DREAM THEATER's JAMES LABRIE: 'If LED ZEPPELIN Came Out Today, They Would Blow The Doors Off Of Everything'

In a new interview with "The Everyman Podcast", DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie discussed his appreciation for the musical output of LED ZEPPELIN, one of the most influential, innovative and successful groups in modern music, having sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. He said: "I was brought up in a very eclectic musical environment. But to me, it was always ZEPPELIN that stood, and they still stand the test of time. Their stuff is timeless. If that band came out today, they would blow the doors off of everything and they would be the sensation of the world. Because for them to have created what they created, from 1968 to 1979, in 11 years, if you listen to their catalog, it's mind-boggling. These guys, everybody in their respective instrument is the top of their field. One of the best vocalists in rock and roll. One of the best frickin' bass players and drummers. And then you've got Jimmy Page — producer, mixer and writer. Like, what the hell's going on here?"

Last month, LaBrie told Metal Wani that he once "bumped into" Robert Plant and Jimmy Page on tour. "One of the days I was sitting in the bar, and I don't drink when I'm on the road, but I was just sitting there, having a soda water or something like that And all of a sudden, Robert Plant [comes over an says to me], 'Hey, man, I was watching you guys the other day. You guys sounded really cool, man.' He goes, 'Hey, by the way, mate, you have a cigarette?' I said, 'Robert, I don't smoke.' He says, 'Good on you, good on you.' And then he moved on."

LaBrie also praised LED ZEPPELIN's discography and named a handful of his favorite records from the band. "It's 'I', 'II', 'III'," he said. "Look, seriously, ZEPPELIN 'I', 'II', 'III'. And you know what, here's the way that I look at it. These guys came out in 1968 with 'Zeppelin I'. And then, 11 years later, the last album, 'In Through the Out Door'. So, you think about their catalog, you think about what they created in 11 years — that is phenomenal. And I've always said that if these guys came out today, this band, they would blow the doors off of anyone and everyone on this planet. Because, if you look at the guys, respectively, each guy in their instrument was the best of the best. I mean, Robert Plant, one of the greatest voices in rock 'n' roll. John Paul Jones, incredible bass player, very musical, keyboard player, organ, all that stuff. And then you got John Bonham, one of the greatest drummers that ever frickin' graced this planet. And then, on top of all that, you got Jimmy Page — writer, producer, and mixer. Like, what? What the hell's going on? And these four guys met? On this island called the United Kingdom? Give me a frickin' break."

LaBrie will release his fourth solo album, titled "Beautiful Shade Of Grey", on May 20 via InsideOut Music.