Rolling Stone magazine said the rock group Led Zeppelin was "the biggest band of the 70s" and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history." The band has sold over 300 million albums, and never released an album that didn't wind up in the top 10 in sales. They are an incredible band with fans all over the world (including me).Personally, I was blown away by the band the first time I heard them, and they are still my al-time favorite rock band. They obviously affected many others the same way, and the group could sell out a stadium anywhere if they wanted to reform and go on the road. They are legendary.
But evidently, they weren't instantly a hit with everyone. Before the band made it big, they appeared on BBC's Radio One on a "trial basis". The show's audition panel was not impressed. One of the panelists said they were "not for daytime radio - specialist listening only", while a second panelist said they were "derivative" and "unconvincing". The third simply said they had an "old-fashioned sound".
These panel "experts" either had tin ears, or they really didn't know what they were talking about. It's not like Led Zeppelin had to learn their craft and took years to get good. Page and Jones were respected studio musicians, and their first album after teaming with Plant and Bonham was a hit.
This should serve as encouragement to budding undiscovered musicians. Just because someone pans your efforts doesn't mean they know what they're talking about.
Even the BBC is poking fun at itself over this; reported it on their top news comment programme this morning. Jimmy Page is talking about the BBC sessions on BBC6 on Christmas Day at 12.00 noon. Here's the BBC notice:
ReplyDelete'Listeners can enjoy the inside story of Led Zeppelin's BBC sessions – told exclusively by founder member Jimmy Page.
Jimmy joins Shaun Keaveny for a unique celebration of the thrilling early recordings. The BBC sessions capture the audacity and raw energy of Led Zeppelin's first live shows. Jimmy chooses his personal highlights from the music and shares his memories of an extraordinary time in Led Zeppelin's history.'
Obviously, you won't want to be listening as it goes out, but you should be able to 'listen again' from the BBC website for up to a week afterwards: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_6music
I still haven't got over not being able to get a ticket for their big London gig a year ago.
I understand. I was lucky enough to have seen them three times, but I would love to make it four.
ReplyDeleteAre you crowing there, Mr McLaughlin?
ReplyDeleteI even managed to miss Zeppelin's biggest gig of my lifetime back in 197-blah when they played outdoors at Knebworth. Everyone I knew was there. I was at my grandmother's house. So, never seen them.
Not bragging - just thankful.
ReplyDeleteAnd here's a little trivia you might enjoy. I went to the same school as Robert Plant (some years later, I hasten to add). My best friend at the time served him once in the local dry cleaners back around the same 197-blah as the Knebworth gig. How's that for glamour!
ReplyDeleteLed Zeppelin - LZ - Wow! Jimmy Page's instrumental, "White Summer," is one of the greatest songs of all time.
ReplyDeleteBut the BBC aren't the only folks to have been terribly wrong about a great rock band.
Back in the summer of '67 (the "Summer of Love"), the warm-up band for the Monkees was kicked off the tour because of so many complaints from parents of the teenyboppers that attended the concerts.
The group: The Jimi Hendrix Experience.
Not to brag either (well, maybe a little!), but I had the incredibly good fortune of seeing Hendrix in concert at the Troy Armory in Troy, NY on April 19, 1968 (No, my memory's not that good; I had to google Hendrix, April, and 1968 to find the exact date).
Seeing Hendrix in '68 and Janis Joplin on Valentine's Day, 1969 were two of the biggest highlights of my teen years.
Getting back to Led Zeppelin, I'm almost positive I saw them back then too. I have this image in my mind of Jimmy Page on stage at the Aerodrome in Schenectady, NY playing "White Summer." As it turns out, they did play there on August 20, 1969. But by that point in my life, I was so "dazed and confused," I can't say for certain I was there.
PGS-
ReplyDeleteDid your friend say whether Plant was nice to her? I hope he wasn't rude or condescending.
CT-
My personal favorite is "The Immigrant Song".
The last time I saw them, they had no back-up bands or introduction. They just walked onto a semi-dark stage, picked up their instruments and broke into "The Immigrant Song". If you didn't know who they were, you were obviously in the wrong place.
Come on, boys. Kashmir.
ReplyDeleteAnd, as far as I remember, Plant was very nice to my friend. After all, he was a local boy (quite a posh one at that), revered by pretty much everyone within a 50-mile radius.
if i had a chance to see them in the 70's i would have been to stoned to appreciate them..( I just barely remember seeing jefferson airplane)but they are one of my favorite bands.
ReplyDelete