If this question had been asked 30 years ago in 1977, when I was 16/17, listenin' to the newly released "Presence" and tokin' on some gold with friends, I would have commented about how the Stones had "gone disco" on "Black & Blue" and how you should "forget them."
Now-- flash forward....
In hindsight, altho the Stones do have longevity on their side, altho very talented in playing the "old throwback Chuck Berry-revised by English white boys" Rock & Roll, altho their music has "matured" and is still listenable (and I love the Stones,) they have always seemingly followed the trends of the day.
Different people from different generations latch-on to different eras and different evolutions & phases of the Stones...and there have been many. Some will say, "They were great until 1972." Or,"When they finally replaced Brian Jones they were much better." I personally think "A Bigger Bang" is a truely strong testament to their longevity. (perhaps Bill Wyman will play with "the boys" for their grand finale???)
I love the Stones because they were truely a band of brothers, a group of tough guys, sticking together, no secrets, sharing "everything." Forever...and lived to sing about it.
Umm-huhh... NOW-- Led Zeppelin are Led Zeppelin. Whole different story, folks. They are among that short list of bands whose every song is great in it's own way. No Led Zep tune on any Led Zep LP is "not all that great" for any reason. And, you must put in perspective they were basically a three-piece musically, with a lead singer as the fourth instrument. Each Led Zeppelin song ever performed still stands the test of time. If God Himself were to simply one day erase everything he ever created in order to start all over from a clean slate, Led Zeppelin would again come back at exactly the same time, same guys, and create the same exact masterpieces.
It's as if their music was "meant to be." Altho mortal men, they tapped-into a pure vein, somehow. Even now, they themselves may admit they just "discovered" this energy source and went with it. Quite simply, there it was and there they were and they found it.
Altho the Stones outlasted Zep, there are a batch of Stones songs that, if I hear starting to play, I will turn off. The only Zep tune I have ever refused to listen to in it's entirety is "Stairway"
only because I've already read the book. And it's an epic.
They rose to a cosmic level where they could have, at any given moment, looked way down from a dizzying height at the Earth-bound Rolling Stones doing their own special work and making their important contribution.
Chalk one up for Led Zeppelin-still flying, forever.
And "Thank you" Stacey, for allowing me to finally say my piece. Peace.