Pavement Perform Clunky Cover of “Stairway to Heaven”
On Saturday at Oakland's Mosswood Meltdown festival, indie rock veterans Pavement delivered a deliberately terrible cover of the 1971 Led Zeppelin classic as part of their tour opener. Frontman Stephen Malkmus supplied ridiculous lyrics—including rhyming 'fandangos' with 'I like mangoes'—whilst performing an exaggerated, off-key impression of Robert Plant that was clearly meant as entertainment.
The performance showcased the band's willingness to lampoon both themselves and classic rock pretension, fitting in well with their broader 25-song setlist that included fan favourites such as 'Cut Your Hair' and 'Summer Babe'. The tour, marking their return to live performances, continues through late July with scheduled dates across major U.S. venues.
- Pavement intentionally performed a clunky rendition of Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' at their Mosswood Meltdown tour opener in Oakland
- The satirical cover featured absurd lyrics and comedic vocals, demonstrating the band's humorous approach as they began their week-long U.S. tour