Why were people so sure that Led Zeppelin were going to sink, even though they had Jimmy Page???

Question

When LZ started everyone said that they were rubbish and they would sink like a Led Zeppelin-hence the name.
So why did people think this when they had a drummer like J Bonzo Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones

Answer 1

Because at the time, all of those now "greats" were unknowns. No one knew the scope of their talent and vision, and they were entering the industry against some very heavy hitters (the Stones, etc). It's understandable that some doubted their success potential. I'd say that's true for any band...in the industry it's all about proving yourself. (and being in the right place at the right time)

Answer 2

The name didn't come from people thinking they would sink. The story of the name goes that Led Zeppelin's road manager was talking with Keith Moon and John Entwistle, who were growing weary of The Who, joked about starting a band with Jimmy Page. Moon then joked, "I've got a good name for it. Let's call it Lead Zeppelin, because it'll go over like a lead balloon. The road manager then told Jimmy the next day and it stuck in his mind so he decided to change lead to led so there would be no confusion.

Even though the critics hated Led Zeppelin through out the span of the band's life they were still one of the best selling bands in terms of albums and concert grossing.

Answer 3

If memory serves (and I admit this may be an apocryphal story that I picked up somewhere) a guitarist of another band gave his opinion of exactly how well the new band were going fair which included the lead zeppelin epithet, which Zeppelin grasped and ran with. Basically it was an egotitistical comment with little bearing on the actual talent of Zep's members.

Answer 4

Because Bonzo and Plant were still relative unknowns. Page had loads of session experience and Yardbirds experience, and Jonesey was an adept session man, but in the formative days of the band, who could have really know whether there was chemistry between these four musicians?

Answer 5

some distance too subjective of a query to invite. there is no longer ONE marvelous guitarist ever. there are a number of that're or have been great of their own way. %. de Lucia, Django Reinhardt, Robert Johnson, Al Di Meola, Hendrix, Clapton, internet site, Jeff Beck, Randy Rhoads, David Gilmour, Johnny iciness, Eddie Van Halen. i could pass on and on, and by no potential run out of names of gamers who rank between the greats. yet i does on no account attempt to lift one among them over something. they does no longer, so why could I? Is Jimmy internet site between the ideal guitarists ever? actual. Is he the ideal? No. no person is.

Answer 6

cos they were knew and Rob Plant was a an unknown....how they must be kicking themselves now....by the way i am LZ,s biggest fan and live near Rob Plant

Answer 7

I seen then, knebworth
16 years ago