The Tolkien Connection

The Influence of J.R.R. Tolkien On Led Zeppelin's Music

created by [Dark Side of the Moon]



This link goes to an excellent piece on the MetalStorm.EE website and explains the link between Led Zeppelin and J.R.R. Tolkien's writings:

http://www.metalstorm.ee/articles/article.php?id=8

There may always be a debate on this subject. Were some of Zeppelin's songs really about passages or stories that Tolkien had written? Or were the lyrics simply infused with Tolkien imagery and not really connected? It's hard to say unless you were Plant, Page, Jones or Bonham. It cannot be denied that Robert Plant was enthralled with Tolkien's works. He even named his dog "Strider" after Tolkien's mysterious character, a Ranger whose real name was Aragorn, the heir to the throne of the Realm of Gondor. During Led Zeppelin's concerts, Plant could be heard yelling Strider at the ends of certain songs.

Many of Led Zeppelin's songs make direct reference to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Songs such as Over the Hills and Far Away, Ramble On, Battle of Evermore, Misty Mountain Hop, and possibly even The Rain Song (for those of you familiar with The Fellowship of the Ring, Tom Bombadil's wife Goldberry sang "a kind of rain song") contained lyrics pointing to Mr. Tolkien's books and poetry. 

This is not an area of Led Zeppelin in which I am very knowledgable, but I thought that it should be pointed out. This wiki will be revised as I learn more on the subject. Debates are open in the comment section. I look forward to reading any thoughts you may have on this.

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