Thunderdome: Led Zeppelin VS Rolling Stones

[Heeby Jeeby]

Zeppelin all the way for me. Their first five albums are just fucking great, even considering some of the ridiculous lyrics.

The Stones are really no competition at all.

[SecondEdition]

Keith Richards is the master of the riff. There's obviously no question about that.

"Master of the riff"? When I think of riffs and the guitarists who write them, Richards isn't even a contender.

Sorry to come off like a Stones fanboy (which I am, to a degree), but you're insane. Every guitarist that came after Richards, whether trying to emulate him or disregard his influence, owes something to him in some way, however small.

To say that Keith Richards isn't an important guitarist - and a rock-solid riffer - is not only pretentious, it's stupid. I mean, for God's sake, have you ever listened to "Monkey Man"?

[nathan.]

Too tough. This is the one where I've listened to Zeppelin way more, and Zeppelin never put out anything I hated (yeah, I'm not a fan of the fantasy D&D stuff, too, but their worst lyrics weren't any less dumb than the one's on "As Tears Go By"), and I'd much rather see Zeppelin live than the Stones, who have always been spotty in that area, in my opinion. However, there's just something about the Stones at their best. So I'm gonna go Stones. It was tough, though.

[Benny]

the stones.

[stephensolo]

Zeppelin

[chairman_hall]

Led Zeppelin by a fucking country mile.

[Ernest]

Keith Richards is the master of the riff. There's obviously no question about that.

"Master of the riff"? When I think of riffs and the guitarists who write them, Richards isn't even a contender.

Sorry to come off like a Stones fanboy (which I am, to a degree), but you're insane. Every guitarist that came after Richards, whether trying to emulate him or disregard his influence, owes something to him in some way, however small.

Oh Come on, this hero worship is enough, don't you think? Richards has had an influencial career longer than most of have been living, but it's such a stretch to say every guitarist owes something to him. Guitar doesn't begin nor end with Richards.

To say that Keith Richards isn't an important guitarist - and a rock-solid riffer - is not only pretentious, it's stupid. I mean, for God's sake, have you ever listened to "Monkey Man"?

I didn't say he wasn't important, but that when I think of the best riffs I've ever heard, Richards doesn't even come to mind. Even someone like Page, whose style is riddled with others work, is a better player. I've heard Monkey Man, and I couldn't care less. If there's anything pretentious about letting the air out of an overinflated sense of importance, I'm guilty, but let's stop this tired guitar worship.

[SecondEdition]

Oh Come on, this hero worship is enough, don't you think? Richards has had an influencial career longer than most of have been living, but it's such a stretch to say every guitarist owes something to him. Guitar doesn't begin nor end with Richards.

I didn't mean to imply guitar began and ended with Richards. What I did say was that he was an important guitarist, and - to my mind, at least - a master of riffing.

To say that Keith Richards isn't an important guitarist - and a rock-solid riffer - is not only pretentious, it's stupid. I mean, for God's sake, have you ever listened to "Monkey Man"?

I didn't say he wasn't important, but that when I think of the best riffs I've ever heard, Richards doesn't even come to mind. Even someone like Page, whose style is riddled with others work, is a better player. I've heard Monkey Man, and I couldn't care less. If there's anything pretentious about letting the air out of an overinflated sense of importance, I'm guilty, but let's stop this tired guitar worship.

Ok, I can buy that. I guess it's all a matter of opinion, but I'm not tired of paying at least some reverence to Richards. The man's sense of timing is incredible and he came up with some truly great riffs. What I didn't like was the attitude you took. Granted, I think I was half awake when I responded, but it felt to me like, "well, he's sooooo overrated, I couldn't possibly waste my time on such twaddle." You know? A mite snooty. But it's all a matter of perception.

For curiosity's sake, what do you believe are some of the best riffs ever?

[Rodabod]

Zeppelin shite on the Rolling Stones.

[Ernest]

Ok, I can buy that. I guess it's all a matter of opinion, but I'm not tired of paying at least some reverence to Richards. The man's sense of timing is incredible and he came up with some truly great riffs. What I didn't like was the attitude you took. Granted, I think I was half awake when I responded, but it felt to me like, "well, he's sooooo overrated, I couldn't possibly waste my time on such twaddle." You know? A mite snooty. But it's all a matter of perception.

For curiosity's sake, what do you believe are some of the best riffs ever?

I didn't mean to come off like that, liking the stones and Richards playing is alright, I just personally don't see the appeal. I can understand the respect for his playing, but there are other guitarists I feel that should've gotten at least the same amount of recognition from a rock audience.

Outside of the standard examples like Iommi, I think Ubu's Tom Hamlin was great. Django Reinhardt was an incredible jazz guitarist. About riffs themselves, I think the opening guitar line of "Minor Swing" by Reinhardt was great, and a lot of stuff by John Fahey was amazing. Rock riffs, I think some of the best were by Hendrix, hand down.

[SecondEdition]

Ok, I can buy that. I guess it's all a matter of opinion, but I'm not tired of paying at least some reverence to Richards. The man's sense of timing is incredible and he came up with some truly great riffs. What I didn't like was the attitude you took. Granted, I think I was half awake when I responded, but it felt to me like, "well, he's sooooo overrated, I couldn't possibly waste my time on such twaddle." You know? A mite snooty. But it's all a matter of perception.

For curiosity's sake, what do you believe are some of the best riffs ever?

I didn't mean to come off like that, liking the stones and Richards playing is alright, I just personally don't see the appeal. I can understand the respect for his playing, but there are other guitarists I feel that should've gotten at least the same amount of recognition from a rock audience.

Outside of the standard examples like Iommi, I think Ubu's Tom Hamlin was great. Django Reinhardt was an incredible jazz guitarist. About riffs themselves, I think the opening guitar line of "Minor Swing" by Reinhardt was great, and a lot of stuff by John Fahey was amazing. Rock riffs, I think some of the best were by Hendrix, hand down.

This I can get behind. There are a lot of underrated guitarists out there who don't get the recognition that professional lubed-fist specialists like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani get instead. Hendrix and Reinhardt, though - those guys are worshipped by anyone with half a brain. Django did all that shit with TWO goddamn fingers and a thumb. It really makes you wonder what he could have done with all five. And Fahey...I can't talk about him without running off at the mouth and sounding like a cult member. Beefheart's guitarists, too, never got the wider recognition they deserved, especially Zoot Horn Rollo. That guy was a motherfucker.

[Ace]

I'm torn -

despite my immense hatred for the Stones, I will say that I enjoy various Stones covers a LOT. I like 'em better than the originals, that's for sure.

Zeppelin have Plant. That's minus 100 points.

I'm going with Zeppelin because, well, they aren't the Rolling Stones.

[Get dog costumes]

What is wrong with you Stones haters? The Stones were incredible. I love those moments when all six guys, including Mick Jagger, are playing rhythm. It's just awesome. Can and The Faces have some moments like that too, but those bands only have five guys. The Stones are the best rock rhythm machine ever.

I like Led Zeppelin just fine, but they don't have the catlike agility of the Stones.

[ssakmule]

edit

[holmes]

two of my favourite bands. led zeppelin probably nudge it but only on the right day.

[LBx]

i don't own anything by The Stones but i rarely listen to the Zep that i have.

Led Zeppelin by a nose hair.

[tocharian]

But then I watched a live performance from '70 and I dried up like a cock in the orifice of a Golden Girl.

Ew Nerbs. What a letdown. You were doing so well for a few days there, but this is spectacularly heinous, perhaps grounds for counseling.

[ubercat]

Zeppelin. For sincerity.

I still don't get it. How can plagiarism be sincere?

This C/NC = Death vs Boogaloo. I guess that makes it a good C/NC. If I have to pick one band it's Rolling Stones for no good reason.

[BClark]

what? what? are you kidding me?
zep clearly.
sabbath exceeds both though.

[The MayorofRockNRoll]

Okay...I see a lot of Stones hate. I didn't want to vote in this poll, but now I feel compelled to say Stones.

I know you all are fascinated by my opinion, so here's why:

First off, the Stones are a rocker generation older. Maybe that seems like a dumb reason, but to me that means their roots are in a little deeper and they're that much closer to the source.

Second, it comes down to a song- maybe a couple of songs. For the longest time, "Street Fighting Man" was my favorite Stones song. However, when I got around to buying my own copy of Beggar's Banquet, the album track before SFM, "Jigsaw Puzzle", just kicked my ass.

I mean...that song...I'm surprised more filmmakers who use the Stones (Wes Anderson, Martin Scorcese) haven't used "Jigsaw Puzzle". The song itself, I think, has a narrative that would suit some montage dealing with scenes of death, violence, regret and sorrow beautifully- especially, maybe, the part where Jagger gets self-referential about his band.

I was out drinking one night, I told this girl my favorite Stones song was Jigsaw Puzzle. She kissed me.

Memo to Turner is pretty cool too.

When I think about it, though, it's like this...Zep were like this skyscraper- or this menacing storm cloud- that loomed over everything. The Stones were thugs- meaning they could be human beings and speak to you on that level.

So...I love me some Zep, but I've gotta say Fred and Barney on this one.