So dig this, in my quest to be cool it was literally impossible for me to be caught listening to certain music. Why, back in my day if I was found listening to Husker Du it was a potential to be thrown out of my scene. Tough crowd.
But now that I am older and don't really give a crap I've been looking back on stuff I missed, and I have missed allot. Lets go far back. Liking Led Zeppelin was a sin. They were boring old fucks, hippy ass holes for the drunk biker set. So was the case here in my neck of the woods and although legend- they were what we punks hated most. I never stopped to ask why I just hopped on the band wagon (at age 12 so get of my back) and claimed they sucked. Im a bit angry I missed stuff just by peer pressure so I will use this column for redemption.
Welcome to 34 years later- they don't suck. "Stairway To Heaven" never made it to my airwaves until about 5 years ago. Yeah, that's how long my grudge lasted. Anyone who was listening to this was so stoned that they made no sense. The crowd I hung out with never even gave this a nod. The siblings didn't listen to it either- though I'm sure they did at some time. I remember the album cover, though I don't know who owned it- and I know I defaced it with a magic marker. Sorry(not sorry).
The song is really a skewed and odd mystical journey. In this live version below its a bit more trippy than the studio version. "It makes me wonder".. 'if theres a bustle in your hedgerow- don't be alarmed now", what the fuck is he on about? Intruders? Is this song about death? Why does everyone want it at their funeral and why do people suggest its "buying" as in making a purchase of a staircase?
I suppose this is a bong inspired masterpiece and well the piper is calling me to join him. Its a great song with a really moody dark feel to it I don't suppose the story line is that important, but I feel I missed out on the hype of this song. I wouldn't call it one of the best of all time but I would call it a great landmark in the timeline of music. Plants voice is really quite nice when he isn't rambling and Page really is a God of guitar. Though its not my 'scene' there is no dismissing that 'Stairway To Heaven" earned its place as a legendary masterpiece for a reason- I just missed the point. More importantly….what the hell is in Plants pants?
Ten minutes? Really… is any song worth that length of time? Guess so, here it is…to be a rock, and not to roll…