No musician is exempt from the influence of those who came before them. We’re shaped by the songs we grew up on, by the artists that inspired us to pick up an instrument for the first time, and by the albums we turn to in times of creative drought. Guitar bands continue to cite The Velvet Underground as an influence, shoegazers are constantly returning to Loveless for inspiration, and Led Zeppelin remain a reference point for rockers.
Taking inspiration from your peers and predecessors is an essential part of the songwriting process, but it can be done tactfully and in a way that doesn’t negate your own artistry. Lana Del Rey may borrow her style from old jazz singers, but she has pulled that influence into the modern day, weaving it into a dramatic, glamorous aesthetic and sound that is entirely her own. But, sometimes, inspiration can turn into complete imitation.
This seems to be the case with one Led Zeppelin off-shoot. As the lead vocalist and lyricist for one of the biggest bands of all time, Robert Plant has provided his fair share of inspiration to younger artists. Working closely with fellow songwriter Jimmy Page, the singer had a hand in making some of the most iconic tracks in rock history, from ‘Stairway to Heaven’ to ‘Immigrant Song’.
They contain riffs that continue to reverberate throughout guitar shops all over the world, lyrics that every rocker can still recite by heart, and songs that budding bands still look to for inspiration. A number of bands and artists have cited Led Zeppelin as an influence, from Dave Grohl’s Foo Fighters to the late Jeff Buckley, the latter of whom Page admired in equal measure.
But there is one band who seem particularly keen to emulate the sound Page and Plant forged in the late 1960s and 1970s: Greta Van Fleet. During an interview with The Project Exclusive, the Led Zeppelin singer named the Detroit outfit a band he really rates. He even went as far as to describe them as ‘Led Zeppelin One’, a huge compliment to the band.
Plant went on to chat with the interviewer about how young Greta Van Fleet were, joking that he hated the band. He also addressed the singer, Josh Kiszka, specifically. When the interviewer suggested that the Greta Van Fleet frontman has a “huge” voice, Plant responded, “Yeah, and he borrowed it from somebody I know very well, but, I mean, what are you gonna do?”
Greta Van Fleet’s hard rocking sound certainly does borrow generously from the work of Led Zeppelin, emulating the sound of Plant’s voice and Page’s raucous guitars. While this has earned them some criticism from classic rock fans and modern music critics, Plant doesn’t seem to be too bothered by their attempts at imitation. His comments seemed to be all in jest.
Perhaps it’s true that imitation is the highest form of flattery. Decades and decades since Led Zeppelin were at the height of their success, forging a new form of rock and roll, their music still retains relevance with audiences and bands today. Greta Van Fleet have only been around for a decade or so, sitting firmly in the 21st century, yet they have still attracted fans across the world with their Led Zeppelin-indebted sound.
Their modern day success only proves that Led Zeppelin’s sound still stands the test of time.
