Lenny Kravitz was born for this! The New York rockstar delivered a molten performance of Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love” at the Kennedy Honors as the Led Zep boys watched on like proud dads. Kravitz has the wild rock ‘n’ roll wail that’s just made for channeling some Robert Plant, and I can’t think of anyone who could do this tribute better than he can. Needless to say, he also has the swagger and magnetic stage presence to make the show come off like a rocket.
You’ve also gotta give it up for the band, who were absolutely on fire up there. The groove of Led Zeppelin is legendary, and it’s a big task for a band to take on that powerhouse rhythm section and Jimmy Page’s iconic guitar licks. The Music Man readers will definitely want to tune into Kravitz’s a cappella vocal section just after the 2:30 minute mark – what power that man has in his voice.
Kravitz uploaded his rocking performance at the Kennedy Center on January 21, 2013, and it has since drawn 4.5 million views on YouTube. Fans below the video could all agree that Kravitz and his band delivered the goods, adding comments such as “He slays this song, probably one of the best Kennedy Honors shows ever” and “When Led Zeppelin gives a standing ovation to a Led Zeppelin performance, you know you’ve nailed it!”
Led Zeppelin fans among The Music Man readership are in luck, as The Kennedy Center uploaded a nearly seven-minute video that showcases all three big-ticket performances from Led Zep’s induction in 2012. The video features Foo Fighters tearing the roof off with “Rock and Roll,” then Kid Rock delivers a soulful take on “Ramble On” before Kravitz closes the show with “Whole Lotta Love.” The trio of rock classics really shows what an incredible discography and legacy Led Zeppelin have left for rock fans.
Led Zeppelin released “Whole Lotta Love” on November 7, 1969, as the lead single from their second album, Led Zeppelin II. The rocker became the band’s first hit single when it went Gold in the US. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page penned the “Whole Lotta Love” riff on a houseboat on the River Thames in the summer of 1968. The song was originally credited solely to the four members of Led Zeppelin. However, the lyrics drew heavy inspiration from Willie Dixon’s “You Need Love.” After a 1985 court case, Dixon gained a songwriting credit for “Whole Lotta Love,” as well as financial recompense.
