Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Is Deep Purple in the same league with Led Zeppelin?
- Thread starter MidnightRunner
- Start date
Looking at the live performances, and the offspring rock bands, DP is one step higher than LZ. For the rest, equal.
I chose "yes" for the survey because I think they are, but really I think most people (especially non-musicians) probably would disagree.
I think Deep Purple were/are far and away better musicians, but Zep had more hits here in the US, and more songs that are more universally recognized.
If I could choose one of the two to see at their peak, I'd choose Deep Purple any day.
I think Deep Purple were/are far and away better musicians, but Zep had more hits here in the US, and more songs that are more universally recognized.
If I could choose one of the two to see at their peak, I'd choose Deep Purple any day.
Different bands with different goals and mindsets but surely on the same league ..
I like the innovation (caveman drumming) Bonham brought, and he wasn't bad, but Led Zep nearly went with Barry Barlow (Bonham's favourite rock dummer) when Bonham died. He did work with Plant. In a sense, LZ's reputation is preserved for not putting out stuff which might have been awful in the 80s, though. Plant and JPJ did some good work, but Page not so much.
I like the innovation (caveman drumming) Bonham brought, and he wasn't bad, but Led Zep nearly went with Barry Barlow (Bonham's favourite rock dummer) when Bonham died. He did work with Plant. In a sense, LZ's reputation is preserved for not putting out stuff which might have been awful in the 80s, though. Plant and JPJ did some good work, but Page not so much.
In terms of singles, it's odd to compare LZ and the Eagles since LZ deliberately didn't put them out. It's hard to have them chart if they don't exist!
LZ did boost the careers of blues artists more than Purple, although not so much some of the acoustic guitarists Page may have also, er, been inspired by. I saw a YouTube post praising Page for genius on two pieces which Page, er, borrowed.
I like both, but LZ has the edge for me, at least up until about 1973. I felt both were off the boil by then, but LZ especially.
LZ did boost the careers of blues artists more than Purple, although not so much some of the acoustic guitarists Page may have also, er, been inspired by. I saw a YouTube post praising Page for genius on two pieces which Page, er, borrowed.
I like both, but LZ has the edge for me, at least up until about 1973. I felt both were off the boil by then, but LZ especially.
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
LZ1 is effectively a covers album, but later LZ albums had great original material and for more variety than DP's writing. The only time DP stepped outside the box imo was with Glenn Hughes' soul-influenced input, which Blackmore famously referred to as "shoe shine music". Ps that's Blackmore's phrase not mine and apologies if anyone is offended by it - I know I am.
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
You must mean Davey Graham and/or Bert Jansch, who definitely "influenced" Page's acoustic playing a tad
Interesting that Davey Graham's compositions appear to be being ignored in the Stairway / Taurus wrangle...LZ2 has a lot of covers, although in some cases somewhat more radical ones. I find some of the later ones have some great stuff and some filler on, though. D'yer Make'Er, for example, I absolutely can't stand. Very patchy after House of the Holy, IMHO. After LZ Plant did really great stuff, though, so I don't know what was going on in LZ 74-80.
Edit: Plant is still doing great stuff.
D
Deleted member 165050
Guest
Later LZ albums had some good stuff, Physical Graffiti and Presence were both very good imo. Page has made a career out of remixes and cutting-room-floor releases since of course.
Zep were better composers of a wider variety of pop music.
Purple wrote some good stuff too, along with THE guitar riff of all time… but their claim to fame was as an incendiary live act. But their writing was designed to feature their playing, while Zep’s writing was more broad-based.
When I reach for a Zep record, it’s Physical Graffiti.
When I reach for a Purple record, it’s Made In Japan.
as far as worldwide influence, I consider them equal.
