The Americans have been compared to Led Zeppelin, but do you know the band?
Greta Van Fleet is one of the most talked-about names in the world of rock and roll today. Much of this stems from the numerous comparisons the band has received to the legendary Led Zeppelin – even prompting comments from vocalist Robert Plant .
Formed in 2012, the group released their debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army , in 2018 and had already achieved great success even before its release. Amidst all this buzz, the question arises: who exactly is Greta Van Fleet? Here we tell you some interesting facts about the band!
1. Three of the four members are brothers:
Josh and Jake Kiszka (vocals and guitar, respectively) are twin brothers, and Samuel Kiszka , the bassist, is the youngest brother. Drummer Daniel Wagner is the only one outside the family and joined the band because he is the musicians' best friend.
2. The band's name is inspired by a woman from Frankenmuth, Michigan.
The band's name was conceived when one of its members heard a relative mention Gretna Van Fleet, a resident of Frankenmuth, the group's hometown.
At 88 years old, the woman gave an interview to the Detroit Free Press when the boys became famous, saying that although the band wasn't "her kind of music," she supported the Americans and considered them talented.
The group, when speaking about the choice of name, revealed that “Van Fleet” is an Americanized version of “Van Vliet,” which means “From the Water.” “It’s Dutch, but it sounds Nordic,” they said, “It sounds like something classic from the seas and it’s pleasant (…) We are essentially nomads. We are not warriors of the waters, but most of the time we are warriors of the land.”
"So there's a lot of meaning behind the name, a lot of things we didn't even plan, but it's something I'm grateful for."
3. The group's first two songs were recorded by other drummers.
Before Daniel Wagner, the group had drummer Kyle Hauk , who recorded the band's first two songs, "Cloud Train" and "Standing On." He was soon replaced by Wagner, the brothers' best friend.
4. They've already toured with major bands and artists in the genre.
Even before releasing their debut album, Anthem of the Peaceful Army , Greta Van Fleet already had incredible stories to tell. In May 2017, the group toured with The Struts and, later that year, played alongside Bob Seger at an event in Michigan.
5. The group brings together a wide variety of musical influences.
Despite comparisons to the rock band Led Zeppelin, Greta Van Fleet draws on a diverse range of influences. The members came together through their love of the blues, but each of them has strong ties to other styles. Jake likes rock and roll while Sam listens more to jazz. Danny prefers folk music of all kinds, and Josh says he likes "world music".
Greta Van Fleet will be performing at Lollapalooza 2019, click here to buy tickets.
