Led Zeppelin- Greatest Band?

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Led Zeppelin- Greatest Band?

Postby gogetaz9 » Wed Jul 09, 2003 9:41 am

Hello to all,

Me and a few friends were talking about music and who noticed that Led Zeppelin have never released a track that has been bad in any way. So we want to see if anyone can give an opinion to this.
Does anyone feel they are the greatest band or if there is any other band that could lay claim to releasing tracks that are above par ?
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Postby Otohiko » Wed Jul 09, 2003 10:31 am

King Crimson.

I've heard 90 hours of their music and not one second that I didn't enjoy. It's the only group that stayed consistently good for over 34 years.

I'm a firm believer in them being the greatest band in the universe, however great props to Led Zep for being a truly worthy and near-unassailable group. I'm sure there's people that'll disagree with my view, which is fine. It is, of course, not music for everyone...
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Postby Flint the Dwarf » Wed Jul 09, 2003 1:05 pm

Opinions, opinions. :roll:

I will say, however, that both are great bands because of the huge influence they've had on the music that I listen to. Not Zeppelin so much, but definitely Crimson.
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Postby Otohiko » Wed Jul 09, 2003 1:38 pm

Hehe... right on there Flint.

On the other hand, while Zeppelin was a consistent single group, King Crimson was (depending on who you ask) a constantly-changing series that included at least 6 line-ups. No line-up of King Crimson has lasted longer that 3 years, and Zeppelin continued putting out over a decade. So, props to them for sustaining the performance.
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Postby ithaqua » Wed Jul 09, 2003 9:27 pm

King Crimson also benefits from not having the overexposure Zep does. I like some of Led Zeppelin's stuff, but not as much as the people who run the radio stations in town apparently do.

As for being the greatest band of all time - there isn't one. No matter how good they are, there will always be people who simply don't like the genre they are in as a whole. This is why bands in popular genres, like rock, can become legends, while bands in more obscure genres, say ambient, merely become classics.

Don't believe me? Well, have you heard of the Legendary Pink Dots? (yes, I'm aware of the irony in the name)
How about Throbbing Gristle or Einsteurzende Neubauten?
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Postby Otohiko » Wed Jul 09, 2003 9:45 pm

Yes, you're right there too - genres are too widespread to declare a single winner in all categories. It's really the greatest band from my perspective, not to say universally. I've done a lot of searching, and nothing quite does it for me as well as good ol' KC. Also, the sheer volume and quality of their work add up... but on the whole - trust me, as much as I know about what Fripp can play, I can just as easily tell you what he can't... So, unless the definition of 'greatest' is the 'consistently challenging for longest time', then ithaqua is definitely right.
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Postby Tom the Fish » Wed Jul 09, 2003 10:06 pm

[quote="ithaqua"]Well, have you heard of the Legendary Pink Dots? [\quote]

I used to beat up Ed Ka'Spell for his lunch money. Che Banana indeed...

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Postby Propyro » Wed Jul 09, 2003 10:11 pm

hmm led zepplin ? the greatest band ever? no. Don't get me wrong, i like them, and think all of them were great musicians. But they aren't the best band ever. In my opinion ... wlel i ahve no idea who i think the best band ever is ... hmm the legendary pink dots ... i'll have to give them a shot. It sounds interesting. But you guys are right, no one can claim the title of the greatest band in existance ... anyone foolish enough to try is just too vain for their own good.
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Postby Otohiko » Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:53 am

Actually, the only reason me (and most other King Crimson fans) tend to toss the title "The Greatest Band in the Universe" is a little story which happened when the band was just starting out in 1969. (and not because we're elitist assholes who think everything else sucks) :wink:

***

1969, London. A young man came to a club to check out a new up-and-coming local band - King Crimson. The band launches into an hour of their stellar early material. The man is absolutely extatic - throughout the show, he is jumping up and down at his table and shouting "This is the greatest band in the universe!!!!". And, when the set ends - he rushes backstage, finds the band's young guitarist Robert Fripp, and to his surprise says the following: "Shake my left hand, man! Cause it's closer to my heart!"

***

See if you can guess who the man was :wink: Cause if he's not an authority on great music, I don't know who is 8)

But, again, it's not that I say there's a universally greatest band that will work for everyone.

The man's name was Jimi Hendrix
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Postby Propyro » Thu Jul 10, 2003 7:06 pm

i have no clue who that guy was ... or is.
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Postby FoolThemAll » Thu Jul 10, 2003 8:07 pm

I don't like Led Zeppelin much.

"Stairway to Heaven" is cool, and was never really overplayed for me. I like the Stone Temple Pilots take on "Dancing Days" more than the original. "Kashmir" is somewhat cool, but tiring. Same goes for "When The Levee Breaks", "No Quarter", "Black Dog", "Immigrant Song", ect.

I can't get into them. And it's not like I downloaded a bunch of Zep mp3s, gave 'em all a listen, then deleted them. It's not like I've just heard them every now and then on the radio. My dad's a huge fan and has tried to convert me for at least two years now.

For the most part, I just find them boring. I don't get the appeal.
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Postby Propyro » Thu Jul 10, 2003 8:19 pm

FoolThemAll wrote:"Stairway to Heaven" is cool, and was never really overplayed for me.

consider yourself lucky.
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Postby Otohiko » Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:27 pm

Propyro wrote:i have no clue who that guy was ... or is.


try quoting that message I posted...

The man's name was Jimi Hendrix
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Postby Otohiko » Thu Jul 10, 2003 9:28 pm

oops I meant to make that small :roll:

ah well, just gave it away :) It's a true story, not a myth or anything. Amusing.

As for zeppelin - I enjoy their music, but not to say my liking of it goes anywhere too far... though I do respect their contributions to music fully.
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Postby gambitt » Mon Jul 14, 2003 8:21 am

I can't say anything about the greatest band ever, but I will debate there never being a Zeppelin song that didn't fit the bill. Presence was not flawless, neither was In Through the Out Door. That's the period where they tried hard not to rip off classic bluesmen's songs and not get sued for it... and it doesn't really fly.

Besides, I've also heard the same thing being said about The Police. I am one of the biggest Police fans (first AMV was to them), but I will admit there are flaws in Ghost in the Machine.

Led Zep definitely have a record with consecutive great albums... and all the songs lifting you to a higher plateau, but other bands have reached higher bounds with more unsuccessful efforts such as Pink Floyd, The Beatles and the last two albums of the Flaming Lips. Mind you I don't mean to sound like I'm judging albums by psychedelic content, but then again, those with that content seem to be the more revered in music history.

I'd like to debate that with someone sometime. Are the greatest albums of all time based on drug trips? VH1's "100 Greatest Albums" ranked Beatles' Revolver as #1, and there is plenty of trippy content there. Led Zep's IV (Zoso, Untitled, _, whatever) not having any drug references? What, are you saying you had to be sober to write Misty Mountain Hop or Stairway to Heaven?

I'm blabbing now, I'll shut up, I have a big mouth. EUAAAGGGHH!
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