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Pete Townshend has finally changed his mind Led Zeppelin: “There’s some f*cking great stuff there”
Pete Townshend has publicly praised Led Zeppelin after previously saying he disliked their music. In a new interview, he said he had been listening to the band’s albums again and found “some f*cking great stuff there”, acknowledging that competition with them had shaped his earlier view.
Townshend recalled that Led Zeppelin had overtaken The Who in heavy rock and said he resented their appeal to The Who’s audience. He compared this to his initial reaction to Jimi Hendrix, whom he later recognised as a guitar genius. He was also surprised by the range in Led Zeppelin’s sound, while noting he had listened little to Black Sabbath.
In short
- Townshend now praises Led Zeppelin’s music.
- He says rivalry with The Who shaped his earlier opinion.
- Revisiting the albums surprised him with their range.
Explained simply
The Who and Led Zeppelin were two British rock bands who became prominent in the late 1960s and 1970s. The Who were known for energetic performances and loud guitar music; Led Zeppelin built a large following with heavy rock alongside blues and quieter, acoustic songs.
Pete Townshend, The Who’s guitarist and songwriter, was one of the band’s central figures. As Led Zeppelin grew popular, the groups competed for listeners who enjoyed heavy rock, and Townshend later said that this rivalry influenced how he viewed their music.
The story also reflects how musicians’ opinions can change over time. Townshend has compared his earlier reaction to Led Zeppelin with his initial response to Jimi Hendrix, whose guitar playing he came to admire.