For a time there, Led Zeppelin made magic. The British quartet of John Bonham, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Robert Plant became “the biggest band in the world” during the ’70s. Sadly, that period of enchantment came to an abrupt end in 1980, when drummer John Bonham tragically died from alcohol-induced aspiration. Knowing they could never match their peak without Bonham, the band opted to dissolve. But for a brief moment in 1994, Plant and Page reunited for one more bewitching performance of Zeppelin’s 1975 hit “Kashmir.”
The Song Robert Plant Called “Perfect Zeppelin”
Many consider “Stairway to Heaven” as the quintessential Led Zeppelin song. Robert Plant is not one of them.
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“I wish we were remembered for ‘Kashmir’ more than ‘Stairway To Heaven,’” the frontman, now 75, told Louder last year.
That’s fair. A flurry of clashing rhythmic meters coupled with mystical imagery (Oh, let the sun beat down upon my face / And stars fill my dream), the track is everything that made Led Zeppelin… well, Led Zeppelin.
[RELATED: 3 of Jimmy Page’s Favorite Led Zeppelin Songs]
“Kashmir” takes its title from India’s northernmost geographical region. However, lyrical inspiration actually struck Plant during a 1973 drive through a barren stretch of southern Morocco. After three years fine tuning, the band released “Kashmir” as part of their 1975 album Physical Graffiti.
The Reunion
It was the perfect song to bring Led Zeppelin out of retirement. In 1994—14 years after John Bonham’s death—Jimmy Page and Robert Plant reunited for Unledded, an MTV Unplugged special recorded in Morocco, Wales and London.
Backed by an Egyptian orchestra, the rock-music titans took “Kashmir” to another level. On Saturday (Aug. 17) the X/Twitter account @historyrock_ posted a video of the performance. “Absolutely amazing, just turn up the volume, and you’re off to another Galaxy,” the post read. “Pure genius.”
Indeed, “otherworldly” is the only way to describe this version. The “Whole Lotta Love” rockers would later release it as part of the live album No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded.
“The need a whole orchestra to fill in for John Paul Jones. . .” pointed out one X/Twitter user.
Also true. Controversially, Plant and Page did not invite their other surviving bandmate to participate in the reunion.
Featured image by Debra L Rothenberg/Shutterstock
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