Led Zeppelin Family Tree

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Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

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Easily one of the most important bands in rock history. Led Zeppelin may not be a metal band but they are as important as any band when it comes to influencing early metal bands. If Black Sabbath are the fathers of Heavy Metal, Led Zeppelin is like the cool uncle or something. Zeppelin had a consistent line up of members who all contributed to the writing so we will look into all of their influences. For the late John Bonham I will use non primary sources because of his early death. I feel like there are probably things missing from this list if anyone has good sources to share please do. With LZ being in trouble for not giving proper credits I can image why they may be less than forth coming about some influences whom they might have “borrowed” from.

 

Big Joe Williams

Big Joe Williams was a delta blues player. Plant names him as one of the guys he was listening to when he was young. LZ would go on to cover “Baby, Please Don’t Go” which was first popularized by Big Joe.

Big Joe Williams was a delta blues player. Plant names him as one of the guys he was listening to when he was young. LZ would go on to cover “Baby, Please Don’t Go” which was first popularized by Big Joe.

Son House

Son House was a another delta blues player whom Plant was listening to when he was young.

Son House was a another delta blues player whom Plant was listening to when he was young.

Bukka White

Bukka White was another delta blues player whom Plant was listening to when he was young.

Bukka White was another delta blues player whom Plant was listening to when he was young.

 

Robert Johnson

Legends of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads are still popular today. Plant says that hearing Robert Johnson at 14 brought him into the world of blues.

Legends of Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil at the crossroads are still popular today. Plant says that hearing Robert Johnson at 14 brought him into the world of blues.

 

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters was a very influential blues player. Jimmy has name dropped him many times when talking about influences.

Muddy Waters was a very influential blues player. Jimmy has name dropped him many times when talking about influences.

Umm Kulthum

Umm Kulthum was an Egyptian singer whom Plant was a huge fan of.

Umm Kulthum was an Egyptian singer whom Plant was a huge fan of.

Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus was a jazz bassist and pianist and band leader. John Paul Jones names him as an influence.

Charles Mingus was a jazz bassist and pianist and band leader. John Paul Jones names him as an influence.

Ray Brown

 
Ray Brown was a jazz bassist named as an influence by John Paul Jones.

Ray Brown was a jazz bassist named as an influence by John Paul Jones.

 

John Coltrane

 
John Coltrane was a important jazz sax player and composer. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

John Coltrane was a important jazz sax player and composer. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

 

Gene Krupa

Gene Krupa was a big band / swing drummer and very influential to many. Bonham’s brother said that Gene was drum god to John.

Gene Krupa was a big band / swing drummer and very influential to many. Bonham’s brother said that Gene was drum god to John.

Art Blakey

Art Blakey was a jazz drummer who is said to be an influence on Bonham.

Art Blakey was a jazz drummer who is said to be an influence on Bonham.

Elmore James

Elmore James was an influential blues player named by Jimmy.

Elmore James was an influential blues player named by Jimmy.

Little Richard was a pioneer of rock n roll music. John Paul Jones names him as an influence and one of the people who got him into soul which he is a big fan of.

Little Richard was a pioneer of rock n roll music. John Paul Jones names him as an influence and one of the people who got him into soul which he is a big fan of.

Miles Davis

Miles Davis was an important jazz trumpeter, composer, and band leader. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Miles Davis was an important jazz trumpeter, composer, and band leader. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Louis Bellson was a big band swing player. He is said to have been an influence on Bonham.

Louis Bellson was a big band swing player. He is said to have been an influence on Bonham.

Buddy Rich

Buddy Rich is was a big band / swing drummer and legend. It is said that he was an influence on Bonham

Buddy Rich is was a big band / swing drummer and legend. It is said that he was an influence on Bonham

Max Roach

Max Roach was a jazz drummer and composer. He is said to be one of Bonham’s influences.

Max Roach was a jazz drummer and composer. He is said to be one of Bonham’s influences.

Elvis was a rock n roll icon that has is easily one of the biggest names in music. Jimmy says he first wanted to start playing music after hearing “Baby, Let’s Play House”.

Elvis was a rock n roll icon that has is easily one of the biggest names in music. Jimmy says he first wanted to start playing music after hearing “Baby, Let’s Play House”.

Scotty Moore

Most well known for his time playing with Elvis, Scotty Moore was a big influence on Jimmy.

Most well known for his time playing with Elvis, Scotty Moore was a big influence on Jimmy.

Lonnie Donegan

Lonnie Donegan was a skiffle player and was a big influence on Jimmy to start playing.

Lonnie Donegan was a skiffle player and was a big influence on Jimmy to start playing.

Chuck Berry

The most quintessential rock n roll singer/guitarist, Chuck Berry. Jimmy named him as an influence.

The most quintessential rock n roll singer/guitarist, Chuck Berry. Jimmy named him as an influence.

Gene Vincent

Gene Vincent was a rockabilly / rock n roll guitarist/singer. Jimmy mentions him as one of the things he bounded with Jeff Beck over.

Gene Vincent was a rockabilly / rock n roll guitarist/singer. Jimmy mentions him as one of the things he bounded with Jeff Beck over.

On the country side of Rock n roll there were The Everly Brothers. John Paul Jones names them an influence.

On the country side of Rock n roll there were The Everly Brothers. John Paul Jones names them an influence.

James Jamerson was the bass player behind most of the Motown hits. John Paul Jones named him as one of his big influences.

James Jamerson was the bass player behind most of the Motown hits. John Paul Jones named him as one of his big influences.

Bill Evans

Bill Evans was a jazz pianist named as an influence by John Paul Jones.

Bill Evans was a jazz pianist named as an influence by John Paul Jones.

James Burton

James Burton was a rock n roll guitarist playing with the likes of Elvis and Rick Nelson. Jimmy talks about bounding with Jeff beck over James Burton’s solos with Rick Nelson.

James Burton was a rock n roll guitarist playing with the likes of Elvis and Rick Nelson. Jimmy talks about bounding with Jeff beck over James Burton’s solos with Rick Nelson.

Rick Nelson or Ricky Nelson was a rock n roll teen idol. He is one that Jimmy remembers bounding with Jeff Beck over.

Rick Nelson or Ricky Nelson was a rock n roll teen idol. He is one that Jimmy remembers bounding with Jeff Beck over.

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Piano player and singer Ray Charles was a versatile musician. John Paul Jones names him as an influence and one of the people who got him into soul which he is a big fan of.

Piano player and singer Ray Charles was a versatile musician. John Paul Jones names him as an influence and one of the people who got him into soul which he is a big fan of.

Scott LaFaro

Scott LaFaro was a jazz bassist most known for his work with the Bill Evens Trio. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Scott LaFaro was a jazz bassist most known for his work with the Bill Evens Trio. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Gil Evans

Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and band leader. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer, and band leader. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Again on the more country side of Rock n roll there was Jerry Lee Lewis who was an influence on John Paul Jones.

Again on the more country side of Rock n roll there was Jerry Lee Lewis who was an influence on John Paul Jones.

One of the great soul and funk singers, Plant remembers saving up to order a James Brown record when he was 13 and how “unbelievable” he was.

One of the great soul and funk singers, Plant remembers saving up to order a James Brown record when he was 13 and how “unbelievable” he was.

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Gaye, known as the prince of Motown was named by John Paul Jones as an influence on his writing.

Marvin Gaye, known as the prince of Motown was named by John Paul Jones as an influence on his writing.

Smokey Robinson

Smokey Robinson was a motown / soul singer. Plant talks about him being an influence when he was young.

Smokey Robinson was a motown / soul singer. Plant talks about him being an influence when he was young.

Otis Redding

Otis Redding is considered one of the greats of Soul. John Paul Jones named him as an influence on his writing.

Otis Redding is considered one of the greats of Soul. John Paul Jones named him as an influence on his writing.

Donald "Duck" Dunn

Donald "Duck" Dunn was a session player known for his work with Otis Redding and Booker T. & the M.G.'s. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Donald "Duck" Dunn was a session player known for his work with Otis Redding and Booker T. & the M.G.'s. John Paul Jones named him as an influence.

Jimi Hendrix was revolutionary. John Paul Jones named him as an influence despite not playing guitar himself.

Jimi Hendrix was revolutionary. John Paul Jones named him as an influence despite not playing guitar himself.

Ginger Baker

Ginger Baker is best known for his work with Cream. It has been said he was an influence on Bonham.

Ginger Baker is best known for his work with Cream. It has been said he was an influence on Bonham.

Jimmy was learned guitar by playing along with records. He eventually learned how to read music. He pretty much took influence from any guitar playing he heard at the time but a bit more from the blues.

Jimmy mentions some guitar players the he likely had great respect for but didn’t specifically name them as influences: Classical player Segovia and Julian Bream, flamenco player Manitas de Plata, and gypsy jazz player Django Reinhardt.

Jimmy is often said to have “borrowed” things from other guitar players… some might call it stealing. Among the guitarists he is accused of ripping off are folk/jazz guitarist Bert Jansch for “Black Mountain Slide”. Over the years writing credits have been changed in order to reflect many of these songs.

John Paul Jones grew up with his dad who was a pianist and trumpeter who was into blues, jazz, and Latin music and was exposed to all of that. He like Page, was interested in many different styles of playing and not afraid to mix things up.

Plant in one interview talks about wanting his voice to be a tenor sax. He says he wanted to be Coleman Hawkins and Dexter Gordon.

Bonham was said to have favorite bands including Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, The Hollies and The Graham Bond Organisation.

Bands influenced by Led Zeppelin!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

Although older than Zeppelin, Deep Purple changed to a harder sound after hearing them.

Although older than Zeppelin, Deep Purple changed to a harder sound after hearing them.

Hugely inspirational hard rockers.

Hugely inspirational hard rockers.

Hard Rock and Heavy Metal legends.

Hard Rock and Heavy Metal legends.

The Metal Gods themselves.

The Metal Gods themselves.

Heavy Metal / Hard Rock Legends

Heavy Metal / Hard Rock Legends

 
NWOBHM

NWOBHM

 
Revolutionary Hard Rock

Revolutionary Hard Rock

Influential NWOBHM

Influential NWOBHM

One of the most influential metal bands!

One of the most influential metal bands!

Members of Ozzy’s band were influenced.

Members of Ozzy’s band were influenced.

NWOBHM with a lot of Speed Metal

NWOBHM with a lot of Speed Metal

Industrial Metal Pioneers

Industrial Metal Pioneers

Metal Masters

The fathers of Thrash

The fathers of Thrash

Bay Area Heavy Metal

Bay Area Heavy Metal

American Heavy Metal

American Heavy Metal

The Legendary Ronnie James Dio.

The Legendary Ronnie James Dio.

Influential Thrash Masters

Influential Thrash Masters

German heavy/power metal masters.

German heavy/power metal masters.

Progressive Metal Pioneers

Progressive Metal Pioneers

German fathers of Power Metal

German fathers of Power Metal

Cheesy Christian Metal.

Cheesy Christian Metal.

German Speed, Power, and more

German Speed, Power, and more

Thrash Legends.

Thrash Legends.

Classic Death Metal

Bay Area Thrashers

Bay Area Thrashers

The Fathers of Sludge

The Fathers of Sludge

Grindcore and Melodic Death pioneers

Grindcore and Melodic Death pioneers

Fathers of Groove

Fathers of Groove

Taking Black Metal in a progressive direction.

Taking Black Metal in a progressive direction.

Alternative Metal

Alternative Metal

Waving the flag of groove in the modern era.

Waving the flag of groove in the modern era.

Progressive Groove

Progressive Groove

Forerunners of New Wave Thrash

Forerunners of New Wave Thrash

Progressive Death

Progressive Death

Sources:

https://cosmicmagazine.com.au/news/led-zeppelins-jimmy-page-reveals-his-greatest-musical-influence-in-unearthed-1977-interview/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9AAEdFlRkc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2DmA6etwpQ
http://ledzepnews.com/2018/05/06/heres-everything-that-jimmy-page-said-about-his-extraordinary-friend-jeff-beck-in-a-new-documentary/
http://www.oldbuckeye.com/prox/jazz.html
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bert-jansch-rememered-neil-young-jimmy-page-tales/
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/led-zeppelins-10-boldest-rip-offs-223419/
https://www.vintageguitar.com/2898/john-paul-jones/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-pDYq2VpOQ
https://cosmicmagazine.com.au/news/robert-plant-discusses-little-known-led-zeppelin-influence-in-new-podcast/
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/rockandpopfeatures/10400729/Robert-Plant-interview-Everyone-feels-the-blues-from-time-to-time.html
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129993435
http://johnbonham.co.uk/biography/biography.html