Zep. Yep. Zep.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 22 Nov 2007 1:14 pm

There's been a bunch of concert footage of them lately and for whatever reason I've been interested enough to pay attention for the first time. As I said in a previous thread, long ago, I was knocked on my butt by their first album but I never kept up after that. I had always assumed them to be a bunch of wild men (the hotel room stories and, well, Bonzo, ) and I expected their performances to be sloppy frat party stuff like the Stones (although I don't intend to diss the Stones, I've rarely seen live footage that wasn't sloppy sub-bar band quality). Anyway, to my surprise, Zep really brought it! High quality, extremely competent, hard working music. I'm really impressed, even if I'm a few decades late.

But here's a dilemma. I've been hearing Black Dog on the radio for years & years. I consider myself an above-novice musician. I used to play jazz piano. I know bebop well.
I cannot get Black Dog!! The beat turns around and it throws me across the room and back. Is it as wack as I am hearing it or am I somehow totally missing it and it's really simple? I mean, I don't look to Zep for rhythmic sophistication. But I'm starting to appreciate that they were doing odd time signature stuff that one does not associate with seminal rock & roll bands so maybe it is as out there as I'm hearing it. Help!

Comments?

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 22 Nov 2007 1:30 pm

John Bonham, bless his heart,could make a straight 4/4 sound like it was 7 , so when they intentionally messed with time signatures things got very weird very quick.
I think some of it was because some tunes were RIFF based and sometimes the riff just wouldn't end within a 4/4 stucture... so they would pin down a striaght beat, play the riff over it and let Bonzo sort out the Downbeats
I can't help it... Black Dog... Kashmir...The Ocean... the Crunge... I loves me some Zep.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 22 Nov 2007 2:07 pm

I'm not sure, but I remember reading somewhere that the riff is in 5/4, played over the straight 4/4 drum beat. I haven't checked it, so don't take my word for it...

Steinar

David Mason · Post by **David Mason** » 22 Nov 2007 4:16 pm

Remember that Page and John Paul Jones were longtime, respected session musicians, Jones was actually probably the best-schooled. They used to play long, evolving rhythm tags and games during soundchecks, and spread musical quotes across different nights - something that can't be apparent when hearing a single concert. They were both mightily impressed that they just couldn't "lose" Bonzo.

Also, while the Stones, Hendrix & Zep all contributed mightily to the invention of "debauchery as marketing scheme", Hendrix couldn't play some nights, Richards kept falling over onstage & getting arrested, Jagger must've spent half his early fortune paying off love babies - Led Zeppelin just got rich.

P Gleespen · Post by **P Gleespen** » 22 Nov 2007 5:16 pm

It IS as weird as you're hearing it. Here's what John Paul Jones has to say for himself:

http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/15 ... roove.html

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 22 Nov 2007 6:17 pm

Good lord! Thanks for that link. Sure makes me feel less daft.
Dude's out of his freakin mind. Kickass.

David L. Donald · Post by **David L. Donald** » 22 Nov 2007 6:38 pm

I spent an afternoon rehearsing with John Paul,
and then a gig that night with him playing my upright bass.

He is a very nice fellow, quite laid back and no ego issues.
He loves the mandolin and most any kind of music out there.
He came in and sight read the part, no sitting and staring for a bit.
A very nice Brazillian/latin style song.

There is a pic or two of me on his website,
from the Mandolins de Lunel Festival.

And to quoite him from the above article.

"The only thing that really matters is that you like what you hear."