Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin song)

"Rock and Roll" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin, which was first released as the second track from Led Zeppelin IV in 1971.

Overview
Befitting its title, the song is based on one of the most popular structures in rock and roll, the 12 bar blues progression (in A). "Rock and Roll" stands as one of the best-known songs in the band's catalogue.

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page has said that this song came to be written as a spontaneous jam session, whilst the band were trying (and failing) to finish the track "Four Sticks". Drummer John Bonham was playing a medley of songs, which included a rendition of "Keep a Knockin'" and Page then added a guitar riff. The tapes were rolling and fifteen minutes later the basis of the song was down. The song also included Ian Stewart on piano who dropped in for the jam. Said Page:

It actually ground to a halt after about 12 bars, but it was enough to know that there was enough of a number there to keep working on it. Robert [Plant] even came in singing on it straight away.

"Rock and Roll" is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs where all four members share the composer credit.

Live performances
"Rock and Roll" was a key component of the band's setlist at Led Zeppelin concerts from 1971 on. Initially, Plant referred it on stage as "It's Been A Long Time", which is the first line of the song. In 1972 it was elevated to the opening number of all concert performances and it retained this status until 1975. For the band's 1977 concert tour of the United States, it became part of a medley encore with "Whole Lotta Love", and during 1979 and 1980 it became an encore in its own right.

When performing the song live, singer Robert Plant usually switched the second verse with the third.

A live performance of the song from Madison Square Garden in July 1973 was recorded for the band's concert film The Song Remains the Same and accompanying soundtrack album. There is also a June 1972 live recording of "Rock and Roll" which has been captured on the album How the West Was Won.

In 1985 Page, Plant and Jones reunited and performed the song at the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, as part of the Led Zeppelin set. "Rock and Roll" was also performed as the final encore at Led Zeppelin's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on 10 December 2007. On June 7, 2008, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones joined Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins on stage at Wembley stadium to perform "Rock and Roll," along with "Ramble On".

Cultural influence
In 2006, Bowl Games of America used "Rock and Roll" as the finale for the Gator Bowl halftime show. (The song was performed by 28 high school marching bands, with over 2,500 players.) The song is currently used by New York Mets first baseman Frank Corbisiere as a walk-up song, along with "La La Land" by Demi Lovato.

Accolades
(*) designates unordered lists.