In a recent interview with Classic Rock, Lenny Wolf, the former Kingdom Come lead singer, discussed a long-standing misunderstanding.
In the 1980s, the band’s comments that they hadn’t heard of Jimmy Page or Led Zeppelin sparked quite a stir. Wolf clarified that these comments were meant as a joke, a bit of humour that did not land as intended and was misinterpreted by the media:
“Those remarks were misinterpreted. Danny [Stag] was so tired of hearing about the Zeppelin issue that he blurted out, ‘Who’s Jimmy Page? Never heard of him. This was obviously meant ironically. But some writer noticed it, and then other idiots joined in, writing the same bullst. And that’s when the st started.”
Wolf also addressed allegations that he had made similar comments to the press, which he denied, saying:
“I can’t remember saying that. But if I did, it was in the most ironic and funny way possible. “To say you’ve never heard Led Zeppelin is beyond stupidity!”
What Happened Between The Two Bands?
The controversy stems from Kingdom Come’s early rise in the music scene, particularly after the release of their self-titled debut album.
The band’s sound bore a striking resemblance to that of Led Zeppelin, which quickly went from flattering homage to accusations of plagiarism. This rising tension reached a climax when Danny Stag made an off-the-cuff remark that was exaggerated by the media.
Wolf explained how the story went in a 2011 interview with The Great Southern Brainfart:
“At first, we took it as a compliment, but then some press person overheard Danny say, ‘Who’s Jimmy Page?’ He was speaking out of context, like, ‘Oh no, not this question again.’ So [the magazine] printed this single line: ‘Kingdom Come guitarist announces he’s never heard of Jimmy Page.”
Kingdom Come’s Fate After The Incident
Following this incident, Kingdom Come attempted to move past the negative attention and resume making music. They released a second album, ‘In Your Face,’ which was quite successful. Despite their efforts, the band disbanded in 1989 due to personal issues.
Lenny Wolf kept the Kingdom Come name alive through new lineups and projects until he officially left the band in 2016, allowing Keith St. John to join.
In early February, St. John announced his departure from the band, and Ezekiel ‘Zeke’ Kaplan replaced him. The band plans to embark on a new tour in 2024.
