Alex Lifeson Reveals His Favorite Led Zeppelin Songs

Rush’s renowned guitarist Alex Lifeson has always been a huge Led Zeppelin admirer. In addition to influencing Rush’s musical style, the British rock stars served as inspiration for his ascent to fame. Lifeson has expressed his respect for Led Zeppelin over the years, highlighting two songs that had a significant impact on him as a guitarist and performer.

“How Many More Times”

For Lifeson, Led Zeppelin’s self-titled debut album changed everything. He still remembers the thrill of obtaining the record and being astounded by its strong sound. One of its most memorable songs, “How Many More Times,” had a deep influence on the young performer. During the solo, Jimmy Page’s inventive use of a violin bow and the song’s powerful atmosphere left a lasting impression.

Lifeson stated in an interview with Classic Vinyl Influences on Sirius XM:

“Jimmy Page particularly, for me, was probably the biggest influence on me as a budding guitarist. ‘How Many More Times’ was the one song that I think had the biggest impact on me. It was such a cool heavy song, and then Jimmy Page played the first half of the guitar solo with a violin bow. That just absolutely blew my mind.”

“Kashmir”

“Kashmir,” a Zeppelin classic from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti, also struck a profound chord with Lifeson. Geddy Lee, a bandmate of Lifeson and Rush, commended the song for its distinctly Middle Eastern flavor in an interview with Guitar World. Rush’s “A Passage to Bangkok” was even impacted by the genius of “Kashmir.”

Lifeson and Lee declared, “This is an all-time classic, a truly brilliant song.” Physical Graffiti is a terrific album, and “Kashmir” has a fantastic, exotic Middle Eastern vibe that is unlike any other song of its time.

Lifeson was profoundly impacted by Led Zeppelin’s innovative music, which fueled his creative juices and shaped Rush’s legacy.