Stairway to Heaven

The Zoo Crew is spinning Stairway to Heaven by Dread Zeppelin from their album Rock'n Roll, and Zoo Freaks are in for a wild ride with this reggae-infused take on the Led Zeppelin classic. One juicy piece of trivia comes from the band’s orbit: Robert Plant, Led Zeppelin’s legendary frontman, is reportedly a huge fan of Dread Zeppelin’s quirky cover. According to a Reddit thread from 2014, Plant once called them his favorite Led Zeppelin cover band, praising their ability to blend humor with musical chops. This nod from Plant is no small feat, considering his mixed feelings about the original song’s overwhelming fame. The Stairway to Heaven track on Rock'n Roll clocks in at over eight minutes, featuring the long version that showcases Tortelvis, the band’s Elvis-impersonating vocalist, delivering a performance that’s both reverent and cheeky, complete with a “quiet moment with Tortelvis” and a rock’n’roll medley, as noted in a 1991 UK release description.

Another fun tidbit about Dread Zeppelin’s version is its cultural footprint. A 2016 post on yperano.com raves about the band’s enduring appeal, calling their music a timeless blend of Led Zeppelin’s riffs, reggae rhythms, and Elvis swagger. Fans on Reddit have echoed this, with one user in the same 2014 thread describing seeing Tortelvis live, decked out in intentionally cheesy Elvis costumes, bringing infectious energy to the stage. The user highlighted tracks like Heartbreaker and Black Dog but noted Stairway as a standout for its ability to make listeners question if it’s “for real” while still rocking out. This cover’s charm lies in its refusal to take itself too seriously, a sentiment reinforced by the band’s own playful ethos, as they’ve been known to poke fun at rock’s pomposity while delivering tight performances.

Dread Zeppelin’s origin story is as colorful as their music. Formed in 1989 in Sierra Madre, California, the band sprang from the ashes of The Prime Movers, a Pasadena group featuring bassist Gary Putman (Put-Mon), drummer Curt Lichter (Cheese), and guitarist Joseph “Severs” Ramsey (Jah Paul Jo). According to their Wikipedia page, The Prime Movers had modest success in the UK with singles like On The Trail before disbanding. Jah Paul Jo cooked up the idea for Dread Zeppelin, envisioning a band that mashed up Led Zeppelin’s heavy rock with reggae grooves, fronted by a 300-pound Elvis impersonator named Greg Tortell (Tortelvis). The concept wasn’t as far-fetched as it sounds—Led Zeppelin themselves flirted with reggae in D’yer Mak’er and often covered Elvis songs live. The band rounded out its lineup with guitarist Carl Haasis (Carl Jah) and conga player Bryant Fernandez (Ed Zeppelin), and their bizarre yet brilliant formula took off.

The band’s early days were marked by serendipity and hustle. A story from their bio recalls Tortelvis crashing his milk float into the band’s car, a quirky meet-cute that led to his recruitment. Signed to Birdcage Records initially, they released their debut album Un-Led-Ed in 1990, which included covers of Led Zeppelin classics and gained traction with singles like Immigrant Song. Their big break came when Miles Copeland III’s I.R.S. Records picked them up, leading to global tours and a cult following. By 1993, they caught the attention of INXS, who invited them to open for their US tour, a testament to their growing reputation. Despite lineup changes—like Tortelvis briefly leaving and Putman stepping in as vocalist Gary B.I.B.B. for It’s Not Unusual—the band’s core spirit of irreverent fun persisted, cementing their legacy as rock’s most lovable oddballs.

For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, Dread Zeppelin’s official website is www.dreadzeppelin.com, where you can find updates and merch. Their social media presence includes Facebook and Instagram, though their X account is less active. Fans can connect on the Dread Zeppelin Fan Club on Facebook, a lively spot for sharing memories and news. Another fan hub is Reddit’s r/listentothis, where posts about the band, including Stairway to Heaven, spark enthusiastic discussions. These platforms keep the Dread Zeppelin vibe alive, perfect for Zoo Freaks craving more of that reggae-rock-Elvis magic.