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Led Zeppelin — Nobody's Fault But Mine
Album: Presence
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3172









Released: 1976
Length: 6:15
Plays (last 30 days): 3
Nobody's fault but mine
Nobody's fault but mine
Trying to save my soul tonight
It's nobody's fault but mine

Devil he told me to roll
Devil he told me to roll
How to roll the log tonight
Nobody's fault but mine

Brother he showed me the gong?
Brother he showed me the ding dong ding dong
How to roll, the log tonight
Oh, it's nobody's fault but mine

Got a monkey on my back
Got a monkey on my back
Gonna change my ways tonight
Nobody's fault but mine

I will get down rollin' tonight
Nobody's fault
Comments (247)add comment
Absolutely, unequivocally, the best damn Led Zeppelin song ever! Insane drumming, screaming harmonica, Robert's incredible vocals, Jimmy's mercurial guitar work. What's not to love?
Wie niemand sonst verbindet John Bonham Wucht mit Geschmeidigkeit.
Wahnsinn.
While I agree with all that everyone is saying about JB and JP, let's not overlook the killer bass playing by JPJ on this one.  I don't know how he and JB stay in perfect synch.  Superhuman.
 LowPhreak wrote:

Bonham was doing things before a whole lot of people glommed onto his chops. His triplet patterns (especially on the kick), his phrasings, his interplay on the hats, timings, dynamics, and how he got his sounds were far ahead of plebs and many established pros alike.

It fit in great with what JPJ and Jimmy were doing, or they would often adapt their play to Bonham's - because it just worked.

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point. If you hear Zeppelin played without the Bonhamisms it doesn't sound so much like Zeppelin anymore.

There aren't many bands' drummers you can say that about.


Thank you for making me listen more closely to this particular tune.
One of the absolute best Led Zeppelin songs. Yeah! Crank up the volume!
 idiot_wind wrote:

So on point   I TOTALLY relate


MM

Try to explain to someone who didn't grow up in the 1970s about how drumming like this, and from Moon, Watts, and Baker elevated the standards so high...that you always expected it.  

We got soooooooooooooo spoiled. 


Makes that Dave Grohl (self appointed rnr guru) look like an amateur.   



Try to explain to someone who didn't grow up in the 1970s about how drumming like this, and from Moon, Watts, and Baker elevated the standards so high...that you always expected it.  

We got soooooooooooooo spoiled. 


Makes that Dave Grohl (self appointed rnr guru) look like an amateur.   
 LowPhreak wrote:

Bonham was doing things before a whole lot of people glommed onto his chops. His triplet patterns (especially on the kick), his phrasings, his interplay on the hats, timings, dynamics, and how he got his sounds were far ahead of plebs and many established pros alike.

It fit in great with what JPJ and Jimmy were doing, or they would often adapt their play to Bonham's - because it just worked.

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point. If you hear Zeppelin played without the Bonhamisms it doesn't sound so much like Zeppelin anymore.

There aren't many bands' drummers you can say that about.


Agreed LowPhreak!
 bb_matt wrote:

Blues on Speed. 

Some white boys from England were self-schooled on music made by some black boys in the USA, the rest is history.




This tune has NOTHING to do with blues!! Just pure rock & roll!



 bb_matt wrote:

Blues on Speed. 

Some white boys from England were self-schooled on music made by some black boys in the USA, the rest is history.






No BOY had anything at all to do with this.






Mighty Led Zeppelin at full gallop here. LOVE it.


Blues on Speed. 

Some white boys from England were self-schooled on music made by some black boys in the USA, the rest is history.
 sirdroseph wrote:


BEST DRUMMING SONG.......EVER!!


A bold statement.....
Greatest Dread Zepplin cover band ever
 yobyot wrote:

The guitar solos are among LZ's best since the first cut of the first album. When this band connects, it does it better than any other rock bank.



I'm sure they did very well on the rock bank.  Not impoverished as a rock band either. 
Excellent!
The BEST jammer to put on late at night to wake souls up, get them up and dancing and belting out, "-n-n-n-nuh-nobody's fault but mine..."
If you don't like this, its Nobody's fault but yours!   
Quite a few comments on here have focussed on Bonham's drumming. I agree, it's superb here... but for a weird (for Zeppelin) reason: sure, they're powerful here, as he always is. But I find his precision on this song to be just out of this world: his bass drum pedal is just spot-on, especially with those triplets he effortlessly taps-out.

In this song he also knew exactly when to hold back and play things more sparingly and simply.

My goodness, what a fantastic drummer.

That's all I got. Carry on.
Many years ago I found out the hard way that this song can bring policemen to your door on a nice, sunny afternoon if you live in an apartment complex...
This is the embodiment of my HS Jr year: Getting stoned in the freak parking lot, Zeppelin's Presence on the cassette deck at full volume, the Resource Officer prowling the lot looking for miscreants... Paradise. 
Oh Robert!
Thanks BillG for digging deep. This is what makes RP special
Very under-rated LZ album, the whole thing Gotta listen to it again. V raw
 canadapaul wrote:
so funky, so heavy= actually, its hunky
 
Or soooo feavy!


The guitar solos are among LZ's best since the first cut of the first album. When this band connects, it does it better than any other rock bank.
 all_ears wrote:
 LowPhreak wrote:

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point.

What he said. I can't play drums, but I can damn sure listen to performers. I don't think there's a better drummer in the rock world than Bonham. The unconventional, the sheer uniqueness.....you just know who you're hearing play. All those other names mentioned are superior players, too. (I would throw in Clem Burke, Mick Fleetwood and Pete Thomas, for others.) But, Bonzo beats 'em best! "Bonham couldn't swing a dead cat" Ginger Baker

 

 bobcouch wrote:

Love Zep! Bonham was the best and Moon was quirky in a very good way, but I gotta say that I was a big fan of Ginger Baker!
 

These three are at the forefront. Awesome all, each unique, powerful, daring and distinctive. 
I've often wondered about the eccentricities and compulsions of them. Excesses of booze and dope and attempting to stab a bandmate...  To be so gifted and passionate and yet so clinically disturbed, addicted, delusional. Maybe that adage is true: a light that burns twice as bright burns half as long. 
 all_ears wrote:
 LowPhreak wrote:

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point.

What he said. I can't play drums, but I can damn sure listen to performers. I don't think there's a better drummer in the rock world than Bonham. The unconventional, the sheer uniqueness.....you just know who you're hearing play. All those other names mentioned are superior players, too. (I would throw in Clem Burke, Mick Fleetwood and Pete Thomas, for others.) But, Bonzo beats 'em best!

 

 all_ears wrote:
 LowPhreak wrote:

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point.

What he said. I can't play drums, but I can damn sure listen to performers. I don't think there's a better drummer in the rock world than Bonham. The unconventional, the sheer uniqueness.....you just know who you're hearing play. All those other names mentioned are superior players, too. (I would throw in Clem Burke, Mick Fleetwood and Pete Thomas, for others.) But, Bonzo beats 'em best!

 
Love Zep! Bonham was the best and Moon was quirky in a very good way, but I gotta say that I was a big fan of Ginger Baker!
Presence was considered to the Zep's weakest album - just goes to show even rock gods on a bad day still created timeless music.  We had tickets to catch the Zep show in Montreal (I'm thinking it was winter/spring 1981), and Bonham had to off himself and they cancelled the show.  The only solace we could take was watching the US trounce Russia at Lake Placid, it was fortunate to have room mates who lived in Saranac Lake, we had access that the general public did not (now that I think of it that was the year before).  Still, it was a good time to be in college.  
Keith Moon.
Neil Peart.
And the lovely Dave Grohl. 
 LowPhreak wrote:

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point.

What he said. I can't play drums, but I can damn sure listen to performers. I don't think there's a better drummer in the rock world than Bonham. The unconventional, the sheer uniqueness.....you just know who you're hearing play. All those other names mentioned are superior players, too. (I would throw in Clem Burke, Mick Fleetwood and Pete Thomas, for others.) But, Bonzo beats 'em best!

{#Bananajam}{#Dancingbanana_2} GETTING THE LED OUT  ALL DAY LONG!!!!!
10--Godlike
Unhhhh ... unhhhh .... unhhhhh ..... unhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
One of the worst.
....yes....yes...and yes....just listen to mr. bonham beat the hell outta them drums.....
 LowPhreak wrote:

Bonham was doing things before a whole lot of people glommed onto his chops. His triplet patterns (especially on the kick), his phrasings, his interplay on the hats, timings, dynamics, and how he got his sounds were far ahead of plebs and many established pros alike.

It fit in great with what JPJ and Jimmy were doing, or they would often adapt their play to Bonham's - because it just worked.

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point. If you hear Zeppelin played without the Bonhamisms it doesn't sound so much like Zeppelin anymore.

There aren't many bands' drummers you can say that about.

 
Well stated.  As I said, he was a great drummer.  And from what you've pointed out, I may need to rethink my opinion about him not being revolutionary.  This also goes to me kicking myself for not paying more attention to LZ during my youth when they were at their peak.

And I would add Neil Peart to the list of drummers whose bands would not sound the same without them.
Easy 10.  Check out the original by Blind Willie Johnson.  Chilling.
 StigOHara wrote:

Ringo Starr, Dave Grohl, Chad Smith

 
Keith Moon
 treatment_bound wrote:

...and you were disappointed...RIGHT?

 
loved it.

love it.

still have it. 
 LowPhreak wrote:

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point. If you hear Zeppelin played without the Bonhamisms it doesn't sound so much like Zeppelin anymore.

There aren't many bands' drummers you can say that about.

 
Ringo Starr, Dave Grohl, Chad Smith
 teleskialaska wrote:

Why on earth do you listen to RP?  You will hear Zeppelin here.  I actually feel bad for you. 

 
Why would you feel bad for this person?  Not everyone loves Zep.  We're all allowed our personal tastes.  I loved Zep, but they have been ridiculously overplayed over the years.  Lots of people probably burned out on them.  
 dubberdan wrote:
Man, he really was the best drummer!

 
Yeah and the guitar player sounds pretty good too.  Whatever became of him?
Who are these Led Zeppelin guys?  They totally rock...somebody should play them on Sirius' Ozzy's Boneyard!!!
I think Bonham was not quite human. He was his own genus species. He attacked it, made love and war at the same time. 
LowPhreak you nailed it man!!!



woo-hoo
 Imkirok wrote:

Loudest does not equal best.  He was a great drummer, but I've never found his stuff to be any more technical or inspirational than so many others. 

 
Bonham was doing things before a whole lot of people glommed onto his chops. His triplet patterns (especially on the kick), his phrasings, his interplay on the hats, timings, dynamics, and how he got his sounds were far ahead of plebs and many established pros alike.

It fit in great with what JPJ and Jimmy were doing, or they would often adapt their play to Bonham's - because it just worked.

The thing with Bonham was he made it sound easy or that it was meant for a particular song or at a certain point. If you hear Zeppelin played without the Bonhamisms it doesn't sound so much like Zeppelin anymore.

There aren't many bands' drummers you can say that about.
Love me some Zeppelin...Presence delivers much more than In Through the Out Door
Exit, stage left.
 thewiseking wrote:
As we used to say LED FUCKIN ZEPPELIN!
 
Historical revisionism!

It was, in fact, "Led Fuckin' Zeppelin, man!". Or "Zeppelin, man!". Or "Zep, man!". Or "Led Fuckin' Zep, man!". Or "Fuckin' Led Zep, man!"...
I thought synchronized pauses were for marching bands.

But I've still got a lot of love for 'em, and that means pretty much every song
 Propayne wrote:
First Zeppelin album I bought brand new on the day it was released.

 
...and you were disappointed...RIGHT?
 Imkirok wrote:

Loudest does not equal best.  He was a great drummer, but I've never found his stuff to be any more technical or inspirational than so many others. 

 
"Technical" prowess doesn't really matter in rock and roll, but "not inspirational"?  John Bonham inspired hundreds - if not thousands - of drummers.  Keith Moon may be the only other rock drummer who inspired more.
Ha Ha Ha! Just thought to myself, "Plant sounds like Billy Squier!" Not sure why I got that image......

(Stroke it...stroke it....)
 sirdroseph wrote:


BEST DRUMMING SONG.......EVER!!

 
{#Notworthy}
Robert Plant's harp on this kills. 
Here's the Sonny Boy Williamson influence.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vnfZwNqR_k
 
As we used to say LED FUCKIN ZEPPELIN!
First Zeppelin album I bought brand new on the day it was released.
Mean harmonica in this song...
 LPCity wrote:
I remember watching the Eagles documentary about having their first album produced by Glyn Johns.  He told Don Henley that his drums weren't loud enough but that he wouldn't add any extra microphones to his drum kit.  "Just hit them harder."

Henley said Johns was used to working with Led Zeppelin.  "If he thinks I can hit a drum as hard as John Bonham, he's out of his mind."

/prepared for blow-back for mentioning the Eagles in any way, shape or form. 

 
You are absolved LPCity for the laffs and nods of understanding, JB pounded them babies!!!
Seriously, best rock band ever!!!!!!
Plant not so bad with the harmonica
 dubberdan wrote:
Man, he really was the best drummer!

 
Loudest does not equal best.  He was a great drummer, but I've never found his stuff to be any more technical or inspirational than so many others. 
 idiot_wind wrote:
If Keith Moon had three arms to explain his fanatic drumming, then John Bohnam had only two arms but they were sledge hammer arms. Nobody sounds like this.  

 
amen
Haha for yrs my wife has been moaning about not liking all my heavy metal. Then I just catch her humming along to this. Good job Bill!
I often astounded and startled my High School classmates with the intense fervor and all-out adoration I had for this fine & sizzling jam.
I remember watching the Eagles documentary about having their first album produced by Glyn Johns.  He told Don Henley that his drums weren't loud enough but that he wouldn't add any extra microphones to his drum kit.  "Just hit them harder."

Henley said Johns was used to working with Led Zeppelin.  "If he thinks I can hit a drum as hard as John Bonham, he's out of his mind."

/prepared for blow-back for mentioning the Eagles in any way, shape or form. 
I'm here in the New York Design Center working on a chandelier, my iPhone serenades me while I'm on the ladder, the pounding statements of JB bringing wandering designers here to my space chanting along with their horn shaped hands pumping the air "Ahhhhhh-ah-ah Ah Ahhhhh!!!"
FUCK YEAH MAN ZEP THE DC

righteous 
 Timbo080 wrote:
I could go the rest if my life without hearing another Zeppelin song and it would be ok.

 

 dubberdan wrote:
Man, he really was the best drummer!

 
+1
 swart wrote:
Awful. Just crashed the iPad app trying to PSD then spent 10 minutes trying to log in to the web app to vent my displeasure. 

I like some Led Zep. Not this.  
 
You lucky that's all that happened, rock deity could have punished you much worse.{#Naughty}
Awful. Just crashed the iPad app trying to PSD then spent 10 minutes trying to log in to the web app to vent my displeasure. 

I like some Led Zep. Not this.  
Now that was a jam. And always will be.

Man, he really was the best drummer!
here be Giants - lovin Z{#Drunk}{#War}{#Bananapiano}
 hayduke2 wrote:
  robbeek wrote:
One of the best ever...damn I be loving me some Led Zeppelin. Put on the headphones and listen to Bonham beat the hell out of those things.
 
YEAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!
BAMMM  BAAMM BAM!! smack those things man!   WOOOWW!!!  WOOOOOOOHHOOOOOO!!!!  Jumpin and Stompin my skinny ass off people, this music is fuckin ALIVE!!! 

 
WAAAAAAHH HAAAAAA!!!  love it : )
Is that a bong in the middle of the table? 

It would explain the smiling faces.  
 leafmold wrote:
Somehow I have crossed over to an age where I would rather not hear Zeppelin. Grates on me now, sorry to say.

 
How old are you?  I am 54 and still love all Zeppelin.  Hope what you have is not contagious, you should get that checked out.  
 Timbo080 wrote:
I could go the rest if my life without hearing another Zeppelin song and it would be ok.

 
Why on earth do you listen to RP?  You will hear Zeppelin here.  I actually feel bad for you. 
 countyman wrote:

Most famous cover band ever.



 
{#Laughing}

True, but they were great at it
 chinaski wrote:
This gets turned up to eleven...squared.
Same for this: https://www.public.asu.edu/~mesmith9/VikingKittens.htm
Turned up so loud it's blowin' everyone dancing and rockin' out in that crazy hotel room of yours right out the window

Anyone here remember the mid 1970's Friday evening radio program named The Hard Implosion on Georgetown University's WGTB FM where the DJ reminded listeners to have spare speaker fuses on hand throughout his broadcast?

 
Now that's a deej I can dig.

Jocks were real then, not so much the corporate sell-out fucks of today like the useless, phony Nikki Sixx & "Jen" on iHeart radio, pretending to have some edgy conversation (pre-recorded of course).

What a parody.
This gets turned up to eleven...squared.
Same for this: https://www.public.asu.edu/~mesmith9/VikingKittens.htm
Turned up so loud it's blowin' everyone dancing and rockin' out in that crazy hotel room of yours right out the window

Anyone here remember the mid 1970's Friday evening radio program named The Hard Implosion on Georgetown University's WGTB FM where the DJ reminded listeners to have spare speaker fuses on hand throughout his broadcast?
 Timbo080 wrote:
I could go the rest if my life without hearing another Zeppelin song and it would be ok.

 
A lot of people come and go on here and leave comments, and unless they are of some insight I generally don't care at all.

But this one is just horrifying. 
I could go the rest if my life without hearing another Zeppelin song and it would be ok.

Most famous cover band ever.


ZEPPLIN!!!! NEVER DIES....EVER!!!{#Bananajam}{#Drummer}{#Guitarist}{#Dancingbanana_2}
 ecojot wrote:
Listen to Nina Simone's version

 
Let's not, and listen to Zep's live version on Celebration Day instead.  {#High-five}


Listen to Nina Simone's version
Presence was the first LZ album I bought brand new the day it came out.

It will always hold a very special place in my heart. 
 JeriF wrote:
I never thought I'd say such a thing but... I'm actually getting tired of Led Zeppelin. 

 
Wait...this isn't Billy Squier?!?!



{#Roflol} 

(Just a thought to make you feel thankful...) 
 idiot_wind wrote:
If Keith Moon had three arms to explain his fanatic drumming, then John Bohnam had only two arms but they were sledge hammer arms. Nobody sounds like this.  

 
I love this comment.

He's in the pantheon of all time greats, for sure.

This song is in the pantheon, too-  turn it up to 11!
WICKED PHOTOS JAGDRIVER!  THANK YOU!!!


Ahhh... the days before arena rock. Here's Jimmy onstage at Detroit's Grande Ballroom with the Yardbirds.
Note that the late Dick Wagner's (Alice Cooper, Lou Reed) Frost were also on the bill, as were the MC5,
credited by the likes of the Clash as having invented punk rock. Members of the Stuart Avery Assemblage
jammed with the Yardbirds onstage afterward.


Sadly, my time in the musical purgatory of commercial radio before finding my way to Radio Paradise has ruined some Led Zeppelin for me through overplay.

This song is NOT one of those. 

{#Drummer}
 
Heaven.

(used psd 5 times today, 4 x's got wicked Zep tunes!) 
 idiot_wind wrote:
If Keith Moon had three arms to explain his fanatic drumming, then John Bohnam had only two arms but they were sledge hammer arms. Nobody sounds like this.  

 
GREAT ROCK AND ROLL DRUMMING!!!
 JeriF wrote:
I never thought I'd say such a thing but... I'm actually getting tired of Led Zeppelin. 

 
I've sort of outgrown this song, but there is still a bunch of great LZ stuff that I love. Are you sure you want to throw out the baby with the bath water?
If Keith Moon had three arms to explain his fanatic drumming, then John Bohnam had only two arms but they were sledge hammer arms. Nobody sounds like this.  
I never thought I'd say such a thing but... I'm actually getting tired of Led Zeppelin. 
RP's psd button is a gift from the All Knowing Ones!  Thank you thank you, I left The Wailing Jennies and got this Loud Rawcaus Piece of Heaven, WOOOO-HOOOOO!!!  GO BONHAM GO!!!!

Happy 2015!!! 
Just listened to a Robert Plant interview from 1988, and he mentioned that he had quit smoking the year before, and hasn't had any drugs in 11 years.  That means that he was drug free by the time this song was recorded.  He was always a smart one.  Too bad Jimmy didn't do the same.
 leafmold wrote:
Somehow I have crossed over to an age where I would rather not hear Zeppelin. Grates on me now, sorry to say.

 
There must be cure for this...Take two D'yer Makers and call me in the morning.
(Edit. Please use caution. I see that Lady Gaga has done a cover of this song. NO generic substitutions, under any circumstances)
 sirdroseph wrote:


BEST DRUMMING SONG.......EVER!!

 
Voted "Most Likely To Self-Combust" in high school...
I used to BLAST this on every car stereo I ever had, and one memorable time, I wired up some big-assed home speakers to a high-power amp and deck I had in my '61 Impala, put them on top of it, and cranked it up in a big park while playing Frisbee and drinking beer with a buddy, and many passing people pulled over and joined in! We had a dozen discs flying among a parkful of partiers; FUN!
Somehow I have crossed over to an age where I would rather not hear Zeppelin. Grates on me now, sorry to say.
{#Bananajam}
pure joy
A 9 on the rock and roll Richter scale. 
A 20 on the stereo volume scale.
Bonham was out of his mind good.   
 FrankRizzo wrote:

The Tampa event is listed on the official site, with a copy of the article that was printed in the newspaper reporting on the event and subsequent riot. There is also scanned media from the event, and stuff from the 1977 tour on the same page as well. Pretty cool.

https://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/june-3-1977




 

Thanks for the excellent link!
Good Gawd!...that harmonica solo intro?....straight from the darkest depths. The whole thing sounds best loud.
A non-believer asks "Is there such a thing as a god?"

The believer answers "Yes, a rock god"

Amen to that!! {#Notworthy}
Awesome!  I have not heard this for years.  The entire album was one of my favourites growing up.
This one goes to 11 
I was just thinking this morning "It's been so long since I heard Led Zeppelin on Radio Paradise, wish they played it more."
Zep can be overplayed, but I do like hearing their more "obscure" material from Physical Grafitti, Zep III and Presence.  Lots of cool stuff on this release which is kind of the forgotten Zep LP.
 SoundThinker wrote:
These jokers played in Tampa Stadium back in 1977. This was the show that got them banned from Florida for ten years. They only played three songs that day and what was the last song? This one!

It figures! It was all their fault that they left that day. So the two times I saw them in concert weren’t very good. 

 
The Tampa event is listed on the official site, with a copy of the article that was printed in the newspaper reporting on the event and subsequent riot. There is also scanned media from the event, and stuff from the 1977 tour on the same page as well. Pretty cool.

https://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/june-3-1977



These jokers played in Tampa Stadium back in 1977. This was the show that got them banned from Florida for ten years. They only played three songs that day and what was the last song? This one!

It figures! It was all their fault that they left that day. So the two times I saw them in concert weren’t very good.