Moderators Lee Knight Posted December 7, 2007 Moderators Share Posted December 7, 2007 When I turned 16 or so, it was no longer cool to dig Zep. At least not in my circle. We were getting jazz, Yes, Deep Purple and soon... The Ramones, Pistols, Stiv, Costello, Tonio K, etc. So Zeppelin was for stoners, not cool punks like us. Especially Stairway. Sheesh! But I still remember putting on phones when I was 12 and getting lost up the stairway to heaven. But I let that go in exchange for my adolescent identity. And of course it was worth it. Being cool and on the edge of the new is... um... cool and edgy. Cut to this afternoon. I'm in Borders being a dad with my 10 year old daughter. Listening to CDs at the listening stations. She's checking Fall Out Boy and I put in the new Led Zeppelin compilation CD. Wow. I've had no problem loving Zeppelin since growing out of my Cooler Than You period but for some reason haven't got around to buying anything since Houses of the Holy when it was new. So I did what 48 year old music lovers do; I bought the new compilation. My kid says, "Don't they sound all (makes screaming sound)?" I smile. We get in the car and I go right to Stairway to see if I can sell her on the ZEP. Crank it. As we drive home I'm brought back to those times with headphones, listening at 12 years of age. The round Rhodes part and the temporary bass role it plays, the pitchy but wonderful recorders, the CRACK of Bonham as he kicks in, the godlike sweet swell of each note in Pages solo with its glorious tape delay into a plate... ...and we pull into the driveway and Plant closes in his beautiful solemn tone. And I swear there was a tear in my eye. And my kid looked at me and said, "Dad. That was awesome!" And it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members philbo Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Excellent story!! Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members offramp Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 I heard Van Halen while at the bank, the other day. It did not approach the depth of your moment. Not by a long shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mr. Botch Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Great story Lee! Hate to even semi-derail this, but I've not seen anyone else on these boards recognize the genius that was Tonio K! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cry Logic Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Yeah ... cool story... I remember exactly where and when I 1st heard Stairway to Heaven.In my GFs mums kitchen on the radio... I was 17 at the time and I was simply gobsmacked by the beauty, majesty and sheer awesomeness of the song. I still play it every now and then... always a crowd pleaser at parties...and a great way to show people you can play..... "So... you play guitar yeah? Can you play Stairway to Heaven?" Have you seen this Wikipedia article on the song? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tedster Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 ...and we pull into the driveway and Plant closes in his beautiful solemn tone. And I swear there was a tear in my eye. And my kid looked at me and said, "Dad. That was awesome!" And it was. Gawrsh...sniff...uhhh...(choked up)... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ani Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 My 15 year old daughter opts out of the fad music and goes straight to the oldies stations where they play lots of Led Zep., Pink Floyd, Queen, and many other greats. It's a joy to listen to the old tunes as if they were new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Billster Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Geez, Lee. I'm gettin' all choked up. How about listening to The Circle Game while driving around with a newborn in the baby carrier? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super 8 Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 We used to slow dance to Stairway at the Boy's club on friday nights back when I was a kid. It was nice and long, which was a good thing. I always felt a little weird during the fast part of the song to be slow dancing when it seemed I should be jumping around instead, but I was 11 years old, I had my arms wrapped around a girl, and she felt soooooo goooood. That's my earliest recollections of the song. One other thing, Lee. When was Punk ever cool? That's why I got into it, because I was rejected by the "cool kids" and it felt like good music to be rejected to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike McLenison Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Enjoyed that Lee! They are one band that seems to have bridged the generation gap! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Lee Knight Posted December 7, 2007 Author Moderators Share Posted December 7, 2007 One other thing, Lee. When was Punk ever cool? That's why I got into it, because I was rejected by the "cool kids" and it felt like good music to be rejected to. Oh... I never said punk was cool. I said we were cool punks. In our minds at least. Just reacting against the status quo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the stranger Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 I heard Van Halen while at the bank, the other day. It did not approach the depth of your moment. Not by a long shot. Yeah, well I'm gonna jam Mean Streets before I go take a nap and I'll be beyond the depth and into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MortenDK Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 A little something for Christmas!! Dazed and ConfusedClick H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bbach Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 My 15 year old daughter opts out of the fad music and goes straight to the oldies stations where they play lots of Led Zep., Pink Floyd, Queen, and many other greats. It's a joy to listen to the old tunes as if they were new. My 14 year old daughter is all about Taking Back Sunday and won't even give oldies the time of the day. I do make her suffer when we go somewhere in the same vehicle, but she is determined to hate my music no matter how much she likes it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Great story!! We work with a lot of teenagers from the high schools here, and a LOT of them - possibly the MAJORITY of them - listen to bands such as Led Zeppelin. Many teenagers really connect with AC/DC, Hendrix, Zeppelin, and others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Kendrix Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Truly good music is timeless. My daughter keeps "stealing" my Pink Floyd albums.Good for her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KHAN Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Nice story! [YOUTUBE]3WfoccRna6I[/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UstadKhanAli Posted December 7, 2007 Members Share Posted December 7, 2007 Glad to see that you're posting more, Khan!!! Just had to circle back here again because I like the story so much! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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