Is Deep Purple in the same league with Led Zeppelin?

[MegaSwing]

I don’t even like Led Zeppelin that much, and the answer is a resounding ‘No’. Based on sales, popularity, and the recorded oeuvre itself, Deep Purple is a noteworthy also-ran—at best. Led Zeppelin is an all-time champion that totally changed the game for blues-based rock.

 

[coyote1]

Usually, i agree. It's not a competitive sport. But these two units are so different, it's like asking if Bach and Elvis are equals in music. No, no they're not.

Bach and Elvis? ROFL!!! Zep certainly ain’t Bach…. If anything, Purple ‘borrowed’ far more from Bach while Zep ‘borrowed’ far more from the blues.

As for the ‘various reasons’ Purple never really maintained momentum, well… again, in Europe and Asia that scenario played out differently in the early 70s. Despite the “various reason” named Ritchie Blackmore, who has succeeded multiple times in spite of himself. Purple of course…. But then there’s Rainbow, which with Rising launched what we now know as prog-metal. And on the next record, the stunning solo on Gates of Babylon foretold the coming of Yngwie and all the rest of those shredders. Speaking of which, there’s no question that Ritchie was far and away the biggest influence on Eddie VanHalen. Ed said otherwise in later interviews after Blackmore had publicly been an ass to him (a trait Ed, Yngwie, and others also carried forth! lol), but VH regularly performed DP and Rainbow material prior to their ascent to the top of the world.

Back to Ritchie. After Rainbow’s prog-metal, they had a string of pop hits. Then there was the DP reunion, where the band finally got a great production on the recording and produced some great stuff (check out Gypsy’s Kiss). And then he went off into renaissance-style music, and Blackmore’s Night finds him still managing to get a few minor hits while continuing to produce new music.

 

[marchone]

Live? Hands down DP. Page and Plant often sounded like they were barely hanging on in the studio to me (with paradoxically great results), but live they often lost their grip. DP a much more precise band studio and stage.

How many times did you see each band live?

 

[Deleted member 165050]

For those who are critical of The Song Remains The Same, you should check out Zeppelin's live performance at the Atlantic 40th Birthday Party event. I'm pretty sure it's still out there, unless Page has had it completely erased

 

[MegaSwing]

Setting aside the DP vs LZ for a moment.

Songwriting and studio magic is the only place Page is even close.

For posterity, nothing else matters other than the tangible output one leaves behind. ‘Warm and fuzzies’ over a band’s live presence could not be more subjective.

 

[jmattbassplaya]

I'm not sure Zeppelin is popular with new audiences. Immigrant Song was in Thor sure, but I can't say I've ever heard any 20 somethings talking about any of these 70s bands.

I take that back, kids today do know Rush.

That’s only due to, “slappa da bass, mon.”

I will say this, LZ does have a lot more merchandise on the streets for kids to find and buy than DP does. I think Target even sells LZ shirts. Can’t say the same for DP.

 

[Gluvhand]

It would be awesome if Deep Purple had Zep’s production.

Zep always just sounds better as the overall recording quality of DPs stuff just isn’t as high. Even their most polished pre-1980s albums have somewhat ratty production.

Martin Birch is pretty much considered the master of hard rock/early metal/Brit metal production. You may prefer Zep’s production but Birch wrote the book.

 

[Gluvhand]

For those who are critical of The Song Remains The Same, you should check out Zeppelin's live performance at the Atlantic 40th Birthday Party event. I'm pretty sure it's still out there, unless Page has had it completely erased

One steaming pile of garbage doesn’t negate the other pile of steaming garbage.

 

[Rebel Rocker]

This is like talking about bass gear. You love what you love and I love what I love. Zep outshines Purple in popularity no doubt.

 

[Topkat13]

I think one was in the National league but I’m not sure about the other.

 

[Gluvhand]

I think one was in the National league but I’m not sure about the other.

Yeah but where Purple honored the Negroe League Zeppelin ripped them off.

 

[MegaSwing]

This is like talking about bass gear. You what you love and I love what I love.

But history is not negotiable.

 

[swarfrat]

I've always been similarly frustrated at the respect lavished on Lynyrd Skynyrd, while 38 Special is treated as an also ran with a couple of hits. 38 Special took it way beyond what LS ever accomplished. One of my favorite bands of all time. Carlisi is a master of "lead rhythm guitar".

 

[blue4]

That’s only due to, “slappa da bass, mon.”

I will say this, LZ does have a lot more merchandise on the streets for kids to find and buy than DP does. I think Target even sells LZ shirts. Can’t say the same for DP.

From what I've gleaned in this thread so far, that might only hold true in America. Expand to Europe and Japan and it might be a different story.

Or I could be wrong. I know nothing of merchandising.

 

[Muskie59]

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

Just an observation.

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 DP but they are not in the same league as Zep.

 

[rogerbmiller]

David Coverdale and Jimmy Page teamed up in Coverdale/Page so there was a kinship there if nothing else:

Coverdale–Page - Wikipedia

 

[Paul New]

I've always been similarly frustrated at the respect lavished on Lynyrd Skynyrd, while 38 Special is treated as an also ran with a couple of hits. 38 Special took it way beyond what LS ever accomplished. One of my favorite bands of all time. Carlisi is a master of "lead rhythm guitar".

Oh my, let me guess..you prefer DP to Zeppelin, right?

 

[wmhill]

 

[stringthrough]

No...

Zep had better tunes
Zep was more innovative
Zep had the better, funkier rhythm section

Blackmore was probably a more technically gifted guitarist than Page, certainly Morse is/ was, but Morse is from a whole other era.

 

[gtirard]

What is the definition of "to be in the same league"?
- Fame?
- Number of unforgettable songs?
- In 100 years, will we still listen to them? (in case humanity stil exist in 100 years)
- Creativity, abbility to explore various new musical genres?
- Influence on musicians of the next couple of decades?

Whatever definition you pick in this list, they're not in the same league, IMHO