Led Zeppelin, who bestrode the world of rock like a colossus, have continually grown in popularity and influence since their official winding up in 1980. They exasperated critics and eluded classification, synthesizing blues, rock, folk, rockabilly, funk, classical, country, Indian, and Arabic techniques. They performed the alchemical trick of transmuting base led into gold — and platinum — and diamond. They did what they would, finding wisdom through personal excess and artistic self-discipline.
Philosophy is probably not up to the task of comprehending the mystery of musical and poetic genius, but in Led Zeppelin and Philosophy, sixteen Zep fans who are also professional thinkers offer their thoughts on various facets of Led Zeppelin. They explain how:
• an artist’s progress emerges from the struggle for recognition
• songs like “Custard Pie” and “Candy Store Rock” disclose the true nature of fetishism
• music expresses what’s beyond the reach of words
• the awe evoked by the life-threatening is at the core of the Sublime
• group collaboration may lift individual creativity to new levels
• borrowing and transforming what is borrowed is the path to true originality
• the occult doctrines of Aleister “the Beast” Crowley seek to liberate us from enslavement by false desires
• Dionysian art projects the agony of human existence
