Bailey 1

Blake Bailey

Dr. Robert Bedont

Music 1010-408

4/28/2017

Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin is an iconic hard rock band originating
from London, England. The bands most active years were
from 1968 to 1980. They featured similar origins,
background, and success as The Beatles who dominated
the 60s, but with a different style of music. Led Zeppelin
had a major influence on rock as they captivated the
Source: (Cossar, audiences of the rock scene as they helped usher in a
new era
pictures). of rock music. They used a flashy style of electric guitars and rock
instruments, but beneath the loudness, flashiness, and aura Led Zeppelin
created, was a band heavily influenced by folk-rock. Led Zeppelin was more
than flashy guitars and drums; it was an iconic and storytelling band that
captivated the scene in the 70s.

The band began to form in 1966 when Guitarist Jimmy Page, who
played bass at the time, would join the London band YardBirds. Jimmy was
soon made a guitarist for the band and played guitar alongside Jeff Beck.
When Page joined the band he desired to team up with other famous group
The Who. The details and formalities never worked out but they did make a
song together, "Beck's Bolero, (Erlewine, par 2). The Yardbirds would
influence and lay the ground work for Led Zeppelin to be influenced by the
blues in its instrumental styles.

The Yardbirds would be the launching pad for more groups than just
Led Zeppelin. Other artists such as Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck also spent time
writing, performing, and touring with the group. After numerous changes in
the groups membership, Jimmy Page would invite Robert Plant and John
Bonham to join him and fellow instrumentalists John Paul Jones. While on a
tour in Scandinavia, the Yardbirds would change its name to Led Zeppelin. I
will now give a quick background on each band member and the role they
played in the band.

Jimmy Page was born in 1944 in Heston, England. Jimmy was inspired
by Elvis Presley at the age of 12 and started taking guitar lessons, but was
mostly self-taught. After stints with a small band and the Yardbirds, he would
transform the Yardbirds into Led Zeppelin and serve as the bands guitarist
and electrical instrument specialist. While Jimmy Page has since been
praised for his time in Led Zeppelin at the beginning of the group he was
viewed as a weak song writer and producer. Initially critics panned his work,
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but since their initial release fans have come to appreciate his unique guitar
work and technical skill. (Biography.com).

John Paul Jones was born in 1946 in London, England. John Paul Joness
experience in music would start in 1960 when he joined his fathers band at
age 14. By the next year John Paul Jones would start his own band and be
preforming professionally while at a very young age. John would take his
experience in Keyboard and Bass, as well as his experience in band directing,
production, and music arrangement to Led Zeppelin (Dillon).

Robert Plant was born in 1948 in West Bromwich, England. Similarly to

Jimmy Page, Robert was another artist heavily influenced by Rock and Roll
king Elvis Presley. Robert would leave school to pursue his love for blues
music. He would form a small band with fellow Led Zeppelin band member
John Bonham, but would be very successful. After recommendation from John
Bonham, Jimmy page would recruit Robert Plant and he would contribute
vocals and lyrics to Led Zeppelin (Biography.com).

John Bonham was born in Redditch, England in 1948. At a very young

age John was very skilled. Before the age of 10, John built his own drum set
out of unused kitchen equipment before he got a real drum set at the age of
10. John Bonham left school at a young age and played a part in many
bands. At the time Jimmy page recruited John, he was one of the most sought
after drummers at the time (Dillon).

After the formation of the band, newly formed Led, Zeppelin would sign
the highest record deal ever at the time with Atlantic Records (Erlewine, par.
3). From there the band went out tour in the United States and released its
very first album, Led Zeppelin. The album would quickly scale to the top ten.
Their second album, Led Zeppelin II, soared to number 1 on the charts and
held it for 7 weeks (Erlewine, par. 4). By this time Led Zeppelin was starting
to capture the rock and roll scene on an international level. As Led Zeppelin
kept getting successful, the British people started to gravitate towards hard
rock. Album Led Zeppelin III would reach number 1 in the United States and
the UK. Led Zeppelin III would also hit platinum six times in the United
States. Album Led Zeppelin IV, was a unique album that used influence from
heavy metal and blues. According to Allmusic.com, the song on Led
Zeppelin IV, Stairway to Heaven, was the highest selling song in the history
of Album oriented radio (Erlewine, par. 4). Led Zeppelin IV was the highest
selling Led Zeppelin album. By this time Led Zeppelin was a common
commodity in sports arenas, stadiums, concert halls, and other venues. Led
Zeppelin would break American tour records that were held by none other
than The Beatles.

Like all good things, they must come to an end. In 1977 Robert Plants
son would die and Led Zeppelin would cancel a tour. After Robert took a
break, the band finally got back together after the public doubted the bands
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future. The band would go on to produce one more album, In Through the
Out Door, before John Bonham would be found dead in his room while on
tour. The band determined it could not go one without the beloved band
member and Led Zeppelin would be disbanded. The remaining band
members would go on to have solo careers. Jimmy Page would release all of
Led Zeppelins unreleased music. The band would have reunions in 1985,
1988, 1995, and 2007 with fill in drummers for John Bonham.

Listening Guide/Composition History:

Composition Title: Kashmir

Composers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham

Composition History:

Publication Date: 1975

Producers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones.

Where recorded: Headley, England

Sound Engineers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham

Performers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones.

Influences: Driving on through northwest Africa, in Kashmir.

History of the creation of the song: Jimmy page had been experimenting with
DADGDA tuning on his guitar. This method of guitar playing was common in
Middle Eastern music. Jimmy page put together his part and the rest of the
band added theirs (Springer).

Tell us why this song/composition is important: Its a very popular song that
brought a new look into rock with its unique style. It has also been remixed,
covered, and featured in many soundtracks.

What touches you personally about the music: The instrumentals of the
song, I love the main theme that starts at the beginning of the song.
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Listening Guide:
Timin Form Descriptions: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Dynamics, Timbre,
g Texture
0:00 Intro Song is written with simple quadruple meters (4/4). Simple
Theme A guitar and bass melody written with two sixteenth notes
followed by one fourth note followed by an eighth rest, and
then repeated. Drums in the background. Andante pace,
80bpm.
0:18 Verse 1 Verse 1 vocals start.
0:54 Bridge Instrumental transition between Verse 1 and 2.
1:07 Melody Original melody starts again.
starts
agian
1:13 Verse 2 Verse 2 begins.
1:40 Vocals cut before next bridge
1:50 Bridge Same bridge as before, leads into verse 3
2:12 Verse 3 Bridge cuts abruptly leading into verse 3
3:11 Bridge Bridge starts
3:23 Verse 4 Verse 4 starts
4:20 Theme A Theme A starts again
4:38 Verse 5 Verse 5 begins with Theme A still playing in the background
5:13 Small Small bridge leads back into Theme A
bridge
5:33 Verse 6 Verse 6 begins
6:07 Bridge Bridge before verse 7
6:39 Verse 7 Verse
8:15 Outro Song starts to slowly fade and volume slowly goes down while
verse 7 finishes.

Listening Guide/Composition History:

Composition Title: Immigrant Song

Composers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant

Composition History:

Publication Date: 1970

Producers: Jimmy Page

Where recorded: London, England

Sound Engineers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham

Performers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones.
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Influences: The Icelandic government, they were invited to play in Iceland

where the line in the song we come from the land of the ice and snow
comes from. Also makes references to mythology.

History of the creation of the song: The band placed a great emphasis on
history in the song, the thought of the song was the explorations of people
like Marco Polo and the Vikings.

Tell us why this song/composition is important: Led Zeppelin often opened

their concerts with this song

What touches you personally about the music: It was featured in the Movie
School of Rock which is one of my all-time favorites, especially growing up.

Listening Guide:
Timin Form Descriptions: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Dynamics, Timbre,
g Texture
0:00 Intro Starts with a strong guitar Riff. Song is written with 112 bpm,
Them Moderato tempo. Song is written with simple quadruple meters
eA (4/4).
0:10 Choru Chorus vocals start with the Guitar riff in the back still.
s
0:20 Main guitar riff cuts for a brief period in the verse
0:23 Verse Riff comes back and verse 1 starts
1
0:45 Hook Hook starts
0:56 Choru Chorus begins again
s
1:11 Verse Verse 2 begins
2
1:32 Hook Hook begins
1:44 Outro Outro begins

Listening Guide/Composition History:

Composition Title: Stairway to Heaven

Composers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant

Composition History:

Publication Date: 1971

Producers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones.

Where recorded: London, England

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Sound Engineers: Jimmy Page

Performers: Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones.

Influences: Robert page wrote the lyrics when he was in a very bad mood; he
said the lyrics hit him like a brick wall. The instrumentals were influenced by
the 250 year old Welsh cottage they made it in.

History of the creation of the song: Led Zeppelin began forming while on tour
until finishing it in an old welsh cottage.

Tell us why this song/composition is important: One of the greatest hits of all
time, iconic.

What touches you personally about the music: It has deep meaning, and said
by Jimmy Page himself; you get a different interpretation from the song every
time you listen to it.

Listening Guide:
Timin Form Descriptions: Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Dynamics, Timbre, Texture
g
0:00 Intro Stairway to Heaven is a very slow song that builds up to a climax.
Stairway to heaven is played at 66 bpm, adagio. Song is written with
simple quadruple meters (4/4). Starts with a smooth acoustic melody
with recorders and bass as well.
0:53 Verse 1 Verse 1 begins.
2:00 Bridge Bridge between verse 1 and the Chorus.
2:20 Chorus Chorus begins with an electric guitar and a keyboard now.

2:40 Verse 2 Verse 2 begins

3:02 Bridge Bridge with electric guitar now, starts before another chorus.
3:10 Chorus Chorus
3:30 Verse 3 Verse 3
3:52 Bridge Bridge between verse 3 and 4
4:20 Verse 4 Verse 4 comes in with a strong beat from the drums that come into
play now.
4:50 Chorus Chorus
5:08 Verse 5 Verse 5 begins.
5:35 Fanfare Guitar fanfare begins.
5:55 Guitar Guitar solo begins
solo
6:45 Tempo Tempo increases
6:45 Bridge Verse 6 bridge begins at a higher tempo to lead to the outro. This is
the climax.
7:45 Outro Instrumentals cut for a final vocal line.
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Work Sited:

Cossar, Neil. "This Day in Music." Zeppelin Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr.
2017. <http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/pages/zeppelin_page>.

Dillon, Charlotte. "John Bonham | Biography & History." AllMusic. N.p., n.d.
Web. 27 Apr. 2017. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-bonham-
mn0000218777/biography>.

Dillon, Charlotte. "John Paul Jones | Biography & History." AllMusic. N.p., n.d.
Web. 27 Apr. 2017. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/john-paul-jones-
mn0000231997/biography>.

Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Led Zeppelin | Biography & History." AllMusic.

N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2017. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/led-
zeppelin-mn0000139026/biography>.
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"IMMIGRANT SONG by LED ZEPPELIN." Song Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr.
2017. <http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=317>.

"Jimmy Page." Biography.com. Ed. Biography.com. A&E Networks Television,

28 July 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.biography.com/people/jimmy-page-9542555>.

Joyner, David Lee. "Listening Guides." American Popular Music | Listening

Guides. N.p., 2017. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.
<http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073526576/student_view0/c
hapter21/listening_guides.html>.

"Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven." Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.
<https://genius.com/Led-zeppelin-stairway-to-heaven-lyrics>.

"Led Zeppelin Biography." Rolling Stone. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/led-zeppelin/biography>.

"Led Zeppelin Kashmir." Genius. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.

<https://genius.com/Led-zeppelin-kashmir-lyrics>.

"OnlineSheetMusic.com." Kashmir Sheet Music - Music for Piano and More -

OnlineSheetMusic.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.onlinesheetmusic.com/kashmir-p119808.aspx>.

"Robert Plant." Biography.com. Ed. Biography.com. A&E Networks Television,

21 May 2015. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.biography.com/people/robert-plant-12103147>.

Springer, Mike. "Jimmy Page Tells the Story of "Kashmir"." Open Culture. N.p.,
30 Sept. 2011. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.openculture.com/2011/09/jimmy_page_tells_the_story_of_
kashmir.html>.

"Stairway To Heaven by Led Zeppelin Songfacts." Song Meanings at

Songfacts. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2017.
<http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=328>.