Rock and Roll ( Led Zeppelin song ) - wikipedia Rock and Roll ( Led Zeppelin song ) `` Rock and Roll '' German single picture sleeve Single by Led Zeppelin from the album Led Zeppelin IV B - side `` Four Sticks '' Released 21 February 1972 ( 1972 - 02 - 21 ) ( US ) Format 7 - inch single Recorded 1971 Studio Headley Grange, Headley, England Genre Rock and roll hard rock Length 3 : 40 Label Atlantic Songwriter ( s ) John Bonham John Paul Jones Jimmy Page Robert Plant Producer ( s ) Jimmy Page Led Zeppelin singles chronology `` Black Dog '' ( 1971 ) `` Rock and Roll '' ( 1972 ) `` Over the Hills and Far Away '' ( 1973 ) `` Rock and Roll '' is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, which was first released as the second track from the band 's fourth album in 1971. The song features a guest appearance by the Rolling Stones pianist Ian Stewart. Contents 1 Overview 2 Live performances 3 Formats and track listings 4 Personnel 5 Charts 6 Accolades 7 Cover versions 8 References 9 External links Overview Befitting its title, the song is based on one of the most popular structures in rock and roll, the three - chord song. It is performed in the key of A at a tempo of 170 beats per minute. `` Rock and Roll '' stands as one of the best - known songs in the band 's catalogue. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page explained that the song developed from a spontaneous jam session, whilst the band were trying ( and failing ) to finish the track `` Four Sticks '', at the Headley Grange mansion they had rented in Hampshire, England to record the track. John Bonham began by playing the drum introduction from the Little Richard song `` Keep A-Knockin ' '' to which Page added a Chuck Berry - style guitar riff. The tapes were rolling and fifteen minutes later the basis of the song was completed. Page commented : We were recording another number ( Four Sticks ) ; we 'd just finished a take and John Bonham did the drum intro and we just followed on. I started doing pretty much half of that riff you hear on Rock n Roll and it was just so exciting that we thought, `` let 's just work on this ''. The riff and the sequence was really immediate to those 12 - bar patterns that you had in those old rock songs like Little Richard, etc, and it was just so spur - of - the - moment the way that it just came together more or less out of nowhere. He added : It actually ground to a halt after about 12 bars, but it was enough to know that there was enough of a number there to keep working on it. Robert ( Plant ) even came in singing on it straight away. Live performances This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( September 2017 ) `` Rock and Roll '' was a key component of the band 's setlist at Led Zeppelin concerts from 1971 on. Initially, Plant referred to it on stage as `` It 's Been A Long Time '', which is the first line of the song. In 1972 it was elevated to the opening number of all concert performances and it retained this status until 1975. For the band 's 1977 North American tour, it became part of a medley encore with `` Whole Lotta Love '', and during 1979 and 1980 it became an encore in its own right. A live performance of the song from Madison Square Garden in July 1973 was recorded for the band 's concert film The Song Remains the Same and accompanying soundtrack album. There is also a June 1972 live recording of `` Rock and Roll '' which has been captured on the album How the West Was Won. In 1985 Page, Plant and Jones reunited and performed the song at the Live Aid concert at John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, as part of the Led Zeppelin set featuring drummers Tony Thompson and Phil Collins. `` Rock and Roll '' was also performed as the final encore at Led Zeppelin 's reunion show at the O2 Arena, London on 10 December 2007, where, due to Robert Plant 's ageing voice, it is played down a whole step. On 7 June 2008, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones joined Foo Fighters front man Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins on stage at Wembley Stadium to perform `` Rock and Roll, '' along with `` Ramble On ''. Formats and track listings 1972 7 - inch single ( US / Australia / New Zealand : Atlantic 45 - 2865, Austria / Germany : Atlantic ATL 10156, Brazil : Atco ATCS 10.005, Canada : Atlantic AT 2865, France : Atlantic 10156, Holland : Atlantic ATL 2091190, Japan : Warner Pioneer P - 1123A, Lebanon : Atlantic AT 16005, Mexico : Atlantic G - 1136, Poland : Atlantic XN 82, Portugal : Atlantic ATL N 28128, Spain : Atlantic HS 823 ) A. `` Rock and Roll '' ( Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant ) -- 3 : 40 B. `` Four Sticks '' ( Page, Plant ) -- 4 : 44 1972 7 - inch single ( South Africa : Atlantic ATL 590 ) A. `` Rock and Roll '' ( Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant ) -- 3 : 40 B. `` Going to California '' ( Page, Plant ) -- 3 : 31 1972 7 - inch EP ( US : Atlantic LLP 171 SD 7 - 7208 ) A1. `` Rock and Roll '' ( Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant ) -- 3 : 40 A2. `` Black Dog '' ( Jones, Page, Plant ) -- 4 : 56 B. `` Stairway to Heaven '' ( Page, Plant ) -- 8 : 02 Personnel Robert Plant -- lead vocals, tambourine Jimmy Page -- electric guitars John Paul Jones -- bass guitar John Bonham -- drums Ian Stewart -- piano Charts Chart ( 1972 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 51 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 38 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 13 Japan ( Oricon ) 34 Spain ( AFE ) 14 US Billboard Hot 100 47 US Cash Box 42 US Record World 38 Accolades Publication Country Accolade Year Rank Dave Marsh United States `` The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made '' 424 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame United States `` The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll '' * Radio Caroline United Kingdom `` Top 500 Tracks '' 1999 21 VH1 United States `` The 100 Greatest Rock Songs of All Time '' 2000 66 Q United Kingdom `` The 50 Most Exciting Tunes Ever... '' 2002 17 Q United Kingdom `` The 1001 Best Songs Ever '' 2003 201 ( * ) designates unordered lists Cover versions Main article : List of cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs References Jump up ^ Bashe, Philip ( 1985 ). Heavy Metal Thunder : The Music, Its History, Its Heroes. Doubleday. ISBN 978 - 0 - 385 - 19797 - 7. Besides his inspired phrasing and his extemporaneous howls and asides, Plant could convincingly convey slow blues ( `` You Shook Me '' ), gutbucket rock & roll ( `` Rock and Roll '' ), and even folk ballads ( `` Going to California '' ), in a strong, cutting voice Jump up ^ `` The 40 Greatest Led Zeppelin Songs of All Time -- ' Rock and Roll ' ( 1971 ) ''. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 21 May 2014. ^ Jump up to : Schuman, Michael A. ( 2009 ). Led Zeppelin : Legendary Rock Band. Enslow Publishers. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7660 - 3026 - 8. The fourth album also has its share of hard rock tracks. Three that received a lot of radio airplay are `` Black Dog, '' `` Misty Mountain Hop, '' and the appropriately named `` Rock and Roll. '' Jump up ^ Led Zeppelin : Mothership -- Authentic Guitar Tab Edition. Van Nuys, California : Alfred Publishing. 2008. pp. 103 -- 113. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7390 - 5317 - 1. Jump up ^ `` Classic Albums '', `` Led Zeppelin IV '', first broadcast on BBC Radio 1, 1992. ^ Jump up to : Jackson, James ( 8 January 2010 ). `` Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin IV, the band 's peak and their reunion ''. The Times. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011. Jump up ^ Schinder, Scott ; Schwartz, Andy ( 2008 ). Icons of Rock. 2. Westport, Conneticut : Greenwood. p. 390. ISBN 978 - 0 - 31333 - 845 - 8. ^ Jump up to : Lewis, Dave ( 1994 ). The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin. Omnibus Press. ISBN 0 - 7119 - 3528 - 9. Jump up ^ `` Triple J Music Specials -- Led Zeppelin ''. Triple J. ABC Online. 7 December 2000. ( first broadcast 12 July 2000 ). Retrieved 21 May 2014. Jump up ^ Schulps, Dave ( October 1977 ). `` Interview with Jimmy Page ''. Trouser Press. Iem.ac.ru. Retrieved 21 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Critiquing the Celebration Day Performance ''. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2014. Jump up ^ Case, George ( 2011 ). Led Zeppelin FAQ : All That 's Left to Know About the Greatest Hard Rock Band of All Time. Backbeat Books. p. 219. ISBN 978 - 1 - 61713 - 025 - 0. Jump up ^ `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989 ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 21 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top RPM Singles : Issue 100211. '' RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 21 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Led Zeppelin -- Rock And Roll ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 21 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Singles -- 1 May 1972 '' ( in Japanese ). Oricon. Retrieved 19 January 2009. Jump up ^ `` Top 50 Singles -- June 1972 ''. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 19 January 2009. Jump up ^ `` Led Zeppelin IV -- Awards ''. AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 21 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending APRIL 22, 1972 ''. Cash Box. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Jump up ^ `` The Singles Chart '' ( PDF ). Record World. 22 April 1972. p. 23. ISSN 0034 - 1622. Retrieved 17 September 2017. Jump up ^ `` The Heart of Rock and Soul : The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made -- 1989 ''. Da Capo Books. Archived from the original on 4 February 2002. Jump up ^ `` Experience The Music : One Hit Wonders and The Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll ''. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved 21 May 2014. Jump up ^ `` THE CHART ROOM -- Radio Caroline Top 500 Tracks 1999 ''. Radio Caroline. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2009. Jump up ^ `` It 's Only a Riff, But We Like It ''. VH1. Archived from the original on 8 April 2009. Jump up ^ `` The 50 Most Exciting Tunes Ever... -- January 2002 ''. Q. Rocklist.net. Retrieved 10 February 2009. Jump up ^ `` Q -- 1001 best songs ever ( 2003 ) ''. Q. Muzieklijstjes.nl. Retrieved 10 February 2009. External links `` Rock and Roll '' at ledzeppelin.com Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Led Zeppelin IV track listing Songs Side one `` Black Dog '' `` Rock and Roll '' `` The Battle of Evermore '' `` Stairway to Heaven '' Side two `` Misty Mountain Hop '' `` Four Sticks '' `` Going to California '' `` When the Levee Breaks '' Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin III Led Zeppelin IV Houses of the Holy Physical Graffiti Presence In Through the Out Door Coda Led Zeppelin John Bonham John Paul Jones Jimmy Page Robert Plant Studio albums Led Zeppelin Led Zeppelin II Led Zeppelin III Led Zeppelin IV Houses of the Holy Physical Graffiti Presence In Through the Out Door Coda Live albums The Song Remains the Same BBC Sessions How the West Was Won Celebration Day Compilations Profiled BBC Sessions The Best of Led Zeppelin Mothership Led Zeppelin Deluxe Edition Boxed sets Led Zeppelin Remasters Boxed Set 2 The Complete Studio Recordings Definitive Collection Singles `` Good Times Bad Times '' / `` Communication Breakdown '' `` Whole Lotta Love '' / `` Living Loving Maid ( She 's Just a Woman ) '' `` Immigrant Song '' / `` Hey, Hey, What Can I Do '' `` Black Dog '' / `` Misty Mountain Hop '' `` Rock and Roll '' / `` Four Sticks '' `` Over the Hills and Far Away '' / `` Dancing Days '' `` D'yer Mak'er '' / `` The Crunge '' `` Trampled Under Foot '' / `` Black Country Woman '' `` Candy Store Rock '' / `` Royal Orleans '' `` Fool in the Rain '' / `` Hot Dog '' `` Travelling Riverside Blues '' `` Baby Come On Home '' `` The Girl I Love She Got Long Black Wavy Hair '' Films The Song Remains the Same Led Zeppelin DVD Celebration Day Tours Scandinavia 1968 U.K. 1968 North America 1968 -- 1969 U.K. & Scandinavia 1969 North America Spring 1969 U.K. Summer 1969 North America Summer 1969 Europe Autumn 1969 North America Autumn 1969 U.K. 1970 Europe 1970 North America Spring 1970 Iceland, Bath & Germany 1970 North America Summer 1970 U.K. Spring 1971 Europe 1971 North America 1971 Japan 1971 U.K. Winter 1971 Australasia 1972 North America 1972 Japan 1972 U.K. 1972 -- 1973 Europe 1973 North America 1973 North America 1975 Earls Court 1975 North America 1977 Knebworth 1979 Over Europe 1980 Reunions Live Aid ( 1985 ) Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary ( 1988 ) Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert ( 2007 ) Lists Discography Songs Awards and nominations Bootlegs Cover versions by others Led Zeppelin songs written or inspired by others Related Articles Swan Song Records Three Week Hero `` Beck 's Bolero '' Bron - Yr - Aur The Starship Caesar 's Chariot Shark episode Planned tour -- The 1980s, Part One Covers and tributes That ' 70s Show ( season 5 ) Bands The Yardbirds Band of Joy XYZ The Honeydrippers The Firm Coverdale Page Page and Plant Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes Them Crooked Vultures Strange Sensation Books Hammer of the Gods : The Led Zeppelin Saga Stairway to Heaven : Led Zeppelin Uncensored When Giants Walked the Earth People Jason Bonham Peter Grant Richard Cole Book Portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rock_and_Roll_(Led_Zeppelin_song)&oldid=835273491 '' Categories : 1971 songs 1972 singles Atlantic Records singles Led Zeppelin songs British rock - and - roll songs Song recordings produced by Jimmy Page Songs written by Jimmy Page Songs written by Robert Plant Songs written by John Paul Jones ( musician ) Songs written by John Bonham Hidden categories : CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) Use dmy dates from March 2014 Use British English from March 2014 Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2018 Articles needing additional references from September 2017 All articles needing additional references Singlechart usages for Canadatopsingles Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Germany2 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Čeština Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk nynorsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska 5 more Edit links This page was last edited on 7 April 2018, at 17 : 31. 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Question: who played piano on led zeppelin rock and roll
Answer: the Rolling Stones pianist Ian Stewart