According to Far Out Magazine, it all started in 1969 when the seemingly immortal Rolling Stones guitarist declared that he found Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant annoying. “The guy’s voice started getting on my nerves,” he told Rolling Stone. “I don’t know why; maybe he’s a little too acrobatic.”
There was one Led Zeppelin member that Richards did hold in higher esteem: Jimmy Page. Maybe it was because they played the same instrument. He even went so far as to say that “Led Zeppelin is Jimmy Page if you wanna cut the story short.”
Drummers are going to hate the next part. The Rolling Stones guitarist did not like the late John Bonham’s style behind the kit, calling him “a powerhouse drummer although I think he’s kind of heavy-handed, myself — that’s where the ‘Led’ comes in.” He would later add that Bonham’s style, which was akin to an “uncontrolled 18-wheeler on the highway” rendered the band’s music hollow. He must have preferred the controlled Charlie Watts’ method of keeping the beat and apparently not overpowering anything.
Richards’ insults didn’t seem to faze the Zeppelin members or their fans. They likely adopted the attitude of The Dude from “The Big Lebowski,” which was “That’s … like your opinion, man.” Both bands are still popular and everybody abides.
