Why Dave Mustaine Thought Led Zeppelin “Weren’t Playing Well Anymore”

Dave Mustaine once spoke candidly about a turning point in his admiration for Led Zeppelin. As a young and aspiring guitarist, he had held Jimmy Page in high regard, calling him the “Dark Prince” and drawing inspiration from Zeppelin’s early, iconic records.

However, that admiration began to fade after he listened to the live album The Song Remains the Same. The performance struck him as sloppy and uninspired. “These guys aren’t playing good anymore,” he thought, disappointed by what he felt was a noticeable decline in their musical sharpness. For Mustaine, this wasn’t just a bad gig—it signaled a broader decline in the band’s energy and discipline. Though he still loved the earlier work, like Led Zeppelin IV, he found it hard to enjoy their later live output.

That realization left a mark on him, shaping his expectations for performance quality and longevity in rock music.