The Long Running Feud Between Robert Plant & Pete Townshend

[@pallhe]

Something tells me the rivalry is being blown out of all proportion here. What cracks me up is that the narrator's tone of voice sounds like he's talking about the Battle of Stalingrad.

[@hammer44head]

haha, sounds like he needs to go drop a loaf but wants to finish this up before he goes

[@mikeyerian2562]

It's AI

[@virtualobject]

I managed the first sentence. Rock and roll has never been a business for the faint Hearted

[@pallhe]

@@mikeyerian2562 Yes, I suspect so too.

[@Digibeatle09]

Yes - a “feud” really is only of great public interest if the antagonists give expression to their feelings in, shall we say, “a direct manner” - there’s none of that here - what we have are differences of opinion/assessments of one’s own worth - probably a phenomenon shared by 90% of humanity !

[@bowelrupture]

Keith and John had a huge respect for each other.

[@ronniemercury]

The narrator is unintentionally hilarious. Sounds like he's narrating the end of the world

[@australianratpatrol]

robot narrator and text.

[@michaelwebster8389]

It's just Townshend's feud. Doubt whether anyone else cares about it.

[@michaelwebster8389]

Also - Plant probably doesn't realise the motivations for at least Townshend to keep doing these tours - it was to help Entwistle and Daltrey with money - those guys didn't have Townshends royalties - so I think he certainly owed them a bit. And some of the tours had some great performances, but it could never be the same after Moon. Plant's career since Zeppelin has been amazing, with his collaborations with Alison Kraus, amongst other things. Towhshend has a lot of good solo stuff as well.

[@michaelwebster8389]

And the thing about Townshend is he seems completely incapable of keeping any negative views of others private for more than a moment. The things he's said about Moon and others are pretty repulsive.

[@guitarcomet5]

Plant is an @ss. Page made Zeppelin who they were. John Paul was also a big part. John Bonham was doing as he was told. Even his Drum sound was tweaked by Page.

[@saifonlawrence2044]

Love both bands. Don't give a rats ass about any friction between the bands.

[@Bristolcentaurus]

most of this is b/s see @davidvaron8892 comments the one with the problem is townsend - moon played with page several times in 66 with beck and live with zeppelin in '77 Plant and Daltrey do joint charity work iv'e not seen anything from Entwhistle

[@nickstone2878]

Hat's off , that's the way to look at it 😊

[@davidbaron8892]

You realize Plant and Daltrey are really close -- virtually best friends. Not to mention Bonham and Moon were also close. There was a professional rivalry, sure. But it wasn't like these bands hated each other. Pete's not wrong that he's largely responsible for all LOUD, roaring-guitar rock (he invented the Marshall stack, FFS). The Who's SONICS were influential on every heavy rock band that came after them. But it always came across from Pete as sour grapes that Zep became more financially successful. Pete's often been an outspoken, cranky bastard about certain things, but I don't know that these guys actually dislike each other as people. It's possible to for these guys to actually like each other as people and not care for their music. Keith Richards has been friends with Page since well before Zeppelin, and loves Page's playing, but hates Zeppelin's music. Personally, I love both bands (and the Stones, too), and wouldn't be without any of them.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

I think you are right. There was a lot of jealousy of LZ financial success in the 70s due to Peter Grants management. The Stones and The Who were ripped off in the 60s. Also explained their need to tour extensively through the 70s and 80s.

[@John-fc7wc]

In Pete's book he said he considered the guys in Zep to be really good dudes, he has no hate for them. He is bitter about their success.

[@tatko3366]

Jim Marshall had a music store and also knew how to build amps from his time in the Army. Pete Townsend and Jimi Hendrix were both in his music store one day. Trying out an amp and guitar whilst standing under a fluorescent light. Where the overhead ballast caused interference with the amp. They immediately called Jim Marshall over and told him that was the type of sound they were looking for. He subsequently build an amp where the valves could be overdriven to within an inch of their life. Thus the first overdrive, lead guitar, Marshall Amp was born as in "I distort, so I am". Jimi also discovered that sound traveled from left to right, whilst was on acid. Whilst resulted in the birth of Stereo. For the skeptics...The company first began making amplifiers to provide an alternative to expensive, American-made Fender amps, releasing their first model, the Bassman-inspired JTM45, in 1963. Following complaints over limitations in amp volume and tone from visitors to Jim Marshall's drum shop, notably Pete Townshend, guitarist for The Who, Marshall began developing louder, 100-watt amplifiers. These early amps were characterized in part by their Plexiglass control plates, leading to models such as the 1959 Super Lead, being popularly known as "Plexis." Their adoption by guitarists like Townshend, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page helped establish the brand's legacy.

[@JAMESGANG-f5u]

I believe the real root of the animosity goes way back and it’s actually between Townshend and Page. Jimmy did try to snag Moon and Entwisle prior to getting JPJ and Bonham. I even read somewhere that Pete threw a punch at Jimmy. When and where I don’t recall. Also even before that there was sour grapes from Pete (of course 🙄) regarding Jimmy playing solos on some of The Who’s studio songs. The main one being “I Can’t Explain”. Apparently that’s Jimmy playing the solo on the old 1965 studio recording. For some reason this angered Pete. Possibly because Jimmy let it be known amongst the Brit rockers scene of that time idk 🤷🏼. There was possibly a couple of other run-ins between the 2 guitarists. Ultimately I believe that Pete has an inferiority complex due to be a lesser skilled player than so many other Brit guitarists. Clapton, Beck, Page, Iommi, Blackmore, Frampton, Mick Taylor to name a few.

[@sicotshit7068]

@@JAMESGANG-f5uyes I’d call it pure jealousy on Pete part, likely regrets not taking Page up on the super band. I like some songs by The Who, & The Rolling Stones, but neither can compare with Led Zeppelin’s greatness. Funny Pete felt they started or were metal, Zeppelin claimed they weren’t a metal band, Zeppelin was hard rock but not metal.

[@AlanSmitheeman]

The world is big enough for both bands to exist and I'm glad they existed.

[@nycinstyle]

B.S. Page compliments Townshend. Never heard Page criticize another guitarist. Bonham and Keith Moon were friends. Daltry and Plant are friends. Townshend is allowed to say what he wants, but he just comes off as appearing jealous of Led Zep's enormous success. Both are great, great rock bands. If Page and Townshend were together today, I am sure they would be very friendly with each other talking about music and old times in the 1960s and 1970s, etc. Page even played as a studio guitarist on some of The Who's early songs. The Who live and Led Zeppelin live are IMO the best rock acts live in concert of all time. Both bands were incredibly great live acts in concert.

[@kooringagnd]

Feud? More like handbags at 20 paces. Professional disagreement. on a couple of musical points, nothing more. Reminds of when the "experts" chime on about the rivalries between the Beatles, Stones or Beach boys. Purely professional disagreement on musical points. Nothing more.

[@JohnJarpe-hm3wj]

Page MAY have played on the Shel Talmey ( The Kinks ) produced single "I Can't Explain" along with a group of singers who are called themselves The Ivy League and this was where the rub first started because The Who was acutely fearful of the a Milli Vanilli type of scandal if it ever got out that they utilized hired guns to play on their records. While Page was brought in to play on the single it's not entirely clear that his take survived Pete's strong protests at the time and while Townshend would go on to become a great and important guitar player this was not exactly obvious to everyone in 1965 and Pete in many where's a prisoner of his insecurities.

[@nycinstyle]

@@JohnJarpe-hm3wj Yeah, point is Pete's making light of Zeppelin music, putting it down, just makes him look bad. Appears jealous. Page in fact complimented Townsend talking about how he was one of the first, maybe even the first, to effectively use feedback in ways in rock and roll music. One guy, Page, took the high road. Other guy, did not. My view on this

[@zackzallie8735]

The Who and Led Zeppelin had been always in my dad's driving playlist. He couldn't careless whose better as long as the music's there. Both bands are absolutely legendary.

[@perfectlygoodslouch5212]

2 different bands both great who cares if they don't like each other, they don't have to

[@RonAlexander-s7q]

If you read Pete Townsend's autobiography, it's easy to understand his dislike of Led Zeppelin. Townsend was incredibly talented, but his ego was far greater than his talent.

[@keithstover2899]

Which is a shame. But the world only cares about the works of a genius (and Pete certainly qualifies), not their personality. Many, for instance, claim that John Lennon was an asshole, too.

[@zackzallie8735]

A true asshole for sure but he's a great song-writer that wrote the amazing rock operas such as Tommy and Quadrophenia. He had a distinctive guitar work although not as majestic level as Page, but Townshend's had a style which Leslie West of Mountain said he's one of his favorite guitarists. I don't think The Who would go anywhere without Pete. A great talent with a large ego. What great musicians don't have an enormous ego?

[@emmethone2852]

Surely the ultimate genius musician with an obnoxious personality (albert in a different genre) is Van Morrison?

[@keithstover2899]

@@zackzallie8735 There are many guitarists superior to Townshend, but nobody ever bashed power chords like Pete. Bloody fingers from windmilling his arm. The Who were so tight and so heavy! But the greatest gift Townshend gave the world was the narrative aspect of his conceptual stories. "Tommy" and "Quadrophenia" were lyrically and musically superior to any other rock bands "concept" albums. With the exception of maybe Ian Anderson, the only other composers on that level weren't even rock musicians, but Broadway-type writers like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice ("Jesus Christ Superstar"). Townshend might be Britain's most-literary musician, and unlike Americans like Bob Dylan or Paul Simon or Bruce Springsteen, he expressed himself in the genre of hard rock. And unlike, say, Jimi Hendrix, Townshends works weren't blues-based, either. He really showed heavy rock's potential to be more than just three chords. Brian May, for one, cites Pete as a major influence.

[@roberttodd2414]

i dont think his ego was greater, pete townshend never gets the full credit for all he pioneered

[@MichaelDurkos]

I was lucky to see them BOTH at the only show to feature Zeppelin open for the Who in June, 1969 at Columbia, MD. Best concert (along with Cream (68), and Blind Faith (69) and Jimi (also 79)! Wow! I was so lucky!

[@MichaelDurkos]

Whoops! 69!

[@mrsoul4231]

You were!!! Very jealous!!

[@trajan6927]

@@MichaelDurkos The Who stole the show as usual.

[@MichaelDurkos]

@trajan6927 I never said that!

[@trajan6927]

@@MichaelDurkos I did, I was there.

[@MrCampbellambulus]

My two favorite bands. Never really saw much of a rivalry at all. They are both hard rock but different in the best of ways. Rock wouldn't be the same without them and they both left a profound mark on my life

[@patricklemire9278]

Whenever Roger needs a favor he calls Robert. Great friends. Pete god love him has always been a T wat

[@finch45lear]

One of the times I saw The Who in 2002 , Robert opened up for them. It was a wonderful night. While I like Led Zeppelin ,I love The Who.

[@jhc827]

Love them both. They are two very different bands; there is no way to compare them. Both great.

[@nicksmart5469]

No matter what they think of each other, as fans we’re treated to two iconic bands

[@alexhall6375]

Oh dear .. much ado about nothing methinks.. two great bands which have given us a brilliant discography

[@micko5664]

Seeing other posts about this, it came across as only PT had a problem with LZ as a band but even he is on record as saying he likes them as people. All the others seem to have gotten on well over the years. PT is entitled to his opinion. I don’t think he has been nasty about it. ( it’s just not my opinion 😀)

[@beestoe993]

Controversy is the click bait of rock and roll YT.

[@petergedd9330]

Rolling Stone magazine makes good packing material for parcels.

[@Tace91]

Lol

[@scottsuvoski9574]

Couldn't agree more! Garbage Magazine.

[@brendancoburn427]

What might have pissed Townshend off, was the fact that both John Entwistle and Keith Moon seriously considered joining Page , when he was putting together the band that became Led Zeppelin. "All fall short of the Glory of God.", as they say. Townshend is a brilliant musician and composer, but comes over as a sanctimonious boor. Page equally a brilliant musician, but in the words of Jeff Beck " ...he borrows a little too much", and not giving credit where it is due. Anyway, none of this is important. Enjoy their music.

[@PaddyBaxter-ji8in]

@@brendancoburn427 Agree strongly. I take it that you’re aware of “Beck’s Bolero”, who played on it (Page/Beck/Moon/Hopkins/Jones), and where the track finally surfaced. Entwistle went back to the Who and was replaced by Jones on the recording. I think it’s worth noting that the original rhythm section for the embryonic Beck & Page “Le(a)d Zeppelin”, ie, Moon, Entwistle and Hopkins are also the rhythm section on “The Ox”, which for me is the best and most groundbreaking track on The Who’s “My Generation” LP. If you take this track along with the Yardbirds “Stroll On” from the “Blow Up” film and “Beck’s Bolero” and listen to them all one after the other I think this is what the embryonic version of Zeppelin would have been about, ie something like The Who but with two guitarists, both of them better than Townshend in most departments other than his ability in managing feedback. I can understand why Townshend was pissed off. However, out of all the people concerned in this disagreement Townshend has the biggest gob and the biggest and most fragile ego and has probably given more interviews than everyone else combined. Much respect for his work but I don’t think I’d be able to deal with being in the same band as him and I can totally understand why Moon and Entwistle had quit The Who at this point in time. If this feud between him and Robert Plant really exists then it’s of Townshend’s creation. Also, as regards Beck’s take on Page, it’s also worth noting (a) he was pissed off with Page and with some justification because “Led Zep 1” was largely a copy of his “Truth” LP, and (b) that for “Beck’s Bolero” which was written and credited to Page, nobody got a playing credit on the sleeve of “Truth” - Moon gets a cryptic credit for “tympani” but this is for “Ol’ Man River”. Basically he tried to pass “Beck’s Bolero” off as a track by the Jeff Beck Group who played on the rest of the album, so his honesty is also highly debatable. Pots and Kettles.

[@jamespell8091]

It was mentiond here that Moon couns the name for the band Led Zeppelin. I swear this is the first ive herd of this. Ive always understood it to be Entwhustle. "This band is going to go down like a Led Zeppelin" is what Entwhistle said.

[@brendancoburn427]

No, Keith Moon said it, not John.

[@scottsuvoski9574]

99% sure Kieth Moon told the guys in Zeppelin, "You're going to go over like a lead balloon. Hence, Led Zeppelin was Christined.

[@DavidRedfern-p3b]

2 of the greatest bands in their own rights. Cannot see any conflict of style and both unique and to be independently respected.

[@JackKlumpass]

Neither of them invented metal

[@trajan6927]

If anybody created metal, it would be The Kinks. Then The Who. Certainly not Sabboth or Zep.

[@WilliamHerlihy-p4g]

So because Plant didnt want to continue in Zep but Townsend did want to continue on means Plant is feuding with him? Ridiculous.

[@Bailark]

I love both bands. I have for decades. As a former English major, I am fascinated by the respective themes of alienation and power. It had never occurred to me that these themes might be at odds with one another. Maybe they are, and maybe they aren't, but they certainly seem to be with these respective bands. (Pete Townsend seems to be alienated by everything, and that is one of the lovable things about him). It is interesting that a song like "Whole Lotta Love", essentially ripped from Muddy Waters, was infused with the power of the mainstream, and sold to the mainstream...taken from a culture which produced art from alienation. Muddy Waters's original version only hinted at the power, with circumspection. Led Zeppelin's version unleashed a certain rawness with the confidence born of privilege. Both are massive contributions. Zeppelin's guitar, bass, and drum riffs burn the floorboards, and you can taste the smoke. The Who is more like a punch in the mouth making you taste the iron in your own blood mixing with the bloody fist. One is slightly derivative of someone else's creation, while the other angrily gives no fucks. Both rock the soul.

[@mikeyerian2562]

And there are the Kinks, laughing at both of them.

[@kingcormack8004]

"And there are the Kinks, laughing at both of them." Right. And the Kinks couldn't tour the US for 8-9 years because of Ray Davies' ego and lack of show biz acumen. The Kinks could have been megastars and lost all that 70s money the Who and LZ reaped.

[@mikeyerian2562]

@@kingcormack8004 This is about the origin of heavy metal, idiot. ANd it wasn't the Who. And it wasn't Zeppelin. It was The Kinks.

[@brendancoburn427]

@@kingcormack8004 I think the comment referred to Dave Davies of The Kinks inventing the 'Heavy Metal' sound when he slashed the cones on his speaker with a razor. The Kinks didn't tour the USA, because they were banned by the American Federation of Musicians from touring in the US for four years - 65-69, because of reports of a reputation for violence and aggression, both on and off the stage.

[@trajan6927]

@mikeyerian2562 no The Kinks are admiring The Mighty Who and LZ. Kinks messed up and they know it.

[@mikeyerian2562]

@@trajan6927 The Kinks invented Heavy Metal. LZ and the Who imitated them. That's my point.

[@mrsullyrox]

This argument goes away when Paul McCartney walks in to the room

[@Retroscoop]

Paul Who ?

[@jimred5700]

@@Retroscoop Paul McCartney;.....he played bass guitar for a Liverpool band called The Beatles.

[@bobski7032]

Every single rock band that ever existed all looked up to the Beatles…they are the apex

[@corybarnes2341]

I bet they truly don't give much of a heck.

[@raysearch-iu3fr]

I saw both bands live back in the day. Absolutely love them both! But if I could only hear one, it would have to be Zeppelin.

[@trajan6927]

@raysearch-iu3fr love both bands, but if I can only see one, it would have to be The Mighty Who, the greatest live band.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

My uncle being born in 1949 got to see all the great British Rock bands of the era. His top 3 greatest live bands.....The Who....Deep Purple....The Faces.

[@dirtydawg448]

I saw a lot of groups in the 70s and beyond any doubt indoor concerts and outdoor concerts were miles apart from one another in terms of the experience - it took ten years for the technology to level the playing fields - saw the Who twice at Charlton and once at Sundown Edmonton - great at Charlton but indoors was a different level - same with Lou Reed at that time - listening him play Heroin at the Hammersmith Odeon made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck - don’t like Townsend as a bloke but the Who were great - but then so too were Led Zep!

[@MrKelleyzinho]

The main dig at Zeppelin is their grandiosity and bloatedness. They were the essence of 70s Rock, and the Who played in that world for awhile, too, but they had a much longer career and, like the Beatles, embodied all the changes that happened in the 60s.

[@neilcassey1421]

Hey someone tell Pete there's a new version of File Shredder out.

[@runeshadow]

Small potatoes. Robert's just a prickly guy

[@John-uu1wu]

It’s only Townsend that’s the problem. Plant and Daltrey get along just fine.

[@andrews127]

Both great bands and both very good live acts.

[@trajan6927]

@@andrews127 I give the live edge to The Mighty Who. Live At Leeds, nuff said.

[@andrews127]

​@@trajan6927fantastic live album Yes I have to admit

[@sbonamo]

making something out of nothing for hits.

[@derekroberts6654]

Frankly i’m surprised Townsend didn’t get pissed off at Roger Waters thinking he ripped off “Tommy” with “The Wall”.

[@BoneHammerher]

Because it's not a rip-off. The Wall is a stand alone masterpiece.

[@trajan6927]

@BoneHammerher The Wall is boring, filled with junk and filler,, not even rock n roll, and definitely stolen from Tommy and Quadrofenia. Pete is not jealous, he just laughs.

[@BoneHammerher]

@@trajan6927 Taste is reserved for those that can.

[@trajan6927]

@BoneHammerher Animals album! Lol what junk. Animals! Cows mooing. Sheep ba ha ba ha! Pigs! Oink oink! Total trash. Boring. Weird. Floyd has so much filler on all of their albums. It's not even rock n roll. So overrated.

[@trajan6927]

@@BoneHammerher what's hilarious is that people purchased that filler! 🤣

[@mikeadams2351]

both had thunderous drummers. both had great bass players. both had great singers. one group had a much better guitar player and one has a guitar player who is very jealous. one group has several writers, the other only one.

[@steveclark136]

Well stated.

[@trajan6927]

@mikeadams2351 the band with the lone songwriter can write hit songs all on his own. The other guitar slinger cannot sing or play all instruments like the lone guitarist singer songwriter can. Have you ever heard the guitar slinger Page sing? I haven't either. Has the guitar singer ever written a hit song all on his own? NOPE. The lone songwriter, Pete, is a greater performer than the guitar slinger. The lone singer songwriter is known as one of the greatest ALL AROUND MUSICIANS who can still play a mean guitar and who can compete with the guitar slinger, the lone songwriter who can sing or write hit songs for the last 60 years. Yep Pete is a much better singer songwriter performer and ALL around musician. Page is limited.

[@trajan6927]

​@@steveclark136I have never heard Page or Beck sing, have you? What about writing meaningful hit songs individually for the last 60 years? Or performing for the last 60 years? Hmmm If you want to compare talent, Pete is most complete singer songwriter performer along with Paul McCartney. Cheers mate.

[@jimred5700]

There is certainly ONE thing about LZ that Townshend wouldn`t mind admitting he was envious of;.......their manager Peter Grant. In 1970 The Who played the Isle of Wight festival; for that performance they were paid £400.00. Two years EARLIER before LZ had even secured a top 20 album they played to 8000 people at The Fillmore East. For that show Peter Grant secured a payment of $5000.00. That level of control was unimaginable for any other act. It`s little wonder that Queen, Elton John, Rod Stewart etc; were all desperate for Peter to become their manager too. Peter Grant was the 5th genius of Led Zeppelin.

[@trajan6927]

@@jimred5700 sad that The Who and hundreds of other bands were ripped off by their management back in the day but The Who still made a boatload of cash.

[@jimred5700]

@@trajan6927 True. But only a fraction of what they would have made if Peter had been their manager.

[@trajan6927]

@jimred5700 ya but Townshend is worth 150 million and Daltrey 100 million. Not bad.

[@jimred5700]

@@trajan6927 True.

[@markp8581]

And Pete didn't have to steal his music

[@christopherruddick3524]

Brilliant! Yesssss!! 5 stars, and a cigar!

[@trajan6927]

Pete can sing but Page and Beck cannot. Pete can write hit songs all on his own. Pete is a better performer that can play a mean guitar with the best of them.

[@andrewharper1609]

Personally whilst I enjoy some of the Who's tracks and acknowledge Pete's undoubted contributions to music I'm more of a Zeppelin fan. If they still can't get along after all this time it's sad but you aren't necessarily friends with or admirers of everyone and that's just life.

[@jamesscura7122]

John and Keith were willing to join Jimmy, but didn't think it would work. Pete learned of this and hated them ever since. Further, he knew Led Zeppelin Eclipsed anything The Who had ever done.

[@matthewcoombs3282]

I love both bands but as a live band Led Zeppelin couldn't touch The Who. I would say as a studio band LZ never issued a bad album. With a couple of exceptions The Who discography was mixed.

[@ArchieFatcackie]

Did they? For diversity and ground breaking creativity I think The Who knock spots off them, plus they’re a much better live band.

[@ScottJamesLIve]

To say that LZ "eclipsed anything" the Who had ever done is kinda silly, at best. That sounds bitter, like Townshends own bitterness. I think it's more important to defend rock and roll and less important to defend a band. It's the music that matters.

[@jamesscura7122]

@@ScottJamesLIve Don't get me wrong, I love The Who. Just admitting the fact.

[@stevebeals2216]

I saw both bands several times back in the day. No contest. The Who was the far better band in the studio and live.

[@harrylyme3969]

I'm 66 and my Dad's best friend was ticket manager at Madison Square Garden. I got free tickets for virtually every concert in the 1970's. I saw both of these acts at least 1/2 dozen times, in their prime. I love them both, but Zep couldn't hold a candle to The Who live.

[@gnomely1]

It's time for You Tube to weed out all these clickbait videos that promise to make major revelations but have nothing to offer. This is a case in point.

[@delbut2]

I've seen Robert Plant at a "nostalgic" Who gig at the Albert Hall so suck that one Studio number six.

[@steveclark136]

Plant opened for the Who in Chicago in 2002 -- excellent gig -- Townshend needs to stop whining all the time.

[@fab208athome]

In his book Townsend explains that his main beef with Led Zep is the fact their live shows had expanded to two hours and The Who were forced to do similar, which he hated.

[@Tace91]

I always thought Zeppelin was a compliment to The Who....Page really wanted that Who sort of stage dynamic. I thought The Who finally past Hendrix and Cream in late 67 as the dominant live band. From 68 to 71 I always thought The Who were the band. Zeppelin came along and forged a new frontier. Rock n Roll doesn't sit still....u r young one day....and old and stale the next....just like life. 😅

[@clivewellings7606]

When the Beatles broke up, The Kinks, Pink Floyd and the Who thought they were going to inherit the Beatles' fame and fortune. Unfortunately for them, Led Zeppelin appeared and blew everyone else out of the water.

[@raysearch-iu3fr]

Yes, Zeppelin emerged right after the breakup of Cream as well. Timing is everything!

[@sampsonroofing7377]

You ever hear of a little band called the Rolling Stones?

[@trajan6927]

@clivewellings7606 The Who were also big. Maybe didn't sell as many records as LZ but still made their mark in music. The Who sold 125 million world wide and LZ sold 225 million worldwide. Townshend has 150 million and Page has 175 million. Big deal. Both musicians and bands are very accomplished and successful. I will take The Mighty Who live over LZ.

[@raysearch-iu3fr]

@@trajan6927 I saw both bands live, back in the day... plenty of testosterone! Although Zeppelin is my favorite, yes I love the Who too. Townsend and Daltrey definitely had great stage presence. I still listen to them all the time after all these years and it brings back memories of tossed microphones and guitar slides. Rock on!!

[@trajan6927]

@raysearch-iu3fr yes, The Who great live band. Full of energy, volume, excitement, talent. Cheers mate!

[@noodlehat3250]

I thought Black Sabbath invented heavy metal?

[@rev.leonidasw.smiley6300]

Judas Priest, and other British “alternative” music was the source of Metal.

[@jonteunon2977]

Arguably The Kinks invented both heavy metal and punk with ‘You Really Got Me’ in 1964. Dave Davies had to take a razor blade to his amp to get a guitar sound that had never been heard before and has since been copied and improved on by hundreds of bands using Marshall amps and all the rest. That song kicked off hard rock and heavy metal was as much a re-marketing of it as a progression.

[@keithstover2899]

Townshend claims "Live at Leeds" pioneered heavy metal. No way. Cream, Hendrix, Steppenwolf, and Blue Cheer (Vincebus Eruptum)--just to name a few--all preceded it.

[@williamfarr8807]

I thought Steppenwolf invented heavy metal. No, Link Wray. No, wait Howlin’ Wolf. No Benny Goodman. No, Richard Wagner. No Ludwig Von Beethoven. Or was it Antonio Vivaldi?

[@Retroscoop]

No. Blackmore did in the 1960's, pre Deep Purple

[@georgewilliams4258]

I saw Plant open for the Who back in the early 2000s

[@commonman317]

Townshend and Carmine Appice should be in a band together. They both seem to take credit for everything.

[@davidrice3337]

Pete wrote the lyrics and composed the music - He should take credit

[@trajan6927]

@@commonman317 Townshend has proven himself for the last 63 years. Nuff said.

[@MeMuppet444]

I love them both equally.

[@markallen2984]

There's no feud. Pete always said that he thought the boys in Zep were "lovely" and that he "really liked them as individuals"....he just didn't like their music.

[@larryfranklin]

I don't know why so many people dog them, but I said it 50 years ago, and I still say it today. Jimmy Page put together the greatest rock and roll band that ever was. I don't know how anyone can deny that - even if they don't like them. I'm not a Porche fan, but I still recognize their appeal. Are there better guitarists than Page? Better singers that Plant? Better drummers than Bonzo? Better bass/KB than Jones? Better songwriters and producers? Sure. But in the same band? GTFOH.

[@justinneill5003]

Deep Purple might have a claim to that title, with the Blackmore-Gillan-Glover-Lord-Paice line up.

[@keithstover2899]

All taste is subjective, but I don't believe there are/were better rock drummers than Bonham. Nor am I sure any MUSICIAN produced albums better than Pagey (I consider George Martin a producer, not a musician). But I get your point. I think Led Zeppelin are the greatest rock band ever. Full stop (the Beatles weren't a rock band, but a pop group with two world-class composers). The Who might've been the greatest live act in the world (honarable mention to Jethro Tull, Queen and Deep Purple). I personally think Pete Townshend is the greatest hard rock composer ever. His rock operas brought concept albums to a whole 'nother level. Not sure we'd have "Dark Side of the Moon" or "The Wall" without the pioneering spirit of Townshend's operas. And while I rate Bonzo best, my FAVORITE drummer is Keith Moon. While Freddie Mercury has my vote for greatest front man/vocalist, Robert Plant is a close second. And lastly, while I believe Jimi Hendrix was the greatest axeman ever, I've got to admit that Jimmy Page is and always will be my favorite all-time musician.

[@rossablott6973]

You need to set the bar a little higher buddy……

[@justinneill5003]

@@keithstover2899 Freddie Mercury? 😄

[@justinneill5003]

@@larryfranklin Top 5 ROCK vocalists (not in any particular order): Robert Plant Ian Gillan Biff Byford Bon Scott Lemmy Kilmister

[@muir8009]

Tbh, I'm not too sure how much of what is being said with regard to Petes comments regarding who did who in the heavy metal/rock scene, in my opinion the first really big heavy sound wasn't the Who, or Zepp, or even Jimi: it was Cream with their big sound, big solos, that really thunderous drumming (Ginger with his double flams). I'm a huge fan of all these bands, all legends of course, but realistically watch Cream at the Royal Albert: thats a big rock sound. I could add that I think Petes just a bit lost as to how Zepp "overtook" the Who in the rock stakes and theres more than a hint of envy. Theres a snippet of an interview with Brian Wilson: one of the most influential songwiter/producers ever, the Beach Boys were a huge band, and in the interview he says he just never got understood: the Beatles came over and then suddenly the Beach Boys were yesterday. In the actual interview he looks wonderingly, you can see he still doesn't know.

[@ianlaker9161]

Fan of both and have many of their albums on vinyl. This 'rivalry' has been blown out of proportion for click bait. No surprise there. I shouldn't have been stupid enought to click on the bait.

[@pluggy86]

Hard to say what's fact or fiction, but I've heard that Page wanted to form a super group as early as 1966 with Jeff Beck, and Entwistle and Moon would be the rhythm section. Don't know who the singer would have been, but I heard with The Who potentially collapsing, 18 year old Robert Plant auditioned for Pete Townshend to be his future lead singer. Point is, Pete was mad at Jimmy for trying to steal his band. Don't know how much of this is true. Do your own homework!

[@VictorEMusique]

1st heavy metal song? Helter Skelter by the Beatles (even today's droning nu metal owes a debt to the droning in Helter Skelter). 1st heavy metal album? Live At Leeds. IMHO of course ;)

[@MrZoSo]

Here you have one of the most successful pioneer's of British rock bands (Pete) giving the highest compliment to his rival as you can, and yet folks call it a feud? No. He did nothing but be honest, and if you listen closely...he praised Led Zeppelin.

[@TheSuperGenius]

I'D STEP ON YOU, TO SEE THE WHO! - Concert T-Shirt Circa 1980 NO ONE could touch The Who, LIVE...

[@kingcormack8004]

"I'D STEP ON YOU, TO SEE THE WHO!" You understand where that sick and horrible tee-shirt came from, don't you? If you know your US tour history of the Who, you do and you wouldn't post such an insensitive comment. Respect the dead Who fans.

[@JasonLang-c2q]

The bands are so different. Zepplin had so many great songs.

[@trevorgwelch7412]

The more successful a rock musician is the greater the freakiness

[@PageMarker1]

"The way things are going, they're gonna crucify me."

[@ploppill34]

I don’t recall Robert Plant or Jimmy page doing Internet research on young boys and then getting caught😂

[@thejudge-kv2jk]

Page did date a 14 years old though.

[@philipbrackpool-bk1bm]

Robert Plant doesn’t owe anyone an explanation he’s brutally honest if people don’t like it, tough.

[@todd5082]

Nobody cares. Does everybody have to get along 24/7?

[@halifaxmayor]

"Personal and mythic realms'? What?

[@SelectCircle]

Basically Pete got butt-hurt by Jimi and then Zep finished him off.

[@steveclark136]

HAHAHAHAHAHA .... lost my coffee on that one, mate!

[@trajan6927]

@SelectCircle Jimi stole from The Who and Pete Townshend, from equipment to distortion and much more. Jimi admitted it so did Roger Daltrey. Plant and Zep admired The Who's Live performances, everybody did, even The Beatles and Stones. Zep was known for their studio albums not their live sloppy performances.

[@trajan6927]

@@SelectCircle The Who were considered the greatest live band, especially from 1967 to 1976. Live At Leeds from 1970, nuff said.

[@SelectCircle]

@@trajan6927 Leeds is the most over-rated live album ever.

[@trajan6927]

@SelectCircle 1970 Leeds, was one show, one night, one recording, and no overdubs, or tinkering in the studio. Considered the greatest live album from the greatest live band. Still sounds great and fresh 55 years later. Master blaster.

[@519djw6]

*If there is any "feud" it's between Pete Townshend and members of Led Zeppelin. In his autobiography, "Thanks a Lot Mr Kibblewhite," Roger Daltrey states, "Robert Plant became a proper friend and so, later, did Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam."*

[@bobsobie678]

Another monotoned narrated us v them nothingness vid. clickbait, avoid

[@ScottJamesLIve]

These videos are kinda awful. I hope they are not monitized. I feel guilty even watching part of it. So many NO TALENT YABOS trying to cash in on our heroes and their music. Like Mike Campbell says, "FUCK THAT GUY".

[@Baldrick_dogsbody]

Look at robert plant. He looks like an old cold chisel. 😊

[@robstimson4234]

Let's see here. Visionary, extremely ambitious lead guitarist? Check. Highly skilled multi-instrumentalist bassist? Check. World-class drummer? Check. Golden ringletted singer out front? Check. Love both bands and this describes both bands. Why don't they meet in a pub and clear the air once and for all? Pete is highly neurotic and resentful, so l doubt it will happen.. Zep's acoustic catalogue put's the Who's to shame, lMHO.

[@sgbh8874]

The Who ~ greatest live rock band.

[@elmorevandodewaard544]

Amen🙏💪🏼

[@ZoeyPaigeLunaPhD]

It’s not a feud. It’s Townsend talking shit for decades From what I see here Plant criticized their nostalgia tour status one time. That’s not a feud

[@redpine8665]

Many rock stars criticize others. Been going on for ages. Entertainers are often an insecure lot. John Lennon criticized the Stones, Keith has criticized many others, it's been gong on since the beginning of rock.

[@bencunningham8314]

The Who was a much more original band in the music they produced, Led Zeppellin ripped off so much of their music from other artists

[@ThinWhiteLuke]

Genuine question, have The Who got any songs as cool as In My Time Of Dying or Achilles Last Stand?

[@AdamCrowe-b6m]

​@@ThinWhiteLukeTowshend absolutely paved the way for rock experimentation! Certainly not alone.. but Zepp does owe to The Who. As pure guitarists.. its simpmy Bach vs Mozart vs Chopin. Different versions of incredible. That said...the Who were ROWDY in 65 a d 66... very early mainstream angst. Heavy! Not trudgey.. melodic anger.

[@TomKirkman1]

And the Stones just keep on....

[@DSM9]

Even if Townshend doesn't like Led Zeppelin, this is not a case of band warfare. Bonham and Moon were good friends and partied hard together in the 1970s, while Plant and Daltrey remain good friends to this day. There's a nice video of the two of them backstage together at a charity show (possibly Teenage Cancer Trust) they were both performing at a few years ago.

[@freespeechoneeach]

it was a few years ago, my wife got me tickets. teenage cancer trust at the royal albert hall. plant and his band was playing and at the end Roger daltry and robert plant came onstage arm in arm doing a somewhat lambeth walk to the packed audience’s amusement. Roger is head of the teenage cancer trust charity i think. great night!

[@PhilipMcCartney-pq8fs]

Isn't there room for all. Competition cannot be bad. It all seems a bit unnecessary

[@jonathanmitchell9886]

Led Zeppelin's success was owed to a *lot* of other artists, and they weren't comfortable crediting any of them.

[@lastmanstanding9389]

The Who started in 1959 and were the innovators while Zep were copiers. John Entwistle, in a live Q&A session tells a different story about Led Zeppelin. Roger and Robert are good friends.

[@tarnopol]

The Who is angry, Zep is sexy-both generally speaking-and both achieve sublimity.

[@ROLtheWolf]

Keith Moon hung out with Led Zeppelin all the time. Daltry stayed alone mostly, while Pete and John Entwistle were good mates, who bored Moon.

[@robertbolsover2397]

Pete Townsend invented heavily me(n)tal.

[@elainekerslake6865]

Page took a lot of stuff from the work he did with Beck in the late 60s. Beck, on hearing some of pages LedZep riffs thought he was hearing a tape of his own studio work.

[@billyz5088]

~~ So according to Townshend the Who invented Heavy Metal ? Hardly - though the Who were among them - there are examples of a proto-heavy metal sound in several bands from the 60's - the Kinks - Jimi Hendrix Experience - Cream - Blue Cheer - Deep Purple - Vanilla Fudge - Iron Butterfly - Steppenwolf - even early Pink Floyd had a few - some unreleased - and the Jeff Beck group in 1967 has often been credited for setting the heavy template that Led Zeppelin would use on their early records - and while Black Sabbath did not invent heavy metal - they certainly personified it - and some would say they perfected it ..

[@trajan6927]

@@billyz5088 from 1967 to 1976 The Mighty Who were the greatest live band. Live At Leeds from 1970 and The Isle Of Wight shows. Watch the videos.

[@volpefox55]

At its most basic Zeppelin outsold The Who and the Stones with minimal publicity, no singles and a lot less albums, that must hard to take !

[@jamesvickers5998]

How does Townsend saying I don’t like Led Zepp become Townsend spends every waking hour despising and hating Led Zepp? Proper National Enquirer stuff this.

[@mikecaldwell4442]

Fighting g for third place behind the Beatles and stones

[@trajan6927]

@@mikecaldwell4442 third place belongs to The Who because of hits, longevity, milestones, originality, influence, movies, live performances, and going back to 1962 and opening for The Beatles and Stones, and The Who still touring and putting out music today.

[@anonymusum]

The Who were punks with the abilities of punks - except the bassman and singer. Led Zep on the contrary was a real proper heavy band with musical expertise.

[@duppykitoon]

I've seen the original lineups of both bands live. Slight edge to Led Zeppelin.

[@BigBri550]

Robert Plant is right. Both Led Zeppelin and The Who died with their respective drummers.

[@davebooshty299]

8 seconds in , But Prince technically is NOT rock and roll.

[@mikeonb4c]

All a bit navel gazing this - theyre different bands doing different stuff and members are perfectly entitled, as are the punters, to not like the others stuff. And yes there may have been rivalry, but nothing new about that. What MIGHT be said is that the idea to do Zep could have stemmed from Jimmy seeing what his old mate got up to with the original Jeff Beck Group. Let the music play on.....

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Townsend could be an ass sometimes.

[@Retroscoop]

While all the Led Zep members were clean cut, friendly humble guys, who helped old ladies cross the street, and were always very respectful to their fellow colleagues. Yes. Got your point.

[@clearbeaches1]

When Planty mentions My Generation its cut so we dont know what he really said.Secondly I feel sure Pete is having a wind up of course he loves them

[@PageMarker1]

Next do a commentary of the Beatles and the Stones! Plenty of clips of a soused John Lennon to fuel the fire! Back in the day I liked them both and never really compared them to each other. As time went on, I came to fade on Led Zeppelin as more than shady with how much material they pilfered without any accreditation at all. Toss in Page's obsession with Crowley and it's 'no thanks, mate.'

[@soshieopath7142]

Led Zeppelin kicks the shit out of the who.

[@ThisBirdHasFlown]

I hate Led Zeppelin as people, but Townsend always seems like he's talking out of his ass. What a load of nonsense.