In what’s being called the most controversial use of AI in music yet, a new project titled “ZepGen: A Tribute to Led Zeppelin” has taken the internet by storm — and lit a fire under classic rock purists. Created by the London-based AI collective NeuralMuse, the album reimagines 12 Led Zeppelin classics, using artificial intelligence to generate vocal performances by today’s top pop stars.
And yes — it’s as chaotic as it sounds.
Pop Meets Rock… or Wrecks It?
Among the most talked-about tracks:
Billie Eilish’s AI-generated vocals layered over “Kashmir”, slowed down and eerie, with thunderous synths.
Harry Styles singing “Stairway to Heaven”, complete with gospel harmonies and an electro-orchestral breakdown.
Olivia Rodrigo’s rendition of “Whole Lotta Love” that turns the iconic moans and riffs into a heartbreak ballad.
And perhaps most controversially: a Travis Scott remix of “Black Dog”, featuring auto-tuned verses and a trap beat drop.
“This is sacrilege,” one Reddit user wrote. “And I’ve never clicked replay so fast.”
The AI Behind the Madness
NeuralMuse, known for its previous AI Beatles mashup (“RubberSoul 3000”), claims the album was made with “deep learning models trained on isolated stems, pitch-contour emulation, and style transfer.” In human terms: they trained machines to sound like legends, and then matched them with modern stars.
The team insists it’s a “tribute, not a replacement,” and says they purposely picked artists with emotional or stylistic connections to Zeppelin’s legacy.
Zeppelin Fans React — Loudly
Reactions have been… intense.
“Imagine AI putting soy sauce on a steak. That’s what this is,” one X user raged.
“I came to mock it. I stayed for AI Harry Styles nailing the solo.”
Some fans love the experiment, calling it a bold way to “introduce Gen Z to Zeppelin.” Others see it as digital blasphemy.
Classic rock radio DJ Jon Temple called it “the musical equivalent of painting a mustache on the Mona Lisa — but with shockingly good harmony.”
The Band’s Camp Responds — Vaguely
A representative for Jimmy Page issued a brief comment:
“Jimmy has no involvement in this project and no comment beyond that.”
Translation: he probably hates it.
Streaming Numbers Don’t Lie
Despite the controversy, ZepGen hit 6 million plays in its first 48 hours on SoundCloud and AltSpotify. A fan-made lyric video of “Stairway to Heaven (Harry Styles AI Version)” now has 2.3 million views and counting.
What’s Next?
NeuralMuse says this is just the beginning.
“We want to recreate Woodstock — but with 2025 energy and voices,” said project lead Kai Redding.
Next on their list: Joni Mitchell meets SZA, The Rolling Stones x The Weeknd, and even Fleetwood Mac featuring Lana Del Rey.
Love it or loathe it, ZepGen has done what few AI music projects have:
start a cultural firestorm — and maybe, just maybe, bridge a generational gap with sound.