Peter Grant: Shrewd businessman or Fathead?

[Scott Swanson <swandwn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

McCue writes: 

>10. Wait, one more thing! I've read commentary that describes Peter Grant
>as a shrewd businessman and a critical member of the Zep team. I couldn't
>disagree more. I'm sure the guys were far richer financially for his
>efforts, but look at the price they eventually paid. Two members of the
>band wound up as junkies, one dead. The singer lost his voice. (I think
>Plant was a victim of Grant's "the show must go on" mentality. Many of
>the gigs in 73 and 75 should have been re-scheduled.) He also comes off
>like a fathead in the Song Remains the Same, crying about a bunch of
>pathetic posters. Discuss... 

I agree.  Peter Grant did a LOT of good for the band, but some of his
tactics have had adverse effects in the long run.  Example: he kept the
band in an almost-total video blackout, apparently thinking it would
create a "mystique" (and increase ticket sales).  And what was the result?
Precious little official footage of the band.  Other big-name groups boast
of *hundreds* of hours of visual footage, but the amount of official Zep
video can fit onto a single videotape.

Later,

Scott
(swandwn@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)