Led Zeppelin Covers and Tributes - Famous Bands and Their Tributes/covers

Famous Bands and Their Tributes/covers

Arguably the most appropriate tribute CD ever recorded was by Jason Bonham, the son of legendary Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. In 1997 Jason Bonham's band released a tribute CD entitled In the Name of My Father: The Zepset Live from Electric Ladyland. Featuring ten Led Zeppelin tracks recorded live at the studio Jimi Hendrix made famous it is called "a warm, loving tribute to one of the giants of hard rock" by editors at allmusic.com.

On November 7, 2003, Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater) put together a one-off cover band to perform at the 2003 Montreal Drum Festival. The one-time cover line-up titled "Hammer of the Gods" included Portnoy (drums), Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big) on guitar, Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) on bass and Daniel Gildenlow (Pain of Salvation, The Flower Kings) on Vocals. All members dressed in proper attire to imitate the original members. This performance is scheduled for release on both CD and DVD in 2006 through Portnoy's website .

A tribute can also be heard in Dream Theater's album A Change of Seasons. In this live performance, "The Rover", "Achilles Last Stand" and "The Song Remains The Same" are put together in a medley. These tracks were performed and recorded in the "Uncovered" Show at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, England on January 31, 1995.

Switzerland Rockers "Gotthard" have arguably recorded one of the best live versions of "Immigrant Song" on their 2006 Made In Switzerland release.

The British Heavy Metal Band Iron Maiden recorded a cover of the song "Communication Breakdown" on their single Bring Your Daughter... To the Slaughter.

Frank Zappa covered "Stairway To Heaven" during live performances. One version can be found on the 1991 live album The Best Band You Never Heard In Your Life. This remarkable cover features a note-for-note copy of Page's guitar solo played by the horn section.

The Minnesota Orchestra performed with a cover band by the name of "The Music of Led Zeppelin" on January 21, 2006 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, MN. This performance combined electric guitar, singing, and drums with a full-blown orchestra and rock concert-style lighting for the entire duration of the show. The Minnesota Public Radio website features an article with more details at this address: . The Target Center website also features an article at this address: .

The metal band Demons and Wizards has also covered "Immigrant Song". So have Los Angeles thrash metal/speed metal legends Dark Angel on their 1989 album Leave Scars. Guitarist Eric Meyer admits the band covered the song to get on the radio. An electro-charged version of "Immigrant Song" can be found on 2004's Electric Samurai by Japanese guitar wizard Tomoyasu Hotei. Canadian band "Kashmir" perform live Led Zeppelin covers since 2001.

Jeff Buckley, in the 2003 extended release of his Live at Sin-é cafe recording, covered and transformed the song "Night Flight", from Zep's "Physical Graffiti". He also performed a rather abbreviated version of "Kashmir" on 2001's Live á l'Olympia (though definitely not at original speed). In a promotional b-side to their Drops of Jupiter album, the band Train recorded an acoustic cover of "Ramble On". Missouri Metalcore band Coalesce's album, There is Nothing New Under the Sun, which is composed solely of Led Zeppelin covers. On October 31, 2007 the jam band Gov't Mule covered the entire Houses of the Holy album. This album is called "Haunted Holy House" and can be purchased on their website. An early cover of "Heartbreaker" by Nirvana can be found on the boxed set "With the Lights Out".

Vanilla Fudge covered songs on their album Out Through the In Door, released in 2007. Vanilla Fudge and Led Zeppelin toured together in 1969 and had a special bond to each other.