Classic Rock
Pete Townshend’s criticizes Heart’s version for “Stairway To Heaven”
Led by the sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, the American band Heart paid tribute to Led Zeppelin back in 2012 when the band received the Kennedy Center Honors from president Barack Obama. With John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant in the audience, Heart performed their classic track “Stairway To Heaven” with John Bonham’s son, Jason, on drums and Robert Plant for example, got really emotional and cried during the performance.
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In an interview with NME, The Who‘s guitarist and main songwriter said that he really doesn’t care about performing live and mentioned that performance Heart did of Led Zeppelin.
Pete Townshend’s criticizes Heart’s version for “Stairway To Heaven”
“No, no (I don’t care about people knowing the setlists before a show). I’m just not really crazy about performing. I don’t mind it, I’m good at it but I don’t get the buzz that I see other performers get. Watching Robert Plant at the Kennedy Awards crying when somebody murdered one of his songs. I just think, ‘Fuck, this guy loves what he does, he loves what he’s done,’” Pete Townshend said.
NME asked him that question because Pete’s bandmate, the vocalist Roger Daltrey, said recently that live shows were not fun anymore because people now see videos of the performances and the setlists before they go to a show. So there is no way to surprise people anymore according to him.
Pete Townshend already said many times that he was never a huge fan of Led Zeppelin
Pete Townshend said to Circa back in 1995 (Transcribed by Rock and Roll Garage) about the comparision between The Who and Led Zeppelin.
“I haven’t liked a single thing that they’ve done. I hate the fact that we’re ever even slightly compared to them. I just never, ever liked them. It’s a real problem for me because as people I think they’re all really, really great guys. Just never liked the band, you know. I’ve just got a problem block to them. Because they became so much bigger The Who in so many ways in their chosen field. But I never liked.
