Bonham are both widely considered to be among the best drummers of all time. Starr was an expert timekeeper, but Bonham was adaptable, powerful, and lively with his drumming. Their respective bands played different types of music, and McCartney said he would rather have Starr. He gave his bandmates a sense of comfort that Bonham wouldn’t have been able to.
“The first few minutes that Ringo is playing, I look to the left at George [Harrison] and...
- 5/29/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page always had a fascination with the mystical. His vignette as a mountain climber who became an ageless hermit in The Song Remains the Same movie (a segment he filmed as his property once owned by Aleister Crowley) made it public. Oh, and there was the long-lost soundtrack to the film Lucifer Rising, too. The guitarist was no stranger to magic, and Page had one specific ritual (albeit a non-magical one) he did every night during Led Zeppelin’s 1975 tour.
Jimmy Page wearing his white poppy suit that was part of his mid-1970s Led Zeppelin concert ritual | Richard E. Aaron/Redferns Related
When Led Zeppelin First Broke Out Dragon-Themed Suits and Other Exotic Tour Gear
Jimmy Page perfected a personal ritual with his stage outfits in 1975
Led Zeppelin performed in small settings, such as clubs, ballrooms, and halls, when they first started. The fledgling band didn’t have...
Jimmy Page wearing his white poppy suit that was part of his mid-1970s Led Zeppelin concert ritual | Richard E. Aaron/Redferns Related
When Led Zeppelin First Broke Out Dragon-Themed Suits and Other Exotic Tour Gear
Jimmy Page perfected a personal ritual with his stage outfits in 1975
Led Zeppelin performed in small settings, such as clubs, ballrooms, and halls, when they first started. The fledgling band didn’t have...
- 5/29/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Being the PR man was about the only job Jimmy Page didn’t have in Led Zeppelin. He and the band agreed to let the music more or less speak for itself, especially when the media said the group was all hype and no substance. Once Page gave up his hidden job in Led Zeppelin, it provided more time for his guitar playing to improve, which in turn led to more stellar songs and media praise.
Jimmy Page | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Jimmy Page’s secret job on the first 3 Led Zeppelin records? Help write the lyrics
Page made his name as a virtuoso guitarist, but he was a jack of all trades for Led Zeppelin.
He formed the band when the Yardbirds disintegrated by recruiting little-known English Midlands musicians Robert Plant and John Bonham. Adding multi-talented session ace John Paul Jones rounded out the membership. He produced and...
Jimmy Page | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Jimmy Page’s secret job on the first 3 Led Zeppelin records? Help write the lyrics
Page made his name as a virtuoso guitarist, but he was a jack of all trades for Led Zeppelin.
He formed the band when the Yardbirds disintegrated by recruiting little-known English Midlands musicians Robert Plant and John Bonham. Adding multi-talented session ace John Paul Jones rounded out the membership. He produced and...
- 5/29/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Robert Plant owes his music career to Led Zeppelin. He performed in some little-known regional bands before catching his big break when Jimmy Page recruited him for the band. Then he became world famous and once said he had little interest in a career outside Led Zeppelin. Even though the singer has constructed a substantial solo catalog, Plant said he was just a wedding singer in Led Zeppelin.
Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant | Michael Putland/Getty Images Robert Plant was a ‘wedding singer stuck at the front’ of Led Zeppelin’s talented trio
It takes a specific alchemy among the members to create a band as unique as Led Zeppelin. All four members — Plant and Page, drummer John Bonham, and bassist John Paul Jones — perfectly meshed together from the start. Their chemistry resulted in Led Zeppelin’s songs becoming some of the most beloved ever.
Yet Plant understood his place in the pecking order.
Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant | Michael Putland/Getty Images Robert Plant was a ‘wedding singer stuck at the front’ of Led Zeppelin’s talented trio
It takes a specific alchemy among the members to create a band as unique as Led Zeppelin. All four members — Plant and Page, drummer John Bonham, and bassist John Paul Jones — perfectly meshed together from the start. Their chemistry resulted in Led Zeppelin’s songs becoming some of the most beloved ever.
Yet Plant understood his place in the pecking order.
- 5/28/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
For Led Zeppelin, the music tended to be more important than the lyrics. Need proof? Only one album came with a lyric sheet. At the same time, Zep’s tunes would have been supremely boring without Robert Plant’s vocals. These are the five Led Zeppelin songs with dirty lyrics.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham (behind drum kit), and Jimmy Page | Michael Putland/Getty Images Robert Plant’s lyrics developed during his Led Zeppelin career
Before we get to the Zep songs with dirty lyrics, we must acknowledge how far Plant came with his writing while in the band.
He turned 20 years old soon after Led Zeppelin formed. Suddenly, he was performing with two professional musicians in Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones (plus one of the greatest drummers ever in John Bonham). Before that, his only experience in working bands came in some barely notable regional groups.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham (behind drum kit), and Jimmy Page | Michael Putland/Getty Images Robert Plant’s lyrics developed during his Led Zeppelin career
Before we get to the Zep songs with dirty lyrics, we must acknowledge how far Plant came with his writing while in the band.
He turned 20 years old soon after Led Zeppelin formed. Suddenly, he was performing with two professional musicians in Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones (plus one of the greatest drummers ever in John Bonham). Before that, his only experience in working bands came in some barely notable regional groups.
- 5/27/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Some people billed Led Zeppelin as strictly a heavy band when their first album came out in 1969. That was a classic case of pigeonholing. For anyone who cared to listen, Zep’s songs displayed their range of styles and influences from the jump. Despite being stylistically different overall, eight Led Zeppelin songs have something in common with the way they start.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham | Chris Walter/WireImage 8 Led Zeppelin songs have something in common
Fans of the band would never confuse the airy, sparkling ballad “Thank You” for the grandly dense epic “Achilles Last Stand.” Yet those are two of the eight Led Zeppelin songs with one thing in common — they start with a slow fade:
“Thank You” from Led Zeppelin II began with a slow fade into Jimmy Page’s bright acoustic guitar, John Paul Jones’ organ, and...
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham | Chris Walter/WireImage 8 Led Zeppelin songs have something in common
Fans of the band would never confuse the airy, sparkling ballad “Thank You” for the grandly dense epic “Achilles Last Stand.” Yet those are two of the eight Led Zeppelin songs with one thing in common — they start with a slow fade:
“Thank You” from Led Zeppelin II began with a slow fade into Jimmy Page’s bright acoustic guitar, John Paul Jones’ organ, and...
- 5/26/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin was one of the most successful bands of the 1970s, but this didn’t do much to impress Eric Clapton. While Clapton believed that Led Zeppelin’s music was a natural continuation of what he’d done in Cream, he didn’t like the way they were carrying on his legacy. He shared why he found certain songs tough to listen to.
Eric Clapton | Michael Putland/Getty Images Eric Clapton struggled to enjoy some of Led Zeppelin’s music
In 1966, Clapton formed Cream, a heavy blues band that influenced heavy metal for years to come. He viewed Led Zeppelin as a continuation of their legacy, but this didn’t mean he was a fan of the band.
“There was a band called Blue Cheer, who I think were probably the originators of heavy metal because they didn’t really have traditional roots in the blues,” Clapton told Uncut...
Eric Clapton | Michael Putland/Getty Images Eric Clapton struggled to enjoy some of Led Zeppelin’s music
In 1966, Clapton formed Cream, a heavy blues band that influenced heavy metal for years to come. He viewed Led Zeppelin as a continuation of their legacy, but this didn’t mean he was a fan of the band.
“There was a band called Blue Cheer, who I think were probably the originators of heavy metal because they didn’t really have traditional roots in the blues,” Clapton told Uncut...
- 5/23/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin had an incredible run during the late 1960s and 1970s. After the band split, each member had to figure out what to do next. Lead singer Robert Plant started a solo career and did find success. However, he had previously stated he had little interest in any solo projects before the band ended.
Robert Plant didn’t want to do any projects without Led Zeppelin Robert Plant | Gary Miller / Contributor
In the 1970s, Robert Plant became one of the world’s biggest rockstars thanks to the success of Led Zeppelin. Due to his stardom, Plant could have done solo projects and achieved success just by riding on the success of his band. However, the singer never did so because he knew how essential the other members were to his success.
In a 1975 interview with BBC, Plant admitted he didn’t think he could have a successful solo career...
Robert Plant didn’t want to do any projects without Led Zeppelin Robert Plant | Gary Miller / Contributor
In the 1970s, Robert Plant became one of the world’s biggest rockstars thanks to the success of Led Zeppelin. Due to his stardom, Plant could have done solo projects and achieved success just by riding on the success of his band. However, the singer never did so because he knew how essential the other members were to his success.
In a 1975 interview with BBC, Plant admitted he didn’t think he could have a successful solo career...
- 5/22/2023
- by Ross Tanenbaum
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham remains one of the best drummers of all time. His secret tricks made his drums sound larger than life, and Bonzo’s performances helped define the sound of classic rock. One of Bonham’s best tracks was “Whole Lotta Love,” and the tricks that created his unique sound was someone else’s idea.
Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham | Debi Doss/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 2 decisions impacted John Bonham’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ drumming — miking his kit and putting it on a riser
Bonham was an innovator before he ever found widespread recognition in Led Zeppelin. His teenage decision to use a bicycle chain on his bass drum pedal revolutionized drumming in a major way. His stick grip, drum size, and positioning on his stool were also unique for rock drummers.
But Bonham’s drums on “Whole Lotta Love” didn’t sound unique just because of his technique.
Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham | Debi Doss/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 2 decisions impacted John Bonham’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ drumming — miking his kit and putting it on a riser
Bonham was an innovator before he ever found widespread recognition in Led Zeppelin. His teenage decision to use a bicycle chain on his bass drum pedal revolutionized drumming in a major way. His stick grip, drum size, and positioning on his stool were also unique for rock drummers.
But Bonham’s drums on “Whole Lotta Love” didn’t sound unique just because of his technique.
- 5/21/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page needed time to find the desire to join a band after Led Zeppelin folded. Drummer John Bonham’s tragic death in 1980 brought a sudden end to the band Page formed in 1968 and guided to worldwide success in the 1970s. The Firm, featuring Bad Company singer Paul Rodgers, was that band. He was the unquestioned boss in Led Zeppelin, but Rodgers told Page to take a back seat on The Firm song “Radioactive.”
(l-r) Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers | Clayton Call/Redferns Paul Rodgers got ‘ballsy’ and told Jimmy Page to stand aside as he played the solo on 1 The Firm song
Page’s quiet career in right after Led Zeppelin folded — composing the Death Wish II soundtrack and piecing together the posthumous Led Zeppelin album Coda — received a boost in 1983. The guitarist was one of many classic rock icons who joined the Arms (Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis) benefit concerts.
(l-r) Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers | Clayton Call/Redferns Paul Rodgers got ‘ballsy’ and told Jimmy Page to stand aside as he played the solo on 1 The Firm song
Page’s quiet career in right after Led Zeppelin folded — composing the Death Wish II soundtrack and piecing together the posthumous Led Zeppelin album Coda — received a boost in 1983. The guitarist was one of many classic rock icons who joined the Arms (Action into Research for Multiple Sclerosis) benefit concerts.
- 5/20/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page’s work ethic was quietly on display in Led Zeppelin. He financed and produced their debut album, which they needed only 30 hours to record. The guitarist finished recording and mixing Presence in less than three weeks. Yet Page said his solo album was the hardest record for him to make.
Jimmy Page | Luciano Viti/Getty Images Jimmy Page’s solo album ‘Outrider’ was harder work than any Led Zeppelin record
Despite decades spent as one of the world’s elite guitar players — first as a sought-after session ace, then with the Yardbirds, then with Led Zeppelin — Page has just one proper solo album to his name. The 1988 record Outrider is the only one with his name front and center on the cover.
Page self-recorded the soundtrack to Lucifer Rising during his Led Zeppelin years. He recorded the band’s second record between dates of a grueling international concert.
Jimmy Page | Luciano Viti/Getty Images Jimmy Page’s solo album ‘Outrider’ was harder work than any Led Zeppelin record
Despite decades spent as one of the world’s elite guitar players — first as a sought-after session ace, then with the Yardbirds, then with Led Zeppelin — Page has just one proper solo album to his name. The 1988 record Outrider is the only one with his name front and center on the cover.
Page self-recorded the soundtrack to Lucifer Rising during his Led Zeppelin years. He recorded the band’s second record between dates of a grueling international concert.
- 5/20/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
John Bonham’s drumming was essential to Led Zeppelin. He used his bag of tricks to give powerfully stellar performances, but Bonzo also displayed his talent for playing various styles of beats and showing restraint when necessary. Still, the band didn’t employ their drummer on some songs. These are the six Led Zeppelin songs without Bonham’s drums (in chronological order).
John Bonham | Lester Cohen/Getty Images The 1 Led Zeppelin song that might not include John Bonham’s drumming, but we’re not sure
Before diving into the Zep songs we know don’t have Bonham’s playing, we need to discuss one we’re unsure about.
“That’s the Way,” a delicate gem from the back half of Led Zeppelin III, is nearly all acoustic guitar and vocals with steel guitar flourishes. Yet the tambourine that enters the mix toward the end (it’s distinct starting at the 4:44 mark) could be Bonham.
John Bonham | Lester Cohen/Getty Images The 1 Led Zeppelin song that might not include John Bonham’s drumming, but we’re not sure
Before diving into the Zep songs we know don’t have Bonham’s playing, we need to discuss one we’re unsure about.
“That’s the Way,” a delicate gem from the back half of Led Zeppelin III, is nearly all acoustic guitar and vocals with steel guitar flourishes. Yet the tambourine that enters the mix toward the end (it’s distinct starting at the 4:44 mark) could be Bonham.
- 5/19/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin made the most of their relatively brief time together. They made eight studio albums between 1969 and 1979, added a 1976 movie soundtrack, and released a posthumous record in 1982. Ranking all 86 Led Zeppelin songs is a fool’s errand, unless the errand is to spark debate. It’s far easier to narrow the scope. So let’s look at the 10 Led Zeppelin songs that are essential listening for new fans (in chronological order).
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones | Chris Walter/WireImage 1. ‘You Shook Me’
Led Zeppelin’s debut album (1969) featured several songs that firmly announced the band’s presence. With all due respect for “Good Times Bad Times,” “Communication Breakdown,” “How Many More Times,” and “Dazed and Confused” (more on that later), “You Shook Me” might be the most essential song on the record.
Each Led Zeppelin member took a solo: John Paul Jones on organ,...
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones | Chris Walter/WireImage 1. ‘You Shook Me’
Led Zeppelin’s debut album (1969) featured several songs that firmly announced the band’s presence. With all due respect for “Good Times Bad Times,” “Communication Breakdown,” “How Many More Times,” and “Dazed and Confused” (more on that later), “You Shook Me” might be the most essential song on the record.
Each Led Zeppelin member took a solo: John Paul Jones on organ,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page’s clothes have a theme. When the former Led Zeppelin guitarist makes public appearances, he tends to wear dark pants, dark shirts, a black leather jacket, and a scarf. However, his stage outfits became more daring and dazzling in the band’s heyday as their career stretched on. Page’s wardrobes from the 1970s have all but disappeared, but one piece of clothing not only survived but looks brand new.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page | Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Jimmy Page’s Led Zeppelin clothes died with the band, but his dragon jumpsuit survived
Led Zeppelin emerged in late 1968, and the clothes Page and his bandmates wore at their first concerts reflected the times. Playing in Denmark in March 1969 (via YouTube), Page channeled the psychedelic 60s with his patterned scarf and oversized, cloak-like white coat. Singer Robert Plant wore flared pants and an almost tuxedo-like shirt,...
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page | Larry Hulst/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Jimmy Page’s Led Zeppelin clothes died with the band, but his dragon jumpsuit survived
Led Zeppelin emerged in late 1968, and the clothes Page and his bandmates wore at their first concerts reflected the times. Playing in Denmark in March 1969 (via YouTube), Page channeled the psychedelic 60s with his patterned scarf and oversized, cloak-like white coat. Singer Robert Plant wore flared pants and an almost tuxedo-like shirt,...
- 5/14/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page wasn’t just a guitar player in Led Zeppelin. He wrote or co-wrote nearly all of the band’s songs. He set the artistic vision for the band. Oh, and he produced and mixed all their albums to make sure the sound coming through the speakers matched what he heard in his head. He was an artistic visionary in his own right, but Page copied a Beatles recording trick on the Led Zeppelin song “No Quarter.”
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page | Michael Putland/Getty Images Jimmy Page copied the same trick The Beatles used on ‘Rain’ for Led Zeppelin’s ‘No Quarter’
Page formed Led Zeppelin to push the boundaries of what was possible in music. He made playing guitar with a bow a mainstream move. The control room at the recording studio became like an extra instrument. His behind-the-scenes work on “Whole Lotta Love” made the psychedelic freakout section a mind-bending experience.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page | Michael Putland/Getty Images Jimmy Page copied the same trick The Beatles used on ‘Rain’ for Led Zeppelin’s ‘No Quarter’
Page formed Led Zeppelin to push the boundaries of what was possible in music. He made playing guitar with a bow a mainstream move. The control room at the recording studio became like an extra instrument. His behind-the-scenes work on “Whole Lotta Love” made the psychedelic freakout section a mind-bending experience.
- 5/13/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin churned out songs at a furious pace early in their career. Even bassist John Paul Jones was impressed by their work ethic, and he cut his teeth as an in-demand session player working six or seven days a week before joining the band. Zep’s pace eventually slowed down, but they recorded dozens of songs in their career. We’re listing all 86 Led Zeppelin songs in alphabetical order, noting the albums they appeared on, their length, and notes on each one.
Note: Led Zeppelin made eight studio albums before breaking up, but we’re including completed songs (not reference mixes or rough cuts) from the posthumous 1982 album Coda, the 1990 box set, Coda’s 2015 expanded reissue, and one BBC Sessions recording since the band made those tunes while still together.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and Jimmy Page | Michael Putland/Getty Images Led...
Note: Led Zeppelin made eight studio albums before breaking up, but we’re including completed songs (not reference mixes or rough cuts) from the posthumous 1982 album Coda, the 1990 box set, Coda’s 2015 expanded reissue, and one BBC Sessions recording since the band made those tunes while still together.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and Jimmy Page | Michael Putland/Getty Images Led...
- 5/1/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin made a fortune when they were an active band. How much did they earn? Enough for drummer John Bonham to pay $85,000 cash for a car just to spite the salesperson. The money didn’t stop flowing when the band broke up. A 2016 lawsuit highlighted how much Led Zeppelin earns from their music each year.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones | Philip Toscano/Pa Images via Getty Images How much money does Led Zeppelin earn each year? Nearly $12 million per year over a 5-year stretch
Several bands credibly accused Led Zeppelin ripping off songs during their career. They had to give songwriting credits to blues musicians they copied a few times. It wasn’t surprising they got pinched. Led Zeppelin got so big they earned six figures at some concerts and toured in a private airplane. Other musicians wanted a piece of the...
(l-r) Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones | Philip Toscano/Pa Images via Getty Images How much money does Led Zeppelin earn each year? Nearly $12 million per year over a 5-year stretch
Several bands credibly accused Led Zeppelin ripping off songs during their career. They had to give songwriting credits to blues musicians they copied a few times. It wasn’t surprising they got pinched. Led Zeppelin got so big they earned six figures at some concerts and toured in a private airplane. Other musicians wanted a piece of the...
- 4/30/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin song titles didn’t necessarily convey the massive amount of creativity the band put into their music. “Black Dog” took its name from a stray canine. “Four Stick” was so dubbed because drummer John Bonham played the song with — wait for it — four sticks. Several standout songs had the word song in the title. They named two tunes after the Welsh cottage — Bron-y-Aur — where they wrote them. Zep eventually released five “baby” songs (tunes with baby or babe in the title). Here they are from worst to best.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham | Michael Putland/Getty Images 5. ‘Ozone Baby’
A potential glimpse of Led Zeppelin’s feature had Bonham not died in 1980? “Ozone Baby,” which Jimmy Page released from the vaults on 1982’s Coda, stepped away from Zep’s forte (heavy blues riffing) to take a stab at something approximating new wave.
(l-r) Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham | Michael Putland/Getty Images 5. ‘Ozone Baby’
A potential glimpse of Led Zeppelin’s feature had Bonham not died in 1980? “Ozone Baby,” which Jimmy Page released from the vaults on 1982’s Coda, stepped away from Zep’s forte (heavy blues riffing) to take a stab at something approximating new wave.
- 4/30/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Jimmy Page became a talented guitar player at a young age. He played in a touring band (albeit relatively local gigs), morphed into a renowned session guitarist, and later became a force with the Yardbirds. Still, Page said his guitar playing improved because of his Led Zeppelin bandmates.
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page | Robert Knight Archive/Redferns Jimmy Page’s guitar playing improved to match his Led Zeppelin bandmates
Page formed some close friendships while playing the Yardbirds. He and eventual bassist Chris Dreja remained tight when the band splintered. (Dreja took the back cover photo on Led Zeppelin I).
The genial Page probably didn’t mean to throw his Yardbirds bandmates under the bus when he said his guitar playing improved when he formed Led Zeppelin. But that was the subtext when Page described how and why his guitar playing rose to the next level (per Light & Shade author...
Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page | Robert Knight Archive/Redferns Jimmy Page’s guitar playing improved to match his Led Zeppelin bandmates
Page formed some close friendships while playing the Yardbirds. He and eventual bassist Chris Dreja remained tight when the band splintered. (Dreja took the back cover photo on Led Zeppelin I).
The genial Page probably didn’t mean to throw his Yardbirds bandmates under the bus when he said his guitar playing improved when he formed Led Zeppelin. But that was the subtext when Page described how and why his guitar playing rose to the next level (per Light & Shade author...
- 4/29/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Everyone had a chance to shine in Led Zeppelin, even bassist John Paul Jones. Guitarist Jimmy Page formed the band to express his creative vision, but he said the key to the first album and beyond was not excluding the other members. Still, things didn’t work out when Jones took singer Robert Plant’s advice about grabbing the spotlight.
John Paul Jones in his preferred spot — out of the spotlight near the back of the stage | Richard E. Aaron/Redferns John Paul Jones tried taking the spotlight on stage but ended up near the back
Led Zeppelin concerts lasted hours. Plant starred in the proceedings standing front and center. Page danced with his guitar and played solos on almost every song. Drummer John Bonham shined during his “Moby Dick” solos. He was an ace musician skilled on many instruments, but Jones rarely found himself as the focus.
As he...
John Paul Jones in his preferred spot — out of the spotlight near the back of the stage | Richard E. Aaron/Redferns John Paul Jones tried taking the spotlight on stage but ended up near the back
Led Zeppelin concerts lasted hours. Plant starred in the proceedings standing front and center. Page danced with his guitar and played solos on almost every song. Drummer John Bonham shined during his “Moby Dick” solos. He was an ace musician skilled on many instruments, but Jones rarely found himself as the focus.
As he...
- 4/27/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin made Robert Plant’s solo career possible. The singer worked laying asphalt roads and gigging with pre-Zeppelin bands that found modest success at best. He found fame with the band but faced a sudden shift when Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham died. Plant loves Peoria, Illinois, because it was the sight of his “turning point” when he started his solo career after the band broke up.
Robert Plant | Ross Marino/Getty Images Robert Plant loves Peoria, Illinois: ‘It’s a place that’s very special to me’
Led Zeppelin broke up when Bonham died, but not only because his playing was impossible to replicate. His irreplaceable chemistry with his bandmates was a major reason they couldn’t carry on without Bonzo.
Plant’s solo debut Pictures at Eleven hit stores in 1982, nearly two years after Bonham’s death. He toured behind the record, and he recalled to...
Robert Plant | Ross Marino/Getty Images Robert Plant loves Peoria, Illinois: ‘It’s a place that’s very special to me’
Led Zeppelin broke up when Bonham died, but not only because his playing was impossible to replicate. His irreplaceable chemistry with his bandmates was a major reason they couldn’t carry on without Bonzo.
Plant’s solo debut Pictures at Eleven hit stores in 1982, nearly two years after Bonham’s death. He toured behind the record, and he recalled to...
- 4/24/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Prince was an incredibly influential artist, something that Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant readily recognized. He said Prince was impressive and even noted that his bandmate Jimmy Page should partner with him. Despite this, he said he would not want to collaborate with the American musician. Here’s why he said this.
Robert Plant and Prince | Michael Putland/Getty Images; Richard E. Aaron/Redferns The ‘Purple Rain’ singer admired Led Zeppelin
When discussing his 1985 album Around The World in a Day, Prince said that he didn’t necessarily mind that people said it seemed like a step back in time. He particularly didn’t mind people using the word “psychedelic” to describe it.
“I don’t mind that, because that was the only period in recent history that delivered songs and colors,” he told Rolling Stone. “Led Zeppelin, for example, would make you feel differently on each song.”
He took...
Robert Plant and Prince | Michael Putland/Getty Images; Richard E. Aaron/Redferns The ‘Purple Rain’ singer admired Led Zeppelin
When discussing his 1985 album Around The World in a Day, Prince said that he didn’t necessarily mind that people said it seemed like a step back in time. He particularly didn’t mind people using the word “psychedelic” to describe it.
“I don’t mind that, because that was the only period in recent history that delivered songs and colors,” he told Rolling Stone. “Led Zeppelin, for example, would make you feel differently on each song.”
He took...
- 4/24/2023
- by Emma McKee
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
Led Zeppelin songs ran the gamut. They had heavy pieces and delicate tunes. Songs they loved and songs they hated. Epics that stretched the clock. Led Zeppelin’s shortest songs included two of their most recognizable pieces, one of which continues raking in money for the band.
Note: We included finished songs from the studio albums and deluxe reissues only, so the concert sound experiment “LA Drone” won’t make our list.
(l-r) John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham | Dick Barnatt/Redferns 8. ‘Royal Orleans’ Run time: 2:59
The Presence song was an outlier — every other track on the album was at least four minutes long, and two tracks stretched more than nine minutes. Guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer John Bonham settled into a tight groove immediately, and Page played a main riff that resembled the rock-jazz fusion of Steely Dan more than Led Zeppelin.
Robert Plant...
Note: We included finished songs from the studio albums and deluxe reissues only, so the concert sound experiment “LA Drone” won’t make our list.
(l-r) John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Bonham | Dick Barnatt/Redferns 8. ‘Royal Orleans’ Run time: 2:59
The Presence song was an outlier — every other track on the album was at least four minutes long, and two tracks stretched more than nine minutes. Guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer John Bonham settled into a tight groove immediately, and Page played a main riff that resembled the rock-jazz fusion of Steely Dan more than Led Zeppelin.
Robert Plant...
- 4/23/2023
- by Jason Rossi
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
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