Who's your favourite Zeppelin member?

Hi Kevin,

No Peter Grant? 

Graham.

Kevin,

Excellent post but  It's the same as asking who's your favourite child.

Mind you, this bloke kept the family together.

KR

Tony

Really an unanswerable question, LZ were a meld of 4 , the 7/8 ths version was almost as good.

Jimmy Page, of course cuz he's the cutest.

Ever been to a Rush concert?

Or anything with Vinny Colaiuta?

But back on thread - I like Page because of stuff like this:

Kevin,

A very difficult one as you and others say.

Robert Plant, the archetypal rock singer with the most unique voice. I have never heard anyone be able to reproduce the intro to Immigrant Song. It's probably the reason there are so few cover versions of Zep songs, save of course for Rolf Harris.  Plant for me is the best front man period.

Jimmy Page, what a musician. A seasoned and well respected sessions player for many years before forming Zep. Fantastic creativity with all manor of stringed instruments. Brilliant writer and producer creating probably more great rock riffs than anyone else, and he looked good on stage, although I won't go as far as Kuma and say he was cute.  It's a pity he seems to have lost his 'ear' in latter years though going by the terrible remasters we've had to endure.

John Bonham, THE drummer. As Kevin said, he had such drive and power as any other drummer I've seen. I wouldn't say he's the best drummer I've had the privilege of seeing though. That would have to go to John Hiseman.

John Paul Jones. The multitalented choirboy. Although the quiet one, he certainly significantly contributed to Zeps trademark sound and was not just a part of the rhythm section.

In conclusion, if I had to pick one, it would have to be Robert Plant. If the band reformed today and only one member was available then that band would only sound like Led Zep if RP was singing. But as Howard mentioned above they were really a sum of the talents of all four members

Yes, three between 1978 and 1981. Loved 'em.

Peart is a fantastic drummer, but he's not Bonzo (on the evidence of "Celebration Day" not even Bonzo's son is Bonzo). This isn't a willy-waving competition about technique, it's about something else, something intangible, which Bonham had in spades, and which no other rock drummer - not Moon, not Peart, not Ringo, not Mitchell - possessed.

As brilliant as Neil Peart is, I don't think he could have come up with the monster beats on "When The Levee Breaks", "Kashmir", "Good Times Bad Times", "Achilles Last Stand", "Wanton Song" etc.

My favourite Zeppelin member is Michael York.

He was a whole lot nicer than that evil Colonel Hirsch.

Debs

I would have to repeat exactly what Steve J has written.  All contributed to what Led Zeppelin was but without Robert Plant and his voice you wouldn't have a supergroup with brilliant character.

Good for you then, Kevin.  Sounds like you have a sound basis for your opinion.  I never saw LZ live, so have to say that Peart is the best I've seen.  

I have the LZ box set The Complete Studio Recordings on CD from 1993.  It's a very nicely packaged set.  Frankly I don't listen to it much as it has that cold CD sound to it.  However, I just got a copy of CODA on vinyl.  It's one I've rarely listened to before.  I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked the vinyl on first listen.  Very inspired drumming, as you say.  I think I'm a bit turned off by the CD quality of the box set and need to look for the vinyl formats of the LZ catalog.  I've always been a fan of their mainstream stuff, not so much the less popular songs.  This listen to CODA has me thinking their is something new for me to find with LZ if I can get my mitts on the vinyl.

As far as favorite, I don't really have one but would give JPJ the nod based simply on his multi-talentedness.  Cheers!

Easy.

Mr Bonham.

John Bonham - no doubt...

+ I

Graham