Why Led Zeppelin Refused To Perform A Few Of Their Best Songs Live

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Highlights

  • Led Zeppelin refused to perform some of their most popular hits live.
  • The band members respected each other's preferences and created set lists they all agreed upon.
  • Led Zeppelin had a broad appeal and a large catalog.

Music legends Led Zeppelin, rightfully, has earned a stellar reputation as one of the most prolific rock 'n' roll groups of the 20th century. With the charisma and talents of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones, Led Zeppelin was a force to be reckoned with.

The band built an impressive catalog of hits over eight studio albums. However, they have refused to perform some of their hits live despite being fan favorites. Well known for their eccentric personalities and beliefs, this is far from surprising.

Songs such as "D'yer Maker", "Fool in the Rain", "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)", and "Four Sticks" are treasured tracks among Led Zeppelin fans. They also have a key commonality. Led Zeppelin refused to perform them live in concert.

While these songs were commercial successes, they never found a home on Led Zeppelin's set lists. According to Far Out, "Four Sticks" was performed once in a 1971 concert, but was never performed again.

Led Zeppelin's refusal to perform some of their most acclaimed work can be attributed to simply preference. Often, songs that Led Zeppelin did not perform live were tracks that a member or members of the band did not like.

As an example, Jimmy Page reportedly did not care for "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)", according to Far Out. Led Zeppelin band members respected each other's preferences and created a set list they all could agree upon.

"D'yer Maker", a fan favorite from Led Zeppelin's fifth studio album, "House of the Holy", was a song John Bonham wanted to leave behind him. He didn't like the track, particularly performing it live. As a result, fans never got to see the band play "D'yer Maker" in concert.

With Led Zeppelin's broad appeal and large catalog, they had the luxury to pick what hits and deep cuts to perform. They had more than enough material to fill a two to three hour concert with tracks to spare. Of course, Led Zeppelin played some fan favorites every concert they gave. Songs that were frequently performed include:

  • "Whole Lotta Love"
  • "Dazed and Confused"
  • "Stairway to Heaven"

Robert Plant later became reluctant to perform "Stairway to Heaven" after Led Zeppelin broke up, however. According to an interview Plant gave, he spoke honestly about his thoughts on "Stairway to Heaven":

"When I hear it in isolation, I feel overwhelmed for every single reason you could imagine."

Not only did preference play a role in which songs Led Zeppelin played live, but also the difficulty of performing the tracks. According to Far Out, one of the core reasons why "Four Sticks" was not performed live beyond a 1971 concert was that it was a challenging track to recreate on stage. Some songs, which use the studio and/or its equipment as instruments, can be hard to bring to life on a concert stage.

Led Zeppelin's set lists were often similar, but they evolved as the band released more albums. Songs such as "The Rain Song" and "The Battle of Evermore" eventually found a place in some of the group's concerts.

Led Zeppelin was not only known for being particular about their set lists, but also their strong negative views on the release of singles, as well as their reluctance to license their work in movies and TV shows. While Led Zeppelin has been very overprotective of their catalog, this has not impacted their fandom in the slightest. They have millions of fans all around the world of all ages and continue to be recognized as one of the greatest rock bands.

Has Led Zeppelin Performed Since Their Breakup?

Led Zeppelin continued to perform live until they broke up in 1980, after John Bonham's passing. They reportedly did not want to continue on without Bonham and thought it would be best to end the group.

Similarly to the Beatles, each member played a crucial role in the band's success and Led Zeppelin would surely not be the same without Bonham's legendary drumming. The band released a statement after Bonham's passing:

"We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were."

Led Zeppelin reunited in 2007, performing at a tribute event for Atlantic Records co-founder, Ahmet Ertegun, at the O2 Arena. Their performance was critically and commercially acclaimed and led to the band's Celebration Day documentary and live album. They played a sixteen-song set which featured iconic songs such as:

  • "Whole Lotta Love"
  • "Rock and Roll"
  • "Stairway to Heaven"
  • "Dazed and Confused'
  • "Black Dog"
  • "Kashmir"
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Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones were joined by John Bonham's son, Jason Bonham, on drums. As expected, songs such as "Fool in the Rain", "D'yer Maker", and "Living Loving Maid (She's Just a Woman)" did not make an appearance at the band's reunion concert. The group did play key hits from a variety of their studio albums, though.

As of November 2023, Led Zeppelin has not reunited again since the 2007 O2 Arena concert, according to Loudwire. For many fans, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to enjoy their favorite band live again in a special performance.

Surely, John Bonham would have been proud to see his son join his fellow band members in an incredible moment for the legacy of Led Zeppelin.

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