No different bands did extra to put the groundwork for laborious rock and heavy steel than Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. Others might have heavied up the blues earlier than them, however the data this holy musical trinity launched within the late 60s and early 70s offered the template for every part that adopted.
All three emerged out of the fertile late 60s British music scene, and their paths crossed man instances throughout their respective rises and past. Inevitably, there was each respect and rivalry between them – not least Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, each of whom had ties to Birmingham, the commercial metropolis by which each the members of Sabbath and Zeppelin singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham served their early musical apprenticeships.
Chatting with Traditional Rock in 2014, Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi regarded again on the friendship and competitors between his personal band and Led Zeppelin.
“Within the early days there was a rivalry between Sabbath and Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, however not a nasty sort of rivalry,” he mentioned. “We weren’t horrible to one another. Deep Purple we actually didn’t know, however we have been associates with Zeppelin.”
Iommi revealed that their friendship with Zeppelin dated again to their days on the Birmingham scene earlier than both band had gotten off the bottom.
“We knew Planty and John Bonham. John and I used to see one another within the days earlier than Sabbath,” Iommi mentioned. “Invoice [Ward, Sabbath drummer] and me have been in a band referred to as The Relaxation, and John was once in two or three different bands. He’d be in a single band, then they’d hearth him as a result of he was too loud, after which the following week he’d flip up in one other band. John used to have this bass-drum case the place he had the identify of the band he was with.”
When Zeppelin took off, Bonham garnered a fame as a wildman, although that didn’t cease Iommi – who himself had no compunctions about entering into scuffles with journalists who badmouthed Sabbath within the press – from asking the drummer to be greatest man at his wedding ceremony.
“I feel it frightened all people, although my spouse was high-quality about it,” mentioned the guitarist. “After all, the night time earlier than my wedding ceremony we went out in Birmingham for my stag. It was getting on for 2 o’clock, and we went to this one final membership. We go in there and John orders 12 bottles of champagne. I assumed he was going to deal with all people within the membership, however he turned to me and mentioned, ‘Go on, drink it – that’s yours.’ I mentioned, ‘I received’t be fucking get married if I drink all that!’ So he went alongside the bar and drank 12 glasses, one from every bottle. Inside half-hour, he was gone – completely gone. I ultimately acquired him residence and put him within the hallway, up in opposition to the radiator. I mentioned, ‘You’re not going to show up tomorrow, are you?’ And he simply slurred and caught his thumb up.
“The following day, he turned up alright, his swimsuit on, his high hat and tails. I’d actually simply acquired away from bed. After all, he had some coke on him. He mentioned, ‘Right here you’re – have considered one of these.’ And that’s how the day went. The embarrassing factor was after we have been within the church. My spouse’s household have been fairly well-to-do. And on my facet there was our band and different musicians. They usually’re all nipping out of the church, three or 4 of them at a time. My spouse’s mom mentioned, ‘What’s the matter with your mates, all coming and going on a regular basis?’ They have been behind the church doing coke…”
Any rivalry between the 2 bands fell by the wayside as they each started to change into profitable. Throughout one memorable session, members of Sabbath and Zeppelin really staged an impromptu jam.
“We really jammed with Zeppelin,” mentioned Iommi. “We have been in Morgan Studios, doing an album, they usually turned up. Solely Jimmy Web page wasn’t there. John [Bonham] mentioned, ‘Can I’ve a play?’ So our session went completely out the window. We simply began jamming. John mentioned, ‘Let’s play that track of yours I like.’ That was Supernaut. So we performed that and, nicely, I don’t bear in mind what else. We have been simply jamming, making stuff up. It was good, nevertheless it completely ruined our session. But it surely was good enjoyable.”
It’s not clear whether or not this legendary jam was ever recorded, not to mention launched, that means a Black Zeppelin/Led Sabbath supergroup stays one thing followers of each bands can solely dream of.
