Respect the Classics: Led Zeppelin and Greta Van Fleet

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Zoe Joy

If you listen to rock music then you are probably thinking “this is kind of an obvious comparison” but hear me out; it’s worth it. The guitar, vocals, lyrics, and aesthetic of both bands are so similar, yet Greta Van Fleet is anything but a Led Zeppelin cover band. However, there are some obvious influences from Zeppelin on Van Fleet, so let’s discuss them.

Led Zeppelin is definitely one of the heavier rock bands that made up the British Invasion on the USA during the ’60s and ’70s. Wanting to stray from the boy-bandish appearance and pop image of the Beatles, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham opted for unruly hair, mustaches and distinct ’70s fashion. To differentiate themselves further from cookie-cutter pop lyrics about girls or cars, Plant’s lyrics made deep observations about love, relationships, hardships, and even Norse mythology. The most singular commonality between Led Zeppelin and their fellow rockers of that time period, was the influence of American blues on their rock sound. This added a deeper level to their music, making their music more soulful and helped to perpetuate their legacy in both American and British culture (and worldwide culture, as well).

Greta Van Fleet are surprisingly not a band from the ’60s British Invasion. Founded in 2012 in Michigan, the heavy rock act is comprised of three siblings on the vocals, bass, and guitar and a mutual friend on the drums. Though their songs, at first glance, can be misconstrued as lacking originality because of the similarity to Zeppelin’s sound, it is important to realize that Van Fleet pulled off and continues to pull off a remarkable feat; they sound like a band from the ’70s, a band of the same caliber as their heavy rock-british counterparts, and that’s impressive. Besides, would a mere copycat’s success be so enduring?

Both bands describe their environment and are able to concoct divine wordplay around brooding, screaming guitars and vocals. The similarities between Van Fleet and Zeppelin become apparent when these unique lyrics are coupled with heavy power chords, bass, and drums. Additionally, both bands seem to be joined by the notion that rock music simply does not seem to get the attention it deserves – it gets drowned out by popular monoculture unfortunately. This only fuels the immense passion behind their music.

Lyrical Comparison

“Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin: Talk in song in tongues of lilting grace/Sounds caress my ear/There are not a word I heard could I relate/Story was quite clear

 “When The Curtain Falls” by Greta Van Fleet: Can I have your honored craft/It’s so funny at the show,/ never think baby laugh/Woman crawling cocktails/You cut and go

Respect the creativity and sheer talent that Greta Van Fleet continues to infuse into their music. But always remember to respect your classics.