"Communication Breakdown" is a song by the English rock band

Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin were an English rock music, rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones (musician), John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham. With a he ...

, from their 1969 self-titled debut album. It was also used as the B-side of the group's first single in the US, " Good Times Bad Times". A promotional video was released, with the group miming to the recording, which is included on the '' Led Zeppelin DVD'' (2003).

Background and composition

The song's original title was "Too Good", and it had been performed during the band's 1968 Scandinavian Tour. It developed from a guitar riff played by

Jimmy Page James Patrick Page (born 9 January 1944) is an English musician and producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the Rock music, rock band Led Zeppelin. Page began his career as a studio session musician in Lo ...

, while the rest of the band wrote the song around it. Bassist

John Paul Jones John Paul Jones (born John Paul; July 6, 1747 – July 18, 1792) was a Scottish-born naval officer who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. Often referred to as the "Father of the American Navy", Jones is regard ...

later said "This is Page's riffyou can tell instantly". Singer

Robert Plant Robert Anthony Plant (born 20 August 1948) is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin from its founding in 1968 until their breakup in 1980. Since then, he has had a successful solo ca ...

could not receive a songwriting credit owing to a previous record contract, and consequently it was credited simply to the other three band members.

Personnel

According to Jean-Michel Guesdon and Philippe Margotin: *

– vocals *

– guitars, backing vocals *

– bass, organ, backing vocals (?) *

John Bonham John Henry Bonham (31 May 1948 – 25 September 1980) was an English musician who was the drummer of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Noted for his speed, power, fast single-footed kick drumming, distinctive sound, and feel for groove, John Bonh ...

– drums, backing vocals (?)

Live versions

"Communication Breakdown" was part of the group's initial live set in 1968. It was played at every gig until 1970, after which it was featured as an encore. The group played it on at least one show for all subsequent tours, including their residency at Earl's Court, London in 1975, the second appearance at the 1979 Knebworth Festival, and the band's final tour in 1980. Plant played it on some of his solo tours, while Jones performed it live with Diamanda Galás in 1994. On the '' Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions'', released in 1997, this song was featured three times, each with a slightly different improvisation by the group. Three live versions–taken from performances at the TV program ''Tous en scène'' in Paris in 1969, at ''Danmarks Radio'' in 1969 and at the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272. Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres ...

in 1970–can also be seen on the '' Led Zeppelin DVD''. The version of "Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown" released on 15 April 2014, on iTunes, is from 10 October 1969 in Paris, on the European Tour of Autumn 1969.

Legacy

The Dictators' bassist Andy Shernoff states that Page's guitar riff of rapid downstrokes in "Communication Breakdown" was an inspiration for the

Ramones The Ramones were an American punk rock band formed in the New York City neighborhood Forest Hills, Queens in 1974. Known for helping establish the punk movement in the United States and elsewhere, the Ramones are often recognized as one of th ...

' guitarist

Johnny Ramone John William Cummings (October 8, 1948 – September 15, 2004), better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American musician who was the guitarist and a founding member of the Ramones, a band that helped pioneer the punk movement. ...

's downstroke guitar style. Ramone stated in the documentary ''Ramones: The True Story'' that he built up skill at his downstroke playing style by playing the song over and over again for the bulk of his early career. The song was used in the American animated sitcom ''

The Simpsons ''The Simpsons'' is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening and developed by Groening, James L. Brooks and Sam Simon for the Fox Broadcasting Company. It is a Satire (film and television), satirical depiction of American life ...

''. In a 2006 episode titled " G.I. (Annoyed Grunt)", a group of soldiers with guitars play the riff during a recruitment drive at a crowded stadium. According to author Jonathan Pieslak, the scene is "clearly satirical... the ending scene references rock music and implies that being in the military is somehow like being at a rock concert".

References

Bibliography