Hots on for Nowhere
Encyclopedia
"Hots On for Nowhere" is a song by English
rock band
Led Zeppelin
released in 1976 on their album Presence.
The basic structure of this song can be traced to rehearsal sessions for Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti
, as well as the 1975-era live versions of the song "Dazed and Confused". One of the interludes (first heard at around 0:38) can also be heard in Walter's Walk
, as well as the snippets of the song included in certain extended live versions of Dazed and Confused.
The lyrics were written by Robert Plant
about his frustrations with Jimmy Page
and Peter Grant. Page used a lake placid blue 1960 Fender Stratocaster
for the recording of this song, as can be heard from his use of this guitar's tremolo arm.
The word "fuck" is almost used in the lyrics. Plant says "fluck" at the end of the song's first verse ("...time and his bride growing older, I got friends who will give me fluck all..."). Whether the addition of the L is deliberate, it is obvious that the correct word should be pronounced without the L. It is the second time the word shows up in one of the band's songs, as Jimmy Page can be heard muttering it during studio chatter before the start of the song "Friends
" on Led Zeppelin III
.
This song was never performed live by the group at Led Zeppelin concerts
. However, Jimmy Page later performed it with The Black Crowes
on their 2000 US tour.
"Hots On for Nowhere" was used in the film Dogtown and Z-Boys
(2001), one of the few times the band allowed a number from its catalogue to be used in a motion picture.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
rock band
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
released in 1976 on their album Presence.
The basic structure of this song can be traced to rehearsal sessions for Led Zeppelin's sixth album, Physical Graffiti
Physical Graffiti
Physical Graffiti is the sixth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, released on 24 February 1975 as a double album. Recording sessions for the album were initially disrupted when bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones considered leaving the band...
, as well as the 1975-era live versions of the song "Dazed and Confused". One of the interludes (first heard at around 0:38) can also be heard in Walter's Walk
Walter's Walk
"Walter's Walk" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin. The music was recorded at Stargroves in May 1972 during the sessions for the group's fifth album, Houses of the Holy, but it remained unreleased until 1982 when it was included on the album Coda.The date of singer Robert Plant's...
, as well as the snippets of the song included in certain extended live versions of Dazed and Confused.
The lyrics were written by Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
about his frustrations with Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
and Peter Grant. Page used a lake placid blue 1960 Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
for the recording of this song, as can be heard from his use of this guitar's tremolo arm.
The word "fuck" is almost used in the lyrics. Plant says "fluck" at the end of the song's first verse ("...time and his bride growing older, I got friends who will give me fluck all..."). Whether the addition of the L is deliberate, it is obvious that the correct word should be pronounced without the L. It is the second time the word shows up in one of the band's songs, as Jimmy Page can be heard muttering it during studio chatter before the start of the song "Friends
Friends (Led Zeppelin song)
"Friends" is the second track from the 1970 album Led Zeppelin III, the third studio album of English rock band Led Zeppelin. Jimmy Page and Robert Plant wrote the song in 1970 at Bron-Yr-Aur, a small cottage in Wales where they stayed after completing a grueling concert tour of the United...
" on Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin III is the third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded between January and July 1970 and released on 5 October 1970 by Atlantic Records. Composed largely at a remote cottage in Wales known as Bron-Yr-Aur, this work represented a maturing of the band's...
.
This song was never performed live by the group at Led Zeppelin concerts
Led Zeppelin concerts
From September 1968 through the summer of 1980, English rock group Led Zeppelin were one of the world's most popular live music attractions, performing hundreds of sold-out concerts around the world.-History:...
. However, Jimmy Page later performed it with The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes
The Black Crowes are an American rock band formed in 1989. Their discography includes nine studio albums, four live albums and several charting singles. The band was signed to Def American Recordings in 1989 by producer George Drakoulias and released their debut album, Shake Your Money Maker, the...
on their 2000 US tour.
"Hots On for Nowhere" was used in the film Dogtown and Z-Boys
Dogtown and Z-Boys
Dogtown and Z-Boys is a 2001 documentary film directed by Stacy Peralta. Using a mix of film the Zephyr skateboard team shot in the 1970s by Craig Stecyk and more recent interviews, the documentary tells the story of a group of teenage surfer/skateboarders and their influence on the history of...
(2001), one of the few times the band allowed a number from its catalogue to be used in a motion picture.
Personnel
- Robert PlantRobert PlantRobert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Jimmy PageJimmy PageJames Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s - John Paul JonesJohn Paul Jones (musician)John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
- bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - John BonhamJohn BonhamJohn Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Album versions
- 1996: Nicklebag (12 Hits and a Bump)
- 1999: Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
(Club Days [recorded live 1976]) - 2007: Stevie SalasStevie SalasStevie Salas is a guitarist known for his work on George Clinton's albums, his collaborations with Koshi Inaba of B'z, and Hardware. He was in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure, providing the fingerwork for George Carlin's guitar solo....
(Sun and the Earth)
Sources
- Lewis, Dave (2004) The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9
- Welch, Chris (1998) Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song, ISBN 1-56025-818-7