AboutMike Caldwell Expertise I have been a lifetime Led Zeppelin researcher (not just fan). My immediate specialty (or proclivity as it may be) has to do with concert performances and lyrical interpretations.
Experience Countless hours of biographical research and personal interaction with relevant individuals. Avid contributor to Led Zeppelin newsgroups since 1997 (check Google groups!)
Publications Bullseye News Magazine. The Vapid Voice.
I just saw a killer rendition of "The Battle of Evermore" by The Wilson sisters, (concert given night prior to Hall of Fame ceremonies). I've also seen Heart do covers of "Rock and Roll", "The Immigrant Song" & "Misty Mountain Hop", all of which are pretty damn good. I know they're big-time Zeppelin fans so my question is this; have either Plant, Page &/or Jones seen or heard any of these renditions and if so, what is their opinion(s), if any?
Answer I always thought Plant would've been very supportive about their "tribute" to the band of the day, then he spoke with a bitter tone once in an interview with Musician magazine, many years ago :
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MUSICIAN: Or in some cases, they're female. Personally, I've always thought that Ann Wilson does you better than anybody.
PLANT: I know. I saw her do it during one of my periods of consternation, when I was waiting. I had just started with the Honeydrippers, and I went to see Heart. But I don't complain. Bless her, she's a woman, and I don't complain when a woman tries to do what I do. Somebody's got to take the active role and somebody's got to take the passive role from time to time. But there are a lot of these English, second-generation whatever they're-called bands, the substance of which, and the sources from which they draw their influences, are no longer Howlin' Wolf and Robert Johnson - they're me and Steve Mariott. And not even Steve Mariott. There's a handful of people they listen to and they don't listen to anybody else. They don't listen to Alf from Yazoo, or Oum Koulsoum, or anything like that. They just listen to what's commercially succesful, ape it, come over here, sell four million records, sell out four nights at the Spectrum, and bludgeon everybody's ears with something that has no representation of subtletly at all.
I believe Plant has always been irritated by imitators, as he calls them, but frankly, he was just jealous that he couldn't hit the high notes like Ann could. By now, I'm sure Plant appreciates the renditions of such songs as the ones you mentioned. He's grown up a bit since the early 80s.
I know Jones was always a huge supporter. He once said "they do a better job of us than we do." Obviously he went on to taking on the role of producer of some of Heart's stuff, and he always thought highly of them.
Page rarely spoke of Heart, but did appreciate their admiration for Zep, and was actually flattered at the constant tributes Nancy Wilson always gave to Page.
