Is Deep Purple in the same league with Led Zeppelin?

[rollie 55]

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.

For my money Deep Purple are the ultimate rock gods zep are great as well but D.P ROCK

 

[Paul New]

Beavis and Butthead both prefer Deep Purple over Led Zeppelin. Beavis said that Deep Purple is much better because they "don't suck".

 

[Quinn Roberts]

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.

I'm 20-something; Uriah Heep is by far my favorite band listed so far (Deep Purple has nothing on their vocal harmonies), followed by Captain Beyond then Rainbow/Deep Purple. (Also, Gillan with Black Sabbath is top notch for all the Sabbath naysayers (Dio too))

 

[Michedelic]

I thought the Greta Van Fleet for Deep Purple was Wolfmother.

Already got it covered…

Uriah Heep was a bad imitation of DP, as far as I was concerned. The thing is, with your question, there have been plenty of Zep wannabes through the years(including, ironically, Coverdale/Page), so it would appear that they would have more to offer in the first place. Overall, apples and oranges, but keep in mind that while DP was around before Zep, they totally changed their musical direction in the transition between Mk I and Mk II(right after Zeppelin had arrived), especially Gillan’s screamer style vocals.
On the other hand, Yngwie took a lot from the Purps, all that ‘Bach Rock’ heavy organ, and there were other little trickles of DP influences here and there through the years….

 

[Gluvhand]

I'm 20-something; Uriah Heep is by far my favorite band listed so far (Deep Purple has nothing on their vocal harmonies), followed by Captain Beyond then Rainbow/Deep Purple. (Also, Gillan with Black Sabbath is top notch for all the Sabbath naysayers (Dio too))

Yeah, I’m a “Sabbath with anyone but Ozzy” fan but dig the first two Blizzard albums.

 

[Quinn Roberts]

Yeah, I’m a “Sabbath with anyone but Ozzy” fan but dig the first two Blizzard albums.

I can enjoy Ozzy's output, especially towards the end with stuff like Sabotage. Their first couple albums are something I really have to be in the mood for though; especially the first album, it's so dang slow. I almost cringe at times when I hear the first bell in "Black Sabbath" (the song) come on over the radio.

 

[electracoyote]

How many times did you see each band live?

Plenty of audio/video out there to allow for a valid opinion.

 

[Deleted member 165050]

Beavis and Butthead both prefer Deep Purple over Led Zeppelin. Beavis said that Deep Purple is much better because they "don't suck".

This is as relevant an opinion as any.

 

[tbz]

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.

That genre is know to have terribly produced albums. Outside of Zep’s.

Majority of those bands all sound terrible, on record, until 75 or so.

 

[tbz]

Ye gads - squeaky bass drum pedals in DP's music too?

If it means we’d hear Paicey’s drums the way we hear Bonham’s it’s worth the trade off. He’s a great drummer, but his drums never sounded great on vinyl.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I remember an interview with Plant where someone played him the Kingdom Come album (German rock band, nothing to do with Arthur Brown)... he said something like "He's a better singer than me. Actually he's a better singer than David Coverdale". It was just after Coverdale/Page album had come out. Every track on the Kingdom Come album was a rip off from LZ, no idea if LZ ever did anything about it. It's actually a pretty good album...

Really, it's up to the publishers. LZ members don't seem to care (Plant and Jones have music to keep them busy, and Page his war against his neighbours ) but apparently the publishers are sometimes very quick with takedown notices.

 

[PaulTreff]

 

[-Asdfgh-]

If it means we’d hear Paicey’s drums the way we hear Bonham’s it’s worth the trade off. He’s a great drummer, but his drums never sounded great on vinyl.

I know. A pet peeve of mine is the sound of that squeaky bass pedal on LZ III and other extraneous sounds. A few creep into other groups' material, but there are quite a few on LZ records!

 

[electracoyote]

When the singing bass player and lead singer team up like this, and the whole band is locked in air tight and blisters through the song, well, I'm impressed.

 

[MattZilla]

That genre is know to have terribly produced albums. Outside of Zep’s.

Majority of those bands all sound terrible, on record, until 75 or so.

so you’re saying the book that guy wrote was a garbage book?

I’d agree.

 

[Gluvhand]

so you’re saying the book that guy wrote was a garbage book?

I’d agree.

Congrats. This could very well be the first time Martin Birch’s production was called garbage. Moving on.

 

[logdrum]

LZ was more varied in their instrumentation and their song writing. As a kid I liked them both.

 

[Herrick]

I came of age listening to Zepplin, but I appreciated DP more as an adult.

Black Sabbath is just boring to me. I understand that a lot of people believe the sun shines out of Ozzy’s behind, but I am not one of them.

I don't get the Ozzy worship either, and I'm a Black Sabbath fan.

When the singing bass player and lead singer team up like this, and the whole band is locked in air tight and blisters through the song, well, I'm impressed.

I really like this live version:

 

[logdrum]

I did stop listening to Zep after JB passed. I became a jazz listener at 14 - 15. The only heavy guitar music - I still listen to is Living Colour and some Eric and Vai/Satriani. I know wrong crowd.

 

[bassliner50]

John Bonham.

 

[electracoyote]

I really like this live version:

Glenn Hughes, such a badass.

Loved it when Jon Lord rocked his Hammond and made the reverb tank explode.

I never saw DP live, but did catch a Rainbow concert in the Dio days. It was overwhelming, start to finish. Say what you will about Ritchie, but he knew how to get his bands in shape and deliver the goods.