Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll": A Closer Look (Drum intro, lifted from Little Richard)

Online Drum lessons ^ | 2004-2020 | Chris Milillo

[DoodleBob]

I heard this a few years ago.

Yes, Bonzo is a giant in drumming.

Nonetheless, once you hear Keep-A-Knockin’, it’s clear that Bonham stole, effectively, the opening from Little Richard…or, more precisely, Charles “Chuck” Connor.

[Jane Long]

Interesting!

[Secret Agent Man]

They sound similar to me butnot identical.

I mean style-wise its the same kind of opening, doesn’t sound exactly identical to me.

[Spaceman49]

WONDERFUL picture !! I see that Chuck used a Fusion drum set ( 2 up, one down ). Bonham played his kit in a one up, two down configuration. Using the same sticking I see how both drummers would sound similar playing the same measure, yet different due to the significant difference in shell sizes the drummers used.

[JZelle]

RunDMC stole from Aerosmith, so we be even. 😉

[Fiji Hill]

Seems Led Zeppelin borrowed from Little Richard, who did some borrowing of his own. He took writer's credit for "Keep A-Knockin" after grabbing the title and some of the lyrics from this version.

Keep a-Knockin'--Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five (1939)

Bob Wills' Western Swing version also sounds similar to Louis Jordan's and includes some of the lyrics, but no writer or composer is listed on the disc.

Keep Knockin'--Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys (1938)

[Organic Panic]

My life changed when I hear rock music. I grew up in a country / classical music house. Once I smuggled in some rock....

Game over. My dad never forgave me since he had me learn piano....

[plain talk]

Thanks. I’ll check it out later.

[dynachrome]

This is what I hear:

Alvin Lee “I Hear You Knockin’ “

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxkwx27BwTM&list=RDsxkwx27BwTM&start_radio=1

[dayglored]

Thanks for posting this. As a lead guitarist, I never was sure exactly when to come in, because I was counting the drum intro wrong. This is the best explanation I’ve seen.

Now to join a band that covers the song — all my current bands are old guys like me (60-75) and our audiences aren’t exactly spring chickens either, so while they would recognize it, nobody could dance to it. sigh

[AAABEST]

That’s nothing compared to all the material Page plagiarized.

[MagillaX]

But can you play it backwards.

[DIRTYSECRET]

10 Years After? I never wood thunk.

[God luvs America]

Greatest. Band. EVER!!

[Openurmind]

“My life changed when I head rock music. I grew up in a country / classical music house.”

Same here... Grew up country until I was about 10. On the Ranch we figured out how to hook our AM radio to a fence line and use it as an antenna to get further stations. As soon as Cuz and I found the Wolfman Jack Show broadcast from Mexico that was it... Locked into Rock.

[maddog55]

I like how people “stole” something in the music industry. There’s just so much you can do without repeating.

Take your typical blues song... They’re all identical , some slower some faster but also unique in that artist make it their own with distinct little changes.

Name a song on the radio that doesn’t have a snare drum tap within a couple bass drum beats.

Every classic rock or blues song guitar lead are all based on variations of the pentatonic scale.

In music, if you hear something and you like it you make it your own with some changes.

[SaveFerris]

IMHO “Rock n Roll” is what we call a basic
1-4-5 Progression in terms of guitar 🎸 chords

Others may have a different opinion

[Aevery_Freeman]

Can you even copyright a “lick” or a “riff”?

[TBall]

Maybe it was more a a tribute than a steal? Been a long time since

[EQAndyBuzz]

“IMHO “Rock n Roll” is what we call a basic
1-4-5 Progression in terms of guitar 🎸 chords”

Typical blues.