LA Drone

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“LA Drone”
“LA Drone” cover
Song by Led Zeppelin
Album How The West Was Won
Released May 27, 2003
Recorded June 27, 1972
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal, blues-rock
Length 0:14
Writer John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page

"LA Drone" is a short piece of music that the English rock band Led Zeppelin performed on the second half of their 1972 concert tour of the United States. It began their concert performances from June 15, 1972 up until June 28, 1972.

The monotonous drone was produced by Led Zeppelin keyboardist John Paul Jones and guitarist Jimmy Page by playing an acoustic guitar with a violin bow in the key of F# and layering the various sounds it produced, which segued directly into the band's opening number, "Immigrant Song". The drone was intended to build a sense of suspense and anticipation in the concert audience.

Although no studio recording exists of "LA Drone," a live version of the song can be found on the live album, How the West Was Won. This captures the performance of "LA Drone" at the Long Beach Arena on June 27, 1972. Despite being only 0:14 on the live album, it was usually closer to a 1:30 in live performances.

"LA Drone" can also be heard on the Led Zeppelin DVD, being included on disc 2 at the introduction of the band's performance of "Immigrant Song". However, unlike How the West Was Won, the DVD does not include "LA Drone" on the track listing. Also, the DVD features a 0:25 version of the song which is eleven seconds longer than the album version.

[edit] List of performances