Scott Calef - Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All Will Be Revealed

Table of Contents

Popular Culture and Philosophy Series Editor: George A. Reisch

VOLUME 1
Seinfeld and Philosophy: A Book
about Everything and Nothing
(2000)

VOLUME 2
The Simpsons and Philosophy: The
Doh! of Homer (2001)

VOLUME 3
The Matrix and Philosophy:
Welcome to the Desert of the Real
(2002)

VOLUME 4
Buffy the Vampire Slayer and
Philosophy: Fear and Trembling
in Sunnydale (2003)

VOLUME 5
The Lord of the Rings and
Philosophy: One Book to Rule
Them All (2003)

VOLUME 6
Baseball and Philosophy:
Thinking Outside the Batters Box
(2004)

VOLUME 9
Harry Potter and Philosophy:
If Aristotle Ran Hogwarts (2004)

VOLUME 12
Star Wars and Philosophy:
More Powerful than You Can
Possibly Imagine (2005)

VOLUME 13
Superheroes and Philosophy:
Truth, Justice, and the Socratic
Way (2005)

VOLUME 15
The Chronicles of Narnia
and Philosophy: The Lion, the
Witch, and the Worldview
(2005)

VOLUME 17
Bob Dylan and Philosophy: Its
Alright Ma (Im Only Thinking)
(2006)

VOLUME 18
Harley-Davidson and Philosophy:
Full-Throttle Aristotle (2006)

VOLUME 19
Monty Python and Philosophy:
Nudge Nudge, Think Think! (2006)

VOLUME 20
Poker and Philosophy: Pocket
Rockets and Philosopher Kings
(2006) Edited by Eric Bronson

VOLUME 21
U2 and Philosophy: How to
Decipher an Atomic Band (2006)

VOLUME 22
The Undead and Philosophy:
Chicken Soup for the Soulless
(2006)

VOLUME 23
James Bond and Philosophy:
Questions Are Forever (2006)

VOLUME 24
Bullshit and Philosophy:
Guaranteed to Get Perfect Results
Every Time (2006)

VOLUME 25
The Beatles and Philosophy:
Nothing You Can Think that
Cant Be Thunk (2006)

VOLUME 26
South Park and Philosophy:
Bigger, Longer, and More
Penetrating (2007) Edited by
Richard Hanley

VOLUME 27
Hitchcock and Philosophy:
Dial M for Metaphysics (2007)
Edited by David Baggett and
William A. Drumin

VOLUME 28
The Grateful Dead and
Philosophy: Getting High Minded
about Love and Haight (2007)
Edited by Steven Gimbel

VOLUME 29
Quentin Tarantino and
Philosophy: How to Philosophize
with a Pair of Pliers and a
Blowtorch (2007) Edited by
Richard Greene and K. Silem
Mohammad

VOLUME 30
Pink Floyd and Philosophy:
Careful with that Axiom,
Eugene! (2007) Edited by George
A. Reisch

VOLUME 31
Johnny Cash and Philosophy:
The Burning Ring of Truth (2008)
Edited by John Huss and David
Werther

VOLUME 32
Bruce Springsteen and Philosophy:
Darkness on the Edge of Truth
(2008) Edited by Randall E. Auxier
and Doug Anderson

VOLUME 33
Battlestar Galactica and
Philosophy: Mission Accomplished
or Mission Frakked Up? (2008)
Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan
Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan
D. Tamplin

VOLUME 34
iPod and Philosophy: iCon of an
ePoch (2008) Edited by D.E.
Wittkower

VOLUME 35
Star Trek and Philosophy: The
Wrath of Kant (2008) Edited by
Jason T. Eberl and Kevin S.
Decker

VOLUME 36
The Legend of Zelda and
Philosophy: I Link Therefore I Am
(2008) Edited by Luke Cuddy

VOLUME 37
The Wizard of Oz and Philosophy:
Wicked Wisdom of the West (2008)
Edited by Randall E. Auxier and
Phillip S. Seng

VOLUME 38
Radiohead and Philosophy: Fitter
Happier More Deductive (2009)
Edited by Brandon W. Forbes and
George A. Reisch

VOLUME 39
Jimmy Buffett and Philosophy: The
Porpoise Driven Life (2009) Edited
by Erin McKenna and Scott L. Pratt

VOLUME 40
Transformers and Philosophy
(2009) Edited by John Shook and
Liz Stillwaggon Swan

VOLUME 41
Stephen Colbert and Philosophy: I
Am Philosophy (And So Can You!)
(2009) Edited by Aaron Allen Schiller

VOLUME 42
Supervillains and Philosophy:
Sometimes, Evil Is Its Own Reward
(2009) Edited by Ben Dyer

VOLUME 43
The Golden Compass and
Philosophy: God Bites the Dust
(2009) Edited by Richard Greene
and Rachel Robison

VOLUME 44
Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All
Will Be Revealed (2009) Edited by
Scott Calef

VOLUME 45
World of Warcraft and Philosophy:
Wrath of the Philosopher King
(2009) Edited by Luke Cuddy and
John Nordlinger

IN PREPARATION:

Mr. Monk and Philosophy (2010)
Edited by D.E. Wittkower
Anime and Philosophy (2010)
Edited by Josef Steiff and Tristan
Tamplin
Soccer and Philosophy (2010)
Edited by Ted Richards
Facebook and Philosophy (2010)
Edited by D.E. Wittkower
Manga and Philosophy (2010)
Edited by Josef Steiff and
Adam Barkman
The Red Sox and Philosophy (2010)
Edited by Michael Macomber
Martial Arts and Philosophy
(2010) Edited by Graham Priest
and Damon Young
The Onion and Philosophy (2010)
Edited by Sharon M. Kaye

For full details of all Popular Culture and Philosophy books, visit www.opencourtbooks.com .

Foreword

For a band that was together for only twelve years, the lasting fascination for all things Led Zeppelin goes on undimmed.

Though their last studio album was issued some thirty years ago, the effect of the extraordinary catalogue of music they recorded between 1968 and 1980 continues to resonate with fans old and new. Its an unparalleled body of work that charts a pioneering journey encompassing blues, rock, folk, funk, and eastern influences.

The chemistry was of course perfect. Jimmy Pagethe relentless riff architect and sonic producer, Robert Plantsilver throated vocalist with the golden god front man appeal, John Paul Jonesimmensely talented bassist and keyboard player, the man for all seasons and all instruments, and John Bonzo Bonhamthunderous but incisive percussionist who knew exactly when to lay on and off the beat.

Under the maverick management of Peter Grant, they flaunted regular rock business convention to carve a unique niche that allowed them total artistic freedom, and a hedonistic on-the-road lifestyle that is almost as legendary as the music they created.

Led Zeppelin and Philosophy dissects the band in minute detail. The albums, personalities, live performances, art work, myths, influences, and more, all come under the microscope. Compelling insights and observations add more depth to a subject that continues to thrill and inspire. Each chapter is driven by an unquenchable thirst for Zeppelin knowledge and pulls the reader deeper into the world of Led Zeppelin, where the fascination continues....

DAVE LEWIS
August 2009

Acknowledgments

Thanks to everyone who helped to see this book through to completion, and especially to my beautiful, gracious, and loving wife, Hannah. Zachary, Hannah Grace, Hillary, Lucy and Sophie: All My Love. Thank you, Lisa and Michael, John and Patricia, for your generous hospitality through the years. I owe a heavy debt of gratitude to George Reisch and David Ramsay Steele at Open Court for their editorial assistance, patience, and invaluable advice. Thanks to John Stone-Mediatore and Emma Rees for their help with the first appendix. Thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Meher Spiritual Center in South Carolina, a special place for renewal, inspiration and philosophical contemplation. Finally, I am pleased to acknowledge generous financial support from the Office of the Provost at Ohio Wesleyan University for preparation of the index, and Alfred Publishing for their kind permission to use the lyrics.

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