Doin' the Claw since 1989
Dread Zeppelin: The Unique Sound of Zeppelin Inna Reggae Style with Tortelvis
Born in Sierra Madre, California in 1989, Dread Zeppelin crashed onto the music scene with a mashup nobody saw coming: Led Zeppelin’s heavy riffs, reimagined through laid-back reggae grooves, fronted by the Vegas-styled Elvis impersonator Tortelvis. Their first indie singles on the Birdcage label quickly earned underground buzz, leading to a major-label debut with Un-Led-Ed in 1990 on I.R.S. Records—a record so striking that Robert Plant publicly admitted he preferred their version of “Your Time Is Gonna Come” to Led Zeppelin’s own. With follow-ups like 5,000,000 Tortelvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong (1991), the band cemented their reputation not just as a novelty act, but as the original mashup band, fusing rock, reggae, and Elvis into something bizarrely brilliant. Over the decades, they toured worldwide, gained a devoted cult following, and inspired countless fans to flash “The Claw,” the hand salute invented by Tortelvis that became a staple at every show for more than 30 years. Lauded on fan forums, celebrated for their humor and musicianship, and remembered for a fearless spirit that blurred parody and artistry, Dread Zeppelin remain a singular force in rock history—an enduring reminder that sometimes the most unlikely combinations create the most unforgettable legacies.
Tortelvis Fans Can't Be Wrong
When it comes to music, Dread Zeppelin didn’t just think outside the box—they burned the box, rolled it up, and set it to a reggae beat. Their 1990 debut Un-Led-Ed introduced the world to a sonic recipe nobody asked for but everyone needed: Led Zeppelin’s thunderous riffs, filtered through reggae grooves, and crooned by Tortelvis, a Vegas-sized Elvis impersonator in polyester. The result? So convincing that Robert Plant himself admitted he preferred their version of “Your Time Is Gonna Come.” Their follow-up, 5,000,000 Tortelvis Fans Can’t Be Wrong, doubled down with more Zeppelin-meets-reggae insanity, a side of Bob Marley’s “Stir It Up,” and enough swagger to make even the King raise an eyebrow. Later albums like Hot & Spicy Beanburger and No Quarter Pounder kept the mashup rolling, proving that this wasn’t a one-album gimmick but a fully balanced diet of riffs, riddims, and rhinestones. Three decades on, their catalog remains one of rock’s strangest treasures—a place where Zep gets irie, Elvis gets dreadlocks, and somehow, against all odds, it works.