40 years ago today, on January 12, 1969, Led Zeppelin began taking steps to put the mudshark in your mythology with its debut release, Led Zeppelin I. It would be an all-too-fleeting 13 or so years until the group's last album, The Final Rip-Off, which caused the death of drummer John Bonham. But in those years, Page, Plant, and, well, mostly Page and Plant, would piss off a whole bunch of people, mainly by stealing their music and/or ideas or putting fish inside them. For commemoration's sake, here's just a short list of people they've allegedly pissed or ripped off or otherwisedmiffed.
-- Eva von Zeppelin -- Descendant of Zeppelin airship creator Ferdinand von Zeppelin, who wasn't keen on the name/album cover combination.
-- Willie Dixon, Bert Jansch, Bukka White, Jake Holmes, Howlin' Wolf et al -- Led Zep created its sound, basically, off of old blues riffs. When it came time to credit the original authors of said riffs, ...dialtone...
-- The owners of the Edgewater Inn.
-- The parents of Lori Maddox, Jimmy Page's 14-year-old girlfriend
-- Little Roger and the Goosebumps -- OK, this one's the other way round; they pissed off Zep. But was it really necessary to sue over something as paltry as "Stairway to Gilligan's Island?"
And much later on...
-- Me: In 1993, Jimmy Page collaborated with Whitesnake singer David Coverdale to produce a horrifically crappy album that I was compelled to buy.
-- And again, me, the very next year, when Page and Plant drank some camel spit from a gourd and dribbled out that Unledded bullshit. Without even inviting Jonesy along!
But we can't let a band's reputation for bastardism hamper our enjoyment of their early fruits, or else we'll be dealing with ah ... Ah ... AH ...
-- Jason Harper
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Yes, we all know musicians are thieves. Most of us also know what band's record company had to settle plagiarism lawsuits out of court three time.s
Yeah, we all know musicians are thieves. Most of us also know what group's record company settle plagiarism lawsuits out of court three times
Just bumped into your disrespectful and moronic slam of rock's greatest band, the mighty Led Zeppelin. It made me angry all over again. Man, learn a little bit about music before you crap on greatness. There IS no band as beloved by rock fans of all ages as Zeppelin. You sound like one of the clueless critics that ragged on Zeppelin in the late sixties, all of whom ended up not only eating massive humble pie, but practically becoming groupies. It's like Howlin Wolf said, "we musicians are all thieves, I know I am, it's the good ones who take it somewhere new, and the great ones do that repeatedly". Led Zeppelin absorbed their idols and influences and took rock music where nobody had before. Their music speaks for itself, sounds magnificent and original to this day, and still sells like hotcakes. I like the Stones, but you were probably one of those that worshipped them because Rolling Stone magazine told you they were so great, meanwhile Led Zeppelin were outselling and outdrawing theme 4 to 1 with virtually no promotion in the media. You see, the people always find the great music before the "critics". Shame on your A#$ for slamming the best rock band that ever stepped on a stage, and long live the indestructable music of Led Zeppelin.
I love Led Zep, but originally they didnt give credit where credit was due, shame on them,post 1990 they have given credit to some, dazed and confused they still won't admit to ripping Holmes off. Like I said I love zep I just never knew they never gave credit to Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters and many more untill they were sued or finally admitted on post 1990 releases.
Despite your bitter and woefully ignorant comments, Led Zeppelin remain for countless millions the greatest band in rock history. The old "Zep stole blues music" is reflexively parroted by a tiny minority who don't know what they are talking about. The argument has been systematically discredited and refuted by virtually every major and respected rock critic in the world. Yes, Zep made no secret of the fact that they loved the old blues masters. Yes, Plant used some old blues phrases and lyrics in Zep's first album. However, and this is the key point genius, the reason the album is considered a world changing masterpiece by generations of rock musicians and fans alike, and after selling zillions continues to sell by the truckload, is because it SOUNDED like nothing that had preceeded it. Play this album right now and it still shames virtually everything that passes for great rock today. It absolutely and unarguably revolutionized rock music. They went on from this album to create the most revered, varied, unique and original cannon of music in the history of rock. They were fearless trailblazers that set the standard for intensely powerful and enduring music. The only band even in Zeppelin's league for originality and greatness are The Beatles.
Why is the writer of this article so bitter? Perhaps he isn�t a Zep fan to begin with. It might be that one time he picked up a guitar or some other instrument and just couldn�t get it right when he tried to play a Zep song. Or he is too young to remember Zeppelin in their glory days. Any how this guys is either trying to stir the pot or he�s just an a**wipe.
They didn�t rip off anybody. They just took what was out there and fine tuned it. Besides, look at how many groups were influenced by the greatest rock band of all time. Thanks, for getting my juices flowing!!! I�m going to play my copy of �Listen to this Eddie� CD. in dedication of the 40th anniversary release of there first album.
Your lost man, Zep is the greatest of all time! every group has influences and most songs people say they "stole", dont even sound like the original. and they did credit Willie Dixon and always state their influences when they play odr in interviews. Your opinion matters zero, because they are the most popular rock band ever!! PS Coverdale page was awesome!!!
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