Godwin ObajeFew bands in rock history can lay claim to a legacy as enduring and transformative as Led Zeppelin’s. Their music, a bold fusion of genres and sonic experimentation, not only defined a generation but has left an indelible mark on the artists that followed — including Nancy Wilson of Heart, who cites one Zeppelin song in particular as her band’s creative “blueprint”.
Speaking in a retrospective interview, Wilson reflected on how Led Zeppelin’s acoustic side helped shape the musical ethos of Heart. “Led Zeppelin were this beautifully mysterious melodic rock band,” she explained. “They would break out all these acoustic guitars and mandolins on songs like ‘Going to California’, and that was the blueprint for our band – we wanted our band to have all these different stylistic ways of playing.”
Indeed, ‘Going to California’ — the gentle, mandolin-laced track from the band’s 1971 untitled fourth album — marked a sonic departure from the thunderous riffing and raw blues that had become Zeppelin’s trademark. For Wilson and many of her generation, it was evidence that rock could be tender, intricate, and emotionally resonant without sacrificing its intensity or artistry.
The story of Led Zeppelin’s formation itself feels almost serendipitous — a point that underscores how much chance played a role in creating one of rock’s most iconic lineups. Jimmy Page was searching for a new band after The Yardbirds disbanded, and by sheer luck, John Paul Jones’s wife had heard Page was recruiting. Page soon found Robert Plant, a relatively unknown vocalist from Birmingham who was on the brink of abandoning music altogether. Plant, in turn, recommended drummer John Bonham. The four met, rehearsed in a basement in Soho, and as the story goes, magic happened.
Though originally brought together by a mixture of circumstance and ambition, the chemistry between the quartet was instantaneous. Their shared desire to blend genres — from folk and blues to hard rock and eastern influences — became the cornerstone of their songwriting. “There is real excitement when you start listening to a Zeppelin song, because you don’t know which direction it will go in,” the article notes.
This eclecticism wasn’t just admired by peers — it inspired a generation of musicians to tear up the rulebook and embrace a more fluid approach to composition. For Heart, that meant crafting songs that were equally comfortable in the realms of acoustic balladry and power-driven rock, an ethos mirrored in tracks like ‘Dreamboat Annie’ and ‘Crazy on You’.
Wilson’s admiration for Zeppelin goes beyond mere fandom — it’s reverence for a band that redefined what rock could be. Their willingness to break structure, experiment with form, and bring in unusual instrumentation created a playbook that Heart, and many others, continue to follow to this day.
As Wilson put it: “That was the blueprint.” And more than 50 years on from its release, ‘Going to California’ remains as influential and arresting as ever — not just a song, but a source of inspiration that helped shape the sound of modern rock.
The Led Zeppelin Classic That Became Nancy Wilson’s Creative Blueprint
Few bands in rock history can lay claim to a legacy as enduring and transformative as Led Zeppelin’s. Their music, a bold fusion of genres and sonic experimentation, not only defined a generation but has left an indelible mark on the artists that followed — including Nancy Wilson of Heart, who cites one Zeppelin song in particular as her band’s creative “blueprint”.
Speaking in a retrospective interview, Wilson reflected on how Led Zeppelin’s acoustic side helped shape the musical ethos of Heart. “Led Zeppelin were this beautifully mysterious melodic rock band,” she explained. “They would break out all these acoustic guitars and mandolins on songs like ‘Going to California’, and that was the blueprint for our band – we wanted our band to have all these different stylistic ways of playing.”
Indeed, ‘Going to California’ — the gentle, mandolin-laced track from the band’s 1971 untitled fourth album — marked a sonic departure from the thunderous riffing and raw blues that had become Zeppelin’s trademark. For Wilson and many of her generation, it was evidence that rock could be tender, intricate, and emotionally resonant without sacrificing its intensity or artistry.
The story of Led Zeppelin’s formation itself feels almost serendipitous — a point that underscores how much chance played a role in creating one of rock’s most iconic lineups. Jimmy Page was searching for a new band after The Yardbirds disbanded, and by sheer luck, John Paul Jones’s wife had heard Page was recruiting. Page soon found Robert Plant, a relatively unknown vocalist from Birmingham who was on the brink of abandoning music altogether. Plant, in turn, recommended drummer John Bonham. The four met, rehearsed in a basement in Soho, and as the story goes, magic happened.
Though originally brought together by a mixture of circumstance and ambition, the chemistry between the quartet was instantaneous. Their shared desire to blend genres — from folk and blues to hard rock and eastern influences — became the cornerstone of their songwriting. “There is real excitement when you start listening to a Zeppelin song, because you don’t know which direction it will go in,” the article notes.
This eclecticism wasn’t just admired by peers — it inspired a generation of musicians to tear up the rulebook and embrace a more fluid approach to composition. For Heart, that meant crafting songs that were equally comfortable in the realms of acoustic balladry and power-driven rock, an ethos mirrored in tracks like ‘Dreamboat Annie’ and ‘Crazy on You’.
Wilson’s admiration for Zeppelin goes beyond mere fandom — it’s reverence for a band that redefined what rock could be. Their willingness to break structure, experiment with form, and bring in unusual instrumentation created a playbook that Heart, and many others, continue to follow to this day.
As Wilson put it: “That was the blueprint.” And more than 50 years on from its release, ‘Going to California’ remains as influential and arresting as ever — not just a song, but a source of inspiration that helped shape the sound of modern rock.
Godwin Obaje
