In 1969, a hard rock group consisting of four hopeful English lads was told they would fly like a lead balloon. This iconic group was none other than the legendary Led Zeppelin.
This Saturday at Kleinhans Music Hall, "The Music of Led Zeppelin" in conjunction with The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra will show, as if it needed to be shown now, just how wrong that prediction was with a full-symphony rendition of the band's work.
"The Music of Led Zeppelin" tours across the country, performing Led Zeppelin's rock gems in collaboration with symphonic orchestras, this time with the Buffalo Philharmonic.
Front man of the group Randy Jackson boasts a long history of hard rock experience, from performing in his group Zebra since 1983 to touring as the keyboardist with the reunited Jefferson Airplane.
In an interview with The Spectrum, Jackson provided insight into the massive undertaking that is The Music of Led Zeppelin. Lifting something like the heavy music of Led Zeppelin with a symphonic orchestra off the ground isn't easy. Jackson commented on how conductor Brent Havens' innate writing ability helped solve that issue.
"First of all I can tell you he has a great ear," Jackson said. "He didn't want to rewrite anything that Led Zeppelin had already done orchestrated, such as 'Kashmir.' He would stick to Zeppelin's version. With 'Black Dog' and 'Heartbreaker' he has to write scores. He'll put brass in the guitar parts, organs and violins. He didn't want to make it like a mosh, but wanted it to still work with the original music."
Jackson in turn did not have to change his personal style at all.
"When Zebra first started we did a lot of Zeppelin covers, so in preparation for this I didn't really have to do anything except learn the songs I hadn't done before. I knew how I was going to do it already."
However, he said the difference in singing over an orchestra is notable.
"There are a lot more dynamics with the orchestra, we can get really soft. With my group Zebra we do hard-to-the-wall stuff and we can only get so quiet. It is just a big sound all the time with the symphony, fifty to 100 players behind you at all times."
Jackson was never in a traditional Led Zeppelin cover group. Yet just like any other Zeppelin fan he does have his favorites.
"My favorite is 'The Rain Song.' Originally we didn't do it. Brent's original choices came from the radio charts," he said.
With all the planning, talent and effort involved in this full-scale production, it is almost expected that Led Zeppelin may have been involved to some degree.
"No connection with it, they were contacted about it. Atlantic released 'How the West Was Won' and sent a bunch of that product to us to sell at the shows. They get money from publishing every time we play Zeppelin's songs."
In the seats, the audience usually responds more like a live Led Zeppelin concert as well.
"Very rarely do we end it without everyone on their feet. We get a great response. We never had a bad response," he said. "Many people wonder, 'What the hell will it be like?' but by the end of the first song they know what they are going to get. From there it gets a lot easier."
When Jackson isn't touring with The Music of Led Zeppelin, he still spends time working with his own group Zebra.
"We did three records with Atlantic. First went gold. We did shows with Aerosmith, Loverboy, Cheap Trick, and Sammy Hagar. We came out with a new record two years ago. Our most notable hits are, 'Who's Behind the Door' and 'Tell Me What You Want.' "
It all takes place at Kleinhans Music Hall, Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are available through the Web site www.themusicofledzeppelin.com, which range from $35 to $55. This may seem rather pricey but should prove to be worth every penny.
Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Messina, from the RMBERS' Instagram page
