Monday, December 3, 2012

VIDEO: Led Zeppelin receive Kennedy Center Honors



Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones received the Kennedy Center Honors over the weekend in Washington.

The award is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.

Zeppelin were on hand along with fellow 2012 recipients David Letterman, bluesman Buddy Guy, actor and director Dustin Hoffman, and ballerina Natalia Makarova.

"When Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham burst onto the musical scene in the late 1960s, the world never saw it comin,” said President Barack Obama in his tribute to the band at the White House event Sunday. “There was this singer with a mane like a lion and a voice like a banshee, a guitar prodigy who left people’s jaws on the floor, a versatile bassist who was equally at home on the keyboards, a drummer who played like his life depended on it.”

“And when the Brits initially kept their distance, Led Zeppelin grabbed America from the opening chord,” he continued. “We were ready for what Jimmy called songs with a lot of light and shade.

“It’s been said that a generation of young people survived teenage angst with a pair of headphones and a Zeppelin album ... but even now, 32 years after John Bonham’s passing - and we all I think appreciate the fact - the Zeppelin legacy lives on.

We honour Led Zeppelin for making us all feel young, and for showing us that some guys who are not completely youthful can still rock!"


An all-star lineup performed Zeppelin tunes as part of the evening’s tribute, according to Rolling Stone.

The Foo Fighters, with Dave Grohl on drums and Taylor Hawkins on rather strained vocals, took on "Rock and Roll." Kid Rock, in gold-sequined cowboy shirt and chaps, did a better job on "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" and "Ramble On." Next was Lenny Kravitz doing a spot-on Plant impression on "Whole Lotta Love." Finally, Jason Bonham, son of original drummer John and the drummer for the band's 2007 reunion show, joined Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart for a show-ending version of "Stairway to Heaven" that gradually grew to include a string section, a horde of backup singers and the Joyce Garrett Youth Choir.

The Kennedy Center Honors medallions were presented on Saturday, the night before the gala, at a State Department dinner hosted by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The Honors Gala was recorded for broadcast on the CBS Network for a 2-hour primetime special to air on Wednesday, December 26 at 9:00 p.m. (ET/PT).










See also:

Robert Plant to play New Zealand
Led Zeppelin: Jason Bonham discusses why reunion tour didn’t happen
Led Zeppelin to appear on Late Show with David Letterman
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day to air on BBC next month
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day scores US Top 10 debut
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin - Celebration Day stunt in Dallas
Jimmy Page talks about upcoming Led Zeppelin remasters
Jimmy Page hoped for Led Zeppelin reunion tour
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin - Black Dog from Celebration Day
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin - Jimmy Page interviewed on Jools Holland
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day guitar tab book to be released
Led Zeppelin songs to be featured on NBC’s Revolution
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin share Celebration Day TV commercial
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin issue new Celebration Day preview
Robert Plant tops the hennemusic Hot 10
VIDEO: Robert Plant knocked over as fan rushes stage in Buenos Aires
Robert Plant records new material with Band Of Joy’s Buddy Miller
Jason Bonham on Celebration Day and the future of Led Zeppelin
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin - Kashmir from Celebration Day
Led Zeppelin: Robert Plant to guest on new Primal Scream album
Jimmy Page remastering Led Zeppelin catalog
Led Zeppelin: Additional Celebration Day screenings announced
KISS’ Gene Simmons given $320 million to reform Led Zeppelin
Robert Plant: South American shows available for download
PHOTOS: Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page at Celebration Day premiere in Japan
Led Zeppelin: Watch complete New York press conference for Celebration Day
Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page interviewed at London premiere of Celebration Day
Led Zeppelin top the hennemusic Hot 10
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin preview Rock & Roll from Celebration Day
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin - New York press conference highlights
VIDEO: First clip from Led Zeppelin’s New York press conference
Led Zeppelin clash with media at New York press conference
Led Zeppelin: Jimmy Page talks about Celebration Day
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin preview Kashmir from Celebration Day
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day widget available
Led Zeppelin add Celebration Day premieres in Berlin, Tokyo
Led Zeppelin to attend Celebration Day premieres
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day director comments on reunion talk
VIDEO: Black Sabbath guitarist remembers Led Zeppelin’s John Bonham
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience adds more fall dates
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin – Watch complete Celebration Day press conference
Led Zeppelin dodge reunion questions at Celebration Day event
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin preview Black Dog from Celebration Day
Led Zeppelin members to attend Celebration Day event on Friday
Metallica top Rolling Stone’s Greatest Heavy Metal Albums poll
Led Zeppelin, Queen & Iron Maiden members rock Sunflower Jam
Led Zeppelin: Excerpt from new Jimmy Page book available
Led Zeppelin top the hennemusic Hot 10
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin officially announce Celebration Day package
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day DVD cover surfaces online?
Led Zeppelin: Celebration Day to premiere in theatres next month
Led Zeppelin among 2012 Kennedy Center honorees
Led Zeppelin continue countdown to announcement
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin preview 2007 reunion DVD
REPORT: Led Zeppelin 2007 reunion DVD due on U.S. Thanksgiving
VIDEO: Led Zeppelin tease 2007 reunion DVD announcement
Led Zeppelin tease forthcoming announcement
RUMOR: Led Zeppelin 2007 reunion show set for DVD release this fall
New Led Zeppelin book due in November
New Led Zeppelin book due next week
Robert Plant announces South American tour
Led Zeppelin’s 2003 DVD certified 13 times platinum
Robert Plant inspired Kelsey Grammer to use his song on Boss
Led Zeppelin: New Jimmy Page book due in October
Robert Plant tops the hennemusic Hot 10
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience announces fall US dates
Robert Plant confirms marriage to Patty Griffin
VIDEO: Robert Plant & the Band Of Joy – Gallows Pole
VIDEO: Robert Plant & the Band Of Joy live DVD preview
Robert Plant announces US concert date
Robert Plant: Band Of Joy live DVD due this summer
Led Zeppelin II dies
Jimmy Page Fine Art Photo Print Collection available
Jimmy Page photo prints archived at UK National Portrait Gallery
VIDEO: Robert Plant debuts new band
Robert Plant announces London show
Robert Plant to debut new band at UK gig
Led Zeppelin: 2007 reunion funds $41 million donation to Oxford University
VIDEO: Sebastian Bach covers Van Halen, Led Zeppelin classics
Led Zeppelin bassist receives fellowship from UK college
Led Zeppelin IV re-enters Billboard 200 album chart after 25 years
British MP lobbying for Jimmy Page knighthood
VIDEO: Jimmy Page joins Roy Harper in London
PHOTO: Robert Plant & Patty Griffin welcome kids on Halloween
Did Robert Plant get married to Patty Griffin?