Linklater was denied the Led Zeppelin song for Confusion

If ever a soundtrack helped strengthen the legacy of a film, it was Richard Linklater’s Dazed and confuseda nonstop party album that captured not only the era in which the film is set, but also the essence of the film. But although it has about 30 songs in Dazed and confusedLinklater had problems securing the rights to a Led Zeppelin song, which led him to say he would boycott singer Robert Plant for life.

Interestingly, when Linklater came up with the perfect Led Zeppelin song, he didn’t want “Dazed and Confused” itself, but “Rock and Roll.” As he recounted in his diary, Dazed by Days, Linklater got permission from Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in the spring of 1993 after sending him a five-minute video of nonstop begging. But in July, singer Robert Plant refused to use Zeppelin songs. As Linklater wrote, “We’re running out of time, so I’m throwing in the Zeppelin towel two days before the absolute final mix. I’ve never worked so hard for something like this and failed to get it done. I will boycott Plant forever. Even though he was never really involved in the decision, he is responsible for the assholes around him who he empowered to think that way. The official reason is that “it’s in direct competition with his solo career.” Plant doing lame covers of old songs and uninspired new garbage is not a proper solo career.” Linklater would denigrate Plant’s legacy by saying he was a “less talent” and that the real artist of the band was Page.

Linklater went on to promote the rock band for the Dazed and confused diss, say, “But, hey, since there’s no Zeppelin song in this movie, everyone will obviously forget that Zeppelin and Mr. Plant’s only significant outlier in music history ever existed. Then they’ll all rush out and buy the famous solo album by this miserably aging rock star (who still wants to look and act like he did 20 years ago). Yeah, right.”

Even without Linklater securing “Rock and Roll”, Dazed and confused still has one of the most iconic soundtracks you’ve ever heard. But there were still executives calling the shots and telling the director he couldn’t release a double album that would fit all the songs. So the first release only has 14 tracks, missing Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” which opens the film. A follow-up came out later… and again, Aerosmith wasn’t on it.

Dazed and confused It made Richard Linklater a true visionary of the indie scene. It didn’t make any money, but it lives on as the best last-day-of-school movie and a summary of two key eras: high school in the mid-’70s and cinema in the early ’90s. A decade after the film’s release, Linklater called on Jack Black and a lot of people to beg Led Zeppelin to allow them to record “Immigrant Song” in School of Rock – and this time it worked!

Are you a fan of Dazed and confused? What do you think is the best pinprick in the movie? Take a slow ride and let us know your picks below!