The Musicians Who Hated Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin’s legacy, spanning over decades, is revered by countless fans and has significantly influenced the rock genre. However, despite their immense popularity and impact, not all musicians have been fond of their music. Here’s a look at some prominent figures who have openly expressed their dislike for the legendary band.

Jack Bruce
Jack Bruce, the bassist of Cream, was one of the earliest critics of Led Zeppelin. At an award show in 2008, Bruce made his feelings clear, declaring, “F*** off, Zeppelin, you’re crap. You’ve always been crap, and you’ll never be anything else.” He further asserted that Cream was “10 times the band that Led Zeppelin is,” highlighting his strong aversion to the band’s music.

Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend of The Who was another musician who had strong negative opinions about Led Zeppelin. He accused them of imitating The Who’s sound and admitted, “I haven’t liked a single thing that they’ve done.” Townshend’s disdain was partly fueled by his desire to protect The Who’s legacy in rock history. Despite acknowledging that the members of Led Zeppelin were “really, really great guys,” he couldn’t bring himself to appreciate their music, noting, “I just never liked the band.”

Keith Richards
Keith Richards, the guitarist for The Rolling Stones, had mixed feelings about Led Zeppelin. While he respected Jimmy Page’s guitar skills, he found the overall sound of the band lacking. Richards criticized John Bonham’s drumming, describing it as overly heavy-handed and likening the music to “a bunch of thudding away.” Despite this, his bandmate Mick Jagger was a fan of Led Zeppelin and attended their shows, including their 2007 reunion concert.

Ginger Baker
Ginger Baker, also from Cream, voiced his disapproval of Led Zeppelin, particularly targeting John Bonham’s drumming. Baker disparagingly remarked that Bonham “couldn’t swing a sack of s***.” This criticism stands in contrast to the high regard many, such as Lars Ulrich of Metallica, hold for Bonham as one of the greatest drummers of all time.

Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton, another Cream guitarist and a former bandmate of Jimmy Page’s in The Yardbirds, shared his reservations about Led Zeppelin. Clapton felt that the band had taken the blues and jazz influences from Cream and “took it somewhere else that I didn’t really have a great deal of admiration for.” This critique reflects Clapton’s view that Led Zeppelin’s direction diverged significantly from his own musical values.