Led Zeppelin...

Was strangely inspired to review LZ 'IV'today and  figure,  as one of those who violently opposed their inclusion here, this thread might be a nice idea.  What are your thoughts on Zeppelin and their prog quotient.  Those who think that Zeppelin was a prog group, I'd love to hear why.  DId Zeppelin react as I've always bellowed to the prog world around them.. or was Zeppelin's 'name' enough for them to impact and influence prog.  Expecting this thread to sink.. but hope otherwise...

read first.. then answer if you wish... I didn't ask if they should be included... that has been discussed enough.

Led Zeppelin had a huge impact on the rock world in general.  They influenced a lot of bands, including my favorite - Rush.

They had proggy moments as well.  The Battle of Evermore.  In the Light.  A lot of their music was just great rock and roll.

I heard Geddy Lee state in an interview on XM radio that Led Zeppelin was progressive to a degree.

I don't know.  I for one am glad they are here.

I'm glad you have posted a topic on "my beloved Led Zep".

To go on with these two bands, maybe that a song like "Kashmir" might have haunted Ian while writing "Roots To Branches" (the album) but I'm not quite sure.

Apart from these little details I can't think of a prog band who can claim any Led Zep influence upon their work.

 

When I started to love Led Zep (December 1970), I can tell you : NO ONE ever mention the slightest link with prog music. They were the archetype of heavy and hard rock. OK, they will have wonderful acoustic songs (mainly on Led Zep III (critics will violently react to this). These will be their trade mark during concerts. Page/Plant sitting on the edge of the stage to perform "Tangerine", "That's The Way", "The Battle..." or "Going To California".

 

But writing acoustic songs does not mean you write prog songs, right ?

 

About Stairway. First of all, it is deeply inspired (to say the least) from the song "Taurus" performed by the band Spirit (I'm listening to it while I write).

Randy California (the songwriter for Spirit) was often asked about it in interviews, to which he typically responded that he did not consider the "Stairway" intro to be a rip-off, but a simply a "reworking" of his song (he is very gentle).

Led Zeppelin was the opening act for Spirit's 1968 tour but nobody in Led Zep has ever cited influence from the track. (these info's are available on Wikipedia if you want to double -check).

Having said that, yes "Stairway" is a great moment in the rock music. Is it prog ?

Again, back to 1971, I have never read that it was a prog song. Does a song turned into prog as time passes by ? (if so maybe that "Paranoïd" will be called a prog song in 2214) !

 

If you listen carefully to it, it's intro is quite close to what prog could have delivered.

The last part of the song is hard-rocking alright, so is a band called prog because he produced a few songs related to this genre ?

Is Genesis a hard rock band because they released "The Knife" and "The Return Of The Giant Hogweed" ?

 

Sorry to have been rather long (but Micky knows that I prefer poster than post-it).

 

Cheers.

I don't consider Led Zeppelin to be a prog band, they just used prog elements on their later days, an example of this might  be "Carouselambra" . I think their inclusion in this site fits more than many bands listed  that have nothing to do with prog rock!!!, mostly  pure metal bands that I won't name.

You can't talk about classic rock without talking about Led Zep. They are on the same level of Yes, KC and all the classic rock bands you want to name.!

is there anyone that constantly visit Prog Archives who doesn't like Led Zep?

-Peace

depends what you think 'Prog' is. If you think it a term to decribe genuinly innovative music then they certainly wouldnt be there, but then again, in my opinion, 99% of so called 'prog' bands aren't in the slightest bit innovative and to me and many others 'prog' just describes the more self-indulgent bands of the 70s. and Led Zep would certainly be at home in that catagory.

Tony R wrote: ....a Prog Band influenced by Led Zep..........Rush perchance?

I see little influence on 'prog' Rush by Zeppelin..  there are such things as inspirational influences.. and creative.  I sure don't see the creative.. and would love to know what they are if you can explain Tony. I never have seen it.. but you're the expert on them.. I'm just the guy who gives their good name wedgies and runs their pants up the flagpole


Edited by micky - February 01 2007 at 21:18

LZ is my love. Hehe. They never made an album that comes REALLY close to being prog (HOTH is not far, though). However, a compilation of their prog songs would be (if released) at least a top 20 issue for our top 100. They were a band influenced by prog, their own influence to prog was little and not essential - Yes' "Going fot the One" (the song) shows that. And more important, they brought complexity inside "hard and heavy music" since 1970 without it's fans even noticing it... they were too seduced for that. (Well some did notice - I read a booklet review inside Sabbath's "Master of Reality" where it said that this release came perfect to fill the gap left for hard rock fans when Zepp changed direction after their second album). Except for parts of their first two albums, who were also higly progressive regarding sound, there isn't much of their writing that could be called simplistic (again except for those light, humorous songs like Hot Dog, D'yer Mak'er, Rock'n'roll, Candy Store Rock, etc. - which were not meant to prove anything actually related to music). They were not considered prog at the time because they stole the show... so they were mainstream.

Led Zep had a huge influence on all types of music including Prog - JP hated labels, the group played all sorts of music including Prog but not all - that is why they are in Prog-related.

I've never thought of Led Zep as a prog band and I'm not sure how many prog bands they actually influenced, apart from Rush. They do have a few songs with prog tendencies (mainly The Rain Song) and I have no problem with them being here.