A 30-second commercial for Verizon Wireless featuring the song "Kashmir" draws in a number of images identified with Led Zeppelin.
The television spot, developed by ad agency McCann Erickson, is part of the mobile service provider's campaign unveiled last October. The campaign offers, for the first time ever, digital downloads of Led Zeppelin's back catalog.
The ad depicts a twentysomething male wearing headphones who is listening to "Kashmir" as he walks through busy city streets. During his commute, he passes such images as the band's four symbols, used as tattoo art, and the Swan Song logo depicted on a poster wall. A double-neck guitar is displayed in a storefront window.
As our protagonist approaches a building resembling the one depicted on the cover of Physical Graffiti, the song is interrupted by the ring of his cellphone. In the background is a man carrying a bundle of sticks, as is shown on the cover of Led Zeppelin's untitled fourth album.
A voiceover at the end of the commercial states, "The world's greatest band is rockin' America's hottest phones with thunderous tracks, ringtones and more. Led Zeppelin comes to V Cast from Verizon Wireless."
An older post about Led Zeppelin permitting its music to be included in multimedia efforts can be found here.
Jason Bonham
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Monday, January 14, 2008
Led Zeppelin imagery abounds in Verizon ad
About the author
Steve "The Lemon" Sauer is a writer and musician based in Boca Raton, Fla., who has dedicated a portion of his life researching the history of rock group Led Zeppelin and monitoring the ongoing careers of the band's surviving members. Although he was barely a year old when Led Zeppelin broke up and it took him until his teen years to appreciate the music, it didn't take long to make up for it.
In 2007, Steve launched Lemon Squeezings: Led Zeppelin News to cover the lead-up to the band's reunion concert at the end of that year. Since then, he has closely examined every rumor of a followup tour since then, often dispelling or clarifying misinformation perpetrated by the mainstream media. Using his journalistic training, Steve has also uncovered some facts and accounts previously unreported elsewhere.
At age 18, he began publishing On This Day In Led Zeppelin History, a daily newsletter detailing the interactions of members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, and their manager, Peter Grant. The newsletter is located at www.OnThisDayInLedZeppelinHistory.com.
He enjoys uncovering stories and has employed various methods to communicate those stories to Led Zeppelin's vast fan base, utilizing terrestrial radio and the many facets of the Internet: from Usenet newsgroups to plain e-mail and now Facebook and Twitter. Steve also connects with live audiences when performing as a backup vocalist and keyboard player with various bands, including past onstage appearances with three cover or tribute acts performing the music of Led Zeppelin.
Do you have a news tip to share with Steve? Do you have something you would like him to write about? Would you like to book him for a speaking engagement? He can be contacted by e-mail at Steve at LedZeppelinNews.com.
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