Live Review: Dread Zeppelin at The Shadow in Kansas City, 6/15/90

Touring in support of their debut studio album Un-Led-Ed, Dread Zeppelin truly came out of left field as the world’s first Led Zeppelin cover band with a reggae style and an Elvis-impersonating lead singer. You heard me. The result of such a clash of musical cultures is something to behold. On paper, this crazy idea is a bust, but once that band was on stage, the wonderment ensued.

Rumor has it that Robert Plant endorsed the band, stating that he preferred their version of “Your Time is Gonna Come” over his original. High praise. As showmen go, charismatic lead singer “Tortelvis” (Greg Tortell) has the stage presence of The King while doing a whole lot more. Most of the debut’s songs were recorded and the home studio of Eurythmics‘ Dave Stewart. Before releasing the album via Birdcage Records, Miles Copeland’s I.R.S. Records picked it up, providing a bigger bang.

Tortelvis walks a cool vocal tightrope with the swagger of Presley’s voice, and the range and power of Plant’s. The band formed as a goof, but proved worth musically. For the most part, the group played The Zep’s greatest hits on this evening, with the exception of a couple from Willie Dixon, a Blind Willie Johnson cover, and their own version of a Ma Rainey classic. Those first three Blues classics also covered by Led Zeppelin, so covers of covers.

Check out some Dread Zeppelin on your own at their Bandcamp page. Tortelvis says thank you. Thank you very much.

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