About 20,000 fans crammed into London’s O2 Arena on Monday as rock giants Led Zeppelin took to the stage together for the first time in years, blasting their way through a two-hour set that left fans baying for more.
The rockers had sparked a ticket-buying frenzy when they announced in September that they were reuniting for the one-off gig, having rarely performed together since their split in 1980. A million fans registered for a chance to win a ticket and one man forked out 83,000 pounds for a pair of tickets in a BBC auction for “Children in Need”.
It is the latest sign of their enduring popularity. They have sold 300 million albums and penned classic songs such as “Stairway to Heaven” and “Whole Lotta Love”.
Can we say they are the greatest band in the world ever?
Maybe you were more excited by the return of those other pop legends, the Spice Girls? Tell us who you think is the best ever.
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led zeppelin the greatest rock band ever also RUSH
- Posted by dave sowdenGreatest band ever.
- Posted by Steven la FormGreatest band ever? Not sure anyone deserves that title. Most influential classic rock band? Absolutely. On another note: It’s always fun to see the Zeppelin critics come out. The claim that Zeppelin actually “stole” music from old bluesmen and folk musicians is simply untrue. Page addressed this in an interview (Guitar Player?) a few years back, saying that in the early 60s as rock n’ roll was coming into its own and English musicians experimented with various types of music, such as R&B, jazz, and folk, every musician took from these originators. Hendrix, Clapton, Dylan, Richards, Beck, Green (from Fleetwood Mac), Page…they all did it. And the fact is: no one gave these great men proper credit for their contribution to the rock n’ roll of the 60s (and later 70s, etc.) Page was the top session musician in all of England before joining the Yardbirds (as was Jones), so he’d certainly have known whose music was whose. Anyhow, glad to see them back together.
- Posted by Bob ThomasLoaded question. Led Zeppelin is BY FAR one of the greatest bands ever to rock this planet. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones have their place in history, but not for the same reason as LZ. NO ONE could ROCK like Plant, Page, Jones and Bonham.
- Posted by MonkeyYes, Led Zeppelin, the best! Big music! - Charqueadas - RS - Brazil
- Posted by João GuerreiroIt all boils obviously to personal tastes,There have been may great rock bands from the past to the present, but in terms of record sales “The Beatles” outshine everyone. With Led Zeppelin their music is so versatile from hard rock, blues folk, pop, and a combined sales of 300 million records they are quite influential in many acts that are around now. having listened to music for over 40 years, depends on the flavour of the month. My favourites at any given time and in no particular order are “The Doors”, “Jethro Tull,”
- Posted by Peter Wolf“Pink Floyd”, “Zeppelin”, “The Eagles” “Black Sabbath”.
Re. “Zeppelin’s great but they’re no Beatles or Stones.” We are all very thankful for that, thank you. The Beatles were great artists and took popular music in many new directions but they were not really a rock band after they stopped touring. The Stones, well they are just sad. They have been regurgitating the same riffs for decades. Zeppelin is the guitar player’s choice for greatest rock band. The rhythm section of all time, the most inventive rock guitarist of all time, the most unforgetable voice. Like the Beatles, they really cannot be compared to anyone else.
As someone who saw these live acts during the 1970s, there are a few bands in the same league. I would name the Who, Pink Floyd, and very few others. No matter what happens tonight, the music of Zeppelin will endure.
- Posted by canoemanLed Zepplin, “The Worlds Greatest Band”, Yes..Yes…Yes…
- Posted by John DohertyZeppelin destroys all competition. The discussion ends.
- Posted by Kal-El[...] more [...]
- Posted by Led Zeppelin - the greatest band ever? - PlanetsaveYes! Led Zeppelin is the greatest band of all time! I have been telling my son this for 5 years (he is 10). There are many great rock bands, past and present, but they are the epitome of a rock and roll band!
- Posted by RockerThe Beatles Suxxx!!!! Led Zeppelin is the greatest band ever!!!!!!! Rolling Stone sucks big time!!!
- Posted by insecthaterI think greatest rock band absolutley, love Pink Floyd but they were more polished and artsy while Led Zep was more raw, more rock and roll, and don’t forget the beatles were influenced by motown and the funk brothers, so you want to give kudos to the greatest band of all time, check the funk brothers out, Led Zep definelty the heaviest and best in good ol’ rock & roll.
- Posted by AlexAnd one more thing. How has an Ehmet Ertegun Tribute, possibly the greatest mind in modern music, turned into a Led Zeppelin Reunion concert? I know it’s a big deal the band is getting back together but how about some love for Ehmet.
- Posted by AaronAnd one more thing. How has an Ehmet Ertegun, possibly the greatest mind in modern music, turned into a Led Zeppelin Reunion concert? I know it’s a big deal the band is getting back together but how about some love for Ehmet.
- Posted by AaronZeppelin’s great but they’re no Beatles or Stones. Since the question didn’t specify “rock” band, somebody has to mention the sextet that Miles Davis put together on “Kind of Blue” or Coltrane’s combos on “Giant Steps.” If you think those albums didn’t have a significant influence on blues-rock bands like Zeppelin, you’re fooling yourself.
- Posted by NotQuiteHere is the evidence that Led Zeppelin isn’t all it’s cracked up to be:
Gallows Poll – Centuries old English folk song.
Whole Lot of Love – Cover of Willie Dixon song “You Need Love” band was sued settled out of court in 1985
The Lemon Song – The song borrows significantly from Hollin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor” – band sued Howlin’ Wolf’s name added to credits.
Black Dog – John Paul Jones got the idea for the riff from after hearing Muddy Waters’ experimental psychedelic-blues album, Electric Mud. The start and stop a cappella verses were inspired by Fleetwood Mac’s 1969 dong “Oh Well”.
Over the Hills and far Away – based on the instrumental Yardbirds track called “White Summer”.
Babe I’m Gonna Rock You – Folk song recorded by Joan Baez in 1962 and written by an American folk singer Anne Bredon.
Your Time is Gonna Come – The lines “One of these days and it won’t be long / You’ll look for me and I’ll be gone” quote Ray Charles song “I Believe to My Soul.
Bring it on Home – A song written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Sonny Boy Williamson II. It appears on the 1959 album “Down Out Blues”.
Black Mountain Side – Jimmy Page was originally credited, but it was discovered that it was actually an instrumental version of a traditional folk song “Blackwater Mountain” previously recorded by singer songwriter Bert Jansch.
When the Levee Breaks – Is a blues song written and recorded by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie in 1929.
- Posted by AaronNot a chance. They have had to settle more cases in court than any big band in memory. For stealing melodies and lyrics. I put these bands ahead of Zep the Beatles, The Rolling Stones (who just finished the highest grossing tour ever), Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, The Doors etc. Led Zeppelin is a great band but not the greatest. The only reason there is so much interest is because they haven’t played together in years. Imagine the hype around a Pink Floyd reunion would be much larger.
- Posted by Aaron[...] more [...]
- Posted by Led Zeppelin - the greatest band ever? - PlanetsaveGood band? Without a doubt. the greatest band ever? Ah… no. Yes they influenced other bands, but so did the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, The Who, Rush, ELP, Yes, Genesis, etc
(the list goes on)
Their early stuff (the first three albums) sounds too much the same and frankly in my book wasn’t that good or original (in some cases it wasn’t original at all!)
Everything from IV on is good with my favorite still being their last, In through the Out Door. I really liked the direction the band was heading with that album and I do believe they would have produced even better work had they stayed together, but alas Bonham’s death cut that short.
Again good but the greatest, nope? That title has yet to be anointed on any one particular band in my book and probably never will since the field is so large.
- Posted by Every dog has his day...