Lez Zeppelin is an
all-female tribute act
A tribute act, tribute band or tribute group is a music group, singer, or musician who specifically plays the music of a well-known music act. Tribute acts include individual performers who mimic the songs and style of an artist, such as Elvi ...
, performing the work of
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are ci ...
.
[McClintock, J. Scott.]Lez Zeppelin
Lez Zeppelin is an all-female tribute act, performing the work of Led Zeppelin.McClintock, J. Scott. Lez Zeppelin Allmusic
History
In June 2005, Chuck Klosterman wrote an article for ''Spin'' that featured Lez Zeppelin as a leading protagonist ...
Allmusic
History
In June 2005,
Chuck Klosterman wrote an article for ''
Spin
Spin or spinning most often refers to:
* Spinning (textiles), the creation of yarn or thread by twisting fibers together, traditionally by hand spinning
* Spin, the rotation of an object around a central axis
* Spin (propaganda), an intentionally b ...
'' that featured Lez Zeppelin as a leading protagonist in a trend of all-female hard rock "tribute" bands. He referred to the group as "the most powerful all-female band in rock history" and described the rise of bands like Lez Zeppelin as a "kind of multilayered cultural phenomenon." Stories about the group appeared in ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
'', whose journalist called the band "the best new band I’ve seen all year, no question;"
Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters Corporation. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency was estab ...
and CNN.com., which ran a front page feature that called the group so "electrifying" they are "driving club audiences to a frenzy."
In April 2007, after touring in the US and Europe the band released its first album, ''Lez Zeppelin'', which was produced by
Eddie Kramer, former recording engineer on several Led Zeppelin albums. In the wake of this release, the band was invited to festivals including the
Download Festival
Download Festival is a British-created rock festival created by Terrance Gough, held annually at the Donington Park motorsport circuit in Leicestershire, England (since 2003); in Paris, France (since 2016); at Parramatta Park, Sydney (since 201 ...
in the UK;
Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany; and the Voodoo Festival in New Orleans.
The announcement in February 2008, that Led Zeppelin would take the stage at the
Bonnaroo Festival
The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is an American annual four-day music festival developed and founded by Superfly Presents and AC Entertainment. Since its first year in 2002, it has been held at what is now Great Stage Park on a farm in M ...
, was an incorrect report by some news organizations since it was Lez Zeppelin which was due to perform.
![LezZepStageShot](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/02/LezZepStageShot.JPG)
Throughout 2008, the group continued to tour in the U.S. and in the late fall made its first visit to Japan to promote the release of its debut record. In March 2009, Lez Zeppelin played a benefit concert in Mumbai.
[Datta, Pronoti. ''Aquatar, drumclouds, shower music on city''. INDIA TIMES, March 21, 2009, p. 4.] In 2010, the band headed back into the studio to record a second album and released their re-recording of ''
Led Zeppelin I
''Led Zeppelin'' is the debut studio album by English rock music, rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released on 12 January 1969 in the United States and on 31 March in the United Kingdom by Atlantic Records.
The album was recorded in September a ...
''.
The band continued to tour and had several line-up changes in the 2010s, with the EP ''The Island of Skyros'' coming out in late 2019.
Members
*Steph Paynes –
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected stri ...
s, backing vocals, acoustic guitar,
theremin
The theremin (; originally known as the ætherphone/etherphone, thereminophone or termenvox/thereminvox) is an electronic musical instrument controlled without physical contact by the performer (who is known as a thereminist). It is named afte ...
*Leesa Harrington-Squyres – drums, backing vocals,
gong
*Marlain Angelides – lead vocals, tambourine, harmonica
*Joan Chew – bass, backing vocals, keyboards
Former members
*Kris Bradley – vocals
*Lisa Brigantino – bass, mandolin, keyboards
*
Shannon Conley
Shannon Conley (also credited as Sonny Dey, Holly Bobbit, Ursula Conlon, Vibe Jones, Candi Washington and Deborah Zane) is an American voice actress and musician based in New York City. She has done voice work in English dubs of Japanese anime for ...
– lead vocals, tambourine
*Helen Destroy – drums
*Jessica Fagre – keyboards
*Brooke Gengras – bass
*Wendy Kidd – drums
*Sarah McLellan – vocals
*Megan Thomas – bass, keyboards
Albums
2007: ''Lez Zeppelin''
In late 2007, the band (then consisting of Steph Paynes, Sarah McLellan on vocals, Helen Destroy on drums and Lisa Brigantino on bass and keyboards) recorded its first album containing six Led Zeppelin selections (one song from each of the first six albums) and two originals. The album was recorded at
Electric Lady Studios in New York City with producer/engineer
Eddie Kramer, best known for his work with Led Zeppelin and
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendrix; November 27, 1942September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most ...
, and was mastered by George Marino, who digitally remastered all of the original Led Zeppelin recordings with
Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...
. Released on Emanation Records, the album is distributed by Redeye Distribution,
[Billboard coverage]
and was also released and distributed in Japan by the Avex Music Group. Reviewing the release for
AllMusic Guide, Alex Henderson wrote that the album is "worthwhile" and that the musicians "should not be dismissed as a mere novelty act"; the editorial team gave the release 3.5 out of five stars.
#"Whole Lotta Love" – 5:44
#"The Ocean" – 4:36
#"On the Rocks" – 2:14
#"Since I've Been Loving You" – 7:58
#"Rock 'n Roll" – 3:52
#"Winter Sun" – 2:41
#"Communication Breakdown" – 2:43
#"Kashmir" – 8:42
2010: ''Lez Zeppelin I''
In 2010, the group (consisting of Steph Paynes, Leesa Harrington-Squyres, Megan Thomas, and Shannon Conley) returned to the studio to record a second album with producers Perry Margouleff and William Wittman that serves as a replication of Led Zeppelin’s 1969 debut. The album was recorded at Pie Studios in Glen Cove, New York, using all of the same analog gear and recording techniques, as well as the same vintage equipment used by Led in 1968.
Released on Pie Records, the album is distributed by
Redeye Distribution
Redeye Distribution, is an American independent record label based in Hillsborough, North Carolina, United States. It was founded in 1996 by Tor Hansen, Kim Hansen, Glenn Dicker. The label focuses on independent music.
History
Redeye is represen ...
in the U.S. and was also released and distributed in Japan by the
Avex Music Group.
AllMusic Guide gave this album three out of five stars, with reviewer
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
writing that the tone and musicianship are correct but "ultimately it’s not much more than excellent advertising for their live gigs".
Track listing
#"Good Times Bad Times" (
Jimmy Page
James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Page is prolific in creating guitar riffs. His style involves various alternative ...
,
John Paul Jones, and
John Bonham)
#"Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" (
Anne Bredon/Jimmy Page, Robert Plant)
#"You Shook Me" (
Willie Dixon
William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...
,
J.B. Lenoir
J. B. Lenoir ( '; March 5, 1929 – April 29, 1967) was an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter, active in the Chicago blues scene in the 1950s and 1960s.
Life and career
Lenoir was born in Monticello, Mississippi. His full given ...
)
#"
Dazed and Confused" (Jimmy Page, inspired by
Jake Holmes)
#"Your Time Is Gonna Come" (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones)
#"Black Mountain Side" (Jimmy Page)
#"
Communication Breakdown" (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham)
#"I Can't Quit You Baby" (
Willie Dixon
William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...
)
#"How Many More Times" (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham)
2019: ''The Island of Skyros''
In 2015, the band released the "Mystic Snowman" single, which is a Christmas-themed re-write of "
Stairway to Heaven
"Stairway to Heaven" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, released in late 1971. It was composed by the band's guitarist Jimmy Page and lead singer Robert Plant for their untitled fourth studio album (often titled ''Led Zeppelin IV'') ...
" with "
Frosty the Snowman". The band followed it with their 2019 album recorded with a string section.
#"Battle of Evermore" – 5:46
#"Achilles Last Stand" – 9:53
#"Rain Song" – 7:40
#"Immigrant Song" – 2:22
#"Friends" – 4:18
#"In the Light" – 9:24
References
External links
*
*
Lez Zeppelinat ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
Steph Paynes Interview-Artist Connection Podcast
{{Authority control
2004 establishments in New York City
All-female tribute bands
Led Zeppelin tribute bands
Musical groups established in 2004
Musical groups from New York City
Musical quartets
Rock music groups from New York (state)