Is Deep Purple in the same league with Led Zeppelin?

[MidnightRunner]

Your thoughts? Are these two bands in the same league? If not, why?

I think the European and American perspective on DP vs. LZ are quite different.
In America Deep Purple are generally not considered to be the same tier as Zep, while in Europe Zep and Purple are considered the same tier, because in Europe Deep Purple generally have a much higher status than in the USA. In America Zep could have a status "the ultimate rock gods". That was always my impression. Maybe I'm wrong.

Let's discuss.

 

[two fingers]

I think they were equally as good, only different. Sure, Zep were more popular in the states. But Purple had plenty of fans.

 

[bholder]

John Paul Jones is a wizard on keys, but Jon Lord was truly a God of the Hammond B3.

Just an observation.

 

[Dave TB Killer]

Made In Japan fo any who may have some questions of who and what DP were.

 

[Alkali Ike]

For whatever reason I don’t consider them even remotely similar. I don’t hate DP but I’d never go out of my way to hear anything by them like I would for LZ.

Not in same league for me.

 

[tangentmusic]

Back in the ‘70’s, Zeppelin, Purple and Black Sabbath were referred to as the “Unholy Trinity of British Hard Rock”

While each band was distinctly different, they defined that style of music.

I love all three bands for different reasons, and I put them in the same league.
Depending on my mood, I will choose to listen to one over the others.

 

[Lesfunk]

To think that deep purple is somehow “less than” Led Zeppelin is any way is just crazy talk

 

[muggsy]

Both great bands, but Zeppelin has more great songs IMO.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Purple morphed into Rainbow. Rainbow had some incredible works with different singers.

Led Zep morphed into a few kind of lame solo efforts.

 

[Plain Old Barry]

Jon Lord was truly a God of tha Hammond B3.

Breathtaking... what a sound!

 

[jimmydean]

In America , Led Zep is thought of as the almighty , but around the world Deep Purple is No. 1......yes , same league .

 

[J Gold]

Sorry, DP can’t hold a candle to Zeppelin.

 

[BadSanta1281]

Two of my all time favorites but...

I have one Deep Purple album and every Led Zeppelin album.

So there's that.

 

[roller]

I love Deep Purple... they put out a number of killer tunes, for sure. But in my opinion, they aren't in the same league as Led Zeppelin... nah.

I believe Black Sabbath comes in waaaaaay behind both bands. I get how they spawned the metal genre... I see that importance... but more importantly they just don't have the big catalog of great, recognizable songs that puts them in the same league as the massive mega-bands. The majority of Sabbath's stuff is very basic and riff-based... too simple for me to put them up there amongst the greats.

YMMV. Flame on. I got big shoulders.

 

[eddybuzzard]

I had read somewhere, that Plant referred to them as Black Purple, or something on that order.
Personally, I consider Sabbath and DP in the same league, but Zepp, without a doubt in my mind,
is, our grandfathers of heaviness, plus some variety

Zeppelin had a much wider palette

 

[pbassnut]

Your thoughts? Are these two bands in the same league? If not, why?

I think the European and American perspective on DP vs. LZ are quite different.
In America Deep Purple are generally not considered to be the same tier as Zep, while in Europe Zep and Purple are considered the same tier, because in Europe Deep Purple generally have a much higher status than in the USA. In America Zep could have a status "the ultimate rock gods". That was always my impression. Maybe I'm wrong.

Let's discuss.

I like'm both quite a bit and consider them groundbreaking and quintessential. However, I would give LZ the edge because they have a considerably larger body of top tier work done by their best (and only) lineup.

 

[Gluvhand]

Purple for me in every conceivable way but that's not really the question I guess. For as long as MKII Purple was together I think they were considered peers on very equal footing. Once the revolving door started for Purple it was game over. Every studio album after MKII had a few shining moments and a lot of filler.

 

[Herrick]

Led Zeppelin for Herrick.

 

[micguy]

Led Zeppelin did a lot of tunes that were...derivative - minor twists of old blue stuff, etc. Deep Purple was more original/creative in their songwriting.

Also, if you’ve seen Deep Purple live, they could flat out play. The guys in Zeppelin were often “not able to perform at their best”.

Watch Live Aid. Jimmy Page tried to blame their less than stellar performance on Phill Collins, who sat in on drums. From what I saw and heard, Phil was the best prepared person on the stage, not the least.

I love a lot of things about Led Zeppelin, but there was a lot of baggage as well. If they'd been able to live up to and perform at their potential, they would have been much better. When I saw Deep Purple in the 80’s, they weren’t a shadow of their former selves - they were better.

 

[John Cribbin]

Purple morphed into Rainbow. Rainbow had some incredible works with different singers.

Led Zep morphed into a few kind of lame solo efforts.

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When you say, morphed into Rainbow ....
I won't sleep tonight