The Zeppelin Corner

Written by
Greg S. Baradziej

Hello all my co-Zeppelin fans. Welcome to the third installment of the greatest devotion column known to man, "The Zeppelin Corner!"

This week has been a busy one for me. I started it off by testing my memory skills. I memorized the entire lyrical output on Physical Graffiti backwards (b/c I already knew it frontwards) and then rearranged the letters in each song to make alternate lyrics. I then, memorized those "lyrics." I was so exciting that I accomplished so much in a day, I inadvertantly showered with my Houses Of The Holy shirt on. But since I showered with it on, I figured it was clean and wore for the next 4 days. I then switched to my "Zeppelin over Metropolis" shirt and have been wearin' that since Friday. Enough of my fabulous fashion sense. This isn't a column about Armani! It's a column about the greatest fuckin' band in da wurl, LED FUCKIN' ZEPPELIN!

Now then, as I said this week has been hectic, allow me to explain what else I did. I watched "The 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" on VH-1. If you are not familiar with this list, you can view the Top 30 below...

Here they are:
Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, AC/DC, Metallica, Nirvana, Van Halen, The Who, Guns N' Roses, KISS, Aerosmith, The Sex Pistols, Queen, Soundgarden, Pink Floyd, Cream, The Ramones, Ozzy Osbourne, The Clash, Alice Cooper, Pearl Jam, Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Cheap Trick, Motorhead, Iggy Pop/The Stooges, Rush, Motley Crue, Red Hot Chili Peppers.

So, as I sat there watching the numbers unfold before my very eyes, I was growing quite insecure for the fact that Led Zeppelin was no where to be found. But then I came to my senses and figured they would be #1, which they were. As the hours past and the list got smaller and smaller, I began to write a lengthy letter to the corporate office of VH-1 explaining my outrage over the content they wish to broadcast. Any program with "Hard Rock" in the title, yet being void of anything Zeppelin is certainly NOT a program I could find watchable!

So, they were number 1 and rewrote my letter to VH-1 and expressed my love and devotion to Led Zeppelin as well as their fine programming. At the end, I wrote just two words: Thank You.

But, the rest of the list is not all that good. I mean, look at it above. Why is Pink Floyd on there? Are they hard or rock? I don't agree. How about Cheap Trick? Nope. The only other band that comes close to Zeppelin is Black Sabbath and am again pleased they were #2. Because of this, I have went ahead and created my own Top 30 list for the all important moment in "The Zeppelin Corner." Here goes:

1. Led Zeppelin - 2. Jimmy Page - 3. Robert Plant - 4. John Paul Jones -5. The Firm - 6. The Honeydrippers - 7. The Yardbirds - 8. Coverdale/Page.

the rest of the list in no particular order can include these bands:
Bad Company (just because they were on the Swan Song label), Metal Chruch, Testament, Dokken, Europe, Autograph, Frehley's Comet, Firehouse, LA Guns, Stryper, Vixen, KIX, and Brintey Foxx.

Now, getting back to Zeppelin, I remember talking to my friend Lauren once about a possible Greatest Band list. She put .38 Special at the top of her list, while I contested to Led Zeppelin. I put on Zeppelin III and sat down on my couch and we listened. When "Since I've Been Loving You" ended she leaned closer to me and said, and I quote, "Led Zeppelin has brought insight and breadth to my life, and I owe much of my open-mindedness and free-spirit to them as artists and as inspirators of good times." We instantly connected emotionally in the wee hours of the morning over Led Zeppelin. It was the only time I felt comfortable talking about my childhood.

Although she did change her top pick to Led Zeppelin, she wouldn't put out. I understand. I mean, one listen to "That's The Way" and I'm spent, so I can only imagine what she felt hearing it the first time and all. You know?

So, as I close this edition to "The Zeppelin Corner," I must remind all of you to think about the list. Because it makes me wonder, it should do the same for you. I mean I love Zeppelin. It's my love. Ooh, it's my own true love!

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