Led Zeppelin: Rip Off Artists?
YOU Decide
Allegations that Led Zeppelin's earlier hits were actually plagiarized from older blues artists may hold water when you hear some of the side-by-side comparisons. So, are they or aren't they? YOU decide when you watch this clip: Led Zeppelin - Rip off Artists?
Credit: myself
Copyright: myself
Published by mbates
As an independent consultant, worked for mass media and educational clients, including Cable News Network (CNN), VH1, Tricarico, Inc., and Rutgers University, to apply my broadcast media skills to film and p... View profile
32 Comments
Post a Commentjimi page was the guitarist for the yarbirds, quite simply wrote that song,.. you dopes
In fact, if I can add one more thing, Blues artists consider it an "ode to their roots" when they cover a blues classic. They consider giving respect to where they have come from. It would be disrespectful not to do so. So think of this when you call this "objective" blog "Led Zeppelin: Rip Off Artists." This is a joke. Don't feel so righteous. When you do this, you have no clue who you're insulting. It makes sense then, that no one significant has taken this controversy seriously. Zeppelin will always be, probably, the best rock band of all time.
(3/3)..And them from natural human tendency to appreciate rhythm. And so on.
So relax, everyone. I know it's fun all to get excited over a big controversy on the internet, but let's get real here. Led Zeppelin didn't do anything that every other band doesn't do. Zeppelin was an incredible band, a monster, more than most people will ever know, more than I will ever know. Their music was the concrete beginning, nor the concrete end. It was part of the process. And no cute little video or Howard Stern special is going to change that for me. I know this to be true.
The problem is you guys are concerned with the credit. Zeppelin is not. Neither are most other artists. They're building on songs, adding to the continuous process of music because it's what they do, what they were born to do. They love it in itself.
I'm sure it was not their decision, anyway, not to do research to credit each individual with what may have sounded like their "original" (eg Babe I'm Gonna Leave, simple as it is, is obviously lyrically the same). Plant has talked openly about using songs from other bands. Perhaps it was their producer who wanted to get the band flying in the right direction by fudging the album credit, and I can see why people would get upset over this. But I seriously doubt it was the band who did this.
Even if it was, I don't really see it as relevant. Music evolves, it goes, it morphs. Every song ever written has take their entire foundation from the bands preceding them. And them from tribes that banged on drums. And them from natural human ...
I'll reiterate what blues fan said, I'm glad someone else has some sense.
Do a favor for me. Count how many artists "stole" (to use your term) from Led Zeppelin, implicitly or not, directly or subtly. Measure the span of Zep's influence. Now, count for me how many artists influenced Zeppelin.
Did you end up with the answer "infinity" on each side? I thought so.
Music is a continuous process. Any art for that matter. You all are judging this with a black and white perspective. Who wrote this lyric, who wrote this lick? It's all grey area. If you've played instrument or been an artist of any type you know this first hand. Bands influence one another with or without realizing it-- this is ESPECIALLY true for blues. Jimmy Page is rooted in blues, and like any other great blues artist- eg Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck- they all take from each other and from the past. The only reason they're taking crap for it is because they made it huge.
The problem is you guys...
I found this site because I googled " blues complaining about Zep"
My observations:
I guess you'll have to scold Styx as well then, because 'Sweet madam blue' is nearly identical to 'Babe I'm gonna leave you.'
Zep never baked away from saying they loved the old south blues...people lift ideas all the time.
You also mention the Yardbirds with no proof of anyrthing from Jake Holmes...playing a riff from the Yardbirds just makes you look silly.
Honestly, all you people look rediculous that are complaining about Zep. If a person wanted to, they could find a near match to any song in the universe (except for Lila's dance by Mahavishnu) Cripes...look at the song 'Jane' by Jefferson Starship and 'fantasy' by Aldo Nova.
Petulance and jealousy.
although zeppelin failed to properly credit the original artists much of the time, they regarded the matter as many other blues artists. throughout the history of the blues, musicians have lifted guitar parts, verses, etc and incorporated them into their own work. a lot of mississippi blues musicians took others creations, made it into something of their own, and credited themselves with the creation. its not that uncommon.
William, you're an idiot.
They did NOT give credit to any of these artists.
class action suit should be filed by all the folks ripped off by this pitiful band. My opinion of them has completed done a 180'!!
Thx) Good video.