Led Zeppelin and Philosophy: All Will Be Revealed

Scott Calef

Aug 2011 · Popular Culture and Philosophy Book 44 · Open Court

About this ebook

Led Zeppelin, who bestrode the world of rock like a colossus, have continually grown in popularity and influence since their official winding up in 1980. They exasperated critics and eluded classification, synthesizing blues, rock, folk, rockabilly, funk, classical, country, Indian, and Arabic techniques. They performed the alchemical trick of transmuting base led into gold—and platinum—and diamond. They did what they would, finding wisdom through personal excess and artistic self-discipline.

“Not a coda to Zeppelin’s legacy, but a blast of metaphysical graffiti as relevant today as the first time we heard the opening chords of ‘Stairway to Heaven’. From Kant to ‘Kashmir’, from Freud to ‘Fool in the Rain’, Calef and company explore Zeppelin’s music in an introspective, suggestive manner worthy of both a blistering Page solo and a bawdy Bonham stomp.”

—BRANDON W. FORBES, co-editor of Radiohead and Philosophy


“Led Zeppelin’s albums, personalities, live performances, art work, myths, influences, and more, all come under the microscope. Compelling insights and observations add more depth to a subject that continues to thrill and inspire. Each chapter is driven by an unquenchable thirst for Zeppelin knowledge and pulls the reader deeper into the world of Led Zeppelin . . .”

—DAVE LEWIS, editor, Tight But Loose

Ratings and reviews

I live for them everyday, so this book is a piece of them to me!

Real nice, super cool !

Very informative

About the author

Scott Calef is Professor of Philosophy at Ohio Wesleyan University. He has a modest collection of 900 or so CDs, and has never turned off a Led Zeppelin album in the middle (even if he has to leave, he lets it play through in his absence).