the led zeppelin guide to creative world domination | lateral action
Post on 04-Jun-2018
217 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
1/10
Tweet 42
The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination
By Mark McGuinness | 35 Comments
Like 133
0
Image by Dina Regine
There has never been a bigger, badder or better rock band than Led Zeppelin. And there
never will be.
Now weve got that straight, lets take a look at how they did it and what you can learn
from their example.
1. Think Big, Act Big
Its easy to think of Led Zeppelin as Titans bestriding the globe, but have a close look at
some of the film footage from the 70s and youll see they werent the biggest guys in the
world. Their heyday was long before gyms became popular in the UK, and if you stood
Robert Plant side by side with some of todays musclebound stars, you might say he
could do with beefing up a little. But that didnt stop him from being a God on stage.
In a radio interview, Plant made a revealing comment about his transformation fromtalented singer to rock legend. In 1969 Zeppelin supported the band Vanilla Fudge.
Watching the Fudge perform, Plant says he realised that compared to them he had a
great big excuse me written across my face. To become a top performer, he had to get
rid of that excuse me and strut his stuff with confidence.
Early in his career, Jimmy Page had to take a break from touring because he found it
physically too draining. It took a lot of persistence to build himself up to handle the
rigours of life on the road:
As dedicated as I was to playing the guitar, I knew doing it that way was doing me
in forever. Every two months I had glandular fever. So for the next 18 months I was
living on ten dollars a week and getting my strength up. But I was still playing.
(Cameron Crowe, The Durable Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stone 13 March 1975)
Home About Mark Coaching Free Course Store Members Contact
42
13
Lik
0
Shar
7 Reasons Creative People Dont
Talk About Money
The 10 Biggest Mistakes Artists
and Creatives Make at Internet
Marketing
Tyler Durdens 8 Rules of
Innovation
http://lateralaction.com/mark-mcguinness/http://lateralaction.com/coaching/http://lateralaction.com/pathfinderhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/tyler-durden-innovationhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/artists-internet-marketing/http://lateralaction.com/articles/creative-people-money/http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/&description=Nice%20blogpost%20about%20The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Domination%20by%20Mark%20McGuinnesshttp://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/&description=Nice%20blogpost%20about%20The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Domination%20by%20Mark%20McGuinnesshttp://devgrow.com/sharebarhttp://twitter.com/search?q=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2Fhttps://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2F&text=The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Domination%20%7C%20Lateral%20Action&tw_p=tweetbutton&url=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2F&via=markmcguinnesshttp://lateralaction.com/contact/http://lateralaction.com/account/member.phphttp://lateralaction.com/storehttp://lateralaction.com/pathfinderhttp://lateralaction.com/coaching/http://lateralaction.com/mark-mcguinness/http://lateralaction.com/about/http://lateralaction.com/http://lateralaction.com/pathfinderhttp://lateralaction.com/resiliencehttp://lateralaction.com/coachinghttp://www.facebook.com/LateralActionhttp://www.twitter.com/markmcguinnesshttps://plus.google.com/114158097116102678289http://feeds.feedburner.com/LateralActionhttp://feeds.feedburner.com/LateralActionhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/divadivadina/465006384/in/photostreamhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/#commentshttp://twitter.com/search?q=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2Fhttps://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2F&text=The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Domination%20%7C%20Lateral%20Action&tw_p=tweetbutton&url=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2F&via=markmcguinnesshttp://lateralaction.com/ -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
2/10
Led Zeppelin didnt arrive on the scene as fully-formed rock giants. It took guts as well
as talent to achieve what they did. And their attitude was key. Listen to any of their
albums and youll hear a larger-than-life sound that came from attempting something on
a vast scale.
Takeaway:Wipe that great big excuse me off your face. Now get out there and show
them what youve got.
2. Be the Best in Every Department
Many top bands have one or two superstars who are the main source of creative energy.
Morrissey famously described Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce, bassist and drummer with
The Smiths, as mere session musicians, replaceable as parts of a lawnmower. Not all
stars are so ungracious about their colleagues, but rumour has it that even among The
Beatles, talent was not distributed entirely evenly.
Led Zeppelin were different. The four members of the band were like the four corner
pillars of an ancient temple, bearing the creative load equally. With his voice, flowing
locks and Viking overlord stance, Robert Plant was the ultimate front man. The phrase
guitar genius might have been coined to describe Jimmy Page. Drummers are often
heard and not seen, but John Bonham was a larger-than-life character whose drumming
was as distinctive part of the Led Zeppelin sound as Plants voice or Pages guitar. John
Paul Jones was less flamboyant than the other members, but his contribution was just as
vital, on bass, keyboards and mandolin, as well as his imaginative approach to
songwriting and arrangements.
Takeaway:Dont have a weak link in your team. Have the best in the worldfilling
every role. And yes, that includes you.
3. No Quarter
Led Zeppelin took an uncompromising attitude to every aspect of their work including
the business side of things. Their manager Peter Grant was almost as big a legend as the
band members. In 1968 he secured the biggest signing fee that had ever been paid for a
new band $200,000 from Atlantic records. The terms of the contract also gave the
band control over the contents, design and release schedule of all their albums, as well
as their touring schedule. Grant is reputed to have ensured that the band received a
staggering 90% of the takings from their concert tickets.
Grant also enforced the bands strict no singles policy, in the face of enormous pressure
to cash in on the bands popularity by releasing singles. In the event, a handful of singles
were released against the bands wishes, but Zeppelins reputation as an albums band
was firmly established, helping to boost their respect among serious rock fans, who
looked down their noses at the pop charts.
Now, were not suggesting you set out to screw the other guy in your business deals.
Clearly thats not a good idea. But bear in mind that Zeppelin were operating in an
environment where recording artists were routinely exploited by the powers that be in
the music industry, so their ability to stand up and fight their corner was one of the
things that made them remarkable. According to Dave Lewis and Simon Pallet, Peter
Grant single-handedly pioneered the shift of power from the agents and promoters tothe artists and management themselves. (Led Zeppelin: Concert File)
Takeaway:Dont sell yourself short by under-charging, or by accepting a second-rate
deal because you dont want to appear difficult.
4. Be the Definitive Article
I find it laughable that some people dismiss/stereotype Led Zeppelin as heavy metal.
Yes, tracks like Whole Lotta Love and Dazed and Confused help to kickstart the genre,
but the copycat metal bands who followed in their wake completely missed the subtlety
and complexity of Zeppelins work. Even their heaviest albums routinely featured
acoustic tracks, and drew on a wide range of musical genres and influences.
Led Zeppelin were in a category of their own. Thats why they still have no competition.
Takeaway:Dont follow the crowd. Lead them. Trust your instincts you may find
youre more originalthan you realise.
The Shakespearean Guide to
Entrepreneurship
The Ultimate Productivity
Toolbox for Creative People
The Top 10 Social Networks for
Creative People
Foolish Productivity: the
Hobgoblin of Creative Minds
Why Multitasking Doesnt Work
The 3 Critical Characteristics of
the Creative Entrepreneur
Innovate or Die: Why Creativity
Is Economic Priority Number
One
Yes, the Internet Is Changing
Your Brain
10 Essential Blogs for Creative
Entrepreneurs
The Dark Side of Creativity:
Burnout
The Kurt Cobain Guide to Startup
Success
9 Ways People Respond to Your
Content Online
How Getting Nothing Done Can
Make You More Productive
Why You Dont Need to Be a
Genius to Be a Creative Success
Which Way Do You Spin? Left
Brain or Right?
The Secret of Johnny Depps
Success
Are You Trapped in Black-and-
White Thinking?
The 6 Levels of Engagement in
Online Conversations
Is Brainstorming a Waste of
Time?
Why Thinking Outside the Box
Doesnt Work
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi: Does
Creativity Make You Happy?
Are These Two Creativity Myths
Holding You Back?
Spark Your Creativity by
Thinking INSIDE the Box
Episode 1: Lou Needs a Clue
Episode 2: Jacks Smirking
Revenge
Episode 3: Everybody Loves
Marla
Episode 4: Lou Has a Killer Idea
Episode 5: Will Jack Make a
http://lateralaction.com/video/episodes/jacks-dealhttp://lateralaction.com/video/episodes/lous-ideahttp://lateralaction.com/video/episodes/meet-marlahttp://lateralaction.com/video/episodes/meet-jackhttp://lateralaction.com/video/episodes/meet-louhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/thinking-inside-the-boxhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/genius-tortured-artisthttp://lateralaction.com/articles/mihaly-csikszentmihalyihttp://lateralaction.com/articles/thinking-outside-the-boxhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/brainstorminghttp://lateralaction.com/articles/engagement-conversationshttp://lateralaction.com/articles/black-and-white-thinkinghttp://lateralaction.com/articles/johnny-depphttp://lateralaction.com/articles/left-brain-or-righthttp://lateralaction.com/articles/you-dont-need-to-be-a-geniushttp://lateralaction.com/articles/getting-nothing-donehttp://lateralaction.com/articles/9-responseshttp://lateralaction.com/articles/kurt-cobain-startup-successhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/the-dark-side-of-creativity-burnouthttp://lateralaction.com/articles/blogs-creative-entrepreneurshttp://lateralaction.com/articles/internet-brain/http://lateralaction.com/articles/innovate-or-die-why-creativity-is-economic-priority-number-onehttp://lateralaction.com/articles/creative-entrepreneurhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/multitaskinghttp://lateralaction.com/articles/foolish-productivityhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/social-networks-for-creativeshttp://lateralaction.com/articles/personal-productivity-toolboxhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/shakespeare-entrepreneurshiphttp://lateralaction.com/articles/be-original/http://www.amazon.com/Led-Zeppelin-Concert-Dave-Lewis/dp/1844496597/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1258972572&sr=8-1http://sethgodin.typepad.com/the_dip/2007/04/the_best_in_the_1.html -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
3/10
5. Build On the Past
Ive got a bit more time for the music enthusiasts who tell me that Led Zeppelin
piggybacked to fame on the shoulders of blues legends such as Howlin Wolf and Willie
Dixon, and that if I want to experience authentic blues, I should listen to the originals.
But to me, this misses a fundamental point about creativity all artists borrow from
previous creators. Weve previously featured T.S. Eliotand David Bowieon Lateral
Action two classic examples of magpie creators, who made their borrowings very
obvious (and attracted similar allegations of plagiarism).
According to blues expert Robert Palmer, It is the custom, in blues music, for a singer toborrow verses from contemporary sources, both oral and recorded, add his own tune
and/or arrangement, and call the song his own. (Led Zeppelin: The Music liner
notes.) Whether or not Zeppelin took too many liberties with their source material was
debated in court on more than one occasion, but it shouldnt obscure the basic point that
very few artists create something new out of thin air.
Takeaway:Dont be afraid to borrow from your heroes. But make sure you put your
own stamp on the material. And be generous in acknowledging your influences.
6. Be Perverse
No, Im not talking about some of the kinkier anecdotes from the book Hammer of the
Gods. Lateral Action isnt that kind of publication. Im talking about Led Zeppelin III.After the success of Led Zeppelin Iand II, the band were expected to deliver a third
album bursting with powerhouse rock. They werent expected to retire to a remote
cottage in Wales and record an acoustic-flavoured album featuring a song about two little
boys who werent allowed to play together any more, on Moms orders. But thats exactly
what they did to decidedly mixed reviews.
As usual, the critics were missing the point. Both of the first albums had featured
haunting acoustic(ish) numbers, and Led Zep III opened with Immigrant Song, a track
heavy enough for even the most bloodthirsty of headbanging Vikings. The third album
was more of a shift of emphasis than a complete change of direction. And it was one of
their best, whatever anyone tells you.
Takeaway:Be yourself, not just the part of yourself certain people want you to be.
7. Fail Spectacularly
Zeppelins over-the-top approach made them an easy target for critics and comics, such
as the makers of Spinal Tap. Its fairly obvious Im a fan, but that doesnt mean I sit
through all the drum solos. Or that I can keep a straight face at the fantasy sequence in
the film The Song Remains the Same, climaxing with a dwarf on a mountain peak
wielding a multicoloured lightsaber. Even Robert Plant has said that, given his time
again, hed probably reconsider writing lyrics about Gollum the evil one.
But consider the alternative: a band who played it safe in order to avoid criticism, who
reined in their enthusiasm and imagination for fear of looking silly. There are plenty of
bands like that, but you and I have never heard of most of them.
Takeaway: Whatever you do, somebody, somewhere will have a go at you. Personally,
Id rather be criticised for being over-ambitious than over-cautious. How about you?
8. Know When to Draw the Line
In December 1980, following the death of John Bonham, the remaining members of Led
Zeppelin released a press statement:
We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of
undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we
could not continue as we were.
There would be solo careers, collaborations and the occasional reunion. But by drawing a
line under the original Led Zeppelin, they preserved the integrity of the band. We didnt
Deal?
Episode 6: Marla Mentors Jack
http://lateralaction.com/video/episodes/mentorhttp://lateralaction.com/video/episodes/jacks-dealhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/bowie-in-berlin/http://lateralaction.com/articles/eliot-success/ -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
4/10
Related Articles
42
get bored of them. Some of us never will.
Takeaway:Dont stick with something when your heart tells you its over. Ramble on, to
pastures new.
To create your own personal brand of world domination, join us on the Lateral Action
Entrepreneur Course.
About the Author: Mark McGuinness is a poet, creative coach and co-founder of Lateral
Action.
Get past two of the biggest obstacles you will ever face
If you want to achieve something original and
meaningful with your life, you must learn to
deal with rejection and criticism.
Mark McGuinness shows you how to handle them in
his new book Resilience: Facing Down Rejection
and Criticism on the Road to Success.
Based on 16 years' experience of coaching creative
people like you, Resiliencegives you tried-and-
tested ways to get past rejection and criticism and
succeed on your own terms.
"Read this book and you will be bulletproof!"~
Steven Pressfield, bestselling author of The War of
Artand Turning Pro
Click to learn more about Resilience(and read the opening chapters for free).
>>
Sites That Link to this Post
1. Links for November 29 2009 | Eric D. Brown| November 29, 2009
2. Cult of Innovation Blog Archive Stairway To Success: What Led Zeppelin Can Teach
Us About Pursuing Our Goals| December 15, 2009
3. Mr. Tweet: Your Personal Networking Assistant!| December 25, 2009
4. Internet Marketing: Why Artists And Creatives Have an Unfair Advantage| June 8, 2010
5. Led Zepplin Guide to Creative World Domination - Berklandish| September 27, 2010
6. The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Michael T. Bane| October 10,
2010
Get Free Updates
Bookmark on Delicious
Stumble This Article
Digg This Article
All Share/Save Options
The Kurt Cobain Guide to Startup Success
How Neil Young Became the First Artist to Get
Sued for Not Being Himself
Drill Sergeant or Buddy: Who Brings Out the
Best in a Creator?
Creative Rock Stars Get Paid to Do What They
Love
133
Like
http://lateralaction.com/articles/paid-to-do-what-they-love/http://lateralaction.com/articles/mentor-drill-sergeant/http://lateralaction.com/articles/neil-young/http://lateralaction.com/articles/kurt-cobain-startup-success/http://www.addtoany.com/share_save?linkname=The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Domination&linkurl=http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/http://digg.com/submit?url=http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/&title=The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Dominationhttp://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/&title=The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Dominationhttp://delicious.com/savehttp://lateralaction.com/subscribe/http://tbaneart.com/2010/10/10/the-led-zeppelin-guide-to-creative-world-domination/http://www.berklandish.com/?p=482http://www.wishfulthinking.co.uk/2010/06/07/artists-creatives-internet-marketing/http://mrtweet.com/community/electronica/20091128?src=pingbackhttp://www.cultofinnovation.com/stairway-to-success-what-led-zeppelin-can-teach-us-about-pursuing-our-goals/http://ericbrown.com/links-for-november-29-2009.htmhttp://lateralaction.com/resiliencehttp://lateralaction.com/resiliencehttp://lateralaction.com/home-based-business/http://twitter.com/search?q=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2Fhttps://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2F&text=The%20Led%20Zeppelin%20Guide%20to%20Creative%20World%20Domination&tw_p=tweetbutton&url=http%3A%2F%2Flateralaction.com%2Farticles%2Fled-zeppelin%2F&via=markmcguinness -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
5/10
Comments
Darrellsays:
November 23, 2009 at 10:20 am
A very timely post for me. This hit on some key points as I begin to create some new
partnerships.
I think I will use some of this in my daily coaching series as well.
Thanks
Darrell
REPLY
Stacey Corneliussays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:00 am
Takeaways from every item: have courage. Have integrity.
Making a commitment to a creative practice always requires courage. It will always be
easier to cave in for quick cash, to follow the herd, to hold your nose and do
something youd rather not to avoid taking a risk. But then you stop growing as an
artist.
This is a great post, Mark. I dont think I could manage the big hair, but the rest of
the advice is excellent.
REPLY
Daniel Edlensays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:07 am
Excellent excellent excellent Mark! SO good. Man you and Brian are good at
takeaways from seemingly completely off-track sources but ones so popular theyre
overlooked.
Im starting to do a bunch of this finally with my art, with Zeppelin in fact!
http://vinylart.info/paintings/zepp_u.htm
Peace,
@vinylart
REPLY
Robertsays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:07 am
Yup the greatest band ever.
REPLY
Marksays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:27 am
@ Darrell My pleasure, may your coaching sessions rock!
@ Stacey have courage. Have integrity. Thats it! How come it took me so many
words? As for the big hair once upon a time.
@ Daniel Not surprised it (ahem) touched a chord for you!
@ Robert You have impeccable taste, sir.
REPLY
Amy Harrisonsays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:36 am
Love Led Zeppelin and love the post.
Certainly get the feeling that the band had a clear idea of what they enjoyed, what
they wanted to achieve and had picked the right team to get them there.
http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4437http://harrisonamy.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4436#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4436http://lateralaction.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4435#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4435http://barefoot-seo.blogspot.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4434#respondhttp://vinylart.info/paintings/zepp_u.htmhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4434http://vinylart.blogspot.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4433#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4433http://www.thestudiosource.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4431#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4431http://www.transilient.net/ -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
6/10
Its comforting however to take note that they werent cracked out of the mould this
way, but were determined to grow and develop their behaviour to make them more
likely to achieve their goals.
I think sometimes we limit ourselves by basing our goals on who we are today, rather
than considering how much potential we have to grow and develop into our own
version of rock gods.
REPLY
Amy Harrisonsays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:43 am
and now Im sitting at my desk just singingramble on repeatedly
so thank you for that
REPLY
Marksays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:50 am
Heh, my pleasure!
REPLY
David Emmerson says:
November 23, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Interesting choice with Led Zeppelin a band that I believe was totally driven by the
manager and who as you acknowledge set the way for other bands to actually earn an
income.
Peter Grants philosophy on life was take no prisoners and its worth reading about
his own growing up in the music business and the importance of mentors (his own
being one of the toughest guys around). Just avoid the hanging people by their ankles
outside the window until they sign on the dotted line.
The music industry has presented some good (and bad) business models over the
years and like it or hate it, X Factor is possibly the ultimate right now, able to identify
ways to create money every way it turns.
As to whether there is much musical creativity, I guess its a matter of personal taste!
However, it is very creative in the way it generates multiple income streams,
extracting money from the public, through advertising, record labels eager to see
their acts appear on the show, branding, and so the list goes on.
As for Led Zeppelin, will forever remain Rock Gods and I will forever remember the O2
gig.
REPLY
Marksays:
November 23, 2009 at 1:16 pm
David I shudder to imagine how tough Peter Grants mentor must have been!
V envious of the O2 gig! I tried to get tickets, but to no avail. I did see Page and Plant
twice, which was awesome (in every sense).
REPLY
Dave Doolinsays:
November 23, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I cant really think of any rock band that has had as much influence as Zep. I dont
really count The Beatles as rock.
Sadly, Bonham passed away a couple of months before they were going to play close
enough for me to go see them in concert.
Working on that 4 pillars concept right now with a tight circle of friends.
REPLY
http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4447#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4447http://website-in-a-weekend.net/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4443#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4443http://lateralaction.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4441#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4441http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4439#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4439http://lateralaction.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4438#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4438http://harrisonamy.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4437#respond -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
7/10
Sharonsays:
November 23, 2009 at 11:34 pm
excellent work, my work [and unpaid activist work] involves a lot of change agent
stuff, and this kind of approach [using an existing cultural reference] is invaluable in
creating a connection with people who might not want to engage with dry, theoretical
material
REPLY
Robertsays:
November 24, 2009 at 12:52 am
@ Dave I kind of agree that the Beatles werent rock. Although they surely were
pioneers to popular music of pretty much any kind.
Unfortunately I was never able to see the guys I was born shortly before they called
it a day. So Im pretty much suck watching the DVDs which always come out after a
few drinks.
The last lesson is well worth learning, not only to know when to call it a day, but also
dont become an imitation of yourself. I think it was Plant that said that should
Zeppelin ever reform they would simply be a cover band of themselves.
REPLY
Rainer says:
November 24, 2009 at 8:27 am
Good times, bad times, you know Ive had my share
When my woman left home for a brown-eyed man
but I still dont seem to care.
Still love it! Thanks for the great post, Mark.
REPLY
David Ksays:
November 24, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Zep is one of the examples I use (along with Pink Floyd, Queen, Joy Division and
others) with my teenage daughters.
I encourage them to hear the complexity and look for that in the bands they are
listening to today now THATs a tough assignment. (Oh man, did my Dad just say
that?)
Creative brilliance and technical capability (brilliance not required) generate powerful,
valuable works.
We should all work that way.
REPLY
Marysays:
November 25, 2009 at 11:56 pm
I think all of these points (except maybe #8) fit U2, as well.
REPLY
David Dealsays:
November 26, 2009 at 12:09 am
Well done and spot on. I would add one more lesson: be willing to push yourself and
everyone around you to get better. Jimmy Page is justly famous for his guitar playing,
but he also produced every Led Zeppelin album and in doing so took the band to the
next level through gritty, hard work. As a producer, he applied uncompromising
standards to create sounds that no one else could come close to matching. Its alsointeresting to note that few bands have successfully produced themselves like Led
Zeppelin did. Thank you for the post.
REPLY
http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4462#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4462http://www.superhypeblog.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4461#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4461http://woowooteacup.wordpress.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4456#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4456http://www.nicheplayer.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4452#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4452http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4451#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4451http://barefoot-seo.blogspot.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4450#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4450http://www.twitter.com/cruxcatalyst -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
8/10
Mike Stengersays:
November 29, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Sorry I missed this! Been gone for Thanksgiving but you really hit this head on!
Although Im younger and not from the rock n roll generation, I get what youre
saying. Led Zeppelin was damn good and theres reasons for that.
Great guide, just tweeted
REPLY
linda m lopekesays:December 2, 2009 at 12:15 am
Thank you for this insightful post, Mark. I love this band and their incredible music.
Led Zeppelin exemplifies it isnt just one thing that creates success (of the musical or
any other variety). Rather its preparation meeting opportunity and a willingness to
define and stay your own course that gets you there.
The courage to take a stand (even if it means to stand alone), to believe (even when
your beliefs fly in the face of the norm or any form of reason), to refuse to
compromise (even when to do so would be expedient, more efficient and less
expensive), to simply keep moving forward in the direction that is right for you (even
when you cant see the road ahead) these are the things the average person wont
do and the committed entrepreneur must do.
I experienced Led Zeppelin as musicians (being of that generation). Youve helped me
see them as some of my early teachers. Thanks for opening my ears to that.
Linda M. Lopeke
REPLY
Joe Chapuissays:
December 5, 2009 at 11:48 am
Good insight. A few thoughts
Zep was larger than life. Stories abound of motorcycle rides through hotel lobbies, TVs
being tossed out of windows, and decadence and mayhem at 35,000 feet aboard The
Starship.
Think about how much they contributed in twelve short years, or what they created in
their first three (Zep 1-4). Oh man, how they harnessed that wave of youthful, raw
energy, riding the momentum until it came crashing down on itself.
I love the fact that they knew when to call it quits and move on. The magic forumla
could never be replicated without Bonzo.
I expose my kids to all kinds of music current pop, opera and classical, heavy metal,
vintage and modern rock. But my six-year old sons favorite song is Rock-n-Roll.
40 years and 200 million albums later, they still leave you wanting more
-joe
REPLY
Lou Anne Reddonsays:
August 18, 2010 at 12:36 pm
This post rocked, Mark! You really know your Zeppelin and made it relevant with
terrific lessons.
Your insights and encouragement are exactly what I needed to shore up confidence in
my freelance copywriting pursuits, which is what brought me to you in the first place.
Incredibly, though, another side creative endeavour of mine is to help my brother
promote the book he wrote about Zeppelin. So your post was an especial delight.
Its also GREAT to know that so many people here are lovers of Led, too!
As their song says, THANK YOU!
REPLY
http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6194#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6194http://www.enzepplopedia.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4490#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4490http://www.requiredreading.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4482#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4482http://www.smartstartcoach.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=4467#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-4467http://www.mikestenger.com/ -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
9/10
Martina Simonic Adamcsays:
September 16, 2010 at 7:57 am
Mark thank you for this post!
Brilliant choice of showing us what means to be passionate, innovative and stick to
youre soul desire.
Most of mine best atwork come out among listening rock music whole lotta love.
Have fun, Martina
REPLY
Lynn says:
September 23, 2010 at 10:23 pm
Yet another example of the really weird coincidences (or NOT!) that happen in my life.
I watched a program on Led Zepplin just last week on the Bio channel. So I know
exactly what you are talking about. (Although I was familiar with their music and who
they were from when I was a kid).
Just the week before, I was reading about how U2!s lyrics were influenced by people
like Jimi Hendrix. That same week Jimis bio was on tv and, having been a huge fan of
U2 since day 1, I can now look back and see his influence on their music.
Like Mary I find U2 and Bono to be very creatively inspirational, more so than LZ.
And yes, the music of today is so NON-creative and lacking in originality. Whathappened? Do we need drugs as a muse? Hopefully not, but there certainly seems to
be a connection.
REPLY
Robertsays:
September 27, 2010 at 1:26 am
@Lynn well todays music (Im talking mainstream here) is mostly written by those
that were big in the 70!s (think ABBA and BeeGees). While not entirely my cup of tea,
Ill argue that they lack creativity.
Mostly as a friend of mine used to say, If the artist puts something in, Ill get
something out. Strangely enough I feel that bands that were breaking ground suchas Metalllica have now sold out to The Man so badly so that others such as Britney
get a higher ranking on my scale (a least shes honest about it).
Times change, again another reason to either call it quits or to re-invent yourself.
Guess thats where Michael Jackson was really great.
As for drugs being a muse, they always were, heck why do you think so many artists
are constantly in rehab, or writing about that struggle?
One of my all time faves, Ozzy, need I really say more?
REPLY
Mark McGuinnesssays:
September 27, 2010 at 4:46 am
Thanks for the great comments guys, great to see everyones passion for their
favourites coming through.
Ill have to respectfully disagree about U2 though.
REPLY
B-Fisch says:
October 13, 2010 at 3:43 pm
One thing Ive found, and Ive had someone confirm this recently, is this: if you want
to sound like someone/something, dont try to sound like them. Try to sound like
whomever THEY were trying to imitate. (adaptation decay is the reason for this) Itslike paraphrasing a quote when the quote itself was paraphrasing. After a few carbon
copies, it starts to lose the luster. Just watch Multiplicity.
Anyway, I read this shortly after it was first posted up here (thanks to Achilles Last
Stand), and it is very good! Thanks for the tips!
http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6553http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6424#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6424http://lateralaction.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6423#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6423http://www.propdata.net/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6411#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6411http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6375#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6375http://www.my8shadows.com/ -
8/13/2019 The Led Zeppelin Guide to Creative World Domination | Lateral Action
10/10
REPLY
Mark McGuinnesssays:
October 14, 2010 at 3:38 am
Adaptation decay I like that! Could be another article
REPLY
B-Fisch says:
October 14, 2010 at 7:07 pm
I got the term form TV Tropes. (be warned, that site can be a massive time drain.
One thing leads to another, and so on as shown in http://xkcd.com/609/)
REPLY
Amanda Waltonsays:
October 18, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I really enjoyed this post, we as fans love the music of Led Zeppelin and many of the
greats but many dont realize how profound their lives and experiences can be to our
own to keep us going and draw from. It wasnt until recently I started reading beyond
the music and into the legends behind the beauty of what our ears take in, its like re-
discovering my favorites again, opening my eyes even wider.
Its the after fact of the writers who carry on the meanings behind these legends
including those involved in their entourage that will live on from generation to
generation giving that added taste of perfection with the genius behind the legend
musicians, like an excellent tasting wine and the perfect cheese to compliment. The
takeaway after each tidbit of history is very inspiring since it applies to our everyday
lives in everything we do. Great read! Cheers!
REPLY
Speak Your Mind
Name *
Email *
Website
POST COMMENT
Notify me of followup comments via e-mail
Jump to Top | Home | About | Contact | 2011 Lateral Action. All Rights Reserved.
Lateral Action runs on the Genesis Framework for WordPress
http://www.studiopress.com/themes/genesishttp://lateralaction.com/contacthttp://lateralaction.com/abouthttp://lateralaction.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/#mainhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6597#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6597http://nabweekly.ca/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6560#respondhttp://xkcd.com/609/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6560http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6554#respondhttp://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/comment-page-1/#comment-6554http://lateralaction.com/http://lateralaction.com/articles/led-zeppelin/?replytocom=6553#respond
top related