The "Stairway To Heaven" Story

John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page watch
the concert at The Kennedy Center last December

It was an ordinary day.  Looking at a YouTube video that my life long friend in Arizona, Bill, sent me a link to which showed the members of one of our favorite rock bands in the late 60s sitting in the Kennedy Center watching their greatest hit, "Stairway To Heaven", being performed by Heart members Nancy and Ann Wilson along with an entire choir and orchestra.  Unbelievable!!  Led Zeppelin members John Paul Jones (keyboardist/bassist), Robert Plant (guitarist) and Jimmy Page (guitarist) sat in the balcony as their best song ever was performed in front of them at the Kennedy Center Honors Gala which was attended by President and Mrs. Obama this past December.  I can remember when the English band first started playing together in 1968.  Page and Jones were originally members of the Yardbirds who lost a member, but still had a commitment to go on tour in Scandinavia.  They added a new lineup and played the tour known as the New Yardbirds.  Then vocalist Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham were added and became known as Led Zeppelin.  

Led Zeppelin

Their most famous song, "Stairway To Heaven", which was written by Page and Plant, was released in late 1971 as part of their fourth album.  The song ran eight minutes and two seconds and increases in tempo as it progresses, ending with Plant's unaccompanied delivery of: "And she's buying a Stairway To Heaven."  Just typing this and humming it as I type gives me the shivers.  The song was voted #3 in 2000 on the VH1 list of 100 Greatest Rock Songs.  Rolling Stone named it #31 on their "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time."  Drummer Bonham died in 1980 from alcohol-related asphyxia.  In 2007 they played a Tribute Concert with Jason Bonham taking his late father's place on the drums.  As I watched and listened to the video it took me back in time to the days when rock music was king.  Watch the video and you will understand why.  When the choir and orchestra join the song and Ann Wilson sings ....."And as we wind on down the road".... you'll see why Robert Plant was seen to wipe a few tears of joy away from his eyes.  Hard not to be emotional as you watch the performance.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - click on link to view the surviving Led Zeppelin members watching the performance of their song.  http://youtu.be/JK_DOJa99oo