Led Zeppelin
Taking the balance of good and evil, Led Zeppelin is the perfect example of what all bands want to be. To have ability to play both heavy metal and have amazing power ballads, the creativity to balance out light and dark themes as well as the presence to create such a stage impression that it never leaves the back of your mind.
You have Robert Plant who is one of the greatest front men, lead singer, and song writer, bringing to the table to light side of things. His genius lyrics based on Christian themes presented both by scripture as well as Christian writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien. On the other side you have Jimmy Page who is the representation of the dark side. His fascinations with cults and other darker themes he brings the opposition to Robert Plant’s light side. Jimmy Page brought the heavy elements to Led Zeppelin. His fantastic guitar technicality made him one of the most impressive guitar players on the century. Then to make sure everything was balanced out you have Jon Bonham and John Paul Jones on bass and drums. Their skills matched those of Plant and Page but they were more like the glue that kept the band on track. They both showed amazing talent as well.
The band proved to be a super band. They had everything they needed to be great. They had an amazing front man, a phenomenal guitarist, a deadly drummer (pun intended), and a knockout bassist. They proved everyone wrong. The idea for starting the band started with Jimmy Page who had just left the Yarbirds and wanted to play a new act with Jeff Beck. When this happened everyone was under the impression that this would flop. The phrase in England at the time was that it would be like a lead balloon, referencing to the Hindenburg tragedy. This was just fuel for Jimmy Page. When Beck turned him down he began playing with others eventually forming the “New Yarbirds” which they were able to use for one tour but then was told it was copy write infringement. So as a middle finger to the world Jimmy Page took out the a in lead and changed the word balloon to zeppelin and you now have led zeppelin the band that showed the world that it could be done when no one else believed it could.
Led Zeppelin is considered to be one of the first “heavy metal” bands. Their influence has spread far and wide. I am sure that you could ask just about anyone and they have at least heard some part to a Led Zeppelin song. They are super famous for their spectacular eight minute power ballad that is the “Stairway to Heaven”. It became such a famous song that in many guitar shops it was banned from being played because it was played so often by guitarists playing the all too famous picking style song. Once a band has their song banned from guitar shops because it is played too often in when you know that you have truly left your mark on society. Which Led Zeppelin has done so beautifully.
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