Teen Reacts To Led Zeppelin - Four Sticks!!!

[@jmar7631]

Love that poster, and thanks for sharing the story behind it. :) This song was named "Four Sticks" because Bonham was getting frustrated with it (the changing beats caused him a real headache) so as an idea, he grabbed a second pair of drumsticks and played it with two sticks in each hand. When they were ready to record it, they actually only did two takes because, as Page said, "It was physically impossible for him [Bonham] to do another." Engineer Andy Johns said, "It was a bastard to mix." This is not a song they performed live very often, just a couple of times I think. The rhythm is pretty hypnotic and Plant's vocals are incredible, as usual. Page said in an interview that the song "was supposed to be abstract", and that it was - in a very, very good way. :) You might recall from comments on a previous reaction that Bonham was getting frustrated with this song during its development so he took a break from it and started playing another, then Page started strumming and before long, the song "Rock and Roll" emerged. That was a very creative "break" that they took. lol Glad you enjoyed "Four Sticks", Silas. I sure do. Edit: The name of the part of the drum kit that you were trying to recall is "cymbals".

[@justinatest9456]

Listening to it here I was thinking that this song had to have been based on a drum pattern that Bonham came up with, and the band chose to build the song around it. It was the only way the rhythms made sense to me. It's even crazier that this was the beat Bonham came up with to fit an already written song.

[@jonathanlocke6404]

I always liked that story about "Rock and Roll" arising during the break from this song, because I can imagine a frustrated Bonham saying: "Fuck this! I'll just play some Little Richard!"

[@edhermelin]

Here’s a link that will show you precisely how Bonzo played Four Sticks. Hope you like it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKC0naOka7Rjfqs

[@Ledzepnut]

It's amazing how Robert changes the tone with his voice and uses it as a musical instrument, especially at the end of the song, the best rock singer by far.

[@MojoPin1983]

@Ledzepnut If you’re not familiar, you should check out Jeff Buckley; he also used his voice as instrument, to even greater effect than Plant, who was his main vocal influence. In fact, Plant said that Jeff was a “much greater singer” than him, and Page said that Buckley was “the greatest singer to appear in two decades” (between the ‘70s and ‘90s). Brad Pitt also said this about Buckley: “He’s Page and Plant in one, on a technical level; it’s mind-blowing.” Check out the following live performance: *Jeff Buckley - Grace (BBC Late Show)*

[@randyrodgers5056]

Hey Silas I'm a 63 year old man and a devoted Led Zeppelin fan, and I would like to tell you about how I discovered them. In 1969 I went to spend the weekend hanging out with my cousin and the first album we played was Janice Joplins pearl and after that my cousin asked me if I wanted to hear a really awful band, so I said I guess so and he put LZ 2 on the turntable and the second it started I said are you nuts that is the most amazing thing I ever heard at witch time he took it off the turntable and gave it to me and I have been eternally grateful ,also the first time I heard it was the first time I had the feeling of being punched in the gut, in a good way and they have been my favorite band ever since!

[@algoner4421]

Did you disown him as a family members or choose to forgive him? 😆

[@randyrodgers5056]

@@algoner4421 no!do you think 🤔 I should have ? That was just a character flaw and I reminded him every chance I got!!😅

[@algoner4421]

@@randyrodgers5056 it's questionable, but I suppose because he is family you could take other things into consideration. I would tease my guys that worked for me if they didn't like zeppelin, pizza or donuts they couldn't work for me.

[@neilbt478]

"Pearl" came out in 1971 ( I'm sure I remember the 50th anniversary last year) so now I'm confused ( not unusual - I'm 70! )

[@randyrodgers5056]

@@neilbt478 Hey Neil, I'm 63 and don't have the memory I used to so it could be my mistake. I know it was Janice but it probably wasn't pearl

[@brewstergallery]

Hey Silas from BIG FANS Ned and Janet in Spain. Here's the breakdown: this song is based around the killin Bonham beat which is him with 2 sticks in each hand = 4 sticks. It begins in 5/4, his foot is doing 12345 on hi hat and the offbeats on the Bass Drum like double BD beat but his hands are playing another pattern. On the chorus they all switch to 6/4 which sounds more like a waltz 123456 with a light crash / snare hit on 4. JPJ is playing the synth line during that waltz part later on. An amazing track that is really unique, even now. The main beat probably came out of Bonhams admiration for Dave Brubecks drummer Joe Morello and the jazz classic " Take Five "

[@maryrudelich9000]

Complex, complicated and badass.

[@williamcabell142]

Different? Dude that’s PURE Zeppelin! 😎

[@PeterTea]

Cool story about the banner. Leave it. It definitely lends to the vibe. Nothing like passing down great music.

[@grandwazoodebris1015]

This was always one of my favs, never understood why it's not more popular. Great drumming, weird syncopated stuttering guitar riff, great vocals, really nice & interesting guitar/synth orchestrated sections ... just a really cool all around song. FYI that different sound at the end was a synthesizer, relatively new on pop albums in 1971 still. Zep rarely if ever played live, but Plant did and was in some dvd that he recorded 10-15ish years ago. Fun to see young people hearing this stuff.

[@DavidMiller-dt8mx]

Underrated...as usual, my favorite song by Led Zeppelin is whichever song I'm listening to.

[@jenniferandrews1917]

I love the poster!

[@juliemanarin4127]

I love this one!! Isn't it amazing? They only played it once live! I think that sound was JPJ on the synth

[@jonathanlocke6404]

I looked it up. Yeah, it was a synthesizer, which would have been a really early use of that instrument. I also found out that this was the B-Side to the single of "Rock and Roll"...

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

LOVE THE BANNER!!!

[@simply_psi]

Hey Silas, great reaction, the sound with all the reverb you are asking about is John Paul Jones playing a VCS 3 analogue synthesiser, it is an unusual instrument where you control the oscillation of the notes, I put a link at the end for more info en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMS_VCS_3

[@joshuadeshaies7106]

Hey Silas, this is without a doubt One of my fav from these icons!! Luv your channel man.

[@kevinbrady6075]

Cymbals,.....remember,Jimmy was also the producer on all the records and knew every trick in the book and invented a fre too!

[@leegoldsmith8395]

An all time Master

[@colinpate3059]

Led Zeppelin made great, great albums and that was Jimmy Pages genius. I love Robert Plant and Jimmy knew just how much of him was needed. They were the greatest recorded band ever!!

[@kevinbrady6075]

@@colinpate3059 Well said!

[@charlesstoeckle4880]

Both of the last songs are fire 🔥

[@henriettaskolnick4445]

Great poster and story, thanks for sharing. This song was originally recorded by Jimmy and Robert in India on one of their many trips to search out ethnic musical elements besides the blues but they never got a version they liked so they never got used until finally making their way onto a bootleg called "The Bombay Sessions". Robert adds another bit of "legends and lore" lyrics with "Ooh yeah, brave I endure/Ooh yeah strong shields and lore/they can't hold the wrath of those who walk/and the boots of those who march/baby through the roads of time so long ago". I love the dynamics in this song; it swirls and hypnotizes yet is slightly menacing with the way it swirls you up then crashes down. Great song.

[@anitapaulus937]

I like the banner! Keep it up. I really love this song, it’s haunting and energetic all at the same time.

[@JoeandAngie]

Crazy song isn't it? My rock and roll wife loves this song! I dont thin Olivia would like this 1st listen! Do it all! Finish the job you start...my cool dad always said if you didn't, you were a half-ass! Lol

[@mattbailey9396]

Loved the beginning…. Great mix of instruments creating a great sound. Caused a kind of anticipatory energy for me.--if that makes sense? Overall, I’m so-so on this one! Thanks for the post! And, heck yeah…. Poster seems appropriate to leave up!

[@brewstergallery]

I have no idea why anyone would call this a weak track because it is a rip rollin monster that just doesn't let up with ideas and technique that no other band since has matched. Maybe because it's an mix of jazz and sort of Arabic scales and an odd angular vibe ( which is why Page put it on the album) that weirds people out.

[@JacobBailey]

The drumming here=🤯🤯🤯 What the heck Bonzo! So cool! Silas- if you get into Houses of the Holy, I’d love to see your brother join you for No Quarter. Just an idea! Rock on!!!🤟🏾

[@hathorsmirror7335]

Love Dad’s Zep poster! I had wall to wall Led Zeppelin in my rm when I was a teenager. I vote kept it up. 👍🏼

[@gavinblenkinsop6250]

Great poster :) The sounds you can hear from the drums are the cymbals but it’s also Bonham keeping time by hitting the edge of his drums with the sticks (the man was a monster behind the kit) The other sound you heard is most likely the Mellotron which John Paul Jones played on this track, Stairway to Heaven and other songs you’ll hear on the next few albums. It’s a piano/organ instrument that gives the effect of violin strings Another great reaction and I can’t wait until you hear When The Levee Breaks haha I’m guessing it’ll take 0.03 seconds before you make the stank face haha

[@mattharvey968]

A hidden gem! One of my favorites by them!!

[@PeterTea]

Interestingly, I believe Rock n Roll came from an impromptu jam session while Bonzo was trying to get this drum pattern down on Four Sticks. And of course he used four sticks on this to play the drums.

[@RobbHuman]

I've never seen you think so hard on a Zep song song yet. It's the first sign of Zep addiction.

[@vicprovost2561]

Great song and album, please have Olivia present for When the Levee Breaks, she will love it! Enjoy. 🎵🎸🎶

[@ledzeppacker]

Little story about this song. Bonham and Page had been working on this song all day and just couldnt get it right. Finally they took a break and just started to jam. Out of that jam came Rock and Roll. In like 5 minutes.

[@rickg882]

I had that 8-track tape in 1973, just playing it in my car while cruising around my high school.

[@smith9808]

The ending of this song is so alien. Plants voice in the early days was just unmatchable. Best ever

[@mteufel472]

Good to see young people interested in the music of past Masters such as the Mighty Zeppelin

[@fewwiggle]

This is like the evil twin of Misty Mountain Hop -- more my vibe .... :-) That droning/buzzing was a keyboard/synthesizer (I think). The clashes were, of course, the cymbals on the drum kit. Anyway, love the banner -- Craze, Baby, the rainbow's end ....

[@JoeandAngie]

Geeat analogy to MMH

[@jonathanlocke6404]

The cool thing about that poster is there aren't many pictures of Page and John Paul Jones with full beards...

[@JoeandAngie]

Say wha???

[@sfbayareagirl]

Great poster and story. I’ll have to post mine (which I spent $400 gettin framed) on my IG. Love Four Sticks!

[@JoeandAngie]

I still have my wall- sized LZ and PFloyd posters. Thought they were lost. Like 5ft x 3.5 ft. I'd post a pic but dont know how. 10th grade '77 There's a person in crappy woke etsy where I guy "paints" cool.pics for framing. Look up led zeppelin if you dare to enter that nasty site. Not me. Pureblood, no vax, no mask, Patriot. Ivermectin rules. Retired infectious disease/virology PharmD 😊 WEF and it's NWO agenda hate us. Fact.

[@normancuthbert3822]

Another great reaction Silas, one of my favourites songs but don't tell anyone😉, keep it going champ an the poster an story is so cool, parenting done right.

[@randyrodgers5056]

Rock n Roll was created when Page heard Bonham was playing an exercise for drummers and look what a purely accidental riff created!

[@Kashmir.820]

Love the poster, & the story behind it. Please THANK DAD FOR HIS SERVICE !!!!! Another banger from Zeppelin!!!

[@kevinbrady6075]

Rumour has it the John Henry used 4 sticks on this track,....get your stinky-face on Silas! 🤣

[@sfbayareagirl]

Bonham uses four drumsticks for the kind of muted (but still powerful) beat.

[@piccolina721]

Bonham needed to play with four sticks on this track !

[@VictorHernandez-dd5ls]

Hey Silas, Your awesome ! Love that your family truly has your back.!! Your Dad is a Vet !! I'm a Gulf war vet!;

[@charlesstoeckle4880]

It’s the guitar and cymbals and John Bonham is using 4drum sticks and keyboards comes in later.Led Zeppelin always has layers and multiple guitars

[@rickyconner6782]

Get your girlfriend to react to Going to California. It's an acoustic masterpiece.

[@JoeandAngie]

Jpj on mandolin. Love that electric Fender mando he plays. Ever heard Zooma?

[@markgulbranson7518]

Our drummer's so good he uses four sticks

[@Tireshredderjoe]

Awesome banner!

[@97warlock]

New appreciatyion for this song, heard it lots & lots, sounds different, mmore complex listening now.

[@marciv2964]

Luv this song 🎵 💕

[@joannparker1977]

One of their most difficult songs.

[@mjames4709]

Absolute fav 👍🏻

[@brenthenderson3983]

Song is called Four Sticks because the drummer John Bonham used four ''trees''.. Drumsticks jargon.

[@mitchellbeston1033]

I think Plant's vocals are at their best on Zep 3, this album and the next, Houses of the Holy.

[@Gary-os1sr]

Plants are vocals are higher than any other song here,its one of their best.✌️🤘

[@zosometalgod]

That clashing your hearing is Jimmy Page doing effects on his guitar! And the song is called four sticks because John Bonham is playing the drums with four sticks instead of two!

[@CP_Vibes]

Brother, before you move on your Led Zeppelin journey... I have to highly recommend Stairway to Heaven Live at Madison square garden and watch it alone!! You have to do it brother, you will absolutely freak on the music genius and the variation and improvising. It's next level stuff but so amazing!! Dooooo it🤙🏼

[@giantclam1822]

At 14 I heard four sticks....quit piano for drums that day

[@zappa1952]

That sound is a keyboard and/or synth

[@margaretcooper6129]

That sound is a synthesizer played by JPJ I believe...

[@giantclam1822]

Its the drums guitar and cymbals

[@RickTBL]

It's like classical music

[@margaretcooper6129]

John Bonham played the drums w/ "four sticks", hence the name...

[@bigtrouble4447]

at 3:36... or so what you are hearing is jimmy playing single stroke guitar chords over all the other stuff goin on.... that sound is a fairly clean, slightly distorted electric guitar.... being beaten into submission by one of the greatest guitar legends of all time.... sloppy as he was ... he was also an unmitigated MUSICAL GENIUS at using the guitar in unconventional ways.... :)

[@cindyjensen9578]

I think that was chimes

[@cindyjensen9578]

and synthesizers

[@williamcabell142]

Dude it’s the drums🤨

[@ledzeppacker]

For sure, Zeppelin would've went to the strip clob. Lol

[@stevedahlberg8680]

I'm curious if you have ever had any musical training? Did you play an instrument in school? Either way, I think you would make a great drummer. You say you listen to the vocals and guitar more but you act like a drummer. I can tell to you always get the rhythms no matter what, even when you haven't heard it before. Of course you haven't listened to their song The Crunge yet but laugh other than that, I really think you would enjoy being a drummer.

[@BlueSky-cz6ix]

Your 'special' guitar is a 12-string guitar. Cymbal is the other word you were looking for.

[@kd8199]

Only thing almost as good as the music is the stank face you get. 😂 Love the banner. Keep it up.

[@Codex7777]

Although I still love it, this is easily the weakest track on the album, for me personally. Those drums though! :)

[@antarcticorb9197]

Yup, me too. I hate to say it, but Robert sounds like his junk is being squeezed in a vice with those whining, painful vocals.

[@Nichwar19]

​​@@antarcticorb9197 even tho i love Robert very much i cant get mad at you 😂

[@notgivennotgiven7776]

Does your parents know you're listening to rock music?

[@chipsworld2050]

I know you have an obligation but I would just skip straight to "when the levee breaks".

[@jmar7631]

Why skip "Going to California"?

[@JoeandAngie]

Nay