Well, since this thread has been brought back to life, I guess I have no choice but to pick on Led Zeppelin some more.
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Originally Posted by Chula Vista
(good article that kinda sums it up)
Legacy, Influence, and Cultural Significance
Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and has won countless awards including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1995.
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Lifetime Achievement Awards are basically the consolation prizes of music. And, as Frownland once pointed out, Grammys are mostly about popularity and give no true indication of a musician's talent.
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Originally Posted by Chula Vista
Every single member of the band is considered one of if not the greatest in the field and it is debatable that Led Zeppelin is one of the greatest bands ever put together. They have sold over 200 million albums worldwide and are in an elite category with the Beatles and Garth Brooks as statistically the greatest artists ever.
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Sure, Page, Plant and the boys have got chops, but I find the whole "Who's the best?" debate to be pretty pointless and petty. Especially since they had very little imagination, and routinely stole riffs, lyrics, and even whole songs. After just five minutes of research, you'll quickly learn that Led Zeppelin aren't quite the masterminds that you might believe them to be.
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Originally Posted by Chula Vista
Led Zeppelin defined rock music and the rock lifestyle and they are not only adored by fans but also respected by famous musicians.
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Bull****. Just complete and utter bull****. I could post literally hundreds of pre-Zep bands that smoke, drank, had sex, took drugs, and spit in the faces of anyone who questioned them. Saying that Led Zeppelin, or any one of their ancestors or peers, "defined rock music and the rock lifestyle" is just pretentious beyond belief. It's raising up one band, while covering your ears and shouting "Na na na!" to every other band that contributed to the scene.
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Originally Posted by Chula Vista
There have been numerous tribute albums by bands such as Stone Temple Pilots, Tina Turner, Duran Duran, and even the London Philharmonic Orchestra to name a few. The band is the epitomy of branding and they changed the way music was created for the radio and even for how managers operated.
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The only thing they changed about music on the radio was making it an annoying and obsolete form of sharing music, as everyone got tired of Zep fanboys playing "Stairway to Heaven" (of which the famous intro riff was stolen from "Taurus" by the band Spirit) over and over. Okay, joking aside, what did Led Zeppelin do with their songs that other bands hadn't done before, in terms of radio-play? You'll have to elaborate, because it seems like a very vague and unsubstantiated statement that exists solely to stroke the band's ego.
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Originally Posted by Chula Vista
Led Zeppelin has left an overwhelming legacy and even Jimmy Page is proud of the fact that their music inspired some of today’s greatest musicians to pursue their dreams. Aerosmith, Guns ‘n Roses, and Van Halen borrowed the sound from the song “Whole Lotta Love” for their basic feel.
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"Whole Lotta Love"? You mean the song that they stole from Muddy Waters, which eventually caused them to be sued into oblivion until they settled with him?
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Originally Posted by Chula Vista
Led Zeppelin also had a major impact on fashion and the definition of “Cool”. The band oozed sexuality and macho-ism and everyone wanted to give off that vibe. Musicians such as jack White copy their style and even to this day Led Zeppelin t-shirts are worn by celebrities. They even started the big hair craze of the 1980′s.
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The band "oozed sexuality and macho-ism" because that was the trademark attitude of the Blues, of which they were a revival band. Before they were even born, the groundwork for their sound was laid down and mastered. Saying that Led Zeppelin created this sound and attitude is like saying that Elvis created Rock and Gospel; it's mistaking appropriation with innovation. Before Led Zeppelin had even released their debut LP, Blues Revival music like this was happening: