Today is Robert Plant's 71st birthday.
To call Plant one of rock's most legendary frontmen wouldn't scratch the surface. Led Zeppelin's broad influence during their incredible run from 1967 to 1980 changed the course of rock 'n' roll.
To celebrate Plant's birthday, and his band's stamp on music, we've compiled six of the most amazing Led Zeppelin performances.
'The Ocean' at Madison Square Garden in 1973
Everyone knows the opening riff to this cut from Zeppelin's 1973 album "House of the Holy." In this Madison Square Garden performance from that same year, Plant howls the lyrics no problem while Jimmy Page grooves through a wobbly but cutting guitar solo.
'Kashmir' at Knebworth in 1979
From their sixth album "Physical Graffiti," this song is one of the most widely covered Zeppelin tracks. It's hard to think of a more appropriate stage to perform this sprawling epic than at Knebworth House, a historic English country house in Hertfordshire. Here we see Zep at their larger-than-life pinnacle, just one year before they disbanded.
Live Performance on TV BYEN/Danmarks Radio in 1969
It's fascinating watching this early performance of Zeppelin when they were young and hungry in 1969. This was before they settled into their peak aesthetic. Here, their style is like a bridge between 1960s British mod and 1970s heyday classic rock. The band is raw and a little all over the place, bouncing from borderline free jazz noise to full-on shred session.
'Stairway to Heaven' at Earls Court in 1975
The vibes are baroque in this 1975 performance of "Stairway to Heaven." The band builds the song up slowly under moody blue stage lights. Plant commands the microphone before stepping aside with the tambourine and letting Page wield his double-necked axe for a three-minute solo.
Official live video of 'Immigrant Song'
Set off with Plant's haunting high-pitched scream, this official live video for "Immigrant Song" is psyched-out and hazy. On full display is the band's uninhibited on-stage energy.
'Achilles Last Stand' in Los Angeles in 1977
This 1977 performance of "Achilles Last Stand" starts with a mysterious and beautiful wall of noise before the band break into it, energetically jerking around on stage. One YouTube user's incredible comment on the video sums it all up: "I'm 71 now and I got to see these guys 4 time in my life. I saw many of the greats; Fats Domino; Jerry lee Lewis: T-Rex; Moody Blues to name a few. Nothing came close to Led Zeppelin. When I watch these videos I still rock out with tears in my eye because they are so great they always stir emotions in me."
