PRESS CONFERENCE - TOKYO 9/30/72
TOKYO — "We don't feel that our music can really be categorized or labeled because it encompasses a number of styles and types of music," said the members of Led Zeppelin.
The four-man British rock group opening a two week concert tour of Japan Monday held a press conference Saturday at the Hilton Hotel.
"Music falls into a certain category because people judge it the wrong way," explained the group.
"There's as great a variety in the music we play as there is in what we each like. As a group we have to draw influences from everywhere in the music field to get a well-rounded idea of what areas there are to explore and expand on," said Jimmy Page, guitarist and group leader.
Page formed Led Zeppelin in 1968. After a year of performances throughout England the group traveled to the U.S. and made their debut at the 1969 Newport Jazz Festival. The group received immediate recognition and a short time later began the climb to success.
"We've received platinum discs for each of the four albums we've recorded since 1968," stated Page.
Platinum discs are presented when am album has sold over two million copies.
Zeppelin is working on a mew album which will be released some time in November.
"When you start recording, you find that what it is you want your song to say takes time and a variety of styles to actually put it into music. I think that is the main reason we've only had album releases," explained Robert Plant, vocalist for the group.
Zeppelin has been together for nearly five years. Unlike most musical artists they have no desire or future plans to break away from their "group" success.
"We think alike and our tastes are all basically the same. We enjoy putting our music together and are generally pleased with the results. There is no reason for any one of us to quit the group and try it solo," Page explained.
While speaking out on controversial issues of the day seems to comprise a majority of the songs on the record charts today, Zeppelin is satisfied to express simply what they feel, "we're musicians not politicians," said Page.
Led Zeppelin will begin their two week tour of Japan Monday at 6:30 p.m. when they open for two days at Tokyo's Budokan Hall . Other scheduled performances include Oct. 4, 6 p.m., Osaka Festival Hall ; Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m., Nagoya City Hall ; Oct. 9, 6 p.m., Osaka Festival Hall , and Oct. 10, 6:30 p.m., Kyoto Kaikan Daiichi Hall . -- By Lon Cabot- Stars and Stripes
