Just a little history here. Members of the Who are basically known as members of the Who. As a band, they were formed originally in the early 60's and their original name was the High Numbers. Zep was put together later in the 60's. At that time, Jimmy Page was a sessions musician showing up on records by such people as Brenda Lee, the Rolling Stones (Heart of Stone), The Kinks debut album, and interestingly enough, The Who's first single "I Can't Explain". When Zep was being put together, Page and Plant actually recruited the Who's Entwistle and Moon as bassist and drummer. While he didn't join the band, Moon did contribute the name the name of the band when he said a band featuring Page and guitarist Jeff Beck would go over like a lead zeppelin.
Each piece of the machines that were Led Zeppelin and The Who bear striking similarities to each other in appearance, performance, and contributions to their respective bands.
Guitarists: Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page were the creative geniuses of the bands. Both were the primary songwriters and contributed heavily to the studio process thus the eventual sound of the records. On stage, they were major focal points for the live shows. Pete's windmill strums, jumps, slides, and famous guitar smashing set a standard for what the rebellious tone of rock was meant to be. Page was no less flamboyant with the feedback and famous violin bow effect used on stage.
Lead Singers: Ok, just look at the pictures. These pictures should be in the dictionary along side the word doppleganger. Roger Daltrey and Robert Plant on stage at the peak of their band's popularity were the essence of what a front man on stage is supposed to be. The long flowing locks, the open shirt bare chest. (the stuffed tight pants?). While I don't lean that way, these guys were the sexual focal point of the band. They both provided fuel to the runaway train that was a live performance for these bands. Plant surely provided more to the creative process as a partner to Page in the song writing process.
Drummers: Keith Moon and John Bonham are probably rock music's most iconic time keepers (next to Ringo Starr of course). Moon's frenetic but musical style did more than just keep the beat. On stage, his manic performances matched the chaos of Townshends whirling, physical playing. I'm not sure anyone hit the skins harder than Bonham. The shear power of his playing was so essential to the sound of the Zep that upon his death, the dissolution of the band was announced. Sadly, the similarities they shared as members of their bands also carried over into their personal lives where the excesses of those life styles led to early deaths.
Bassists: These guys were the stability on stage among the nearly out of control frenzy that marked the rest of the band during live shows. While chaos was happening all around them, John Entwistle and John Paul Jones supplied the solid basis for the music and the performance on stage. Within the band, both were probably also the best overall musicians in the band playing multiple instruments.Other similarities? Both bands did "sell out" Zep allowed their song "Rock and Roll" to be used in a Cadillac commercial (how 'bout that for rock rebellion?). The Who? Jeez, many of you young kids out there just know them from the opening credits of whatever CSI TV show you choose to watch....YEEEEAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! They also titled an album "The Who Sell Out".
What does this all have to do with the Album Listening Experience? Not that much other than it is a fun comparison. I will at some point share an actual Listening Experience of one or more of these band's albums...but that's for another day.
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