Zeppelin classic tops rock poll

bbc.co.uk ^ | 24/12/04 | unknown

[flitton]

Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven has been voted the best rock song of all time by listeners to digital radio station Planet Rock. The 1971 track took more than 70% of the vote in the poll, conducted on the station's website.

Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, Smoke on the Water by Deep Purple and Black Sabbath's Paranoid completed the top five.

"It's probably the only song fans agree is a classic," DJ Mark Jeeves said.

"After all these years, there's nothing to touch it."

The song was never released as a single, but has been covered by stars including Rolf Harris and Dolly Parton.

Led Zeppelin had two other entries in the top 10 - Whole Lotta Love at number six and Rock and Roll at eight.

Hotel California by The Eagles and AC/DC's Highway to Hell and Jimi Hendrix's All Along The Watchtower completed the top ten.

The online poll was to compile a listeners' top 100, which the station is broadcasting on Christmas Day.

TOP TEN ROCK TRACKS 1) Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin

2) Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd

3) Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

4) Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple

5) Paranoid - Black Sabbath

6) Whole Lotta Love - Led Zeppelin

7) Hotel California - The Eagles

8) Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin

9) Highway to Hell - AC/DC

10) All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience

Source: Planet Rock online poll

[GOPcapitalist]

My list:

1. Tuesday's Gone - Lynyrd Skynyrd
2. Rock and Roll - Led Zeppelin
3. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin
4. Freebird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
5. La Grange - ZZ Top
6. The Weight - The Band
7. Midnight Rider - Allman Brothers
8. House of the Rising Sun - Eric Burden and the Animals
9. Up Around the Bend - Creedence Clearwater Revival
10. Baba O'Riley - The Who

[GOPcapitalist]

For anyone who underates BONZO as the most powerful rock drummer we've known, take a spin with "When the Levy Breaks"

I'll second you. I put that on the CD player whenever I'm stuck in heavy traffic that isn't moving...works great on getting the frustration about the incompetent drivers all around me off my mind

[Mr. Jeeves]

All Baby Boomer rock. Not one of those would make my top ten. ;)

[MotleyGirl70]

I'm thinking more old Def Leppard

I saw them in '88, '96 and 2000 all in concert.

I'd see them again in heartbeat. I've never been disappointed.

Not a big fan of their newer stuff (too sappy), but I'd still see them play again.

[RockinRight]

I agree completely. High and Dry is still their best work, IMHO, and Pyromania is a close second.

[RockAgainsttheLeft04]

Although all of those are good songs, this list is disasterously incomplete, since it is missing the numero-uno greatest song of the rock era (therefore of all time)-- "Fade to Black" by Metallica.

The offending pollees will "Ride the Lightening" as punishment: tough but fair.