Witness the most emotional performance of Stairway To Heaven you’re ever likely to see. The twist? It isn’t performed by Led Zeppelin but rather by two members of Heart. When it comes to rock bands in the 1970s, Led Zeppelin and Heart were both very successful.
In 2012, Led Zeppelin’s contribution and impact were honoured by U.S. President Barack Obama, who awarded them the Kennedy Centre Honors. This award is given to people who have made a significant contribution to American culture. The list of former winners is very illustrious and includes Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, Sammy Davis Jr., and Ella Fitzgerald.
Heart – Stairway to Heaven (Kennedy Center Honors)
Led Zeppelin, on the other hand, was one of the most influential rock bands of the time, with many successful bands later admitting Zeppelin’s work inspired them. These artists are as diverse as Def Leppard, Metallica, Alice Cooper, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Madonna, Beastie Boys and even Lady Gaga.
In addition, Heart had the distinction of being the only widely successful all-female fronted rock band with a string of hits, including These Dreams, Alone and All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You.
Led Zeppelin – Stairway to Heaven (Live)
The awards are bestowed at a gala held at the Kennedy Centre. In 2012, in honour of the band’s achievement, Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart joined Zeppelin drummer John Bonham’s son Jason to perform a stunning version of Stairway To Heaven. Although Heart had played Stairway before, it must have been extremely nerve-wracking to perform it in front of the band themselves, as well as the President and a host of celebrities and other dignitaries.
