Jimi Hendrix’s thoughts on Led Zeppelin are far from secret. While many consider Zeppelin to be one of the most influential rock bands of all time, Hendrix was vocal in his criticism of them. He didn’t feel they were original enough to deserve the praise they received, and he wasn’t shy about letting others know his opinions.
In 2006, Vanilla Fudge drummer Carmine Appice shared a conversation he had with Hendrix about the band. According to Appice, Hendrix stated that Zeppelin was “like excess baggage” and that they “stole from everybody.” He pointed out how tracks like ‘You Shook Me’ were already on Jeff Beck’s record, ‘Dazed and Confused’ had a strong resemblance to Vanilla Fudge, and even ‘Good Times Bad Times’ had riffs influenced by Tim Bogart’s bass line.
Hendrix made similar remarks in 1970 when he openly declared, “I don’t think much of Led Zeppelin – I mean, I don’t think much about them,” though he did admit, “Jimmy Page is a great guitarist.” Despite this, there was no animosity from Page, who later said, “We’ve lost the best guitarist any of us ever had, and that was Hendrix.”
However, despite his lack of enthusiasm for Zeppelin as a whole, Hendrix’s admiration for one member was clear. During a visit to New York, he had a chance encounter with the band’s iconic drummer, John Bonham. Robert Plant recalled the moment, stating that Hendrix came up to Bonham at a club and, after hearing Bonham’s impressive bass drum work, said, “You know what? You got a foot like a rabbit.”
This exchange is a testament to Bonham’s extraordinary drumming. Even Hendrix, who wasn’t fond of Zeppelin’s overall sound, couldn’t help but acknowledge Bonham’s unique and inventive talent. For all his criticisms of Zeppelin’s originality, Hendrix could never deny that Bonham was a one-of-a-kind musician, a true master of his craft.
