I have never forgotten that day in the late 1969 when I was invited to the house of a stranger who owned a disc by Led Zeppelin. It was the band’s debut album, probably the best of all its albums. However, as we were listening to the disc, and being fully imbued by the Beatlemania as I was at the time, I was kind of reluctant to let this music attempt against our loyalty to the Liverpool musicians; hence, I boldly expressed my disapproval of the band gaining such great renown.

But at the same time, the most surprising thing was that, deep inside me, I had this feeling that (Led Zeppelin’s music) would be the other big step made in contemporary popular music after the Beatles’s. However, the passing of time has made me think about this hypothetical idea related to the definite breakup of the four great musicians. The thing is that practically by the same time The Beatles was saying good-bye as a band with the album Abbey Road, Led Zeppelin was being born with the album Volume I. In addition, by coincidence, it is symbolic that this was the album that displaced Abbey Road from its top position. Apart from the many conflicts of interests that we all know, could it be possible that the fact that all four musicians John, George, Paul, and  Ringo agreed to break up as soon as possible to remain “undefeated” in the pop music world was not real? Beautiful tale; but there is no doubt that a powerful “assault group” came through the same door The Beatles had did at the beginning of that decade. We cannot say that The Beatles were not in a position to face that command, but they simply had a different style, so, they should not nor couldn’t do so.

Never before had a rock band played such hard rock as Led Zeppelin did. Never before had a rock band had an instrumentalist as versatile as John Paul Jones, nor had it included such energetic drummer as John Bonham. Even more remarkable for a rock band at the time was to rely on a singer who could perform rock music with so much dramatic force as Robert Plant was able to do. Needles to say that never before had a band included such great “architect” in terms of sound; an enigma for all those who do not know how he did it to have such absolute command of the electric guitar. We cannot think of anyone else other than Jimmy Page.

Rock bands like Pink Floyd, Yes, or Emerson, Lake and Palmer have developed a prestigious career earning them a place among top legendary bands, but there is no doubt that Led Zeppelin is the core of rock music, because it excellently synthesizes the key concepts of the genre. It was precisely to those concepts that Cuban musicians paid tribute to on the night of Nov. 21 at Havana’s Karl Marx theater.

As part of the show El Retorno de Los Dioses (The Return of the Gods), with Orlando Cruzata (1) as general director and Eddy Escobar (2) as music director, more than ten Cuban rock bands (3) paid tribute to Led Zeppelin’s extraordinary work with great enthusiasm. Only so much acclaimed band as is this British rock band can bring different generations of Cuban artists together on the stage, assuming the challenge that this show entailed with great professionalism.

With only a five-second break between songs, the audience could enjoy classical pieces, with a big screen showing continuous images of the Led Zeppelin band’s members. An expert in Cuban rock music immediately realizes that every one of those versions mean much more than recreating a sad caricature in an attempt to get closer to the myth. It’s the clear example of an ever increasing recognition to this music, which remains so much full of energy as when it was first performed over 40 years ago. The work of a collective effort could be appreciated during the concert, and even though there was no previous coordination, all the musicians did their best to thank for the existence of an endless work of which they feel to be part and parcel. Songs such as You Shook Me performed by Coverland; How Many More Times?by La Vieja Escuela, Since I’ve BeenLoving You by Eddie Escobar and his band, and Whole Lotta Love by Héctor Téllez Jr. proved that no one was trying to imitate Led Zeppelin. Actually, it was just an opportunity for the musicians and the audience to corroborate that we Cubans are also very pleased to include them within the musical heritage that belongs to every one of us.

We have records of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant staying at different hotels in Havana, like the many other tourists who often visit us. Robert Plant has even come twice. So, we are very optimistic about the possibility that both Page and Plant feel motivated to come to our beautiful capital again when they receive the video containing the images of the concert, in response to the intense, honest dialogue involving love and music, a feeling only transmitted by people as hospitable and friendly as we Cubans are.

 Notas

(1) Orlando Cruzata, a prestigious Cuban TV producer largely known for the popular TV program Lucas, which promotes the Cuban video clip. Every year, Cruzata directs the large theater show Los Lucas, where the best Cuban videos of the year are awarded. A week earlier, he produces the El Retorno de Los Dioses, where the great rock stars of all time are paid tribute.

 (2) Eddie Escobar. Few Cuban musicians know so much about British rock music as Eddie. The diverse repertoires of his concerts are proof of that.

 (3) Participating bands and songs performed:

Aire Libre… Rock and Roll, Trampled Underfoot.

Backspace... Misty Mountain Hop.

Dimensión Vertical…  Heartbreaker/ Living Loving Maid.

Habalama... Communication Breakdown, Immigrant Song.

Miel con Limón… Good Times Bad Times, D�yer Mak�er.

La Vieja Escuela…  How Many More Times.

Sweet Lizzy Project… Ramble On, Hey Hey What Can I Do.

Tierra Santa… Babe I’m Gonna Leave You.

Coverland… You Shook Me.

David Blanco and his band accompanied by string and brass instrumentalists, conducted by Maestro Igor Ernesto Corcuera Cáceres…Kashmir.

Eddie Escobar and his band… Since I’ve Been Loving You.

Eddie Escobar and his band, with Hector Téllez Jr. as guest and accompanied by string and brass instrumentalists and the Cantorum Coralina Choir conducted by Maestra Alina Orraca…Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love.

Translation: Dayamí Interián García (Cubarte)

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