Keith Moon Vs. John Bonham – Clash of the Titans
For this week's Clash of the Titans, we're pitting two of rock's greatest drummers -- Keith Moon and John Bonham -- against each other. To be more specific, the Who's 'A Quick One, While He's Away' takes on Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks.'
The two songs couldn't be more of a contrast in styles. On 'When the Levee Breaks,' Bonzo creates a deep pocket and doesn't let up for the song's seven minutes, giving Jimmy Page's slide guitar and Robert Plant's harmonica plenty of space, creating a thick, swampy vibe. He got his distinctive sound by recording his drums at the bottom of a three-story stairwell and placing two microphones at the top.
Meanwhile, Moonie is unstoppable on 'A Quick One,' in particular the live version from the Rolling Stones' 'Rock and Roll Circus' that was included in the 1979 film, 'The Kids Are Alright.' For all the musical shifts in the "mini-opera," Moon keeps the anarchy level high with his cymbal work and from-out-of-nowhere fills, especially in the song's climax.
So which gets your vote? This Clash of the Titans will be open until May 11, 2014 at 11:59PM. You can vote once an hour, and we've embedded both songs below.
Watch The Who's 'A Quick One, While He's Away'
Watch Led Zeppelin's 'When the Levee Breaks'