Althouse: "Stuff that we would normally have stolen was there in profusion."

November 28, 2025

"Stuff that we would normally have stolen was there in profusion."

My favorite sentence in "Becoming Led Zeppelin," a documentary playing on Netflix — about 39 minutes in.

24 comments:

john mosby said...: That could be your masthead motto! CC, JSM; 11/28/25, 2:40 PM
Justabill said...: A great documentary.; 11/28/25, 3:31 PM
Ice Nine said...: Back in those days, I thought that I liked Led Zeppelin a lot. Then I watched "Becoming Led Zeppelin" and realized that I'd only ever heard a relative few of their songs. And that I didn't really like Plant's singing, which comprised, well, a lot of annoying falsetto and screaming. Nor did I actually care for the group's too-bluesy sound that much. Altogether it seemed like a lot of screeching and noise. Imagine my surprise, since I'm a big rock fan, like a lot of metal and blues, like a number of Zep songs, and worship Jimmy.; 11/28/25, 3:38 PM
Clyde said...: I don't have Netflix, so I can't watch this, but I did just finish listening to the two-part 'A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs' "Dazed and Confused" podcast today. There was definitely a lot of credit being grabbed for music that had originated with others.; 11/28/25, 3:45 PM
Wince said...: "In 1935 (1936), Robert Johnson recorded a song called Terraplane Blues. It's appeared in a thousand different guises since... Maybe Johnson got it from somewhere else. I'm sure he did... Everybody 'nicks' it."

- Robert Plant, Celebration Day; 11/28/25, 3:50 PM
Jim at said...: Meanwhile, back to reality, here is the latest on how the National Guard subdued the Afghan terrorist:

Could you fucking stay on subject just once? Could you? Is it possible?

The thread is about Led Zeppelin. There are countless others about the NG shooting.; 11/28/25, 3:53 PM
tommyesq said...: "stuff that would normally have been stolen..."

Like most melodies and guitar riffs (allegedly)?; 11/28/25, 3:56 PM
narciso said...: I would say homage or tribute to.; 11/28/25, 4:39 PM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Never cared for Led Zepplin back in the day but not too long ago I caught THIS and thought it was awesome so I tried to make up for lost time by watching The Song Remains the Same which was awful which was sort of reassuring.; 11/28/25, 4:40 PM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: Hey! So it turns out spellcheck was right and it's spelled "Zeppelin" after all. Can hardly blame me, considering.; 11/28/25, 4:42 PM
Grant said...: Sometime in the early 90’s the guys I was an RA for had a Very Zeppelin Christmas party during which every Zeppelin album was played in its entirety in chronological sequence. It was amusing for a while, then interesting, then boring, then annoying, which is pretty much how I still feel about Zeppelin.; 11/28/25, 4:45 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "Could you fucking stay on subject just once? Could you? Is it possible? The thread is about Led Zeppelin. There are countless others about the NG shooting."

Thanks, Jim. I'd already deleted those posts when I got to yours, but I'm still leaving yours up.; 11/28/25, 4:50 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "And that I didn't really like Plant's singing, which comprised, well, a lot of annoying falsetto and screaming."

That's how I felt in the 70s, when the music was current. For me, Plant called to mind Jerry Lewis.; 11/28/25, 4:52 PM
Ann Althouse said...: Now that their popularity isn't bothering me, I feel free to like them. I especially like "Going to California."; 11/28/25, 4:54 PM
Bob Boyd said...: Could you fucking stay on subject just once? Could you? Is it possible?

Of course.
I bet Led Zeppelin would collectively agree with me that the officer who attacked that Afghan POS with only a pocket knife is a friggin' stud and a hero and they probably hope, like I do, that being stabbed in his pointy head repeatedly hurt like blue blazes and still hurts unrelentingly, depriving the SOB of any sleep.; 11/28/25, 4:55 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "I don't have Netflix, so I can't watch this, but I did just finish listening to the two-part 'A History of Rock Music in 500 Songs' "Dazed and Confused" podcast today. There was definitely a lot of credit being grabbed for music that had originated with others."

I've listened to that. Good. A bit scold-y.; 11/28/25, 4:56 PM
Bob Boyd said...: I watched Becoming Led Zeppelin and enjoyed it. I've always liked their music. They've always had a stand out and original sound. Robert Plant is really something, though some compare his singing to being stabbed in the head.; 11/28/25, 5:10 PM
Ann Althouse said...: The quote in the post title is Robert Plant talking about his reaction, as a young man, when flying on a plane and receiving lots of spoons and forks to eat their food with.; 11/28/25, 5:13 PM
Bob Boyd said...: Some compare Plant's voice to being stabbed in the head with lots of stolen forks, but I like it...his voice I mean.; 11/28/25, 5:20 PM
Captain BillieBob said...: John Bonham "Four Sticks" never played live. Great song.; 11/28/25, 5:39 PM
Kakistocracy said...: The best of Led Zeppelin is pure, unadulterated musical genius. They were the band that, for me, drew a line under The Beatles and the sixties, delivering a heady mix of masculine aggression, amazing musicianship and massive, memorable rock anthems.

They were three exceptional musicians (and Plant is an exceptional vocalist/frontman). I often think the contribution from John Paul Jones, who classically trained, is overlooked. He was as busy as a session musician in London before Led Zeppelin was formed as Jimi Page. It really shows. Musically they were able to go to places others could only dream of, and no surprise with a rhythm section like that!

I think Robert Plant is pretty unique among musicians from that era; while most who are still playing trot out the anthems from their glory days, Robert Plant is continuously innovating with new sounds, new musicians, instrumentation – and making some of today's most interesting music.

‘I’ve so much more to learn, to steal from, to be’ ~ Robert Plant; 11/28/25, 6:14 PM
Justabill said...: Listen to Plant with Alison Krauss. Two masters. Saw them in Saratoga in 2022. Plant is still in rock star mode (he has learned how to use his voice as he ages), but you could see his deference to her.; 11/28/25, 6:17 PM
Kakistocracy said...: We've seen the old lion many times over the years, including a date at Wolves Civic last November. He's had an amazing career, never rests on his laurels, and has adapted his singing as his voice ages. I've never met him, but friends of mine have, and they all say he's a lovely guy, no ego at all.

Part of me wishes I could see him with Jimmy and John Paul Jones just the once but unlike Page -- Plant has kept on moving while poor Jimmy has been stuck there with his re-masters for over thirty years.; 11/28/25, 6:26 PM
Duty of Inquiry said...: As it happens I have Eric Clapton's version of Terraplane Blues.
Those three guys must have been geniuses to turn that song into Trampled Under Foot.; 11/28/25, 7:04 PM