jupiter wrote:Do you think Led Zeppelin ever claimed they were the greatest rock band?
I think its a safe bet that public opinion has a lot more to do with that title than anyone the band.

I think the vast, vapid expanse that is stairway to heaven pretty much says it all.

jupiter wrote:

sixteenrev wrote:
I would go so far as to say that Led Zeppelin is one of the top 5 all time most pretentious bands. Look at the way their music is marketed, it's like you're supposed to accept their greatness without ever hearing their music or even liking it. Every fucking ad of theirs says "the all time greatest rock band" or whatever the fuck.. let me fucking decide for myself who the best rock band is..

Do you think Led Zeppelin ever claimed they were the greatest rock band?
I think its a safe bet that public opinion has a lot more to do with that title than anyone the band.

"I am a Golden God..." --Robert Plant
"These are all MY people." --Robert Plant

At least one of them thought pretty highly of himself... but I don't think sixteenrev was implying that the Zep themselves created the mythology...

sandpanda wrote: but I don't think sixteenrev was implying that the Zep themselves created the mythology...

Right.. advertising, fan base, public opinion, etc.. are very much a part of the way we perceive music..i can pretend that it's not and say "oh they're a great band".. but I'll just be honest and say CRAP.

if the band didn't intend to have that image, it's unfortunate.. their material fortune should ease their pain sufficiently. if not, i'm certainly open to whatever else they attempt.

Led Zeppelin=not crap.
Personally, I don't care if anybody else thinks they're crap, I think they're great. I first got into zeppelin records in middle school (I'm 35 now) and I definitely went through a phase where I just didn't want to hear them anymore because I had listened to them so much, got into punk, whatever. After taking a vacation from those records and coming back to them I think I like them even more. Part of this may be nostalgia, but I think alot of it has to do with the quality of the music. It's not Led Zeppelin's fault that they became super-mega-stars and now you can't escape from "Stairway to Heaven". I think those guys really loved their music and had fun playing. Their records sound very natural and honest to me. Also, the more I learn about making records and the longer I play music, the more impressed I am with what they could do.

sixteenrev wrote:
Right.. advertising, fan base, public opinion, etc.. are very much a part of the way we perceive music..i can pretend that it's not and say "oh they're a great band".. but I'll just be honest and say CRAP.

So, are you saying that you're opinion is based on your dislike of their popularity, rather than their music? Seems a bit obtuse. Oh well, you hate 'em, I love 'em. So it goes....

i never loved zepplin, but their chops and influence are undeniable. plus, bonham is UNEQUALLED.

all they periphery garbage should really be kept out of the debate. who liked them, how badly they dressed, blah blah.

why i think zepplin was a great band:
1. monster riffs
2. great, i mean GREAT rythum section.
3. they took the blues structures as far as they could go and still be considered blues structurs
4. plant's voice was out of this world.
5. the records

bad things about zepplin
1. pretentious.
2. vacuous, empty lyrics and subject matter (see #1)
3. overindulgent in the mid to late 70's. (why didnt they embrace the punk ethos just a little bit?? as good as they were, had more of their song ideas been shorter, they would have been that much better. Edit thyself!)
4. the records. my own feeling is as good as paige's production was, i would have liked to hear some different people at the helm. it might have helped streamline them a little toward the end.

weigh the pros vs the cons, no contest, they are not crap.

-and the limp bizkit analogy is dumb. they're are 50 bands on the radio that sound like limp bizkit. who sounded like led zepplin? no one.

oh man, are they so not crap.

i now understand how brad can make or break friendships with this game.

anyone going out of their way to argue that zeppelin is crap is crap, but they do deserve some kudos for being able to type with their heads up their respective asses. so here's to you, cranial-rectal-inversionist-typist-dumbshits. kudos indeed.

mc

and, well, before anyone takes 'dumbshits' too personally, i didn't read a word of the pro-crappists arguments. don't care to start a slanderous campaign. apologies, sort of.

but, come on.

still not crap.

mc

Yes, who cares what the label's ad men say or what the commercial for the new box set purports. LISTEN to the music.

Truly III is full of such great MUSIC. I have a feeling Sandpanda and sixteenrev had older brothers that liked Led Zeppelin. That usually is what ruins it for us rebellious little brothers.

Hi Matt! We just posted at the very same instant! Jinks, you owe me a bottle of Coke.

Oh, and by the way, this is my 100th post. Bring out the cake!