Drum Teacher Reaction: Led Zeppelin - 'COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN' (Track 7 Debut Album)

[@ledded1]

This song changed/developed my musical taste and introduced me to Led Zeppelin. It was 1969, I was 12 years old and heard this for the 1st time. And from that moment Zep became my favourite band of all time, and they still are.

[@johnr.8275]

I wasn't alive in '69, but the same thing happened to me when I heard them in the early '80's or so. And they're still my favorite and always will be! The song that hooked me was Heartbreaker; they used to play it on the radio station my sister listened to all the time.

[@henriettaskolnick4445]

They used this song as either opener or encore, especially early in their career. Over time, it would get dropped as opener and occasionally used as a special encore. It's definitely proto punk and Jimmy's downward strokes on the guitar inspired Ramones guitarist Johnny Ramone to practice to it repeatedly and turn it into his own style. It's a straight-forward rocker that amps energy and I appreciate its hard punch.

[@johnr.8275]

Sometimes they'd bust into the "It's your thing....do whatcha wanna do" bit in '69 or so. I always loved that electrified funk they would do with that.

[@dalmac5978]

Ahhh, didn’t see your comment; said the same thing. :)

[@henriettaskolnick4445]

@@dalmac5978 No worries! It's good to add confirmation and weight to the facts. ☺

[@davidgreene7676]

to think the "age" of "punk rockers" (75-78) would deem LZ as dinosaurs...is beyond me...punksters thought they projected anger in their songs...this song by far exhibits a punk feel...and alot more depth..especially when page moves up the guitar scale with jpj's soulfoul base line...

[@henriettaskolnick4445]

@@davidgreene7676 I agree. For me, I think they did have occasional punk elements in their music beyond Communication Breakdown, however, I feel the punk attitude shows in the way the band managed their career. They told the label what they would or wouldn't do, the styles they'd explore, the album art, etc. Not too many bands of Zep's stature would have issued an untitled album or issued one in a brown paper wrapper, for example. I think punk considered Zep and some others as "bloated", sneering at stuff like half hour drum solos, etc. Everyone wants to be new and shake up the status quo. I think they felt such musical self-indulgence had become stodgy.

[@johnr.8275]

Your honesty is appreciated. I can see your point that this song isn't a big showcase of Bonham's seemingly endless capacity for inventiveness. That said, it is absolutely lightning captured in a bottle! I wasn't even close to born when this was recorded, but I've heard enough music of the era to safely say there was nothing out there that sounded remotely like this when they laid it down in October of 1968. It's just "here we are, and how do you like THIS?" This is a really, really fun drum part to play...and you had better eat your Wheaties before you play it! I remember long ago in a music class (I believe I was in 8th grade), a student from high school came to our class and showed us some things about drums. I was talking to him about Bonham afterward and I sat down at the beautiful Pearl kit they had and played this song, and he couldn't believe I knew it so well. He asked how I did it, and I said "I listened to it and then I played it." I remember he laughed at that one. I was no Yoyoka or anything, but my ears never failed me!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Totally agree. It's a barn burner as opposed to Bonham Groove world

[@PeterTea]

I can’t calm down. I’ve had too much coffee and I’m listening to Led Zeppelin. ;)

[@johnr.8275]

And the problem is? 🤣

[@susannebass5503]

WOW maybe you just had to be there....these were the first songs from ZEP and they were mind blowing!!! We had no future catalog to compare to. Huge hit it was back then⚡⚡🎶

[@johnr.8275]

I used to know a guy (who is sadly no longer with us) who told me he worked in a record store when Zeppelin's debut came out. He said he used to play their debut album all the time, and that just about everyone who came in would ask, "Who the hell is that? I've never heard anything like this!" Now it's almost 55 years later and they will still never be equaled. As Jack Black said about LZ, "best band ever."

[@rodneylonczynski9089]

There is a great live version of this one at Earl's Court 1975 Certainly a bombastic tune, very early punk. It always reminded me of Paranoid by Sabbath.

[@henriettaskolnick4445]

Ozzy said outright that Paranoid comes directly from Communication Breakdown.

[@springy-2112]

Nostalgia, this was the first song I ever recorded as a drummer in a proper studio. A demo for our covers band at the time. Happy memories. 😊

[@PeterTea]

“Proto punk” is a good way to put it. I believe the Ramones were directly influenced by this song on Blitzkrieg Bop, etc. BTW, is that you playing When the Levee Breaks in the background? Not too shabby professor.

[@thomasharhen2168]

Drumming is the hardest Musical instrument to play, multiple instruments, love it

[@darrylbennett4297]

I think you’re going to love the next 2 tracks

[@Scoobydcs]

are you doing them all in order? YES!!!!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Yes!

[@Scoobydcs]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums good man, its deffinately the best way to really dig into zeppelin

[@jerkerjansson386]

I love the punky garage feel to this song. One of my favs on the album for sure!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Great! I'm sure it'd grow on me :)

[@jerkerjansson386]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums Yeah. I grew up on this so I'm 47 years ahead of you.

[@sharonmason5615]

Good morning from New England..Andrew its actually Brian from N.E.im using my sisters mobile so her name shows in the comments and chats..It could be argued that this song was a proto speed hard rock tune..Speed metal/rock a good decade before speed metal came on the scene..? Just a thought

[@666tubedragon666]

Well I guarantee Bonzo had a blast with this one...always sounded like they were in the garage playing just for fun and going hard...just for themselves and because they could

[@kentmains7763]

Next one will hit the sweet spot for you. Yes, that's what she said!

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

HAHAHA

[@dalmac5978]

This song has been called proto-punk and was a huge influence on Johnny Ramone’s guitar style.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Oh wow! I can see why TBH

[@richdiana3663]

Good reaction. Well thought out, thanks.

[@terrylandess6072]

If you haven't already, part of the 'tale of the tape' is to check the writing credits on the debut album, then the following album(s). It's my best guess that Plant had a job creating vocal parts for pre-written songs, and then was able to contribute to the structure and themes onwards.

[@TheAntiTryhard]

I think you would also like the drumming on a lot of Simply Red songs, cause its blues, jazz and funk with a big pop note

[@chriseccles8098]

I last heard Robert Plant play this with his band about 5 years ago. I think he only did two Zep tracks that day and this was one, a real stormer live, they changed it a bit from the original and was longer, just brilliant

[@MissingMars]

play a lot of Zeppelin in a cover band cause they so damn fun to play, we open the night sometimes to this and bring the house down! Thanks for doing this Andrew ;-}

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I bet! It'd go off!

[@mikeballentine1984]

I’m on pins and needles for “how many more times”

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

On the way!

[@ellebrook3413]

I appreciate your professional and personal thoughts. I for one get a bit tired of every youtube reaction video always being full of awe/praise/amazement/hyperbole because they think that's the only way to keep subscribers. This is one of the LZ songs that is a full *band* performance as opposed to one particular member standing out. Let's face it, that is perfectly natural with a group of equally talented people and that is the appeal of Bonham for me : solos aside, he played *for* the song and wasn't the type to always have to have a spell in the spotlight with frenetic displays on a kit the size of Jupiter.

[@jcc3999]

Well he was just learning started playing at 15 when this was recorded he was still 19 not bad for only playing drums for 4 years

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Very impressive

[@Zeplyn2]

Zeppelin's influence on Black Sabbath is always overlooked, Paranoid is HEAVILY inspired by Communication Breakdown. Listen to them back to back and they are almost the same song.

[@buzzbomb67]

Its surprising how much influence they had on each other!

[@thomashverring9484]

Robert Plant on this one, man, holy shit!

[@buzzbomb67]

One of my favorites of theirs, but then, I love hardcore punk, so this fits right in with that. Makes sense its not one of yours, for exactly the reasons you described.

[@jcc3999]

Got to remember they started out as kids playing college's university Plant Bonham 18 years old Jonesy 20 Page 22 kids They got much better playing together as they matured as the world seen

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

100%

[@Frankincensedjb123]

Zep goes punk.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

YESSS

[@peterdoe2617]

Maybe not the most ingenious song. But just brilliant in the cobtext od this 1st album: remember, these guys where just inventing this genre, that we now label "hard rock". Starting the album with dazed and confised. Now putting this one next to black mountain side. Saying: hard rock is not always: "bang, bang, bang". But it can. Like embtyo or fx from Black Sabbath. Giving it a break. Giving it a twist. Revenabt from The Warning is such a song. (That's why I think of them as sooo fantastic: they still do that!) My 2 cents from the far north of Germany.

[@ChrisCollins-Oakland]

The world's first punk rock song.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Really!!?!?

[@ChrisCollins-Oakland]

@@AndrewRooneyDrums In 1979 I was a teen aged drummer in a punk band. I tried to get my mates to play this, but they absolutely refused. I argued then, and now, that it is pure punk. IMHO. I just found your channel last week. Great stuff.

[@edyoung6573]

So awesome!!! I wanted this to be my wife and I's walk to down the Isle song when we got married!!!! She voted that down. Love this song but I agree not one of my favorites. Just a good punch you in the teeth song. Pretty good for a first album tune LOL

[@MissingMars]

so Andrew -play along to it to see what I mean.

[@AnthonySilva35]

3rd comment, I also think this is a bit weaker in comparison to their other big songs. Still really good though. It's definitely more simple but simple really slaps sometimes. Btw, it's 5am in America right now. Just been watching you videos trying to sleep, then you uploaded a new one 😂

[@heltonfalusi9201]

Listen to 1970 live version...head bangers at the end...

[@jcc3999]

It was their big live opener in 1967 under the name new yardbirds then in 1968 under led zeppelin also in the beginning John used a very small kit wasn't until they hit he started to build the big kits

[@johnr.8275]

Not trying to come off as a know-it-all or anything, but Led Zeppelin didn't exist until 1968. And you're right about Bonzo's drum kit in the earliest days of the band: very early on he used a Slingerland kit with a 22" kick and 13" and 16" toms. He still made that thing sound massive, though!

[@jcc3999]

@@johnr.8275 they started out as the new yardbirds page had 6 gigs contracted he had to fulfill so all 4 played together under the new yardbirds before changing the name to led zeppelin

[@johnr.8275]

@@jcc3999 That's right, on September 7, 1968.

[@jcc3999]

@@johnr.8275 Well I guess Jimmy n Robert Jonesy got their dates wrong because all stated many times it was 1967 when they all got together for the first time They all are in their 70s so I guess their memoirs might be off a bit at this point who really cares

[@richdiana3663]

And I wish the World had half the diversity and freedom this wondrous band elicits.

[@ledzeppacker]

This song influenced so many bands. Queen sheer heart attack, black sabbath paranoid, heart barracuda to name a few. To say it bordered as a School of Rock "student" band song, thats disrespectful and ludicrous.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I tried to explain myself as best I could

[@dadgad]

'Communication Breakdown' it's protopunk indeed

[@シイナノリオ]

I would prefer live version (1970 Royal Albert Hall) interlude to this enough-powerful studio version. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaKpZH1uedV4mJY

[@ellebrook3413]

これはすごいですね！

[@juliemanarin4127]

This is a Jimmy song...not so much a Bonham song...I love it!! It is great live! Also it may have been an album filler when they made it!

[@Scoobydcs]

proto punk? proto metal?

[@jeffw8611]

How dare you have your own opinion on this song!😂

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

I know that's illegal...

[@markmilner842]

You’re going to like the next two tracks better. Although I like this one, it is the weakest track on the album.

[@donnelson6694]

Punk Zeppelin. Definitely not one of my favorites either.

[@AndrewRooneyDrums]

Interesting 🤔