Critic’s Led Zeppelin Song Remains the Same

This letter is in response to a recent article about Robert Plant (“Down to Earth--Singer Robert Plant’s Post-Zeppelin Career Isn’t So Full of Hot Air,” by Mike Boehm, Aug. 9, 1990, OC LIVE!).

First of all, there has never been a band in contemporary pop music as misunderstood as Led Zeppelin. The comment that you made in the article--about Led Zeppelin putting “sensation first and plain old sense a distant second, maybe ninth or tenth”--epitomizes the total lack of understanding that much of the media has never overcome in regards to the band and their music. On the contrary, Led Zeppelin is one of the few bands that had managed to keep sensation out of their music while pushing ahead with their own capabilities, both individually and collectively, within the framework of a single working unit. As a unit, Led Zeppelin reached heights most only dream of, but the important thing is that they did it without compromising any of their musical integrity or vision. As a result, their music had a certain unconventional edge that was unique to themselves. However, it did not cause any of their songs to make less “sense” as you had indicated. The truth is that, whether acoustic or electric, Zeppelin employed a wide range of sounds to give their songs substance, depth and meaning (characteristics that many of today’s bands urgently need.)

As far as describing “the band’s method” as you did, Led Zeppelin had no method. To them, having a method was un-rock ‘n’ roll. For rock ‘n’ roll in its purest sense is energetic, spontaneous and unpredictable. During the ‘70s, when the band was in its prime, one of the members remarked about the release of their forthcoming record, “People aren’t going to get what they expect.”

Guitarist Jimmy Page once described Led Zeppelin as “street music, rock ‘n’ roll.” I, for one, know it’s dangerous for rock’s own survival to elevate this or any other kind of “street music” onto pedestals too high, but within the realm of rock ‘n’ roll, there’s room for the recognition of bands that have made a contribution and a difference. Led Zeppelin is one of those bands and they deserve the respect as such.

I would like to thank you for not outright associating the band with the term “heavy metal,” although I believe the subtle message was there. It is imperative that Zeppelin be free from the chains of that misnomer. It is my hope that the next time you (mention) the band Led Zeppelin in an article that you would do so from a fresh perspective because the current one is old, worn and detrimentally untrue.

KIMBERLY HUTH

Anaheim