The Who vs. Led Zeppelin

Okay, boys and girls, you have indicated through your clicking of the little Valentine heart and comments that you like it when I post these types of articles comparing one thing with another (Drug Dealers vs. Banks; Montréal vs. Toronto, etc.), so here is another one for you and yours: two powerhouse groups - one that I have loved from the moment I heard them, and the other a group it took me years to appreciate...and still have my doubts about while I accept their fame.

I know that many of you of a certain Booming generation are probably saying in your heads: Hey, what about the Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones? Why not comment on their rivalry and careers?

Please...

There are whole books covering this campaign of who can last the longest in our audio memories and who were the better songwriters, performers, and personalities between the Fab Four and the Glimmer Twins and Co. And I ain't interested in going back to the obvious with music of another generation. The Beatles and the Stones were never rivals. They staggered releases to make things easier in the charts for the other group; they hung out together and supported each other in their toughest moments; they remained friends, with surviving members still hanging out with each other today.

So that leaves us with...my list.

Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham and John Paul Jones vs. Pete Townshend, Roger Daltrey, John Entwistle and Keith Moon...

And here we go:

The Who began at a time when the Beatles were still talking about holding your hand, and the Rolling Stones were still a covers band. Led Zeppelin were almost an afterthought to cover concerts the former Yardbirds had to play. Rather sad.

*

The critics were often against Zeppelin (one YouTube clip reciting Lester Bangs' review of the third LZ album has the following comment: 'I mean, he sees through them. He sees through them...'). The critics only turned on the Who when they tried out their rock opera instead of just rocking out. And even that could be forgiven.

*

Their songs: The Who were never accused of plagiarizing any other band or artist when they came up with '5:15', 'Pictures of Lily', 'My Generation' or 'The Kids Are Alright' Led Zeppelin are still dealing with a lot of blow back over 'Stairway to Heaven' and other songs that quoted other talents.

*

Pete Townshend, principle songwriter of the Who, had a damaging childhood with a family full of mental illness and alcoholism (his grandmother was a mentally unstable woman he was forced to stay with despite her problems). He needed the music in his life in order to express himself. And he wrote with the fans in mind. With Led Zeppelin, you never get the feeling that there was that much pain in their backgrounds (perhaps Bonham?) And they were almost always looking down on those kids who flocked to their shows. They never seemed to enter their heads as musicians. They had other options.

*

The Who’s first big hit, “I Can’t Explain”, had guitarist Jimmy Page on the recording session. It would be years before he learned how to form a group with that type of sound. He learned it from Pete and Co.

*

Led Zeppelin opened for the Who in 1969. Daltrey liked them; Townshend did not (he was friends with the guys, but never appreciated their music – he just felt as if it went nowhere). Something sensible about his understanding of what the other band was all about.

*

The Who’s work formed the backbone of most of punk, metal and hard rock to come. They pioneered Marshall Stacks, power chords and auto-destruction on stage (performance art on the rock and roll stage); Led Zeppelin reaped all the benefits of their predecessor’s work without really adding much that was original to it. And maybe we owe them respect for...hair metal?

*

Led Zeppelin had four albums, and then began to just repeat themselves. There was some experimentation, but not enough. The Who had many albums and singles to develop their sound and experiment with what they could do on stage.

*

Both bands lost essential members. The Who stuck it out; Led Zeppelin called it a day. Point to LZ.

*

The Who were great interpreters of material: Mose Allison, Motown, various blues artists, even the Rolling Stones were covered by the group; Led Zeppelin openly copied and stole from many sources and claimed to be original in their work. As I said earlier, even the beloved “Stairway” had roots in a folk ballad from many years ago (depressing that music shops now have to leave signs up telling potential customers not to play that song when trying out different guitars; never happened with the work of Pete and Co.).

*

There was more chaos with the Who; there was more inspiration with the Who. People still recall performances they gave where they were moved beyond what they thought possible from just four guys on stage. They were the reason why I picked up a guitar in the first place. Never had that feeling with Zeppelin. Hard to relate to Vikings and songs about bustles in my hedgerows.

*

And the Who gave their rivals their name. Keith Moon, upon hearing that Page wanted to create a supergroup: “[It’ll go down] like a lead balloon”. Should I add that Page wanted to have Entwistle and Moon in this new group?

Just thought I would…

And my choice is:

*

Thank you for reading!

If you liked this, you can add your Insights, Comment, leave a Heart, Tip, Pledge, or Subscribe. I will appreciate any support you have shown for my work.

You can find more poems, stories, and articles by Kendall Defoe on my Vocal profile. I complain, argue, provoke and create...just like everybody else.

Give it a look...