Zeppelin wannabes

I was reading an article about AC/DC, which claimed that they were the most influential rock band of the 70's, which angered me. I like AC/DC at times; for casual listening, but they are too repetitive, and simly a rip off Zeppelin band , following in Zeppelin's wake of success. They're not the only ones, Guns and Roses come to mind, and others. Damn them all, nobody can top Plant's vocals!

Zeppelin are far superior of course.
I'm no big AC/DC fan, but I never thought they sounded that similar really.

Diamond Head were initially hailed as the New Led Zeppelin with the release of the legendary "White Album" - but there were no real similarities there. The only similarities between AC/DC and LZ are that they both play rock and roll. There it ends - but AC/DC are probably the most influential because their riffs are (on the whole) easier to play by budding guitarists.

So many bands started out sounding like AC/DC soundalikes; Def Leppard and the Darkness being the most obvious - but I doubt that AC/DC ever had pretentions to be Led Zep II, because they rarely sound serious - it's all about good time rock'n'roll. Their very first album, High Voltage (the Australian version, NOT the European/American later release) shows what they are about, with that mad cover of "Baby Please Don't Go", and their own "Show Business". The Kangaroo-hopping, fast rifferama and insane yet melodic blues solos contrast very well with Bon Scott's sleazy drawl.

Now Kingdom Come (2) were definitely trying to be Zeppelin - but who cares? LZ were the greatest at the time, and are now legends - a benchmark that has not been surpassed in their genre.

I also can recommend Living Blues and Budgie - both bands are not wannabes, but in some sense they have some things close to Zeppelin's sound...

Rob The Plant and Jimmy The Page 

Anyone notice almost every AC/DC song has THE SAME DRUM BEAT!!!!???

Wizard/TRueStar wrote: Anyone notice almost every AC/DC song has THE SAME DRUM BEAT!!!!???

Maybe it's the only one they bothered to learn.

Dead Jester wrote: Rob The Plant and Jimmy The Page

don't forget John The Paul The Jones, and John The Bonham.

In answer to the title of the thread: yes. Zeppelin are wannabes.

Reed Lover wrote: Rob The Plant wrote: Would they have been so succesful without Zeppelin? I'm thinking mostly about the vocals. Thin about when they came out, there first album was 74' I think, and Zeppelin's was 68'. Right? I agree with The Plank here. AC/DC have been plagiarising Zep for 30 odd years now. At least Rush only did it until 1975. Yeah, come to think of it, "Whole Lotta Rosie" sounds just like "Whole Lotta Love" - doesn't it...?

Edited by Certif1ed