The drummer‘s father was well-known for the hat that he always wore, and the greatest honour was his son wearing his father’s hat, while playing the drums in this rendition, and then when the choir came out another amazing honour to a legend! I can’t wait to see you experience the original!! 🙏
It took Ann and Nancy Wilson, Jason Bonham, several guitarists, a full orchestra and two choirs to do justice to four amazing musicians. Best Rock band ever!
Covers of this song notoriously SUCK. Every dingbat in a music store, every weak cover band, every last one tries to learn it to show off. So the world is FLOODED with bad Stairway. The flood of bad covers has probably been painful for these guys over the years, even if they just accidentally hear them. So this being so good is a real antidote. Oddly enough, the SECOND BEST cover of it is.... Dolly Parton. She did it years before her Rock album, and so its VERY countrified. But good because her arrangement is different enough its not subject to the same comparisons as the normal covers.
The white/grey haired guy they keep going to is Jimmy Paige, the guitarist, the curly haired guys with his hand near his mouth at times is Robert Plant, the lead singer. The drummer in this performance is the son of the original drummer for LZ who passed. The bowler hat what the original drummers thing and in this performance an homage to John Bonhem
Led Zeppelin stopped playing while still at the top- not because they broke up or lost popularity- but because they were too heartbroken to keep playing after their drummer, John Bonham, died tragically young (32). They eventually tried out a few drummers, but the magic of Led Zeppelin was that all four gents were in such sync when they played, they'd improv & jam for 30 minutes at a time without a single missed note. They knew each other's playing so intimately, the blend was instinctive, unplanned. They felt they'd never capture that again without John, & so never performed together again. The drummer in this performance is John's son Jason, wearing his Dad's hat & playing his Dad's drum kit; the exact drum kit used to record the original song. (John's iconic bowler hat is also worn by the full choir at the end.) Robert Plant (curly-haired lead singer) is Jason's godfather. The band basically became his uncles for life. When Jason got old enough, a skilled drummer just like his Dad, they reformed for a few one-off performances with Jason sitting in for his late Dad. He'd surprised the band by sitting in for this tribute, having told them he had a prior commitment when they'd originally asked him. You can see the tears in both Jason & Robert's eyes at the end. Love for the music, love for each other, & love for John.
I was looking through the comments to see if someone had mentioned that Jason's presence was a surprise for the band before I'd post about it. The first time I watched it, when they announced who was behind the drums, the band seemed very surprised but I didn't think much of it but when I read about how it all happened, I watched it again and it made me smile when they pointed at him, like _"Oh, you liar! I thought you couldn't come!"_
Heart’s been huge since the MID-70’s, and Ann (the dark haired lead singer) hasn’t lost a beat in almost four decades. Her and her sister Nancy (the blonde guitarist) still sound every bit as good as they ever did. You should go down the Heart rabbit hole. Heart wasn’t some insignificant, flash in the pan group. They were HUGELY popular AND musically influential and every bit of their music still stands the test of time.👑👑=❤
Man, I am totally flashing back to my massive crush on Nancy as a teen. Haha, hilarious. She was the wild one, the wild and crazy rock star. She was limber, free spirited and a wild stallion. Somehow I was 13 and totally recognized this was awesome.
the drummer being Jon Bonham's son , Jason, (jon was the drummer for zep and passed away in 1980) was playing his dad's drum set to honor his dad.. and at the end when you made your comment about the drummer being affected, he was looking up to heaven to his dad.💔
Led Zeppelin included Robert Plant as vocalist, Jimmy Page guitarist, John Paul Jones, bassist, and the late John Bonham (Bonzo). They were very touched by Jason Bonham surprising them on drums. From what I’ve read, the band invited him to sit with them as their guest (as a stand in for his dad), but he told them he had a prior commitment because he knew he was going to be onstage. As a note, thank you for taking the time and making the effort to learn about the pioneers of Rock. It is lots of fun to watch a new generation be blown away by the same music that blew us away in our youth!
The gray haired gent is Jimmy Paige and is considered one of the best guitarist ever. When you watch the original, you’ll see how amazing he is. To play in front of him must have been so stressful, he did an amazing job. Robert Plant, the middle guy, is the lead singer of LZ and wrote the song. He was very emotional listening to his song preformed so well. Take care!
In terms of the people in the audience rocking out (besides the Obamas), they showed Yo-Yo Ma who’s one of the greatest cellists of all time, Audra McDonald (hands up in praise) who is a six-time Tony Award winner with an operatic voice, and Bonnie Raitt who is a legend in country music. That gives you a sense of the icons that both Led Zepplin and Heart are.
To do this song, that the original band hates when its covered, in front of said band, with the late drummers son playing on his fathers drum set, with the sitting president there.... No pressure.
They RIGHTFULLY hate covers of it... because every ape deludes themselves into thinking they're great at it, and they're not. So zillions of bad performances of it exist. A galaxy of suck is linked to this song, and people covering it. But this one certainly doesn't (suck, that is). It's someone with the right power, and tone, and emotional understanding of it, backed by amazing musicians (and a choir!). Believe it or not, Dolly Parton did one of the few great covers of this too. Mostly because she didn't copy. She totally rearranged it, and made it work for HER.
@@Wiley_Coyote I think why this works. The musicians believed deeply in what they were doing, and who they were doing it for. The sheer amount of energy coming from the stage was infectious.
I will never fault anyone trying to learn new music to them, and this is a fantastic way for you to discover Led Zepplin. Like someone else had said go down the rabbit hole of Heart and Led Zepplin, you will not be disappointed.
This is one of my favorite performances by heart. I highly recommend Prince at the rock and roll Hall of Fame doing my guitar gently weeps. He stole the show and proved why he was a guitar god
Chills is right! This is a great cover, and to perform in front of the original artists must be nerve wracking! Ann and Nancy did a great job, and the choir brought it home! Hope you like the original as much - such a classic!
Yes this would hit the drummer hard in that moment. His father was the original drummer😢passed away years ago. Jason did a phenomenal job. He grew up with these guys, so no one better to do this with Heart. Ann nailed this song. They all did.❤
The hat the drummer and large choir are wearing is the type of hat John Bonham wore. The drummer is the son of the G.O.A.T. drummer, John Bonham. I would recommend the studio version and the live at Madison Square Garden version by Led Zeppelin of this song. I may have heard it 100s of times but it still awakens something in my soul every time. Thank you for reacting to this. For many of us, this is a masterpiece.
You should definitely go down the Heart rabbit hole... I personally love 80's Heart ❤️ I just love Ann's voice and I get chills every time I hear it! Some of my favorites are Alone, Never, Stranded, Nothing at all, and These Dreams ❤
Ann is the only female voice that can sing this with the justice it deserves. Awesome voice! Loved watching Jimmy Page getting into and enjoying the performance
You're doing great. The Kennedy Center Honors always pays tribute to superstars in the entertainment industry only if they are still alive and can be present. They also do not know who is going to be a part of the tribute. So their surprise and emotions are real.
Nothing can ever beat the original. But this is BY FAR the best cover I've ever heard of "Stairway to Heaven". I'm so glad you reacted to this. No matter how many times I hear it, I still get chills.
Oh man I love this so much! Heart was my favorite band in high school. They were a force to be reckoned with. And it seemed that Led Zeppelin had a long time respect for the band by allowing them to cover Rock n Roll. Led Zeppelin was always very protective of their music. They hardly ever let any filmmakers use their music on a soundtrack and I think that they allowed a track to be included in the Cameron Crowe film School of Rock is not only because Cameron followed Zeppelin on tour as an underage journalist but also because he is married to guitarist Nancy Wilson of Heart. Seeing the band react to their own song like it was the first time hearing it will always be priceless.
Jason bonham is the drummer. His father was jon the legendary led zep drummer who passed away. Robert plant (curly haired guy who was the singer) is his godfather. Robert asked Jason to join them in honor of his father and sit with them. He declined saying he had previous obligations- only to surprise them by playing with heart. The derby hats are in honor of jon bonham who wore one. Ann and Nancy Wilson (heart) are legends themselves. Ann will always be the queen voice in rock since the 70s! Nancy on guitar is always amazing but she also has a great voice!
Great reaction Cliff, standing ovations all around.👏👏👏 The original has been one of my all-time favourite songs since I was a toddler, and Heart (unsurprisingly) knocked it out of the park.❤🤘
The Kennedy Center tribute to Cher is mind blowing as well, and worth checking out. Adam Lambert's (Current lead singer with Queen) performance of her song Believe brought Cher to tears.
Led Zeppelin was the band of my generation and my favorite band. It's a rabbit hole you need to go down. This is absolutely the best cover of this ever. Please react to the original . If you ever get to see the Heart in concert you should. I got to see them twice. Go down the Heart rabbit hole too. They never disappoint. Great reaction as always ❤❤❤❤
I STILL remember being 6 years old and becoming aware of the song on the radio, late at night unable to sleep and sneaking to turn on my little clock radio because it helped me sleep, I remember thinking how pretty it was, it will most certainly be a classic piece my great grandchildren will be taught about long after I'm gone, like Vivaldi or Beethoven, there will always be a Stairway to Heaven
Bro, Heart are a amazing sister duo, go check them out! Ann Wilson is in her 60s doing this performance, the drummer is led zeppelin drummers son, and yes zeppelin are being honoured in the hall of fame. Check out original and heart.
It is well worth watching the entire tribute: Jack Black introduces it, other performers in addition to Heart were Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz.
The original members of Led Zeppelin-(left-to-right) John Paul Jones (bass and keyboards), Robert Plant (lead vocal) and Jimmy Page (lead guitar)-were chosen for the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. The KCH is an annual event honoring the cultural contributions of artists from across the spectrum of performing arts, and is considered the highest honor a performing artist can receive. It has always been attended by the President and First Lady (with the exception of the Trumps). The entire event is filmed and edited for later telecast, and is well worth viewing. The other artists paying tribute to Led Zeppelin included Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, and Kid Rock. (The other honorees in 2012 included blues master Buddy Guy, late night television host David Letterman, actor Dustin Hoffman, and prima ballerina and choreographer Natalia Mokarova. I highly recommend the segment honoring Buddy Guy.)
1. The drummer is the son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, whose death led to Zep’s disbandment. The surviving members had invited Jason to this show but he declined saying he had a gig that night, they had no idea this was the gig! That’s one reason Robert Plant was moved to tears. 2. Ann Wilson is 62 years old here singing like she’s 30 3. No matter how many times I see this, “to be a ROCK! And not to ROOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!” Never gets old
The silver haired fox is Jimmy Page founding member guitarist and producer of led zep - he wrote that beautiful piece of music. Robert Plant the singer was child hood friends with John Bonham the drummer and new his son from birth. He didn't know that Jason was doing that performance hence RP's reaction at the beginning and then the fighting back tears - he wrote the lyrics . the band broke up following the death of John B. the third and equally essential surviving member is John Paul Jones plays bass, organ and mandolin as necessary. its impossible to overstate how good and influential led zep were you need to dive into it. after stairway to heaven try since i been loving you live at Madison square garden 1973 . Regarding the bowler hat its worth knowing that it used to be the symbol and almost the uniform of conservative respctable British etsablishment figures so John Bonham wearing it was iconoclastic - an act of cheeky rebellion.
This is so very awesome. The drummer that was playing (Jason Bonham) is the son of the original drummer John Bonham. John passed away some time ago, Led Zepplin had no idea that Jason was going to be there Jason is also playing on his father's drum set. Heart did this more than justice. As you could see Led Zepplin were more than proud! Love your reaction!
Story has it that Robert Plant asked Jason to perform at this event, contribute to his father, John Bonham. Jason said he had a prior engagement and wouldn’t be able to make it, but little did Led Zeppelin know that this was the prior engagement. You will see it the beginning of the video when he comes out Robert Plant stand up and point out. I’m in surprise, so that was a special moment
Maybe the best cover song ever!! The Wilson sisters were at the top of their game and Jason Bonham’s appearance is just both heart felt and powerful!!!
Cliff, the drummer is Jason, the original drummers son. John Bonham died at 32 from alcohol intoxicated aspiration (40 shots of 40% alcohol jn 24 hrs). John used to wear the bowler hats the choir and Jason had on. Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin lead singer invited Jason to attend the tribute. Jason said he had another gig so he could surprise Plant by playing there. Jason was looking upward to his father(s) in heaven ❤.
Fantastic reaction. Loved that you felt it simply from the beauty and power of the performance even without knowing the original. You are in tune with the spirit, my man! Cheers
The Kennedy Center Honors are held every year and hosted by the President. Honors are conferred on great musicians, comedians, actors. The three men w/medals are Led Zeppelin ( and if you look past Jimmy Page you will see David Letterman, who also rec'd the award in this year.) The original LZ drummer was John Bonham who died some years ago, and we are watching his son Jason filling in brilliantly! Imagine being in the building...this is a religious experience.❤️
Yes. The 3 men in the upper rows are the 3 living members of Led Zeppelin. This is the annual Kennedy Center honors which celebrates contributions in the Arts. The young man playing drums in the bowler hat is the son of LZ’s original drummer who wore bowlers. Heart loved LZ and this was a monster to perform, as this is arguably the most revered Rock song in history.
Yes, the distinguished gentleman in the high seats are the three surviving members of the quartet which formed Led Zepplin. The drummer for this piece, as stated earlier, is the son of John Bonham. Bonham's untimely death at the young age of 32 was a devastating loss for the band.
Ann is still amazing. In 2022, she was featured on the song Don't Tell Me with Disturbed. 73 years old and still belts it out like we are in the 70s. As for this song, it has always been among my favorites since I heard it as a kid.
The truth is Led Zepplin (and mostly Robert Plant) doesn't like covers of Stairway to Heaven - they got them teary with ocdhestration that almost drowned out Ann Wilson (nearly impossible to do) - and then hit them with the double whammy of their "nephew" doing this as a tribute to his father (they wanted him in the balcony with them - he said, "Oh, can't I've got a gig."). They had no idea this was the gig.
The overwhelm of this production merely meets the overwhelm of this song's contribution to the advancement of music... at the period when music's contribution to humanity... was at its very apex. For someone like me who was coming of age in the early to mid 70's... I can attest that "Stairway To Heaven' was THE VERY PINNACLE of that era.
My favourite part is watching Yo-Yo Ma appreciating the music. It just shows true talent recognized each other. You should check out Heart too... they were amazing. Also, watching the drummer's son play in place of his father was a tear jerk.
As others have said, the drummer was Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin's late drummer John Bonham. He was playing his father's drums that night. John always wore bowler hats, hence Jason and the choir wearing bowlers as an homage to John.
The Kennedy Center Honors is typically attended by the President and First Lady. That is the surviving members of Led Zeplin who are being honored and the deceased member’s son is on stage playing drums for Ann and Nancy Wilson.
I saw Led Zeppelin perform April 8, 1970 in Dorton Arena, Raleigh, NC. I was 17 and that was best concert to this day I ever saw. Watching this amazing video brings goosebumps to my body and tears to my eyes every time I watch it.
I so appreciate that you are learning about the amazing music that we have cherished for decades.... THE MIGHTY ZEP. there will never be another as great.
Loved seeing Heart. They have such a storied history . The two sisters voices are always in my head, along with Robert Plant & Jimmy Paige . Led Zepp was the summer of 1970 to me.
One of the greatest voices of all time singing one of the greatest songs of all time, with the son of the original drummer. I have heard this probably 20 times and I still get tears.
Led Zep is being honored at this event. You're right about them being in the peanut gallery... and they are loving Heart's performance of one of their greatest hits. The choir is amazing! The kid drumming for Heart is John Bonham's son. John Bonham was the drummer for Led Zep until his premature death, which ended the band. They just couldn't continue after losing "Bonzo". You do just fine baby! Thank you.
The woman with her hands up is Debbie Allen, a famous dancer and choreographer (she was in the movie/tv series Fame back in the day.) The red-headed woman rocking out was singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt, and you also got glimpses of famous cellist Yo Yo Ma and Stephen Colbert to boot. The Kennedy Honors tend to be a pretty star-packed evening.
There was a little story. The drummer of the Hart tribute was the son of the late John Bonham. They invited him to sit up with them, and he told them that he had a prior engagement and he’s so sorry that he wouldn’t be there. Needless to say, the prior engagement was the tribute.
I have watched this performance at least 30 times and I have yet to not get chills and misty eyed. I am not sure how I would have handled being there live - but I probably would have been crying uncontrollably.
The drummer playing is the son of the original drummer John Bonham. John was known for wearing bowler hats. Jason wore one to honor his father but the biggest surprise was when the back chrous all had the same hats on. It's was an amazing and powerful performance.
Heart, the Wilson sisters Ann and Nancy, are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some of their most famous songs are Magic Man, Barracuda, Alone, and Crazy on You. Nancy usually sings backing vocals but she’s the lead on These Dreams. I see someone mentioned that Ann was 62 and fighting a cold, Nancy was 58. Nancy was married to Cameron Crowe the movie producer and she wrote some of the music for the movie Almost Famous. This was very moving for Led Zeppelin and they didn’t know Jason, the son of their drummer was going to perform it was a surprise and Robert Plant LZ’s singer is his godfather.
I'm not seeing this in the comments. One thing to know is that the Kennedy Honors is a US Presidential award given for outstanding contributions to USA arts. That's why Obama is there in this video. It starts with the President giving the artists the award with the rainbow lanyard (which symbolizes 'a spectrum of many skills within the arts) and ends that evening with other performers playing a song or doing a routine (Billy Crystal was just given the award) in honor of them.
John Bonham was the band’s original drummer who died of alcohol poisoning when Jason was 5. He has since played with them off and on. He had told them he couldn’t make it that night. You need to check out Heart. Barracuda, Crazy on You, Magic Man, etc.
I saw Heart in concert a few months after Kenned Center Honors. Ann did an acapella performance of the song "Alone". The power of Ann's voice was phenomenal.
The drummer's father WAS the drummer for Led Zeppelin
John fucking Bonham, one of the best drummers ever.
@@laughingoutloud5742the best
The drummer‘s father was well-known for the hat that he always wore, and the greatest honour was his son wearing his father’s hat, while playing the drums in this rendition, and then when the choir came out another amazing honour to a legend! I can’t wait to see you experience the original!! 🙏
The hat was his signature ❤#FunFact
@@laughingoutloud5742Yep👊🏽⚡️
It took Ann and Nancy Wilson, Jason Bonham, several guitarists, a full orchestra and two choirs to do justice to four amazing musicians. Best Rock band ever!
Ever ✌️💚
And can we take a moment to notice the courage of Shane Fontayne playing that solo in front of guitar god Jimmy Page. Oh my goodness….
LOL I prefer this version, the guitar solo is much cleaner, and Ann's vocals are unsurpassed.
@@StephenLedger If you think the guitar solo is much cleaner you have obviously not watched Jimmy Page live. Shane did great but he's not Jimmy Page.
Robert told Ann afterwards that this was his favorite cover. The drummer was Jason Bonham son of John Bonham
Covers of this song notoriously SUCK. Every dingbat in a music store, every weak cover band, every last one tries to learn it to show off. So the world is FLOODED with bad Stairway. The flood of bad covers has probably been painful for these guys over the years, even if they just accidentally hear them.
So this being so good is a real antidote.
Oddly enough, the SECOND BEST cover of it is.... Dolly Parton. She did it years before her Rock album, and so its VERY countrified. But good because her arrangement is different enough its not subject to the same comparisons as the normal covers.
Not sure if this was mentioned, but Ann Wilson was 62 years old at the time of this tribute, and she was fighting the flu. What a set of pipes!
Well she has always been the female version of Robert Plant. The rock chick I judge ALL other rock chicks against
@@glenchapman3899 I've seen Heart in concert four times, beginning in the early 80's, and they have never disappointed.
The best description I heard in comments to other reactions was "This is rock legends performing for rock gods." Very appropos.
Ooh well said
The white/grey haired guy they keep going to is Jimmy Paige, the guitarist, the curly haired guys with his hand near his mouth at times is Robert Plant, the lead singer.
The drummer in this performance is the son of the original drummer for LZ who passed. The bowler hat what the original drummers thing and in this performance an homage to John Bonhem
and to the left of Plant sits John Paul Jones the bassist
Bonham
The hat Jason Bonham is wearing is one of his father’s. Also the drum kit is the same that was used recording the original song.
This is the rightful top comment haha
Led Zeppelin stopped playing while still at the top- not because they broke up or lost popularity- but because they were too heartbroken to keep playing after their drummer, John Bonham, died tragically young (32). They eventually tried out a few drummers, but the magic of Led Zeppelin was that all four gents were in such sync when they played, they'd improv & jam for 30 minutes at a time without a single missed note. They knew each other's playing so intimately, the blend was instinctive, unplanned. They felt they'd never capture that again without John, & so never performed together again.
The drummer in this performance is John's son Jason, wearing his Dad's hat & playing his Dad's drum kit; the exact drum kit used to record the original song. (John's iconic bowler hat is also worn by the full choir at the end.) Robert Plant (curly-haired lead singer) is Jason's godfather. The band basically became his uncles for life. When Jason got old enough, a skilled drummer just like his Dad, they reformed for a few one-off performances with Jason sitting in for his late Dad. He'd surprised the band by sitting in for this tribute, having told them he had a prior commitment when they'd originally asked him. You can see the tears in both Jason & Robert's eyes at the end. Love for the music, love for each other, & love for John.
I was looking through the comments to see if someone had mentioned that Jason's presence was a surprise for the band before I'd post about it. The first time I watched it, when they announced who was behind the drums, the band seemed very surprised but I didn't think much of it but when I read about how it all happened, I watched it again and it made me smile when they pointed at him, like _"Oh, you liar! I thought you couldn't come!"_
Heart’s been huge since the MID-70’s, and Ann (the dark haired lead singer) hasn’t lost a beat in almost four decades. Her and her sister Nancy (the blonde guitarist) still sound every bit as good as they ever did.
You should go down the Heart rabbit hole. Heart wasn’t some insignificant, flash in the pan group. They were HUGELY popular AND musically influential and every bit of their music still stands the test of time.👑👑=❤
Ann Wilson is the greatest female rock vocalist of all-time, bar none.
Man, I am totally flashing back to my massive crush on Nancy as a teen. Haha, hilarious. She was the wild one, the wild and crazy rock star. She was limber, free spirited and a wild stallion.
Somehow I was 13 and totally recognized this was awesome.
@@Mhantrax Stallions are male horses...just sayin'. 😉
@@SilentBob731 LOL!!! Truth! 13 year old me still ignorant, I see. 😎
Nancy is still hot 😅
the drummer being Jon Bonham's son , Jason, (jon was the drummer for zep and passed away in 1980)
was playing his dad's drum set to honor his dad.. and at the end when you made your comment about the drummer being affected,
he was looking up to heaven to his dad.💔
Jason is Robert Plant's godson. They were close all of his life.
He told them that he couldn't attend because he had a prior commitment as a surprise.
They took you to church with this cover. As great as Ann and Nancy are, this was a masterclass performance by all involved.
Led Zeppelin included Robert Plant as vocalist, Jimmy Page guitarist, John Paul Jones, bassist, and the late John Bonham (Bonzo). They were very touched by Jason Bonham surprising them on drums. From what I’ve read, the band invited him to sit with them as their guest (as a stand in for his dad), but he told them he had a prior commitment because he knew he was going to be onstage.
As a note, thank you for taking the time and making the effort to learn about the pioneers of Rock. It is lots of fun to watch a new generation be blown away by the same music that blew us away in our youth!
Agreed!
The gray haired gent is Jimmy Paige and is considered one of the best guitarist ever. When you watch the original, you’ll see how amazing he is. To play in front of him must have been so stressful, he did an amazing job. Robert Plant, the middle guy, is the lead singer of LZ and wrote the song. He was very emotional listening to his song preformed so well. Take care!
We are just all giddy/happy watching because we know what's coming and we are happy for you in advance.
In terms of the people in the audience rocking out (besides the Obamas), they showed Yo-Yo Ma who’s one of the greatest cellists of all time, Audra McDonald (hands up in praise) who is a six-time Tony Award winner with an operatic voice, and Bonnie Raitt who is a legend in country music. That gives you a sense of the icons that both Led Zepplin and Heart are.
That was not Audra McDonald. It was Debbie Allen.
To do this song, that the original band hates when its covered, in front of said band, with the late drummers son playing on his fathers drum set, with the sitting president there.... No pressure.
They RIGHTFULLY hate covers of it... because every ape deludes themselves into thinking they're great at it, and they're not. So zillions of bad performances of it exist. A galaxy of suck is linked to this song, and people covering it.
But this one certainly doesn't (suck, that is). It's someone with the right power, and tone, and emotional understanding of it, backed by amazing musicians (and a choir!).
Believe it or not, Dolly Parton did one of the few great covers of this too. Mostly because she didn't copy. She totally rearranged it, and made it work for HER.
@@Wiley_Coyote I think why this works. The musicians believed deeply in what they were doing, and who they were doing it for. The sheer amount of energy coming from the stage was infectious.
A+++++ for choosing the full version.
Yes!!!
I will never fault anyone trying to learn new music to them, and this is a fantastic way for you to discover Led Zepplin. Like someone else had said go down the rabbit hole of Heart and Led Zepplin, you will not be disappointed.
If you jump into classic rock (60/70’s) you will find an almost endless catalog of great music. You’ll have reaction videos for days.
The drummer is the Son of Leds original drummer.
This is one of my favorite performances by heart.
I highly recommend Prince at the rock and roll Hall of Fame doing my guitar gently weeps. He stole the show and proved why he was a guitar god
I second this recommendation!
OMG yes! Good choice
No doubt.
I will third that!!! Talk about amazing performances!!
I'll 4th that! Best EVER!
Chills is right! This is a great cover, and to perform in front of the original artists must be nerve wracking! Ann and Nancy did a great job, and the choir brought it home! Hope you like the original as much - such a classic!
Yes this would hit the drummer hard in that moment. His father was the original drummer😢passed away years ago. Jason did a phenomenal job. He grew up with these guys, so no one better to do this with Heart. Ann nailed this song. They all did.❤
Apparently they didn't know Jason was going to be doing this gig either.
“Stairway To Heaven” is a song that many argue is the most epic song in the classic rock canon…
Oh my heart its Heart. ❤
The hat the drummer and large choir are wearing is the type of hat John Bonham wore. The drummer is the son of the G.O.A.T. drummer, John Bonham. I would recommend the studio version and the live at Madison Square Garden version by Led Zeppelin of this song. I may have heard it 100s of times but it still awakens something in my soul every time. Thank you for reacting to this. For many of us, this is a masterpiece.
You should definitely go down the Heart rabbit hole... I personally love 80's Heart ❤️ I just love Ann's voice and I get chills every time I hear it! Some of my favorites are Alone, Never, Stranded, Nothing at all, and These Dreams ❤
Ann is the only female voice that can sing this with the justice it deserves. Awesome voice! Loved watching Jimmy Page getting into and enjoying the performance
You're doing great. The Kennedy Center Honors always pays tribute to superstars in the entertainment industry only if they are still alive and can be present. They also do not know who is going to be a part of the tribute. So their surprise and emotions are real.
Nothing can ever beat the original. But this is BY FAR the best cover I've ever heard of "Stairway to Heaven". I'm so glad you reacted to this. No matter how many times I hear it, I still get chills.
Go down the Zeppelin rabbit hole! You will never be the same!!
Oh man I love this so much! Heart was my favorite band in high school. They were a force to be reckoned with. And it seemed that Led Zeppelin had a long time respect for the band by allowing them to cover Rock n Roll. Led Zeppelin was always very protective of their music. They hardly ever let any filmmakers use their music on a soundtrack and I think that they allowed a track to be included in the Cameron Crowe film School of Rock is not only because Cameron followed Zeppelin on tour as an underage journalist but also because he is married to guitarist Nancy Wilson of Heart. Seeing the band react to their own song like it was the first time hearing it will always be priceless.
I saw Heart in concert. 🔥🔥🔥
Me too!!
Jason bonham is the drummer. His father was jon the legendary led zep drummer who passed away. Robert plant (curly haired guy who was the singer) is his godfather. Robert asked Jason to join them in honor of his father and sit with them. He declined saying he had previous obligations- only to surprise them by playing with heart. The derby hats are in honor of jon bonham who wore one. Ann and Nancy Wilson (heart) are legends themselves. Ann will always be the queen voice in rock since the 70s! Nancy on guitar is always amazing but she also has a great voice!
Great reaction Cliff, standing ovations all around.👏👏👏
The original has been one of my all-time favourite songs since I was a toddler, and Heart (unsurprisingly) knocked it out of the park.❤🤘
you kids watching this is so great....Heart and Led ZEP.....amazing
The Kennedy Center tribute to Cher is mind blowing as well, and worth checking out. Adam Lambert's (Current lead singer with Queen) performance of her song Believe brought Cher to tears.
I came here specifically to recommend that one! VOCALS!
Ann was 62 when she sang this. She is still amazing at 73.
This is the best musical performance for the last 20 years. Number 1 !
Led Zeppelin was the band of my generation and my favorite band. It's a rabbit hole you need to go down. This is absolutely the best cover of this ever. Please react to the original .
If you ever get to see the Heart in concert you should. I got to see them twice. Go down the Heart rabbit hole too. They never disappoint.
Great reaction as always ❤❤❤❤
I STILL remember being 6 years old and becoming aware of the song on the radio, late at night unable to sleep and sneaking to turn on my little clock radio because it helped me sleep, I remember thinking how pretty it was, it will most certainly be a classic piece my great grandchildren will be taught about long after I'm gone, like Vivaldi or Beethoven, there will always be a Stairway to Heaven
One of the best rock performances of all time 🌟🌟🌟
Yes these gentlemen are Led Zeppelin and the drummer is John Bonham's son Pronounced Bon am!!
great reaction.... take your time and enjoy the ride
You got chills the second I got TEARS!! 😂🥰
That chill response is a good thing. Does it to me every single time.
The drummer's dad was the original drummer for Led Zepplin, he is no longer with us.
Bro, Heart are a amazing sister duo, go check them out! Ann Wilson is in her 60s doing this performance, the drummer is led zeppelin drummers son, and yes zeppelin are being honoured in the hall of fame. Check out original and heart.
It is well worth watching the entire tribute: Jack Black introduces it, other performers in addition to Heart were Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Lenny Kravitz.
I love Jack Black's "Zepathon" speech. Awesome stuff!
You need to see Zeppelin do this live from 1973 at Madison Square Garden. One of the best guitar solos you will ever see.
I always get goosebumps to this performance. The choir gets me right in the feels. ❤️🔥
Totaly correct , that was the Led Zeppelin they where filming 😊
You are going to love this, especially the bands reaction.
The original members of Led Zeppelin-(left-to-right) John Paul Jones (bass and keyboards), Robert Plant (lead vocal) and Jimmy Page (lead guitar)-were chosen for the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. The KCH is an annual event honoring the cultural contributions of artists from across the spectrum of performing arts, and is considered the highest honor a performing artist can receive. It has always been attended by the President and First Lady (with the exception of the Trumps). The entire event is filmed and edited for later telecast, and is well worth viewing. The other artists paying tribute to Led Zeppelin included Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, and Kid Rock. (The other honorees in 2012 included blues master Buddy Guy, late night television host David Letterman, actor Dustin Hoffman, and prima ballerina and choreographer Natalia Mokarova. I highly recommend the segment honoring Buddy Guy.)
Oh man, I just loved your reaction. You MUST please check out the original, this arrangement is different but equally as beautiful.
Thank God someone got you the FULL version 😏
Yeah, the drummer was thinking about his dad, who passed back in 81 and was the drummer for Led Zeppelin.
1. The drummer is the son of Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, whose death led to Zep’s disbandment. The surviving members had invited Jason to this show but he declined saying he had a gig that night, they had no idea this was the gig! That’s one reason Robert Plant was moved to tears.
2. Ann Wilson is 62 years old here singing like she’s 30
3. No matter how many times I see this, “to be a ROCK! And not to ROOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!” Never gets old
The silver haired fox is Jimmy Page founding member guitarist and producer of led zep - he wrote that beautiful piece of music. Robert Plant the singer was child hood friends with John Bonham the drummer and new his son from birth. He didn't know that Jason was doing that performance hence RP's reaction at the beginning and then the fighting back tears - he wrote the lyrics . the band broke up following the death of John B. the third and equally essential surviving member is John Paul Jones plays bass, organ and mandolin as necessary.
its impossible to overstate how good and influential led zep were you need to dive into it. after stairway to heaven try since i been loving you live at Madison square garden 1973 . Regarding the bowler hat its worth knowing that it used to be the symbol and almost the uniform of conservative respctable British etsablishment figures so John Bonham wearing it was iconoclastic - an act of cheeky rebellion.
This is so very awesome. The drummer that was playing (Jason Bonham) is the son of the original drummer John Bonham. John passed away some time ago, Led Zepplin had no idea that Jason was going to be there Jason is also playing on his father's drum set. Heart did this more than justice. As you could see Led Zepplin were more than proud! Love your reaction!
THE BEST 'cover' version of all times! Plant was in tears - and understandably.
Both Heart and LZ are definitely worth a deep dive.
Story has it that Robert Plant asked Jason to perform at this event, contribute to his father, John Bonham. Jason said he had a prior engagement and wouldn’t be able to make it, but little did Led Zeppelin know that this was the prior engagement. You will see it the beginning of the video when he comes out Robert Plant stand up and point out. I’m in surprise, so that was a special moment
That was confirmed by Ann and Nancy
Maybe the best cover song ever!! The Wilson sisters were at the top of their game and Jason Bonham’s appearance is just both heart felt and powerful!!!
Definitely one of THE greatest covers! Heart is STILL FIRE!! 🥰🔥🎶
Ann Wilson has always had the most amazing voice and still does at the age of 70. She and her sister, Nancy have rocked the world for decades.
Cliff, the drummer is Jason, the original drummers son. John Bonham died at 32 from alcohol intoxicated aspiration (40 shots of 40% alcohol jn 24 hrs). John used to wear the bowler hats the choir and Jason had on. Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin lead singer invited Jason to attend the tribute. Jason said he had another gig so he could surprise Plant by playing there. Jason was looking upward to his father(s) in heaven ❤.
I wish you had heard the original before you saw this, but this was an amazing reaction. I subscribed before now I'm definitely a follower.
Fantastic reaction. Loved that you felt it simply from the beauty and power of the performance even without knowing the original. You are in tune with the spirit, my man!
Cheers
The Kennedy Center Honors are held every year and hosted by the President. Honors are conferred on great musicians, comedians, actors. The three men w/medals are Led Zeppelin ( and if you look past Jimmy Page you will see David Letterman, who also rec'd the award in this year.) The original LZ drummer was John Bonham who died some years ago, and we are watching his son Jason filling in brilliantly! Imagine being in the building...this is a religious experience.❤️
Yes. The 3 men in the upper rows are the 3 living members of Led Zeppelin. This is the annual Kennedy Center honors which celebrates contributions in the Arts. The young man playing drums in the bowler hat is the son of LZ’s original drummer who wore bowlers.
Heart loved LZ and this was a monster to perform, as this is arguably the most revered Rock song in history.
Yes, the distinguished gentleman in the high seats are the three surviving members of the quartet which formed Led Zepplin. The drummer for this piece, as stated earlier, is the son of John Bonham. Bonham's untimely death at the young age of 32 was a devastating loss for the band.
Led Zeppelin is so 🔥 🔥 🔥 with so many bangers!
Ann Wilson unreal at 62 years singing this classic. I'm 65 this year and enjoyed the best decade of music EVER!! Love love seeing this tribute.
❤️👍😎
Kennedy Center Honors is done ever year. Yes that is Led Zeppelin in the balcony. I watch every year because the music is the best
Ann is still amazing. In 2022, she was featured on the song Don't Tell Me with Disturbed. 73 years old and still belts it out like we are in the 70s. As for this song, it has always been among my favorites since I heard it as a kid.
That makes me cry every time I watch this. The emotions that go through me.
The truth is Led Zepplin (and mostly Robert Plant) doesn't like covers of Stairway to Heaven - they got them teary with ocdhestration that almost drowned out Ann Wilson (nearly impossible to do) - and then hit them with the double whammy of their "nephew" doing this as a tribute to his father (they wanted him in the balcony with them - he said, "Oh, can't I've got a gig."). They had no idea this was the gig.
The overwhelm of this production merely meets the overwhelm of this song's contribution to the advancement of music... at the period when music's contribution to humanity... was at its very apex. For someone like me who was coming of age in the early to mid 70's... I can attest that "Stairway To Heaven' was THE VERY PINNACLE of that era.
My favourite part is watching Yo-Yo Ma appreciating the music. It just shows true talent recognized each other. You should check out Heart too... they were amazing. Also, watching the drummer's son play in place of his father was a tear jerk.
As others have said, the drummer was Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin's late drummer John Bonham. He was playing his father's drums that night. John always wore bowler hats, hence Jason and the choir wearing bowlers as an homage to John.
The Kennedy Center Honors performances are always worth watching.
The Kennedy Center Honors is typically attended by the President and First Lady. That is the surviving members of Led Zeplin who are being honored and the deceased member’s son is on stage playing drums for Ann and Nancy Wilson.
I was so blown away when I saw Heart's version of this song. And the reactions of Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Jimmy Page are incredible.
I saw Led Zeppelin perform April 8, 1970 in Dorton Arena, Raleigh, NC. I was 17 and that was best concert to this day I ever saw. Watching this amazing video brings goosebumps to my body and tears to my eyes every time I watch it.
An amazing tribute and performance, and a standing ovation from Led Zeppelin.....
I so appreciate that you are learning about the amazing music that we have cherished for decades.... THE MIGHTY ZEP. there will never be another as great.
100%😎🤘
Loved seeing Heart. They have such a storied history . The two sisters voices are always in my head, along with Robert Plant & Jimmy Paige . Led Zepp was the summer of 1970 to me.
Listen to more Zeppelin AND more Heart! 🤟😎🤙
One of the greatest voices of all time singing one of the greatest songs of all time, with the son of the original drummer. I have heard this probably 20 times and I still get tears.
Yes those three gentlemen are Led Zeppelin and are being honoured at the Kennedy Centre.
Led Zep is being honored at this event. You're right about them being in the peanut gallery... and they are loving Heart's performance of one of their greatest hits. The choir is amazing!
The kid drumming for Heart is John Bonham's son. John Bonham was the drummer for Led Zep until his premature death, which ended the band. They just couldn't continue after losing "Bonzo".
You do just fine baby! Thank you.
The woman with her hands up is Debbie Allen, a famous dancer and choreographer (she was in the movie/tv series Fame back in the day.) The red-headed woman rocking out was singer/songwriter Bonnie Raitt, and you also got glimpses of famous cellist Yo Yo Ma and Stephen Colbert to boot. The Kennedy Honors tend to be a pretty star-packed evening.
Nobody better than Nancy Wilson on acoustic guitar. Ann Wilson STRONG vocals. Toss in a full Choir and Orchestra, IMHO the best rendition.😁
There was a little story. The drummer of the Hart tribute was the son of the late John Bonham. They invited him to sit up with them, and he told them that he had a prior engagement and he’s so sorry that he wouldn’t be there. Needless to say, the prior engagement was the tribute.
I have watched this performance at least 30 times and I have yet to not get chills and misty eyed. I am not sure how I would have handled being there live - but I probably would have been crying uncontrollably.
Heart. Magic man. One of the best songs ever made.
The drummer playing is the son of the original drummer John Bonham. John was known for wearing bowler hats. Jason wore one to honor his father but the biggest surprise was when the back chrous all had the same hats on. It's was an amazing and powerful performance.
Heart, the Wilson sisters Ann and Nancy, are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Some of their most famous songs are Magic Man, Barracuda, Alone, and Crazy on You. Nancy usually sings backing vocals but she’s the lead on These Dreams. I see someone mentioned that Ann was 62 and fighting a cold, Nancy was 58. Nancy was married to Cameron Crowe the movie producer and she wrote some of the music for the movie Almost Famous. This was very moving for Led Zeppelin and they didn’t know Jason, the son of their drummer was going to perform it was a surprise and Robert Plant LZ’s singer is his godfather.
I'm not seeing this in the comments. One thing to know is that the Kennedy Honors is a US Presidential award given for outstanding contributions to USA arts. That's why Obama is there in this video. It starts with the President giving the artists the award with the rainbow lanyard (which symbolizes 'a spectrum of many skills within the arts) and ends that evening with other performers playing a song or doing a routine (Billy Crystal was just given the award) in honor of them.
John Bonham was the band’s original drummer who died of alcohol poisoning when Jason was 5. He has since played with them off and on. He had told them he couldn’t make it that night. You need to check out Heart. Barracuda, Crazy on You, Magic Man, etc.
I saw Heart in concert a few months after Kenned Center Honors. Ann did an acapella performance of the song "Alone". The power of Ann's voice was phenomenal.