Who? vs. Zep

[Nervos@aol.com]

all this Zep vs. who stuff reminds me of the REAL rivalry at the beginning of
Zep's career, Zep vs. Jeff Beck Group!  Zep was initially accused of ripping
off Beck's format (power trio with ex-Yardbird guitarist, fronted by a raspy
voiced singer) & even their repertoire (both did You Shook Me, though Truth
came out 6 months earlier), & don't forget that Page wrote Beck's Bolero & JP
Jones plays on the LP.  Then there's the Moon connection.  Keith plays on
Truth & Supposedly named Zep.  
   As an old fart with a good memory, some of you guys couldn't realize how
quick things changed in those times. In the days when bands take 3 years
between recordings, just realise that Cream only lasted 18 months!  Bands put
out 2LPs & 3 singles a year.  And the might have beens!  think of Zep with
the amazing Terry Reid on vocals, the Who with leslie West on guitar, or
(shudder) the original Jeff Beck group with Kim Milford (straight out of
Jesus Christ Superstar!!) on vocals instead of Rod.  The young kids who
discovered Zep as they came out loved them (esp. after Whole Lotta Love), but
us old-timers always considered them ripoffs.  Listening to them after
hearing Truth, looking at all those Plant-Page writer's credits after
spending years hearing them on Blues records, etc. 
  But Zep, like The Who & unlike beck, had the charisma & stage presence to
last, & the power to win over millions of young kids.
   Though all this talk about Who (excuse me, but i DO know this is a Who
list) makes me wonder why nobody's mentioned the band who, at this period,
was certainly the best live band, the Mick Taylor Stones!!

enuff rambling

best,
   the usually quiet GaryM, as opposed to the more vocal gary m)