Frank didn't listen to the radio and had little interest in contemporary music aside from Varese and Stravinsky. One of Frank's bandmates told me he had no idea that the guitar solo in Stairway was iconic. However, FZ did like Warren DiMartini from Ratt - he picked up his work via Dweezil. But Frank was certainly rock - throw Rat Tomago, I'm So Cute, Packard Goose, The Illinois Enema Bandit, and all of the Shut Up 'N Play Yer Guitar albums into a blender, and pour yourself a tall cool glass of rock that rivals anything in the genre.
I am not a Zeppelin hater - I like them more than the Stones - but aside from Zeppelin II and Presence their output is uneven and their live act went downhill after 1970 (per bootlegs and footage).
Journey without Ansley Dunbar is just another SF band.
Pink Floyd is in a class all by itself, though I find myself losing interest in Roger's tunes and preferring David's tunes over time. Same with Skynyrd - Royalty.
The Beatles never played live with monitors, so they couldn't hear themselves on stage through the screaming. As such, Ringo undoubtedly kept them together live and gets my vote as perhaps the hardest hitting live drummer ever thought I may be the only guy who thinks so.
Dunbar
What a path eh....