I just read several books on LZ. I'm left with these questions.
1. How was LZ's music different from that of say, the Beatles, Stones, Floyd, and other bands of the time.
I'll take a stab at answering this. LZ, unlike those bands, brought old American blues (e.g. Willie Dixon) into the fray, albeit played heavier than the old blues artists who were often playing acoustic. LZ also pioneered music that was loud. LZ pioneered music that was guitar riff based (though the latter no one ever really did quite like them). Lastly, LZ branched into multiple genres like few other bands: acoustic (LZ3), funk (The Crunge, Candy Store Rock), rockabilly (Rock & Roll, Hot Dog) etc.
Is that a good answer? Can someone beat it? Are there any good analyses out there (maybe in book form) that analyze the music well (rather than just the salacious groupie stories)?
2. How did LZ impact later bands?
Exactly which popular bands of later days were most influenced by LZ? Was AC/DC influenced by them? If so, how? And to what extent did rock music go the opposite direction? For example, a couple of the books on LZ that I read portrayed punk as a rebellion against bands like LZ. Was this so? Because it sounded to me like LZ invented the punk rock sound with Communication Breakdown. What the hell was glam rock, and was that a rebellion against LZ? Or did LZ pioneer it with their flashy dragon suits?
I know that many bands cite LZ as an influence but LZ's music, to me, sounds unique from any other band.
3. Are there any good "History of Rock" books or documentaries out there? As in a book/documentary on the development of rock music as a whole (besides just LZ)?
This question is inspired because I just discovered Pink Floyd and can't believe that I had never really heard of them. I want to consume a good, comprehensive narrative of the rock & roll genre, its elements, and its change over time? For example, at what point did big stage productions become a thing? etc.
4. A Random Question - What is known about the LZ stage productions?
What were the productions like? How elaborate were they compared to that of other bands of the day (Pink Floyd) and why? For what sort of venues was LZ best suited (arenas, stadiums etc.)? I ask that last question because you can't really sing along to LZ songs. LZ doesn't have a "We Will Rock You" or "Living on a Prayer" that demands audience participation. They have nothing that gets you dancing. So I frankly fail to see how the music translates to any venue much bigger than a small auditorium. That is not to bash the music. It just seems me as music that fits best in a small venue.