“It’s quite edgy”: Jimmy Page on the song that only true Led Zeppelin fans know
Led Zeppelin is often considered one of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time. This is not only because of how Jimmy Page approached songwriting and the limitless nature of some of their music but also because of their extensive catalogue. Their work has many layers as they dabble in multiple genres and tell genuine stories throughout their music.
Jack Black is one of the band’s biggest fans, as he has constantly called them the greatest band of all time. When he was giving a speech and affirming that the four pieces were better than the Beatles and better than the Rolling Stones, he told the crowd that if they disagreed, then they needed to take the time and really listen to Led Zeppelin.
“Led Zeppelin…the greatest rock and roll band of all time. Better than the Beatles, better than The Stones,” he said, “And if you don’t agree with me, that’s because you haven’t done the Zeppelin marathon. It’s when you sit your ass down and listen to all nine Zeppelin albums in a row. The jams of Led Zeppelin are second to none”.
A lot of people did as Black suggested, and Led Zeppelin became one of the most loved rock bands on the planet. They did a lot of great work together, and they have a lot of classic songs to celebrate as a whole. Who could ever forget hits such as ‘Stairway To Heaven’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and ‘Babe, I’m Gunna Leave You’? However, as is always the case when bands become mainstream successes, the true fans take time to celebrate the underground hits more than the popular songs.
When Led Zeppelin broke up, people everywhere were devastated as Led Zeppelin was one of the most exciting live bands on the planet, as well as great studio musicians. There was a hole in the live music scene, and it’s one that would only be filled momentarily a couple of times in the future on the few occasions that Led Zeppelin decided to reunite.
One of those reunions was at Live Aid, which didn’t go down very well; however, they played another show in 2007 with John Bonham’s son Jason Bonham playing the drums. It was one of the toughest tickets to get in the world, as every fan of rock music within distance wanted to see the undeniable force that was Led Zeppelin back on stage one more time. Naturally, some fans were frustrated, as the band’s biggest fans couldn’t get tickets, while other people who did only knew the hits and were merely going to say that they had been.
One person who spoke to Jimmy Page after the gig spoke about their song ‘For Your Life’. It was the most niche hit that the band played on the night, and it was suggested to Page that anyone in attendance who didn’t know that song should have given their ticket to somebody else.
“I think you’re probably right,” said Page, “But in context, it was so cool to do that song. It’s quite edgy to play. There’s a lot to remember in it, so many changes, unexpected changes.”
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