The Backseat Lovers have also taken inspiration from The Beatles in the structure of their songs. The "emotional apex" (Lillianthal, 2022) of TBSL 2022 album Waiting To Spill, "take(s) major inspiration from The Beatles here in the piano balladry and the use of putting two separate songs together into one, which was famously done in 'A Day in the Life'."(Lillianthal, 2022). 

It is evident that The Beatles have had a lasting impact on The Backseat Lovers music, from the lyrics to structure and possibly even more.

The Backseat Lovers most likely took inspiration from these experimental styles to make their music sound more uniquely theirs, frontman Joshua Harmon said in Clash Magazine (2022), that “Sonically we’ve been getting far more interested in having a unique sound,” with "soft nods … made to artists like … Radiohead" (Hansen, 2022). The Backseat lovers leaned into this unique sound on their 2022 album with "noodling riffs and rich arrangements are bigger than ever, while a sprinkling of weirder, experimental moments (take the glitchy opening to the chugging ‘Growing/Dying’) means that the album has more sounds in common with the likes of Radiohead" (Mylrea, 2022).

Over the years the comparison has not stopped, with an interview from Alternative Press Magazine in 2019 on the same topic, Kiskza stated that Led Zeppelin are "one of the influences of ours. But at this point, it’s like, ‘Okay, we’ve acknowledged that. Let’s move on.’" The comparisons will likely follow the band for years to come as the influence that Led Zeppelin had on their sound can be heard with "Josh Kiszka gain[ing] recognition for performing vocal patterns eerily similar to that of Robert Plant" (Stephen, 2021) and ‘Jake Kiszka [who] acts as lead guitarist and studied Jimmy Page…since he started playing guitar at the age of two.’ (Stephen, 2021). 

Frontman for Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant, joined the conversation regarding the two bands in 2022, stating "They are Led Zeppelin I" (Taysom, 2022). While the influence Zeppelin has had on GVF can be heard clearly, some may argue that Greta Van Fleet have taken a little too much inspiration from one of the "best rock bands of all time" (Singer, 2024).

I believe that hearing GVF's early albums, the similarities can be heard clearly in the tone of the signing to the intricate guitar solos. It does not surprise me that the band take influence from greats like Zeplin and are constantly compared to them, but I eagerly await to hear the future of GVF as they evolve and create a more distinctive sound for themselves.

Burnett, the Chicago blues artist, is regarded as one of the 100 Greatest Artists, according to Rolling Stone (2010) Howlin’ Wolf "made Chicago the world capital of the blues’ "(Buddy, 2010). According to Ostberg for Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024), Burnett grew up from a cotton plantation to being inducted into both the Blues and Rock N Roll Hall of Fame (1980 and 1991 respectively). Until the greats of the 1960s and 70s rock scene began crediting him for his influence, Burnett was relatively unknown outside the blues community (Ostberg, 2024). 

It is evident that the members of Greta Van Fleet were influenced by this great artist, and showed appreciation for him performing their rendition of the Howlin’ Wolf song ‘Evil’ at a June 2017 show at Route 20 Sturtevant, WI ‌(K&M Live Music, 2017). Daniel Wagner, drummer for GVF, is quoted saying "We as a band have developed a lot of our sound mainly from rock and roll, blues, and soul artists such as … Howlin’ Wolf" (Chadwick, 2017).

An interview with Childers for Loudwire in 2018 featured Jake Kiszka speaking about ‘You’re The One’ from Greta Van Fleet’s 2018 album ‘Anthem of a Peaceful Army’, it was the "track that is the oldest song from their history to make the new disc, written when he and brother Josh Kiszka were 17". When asked about the inspiration for the song Kiszka was quoted saying "it was [Bob] Dylan and The Band …  it was certainly folk elements surrounding 'You're the One.'"(Childers, 2018). 

Bob Dylan’s music and lyrics have inspired Greta Van Fleet from the early days and could be considered as one of the pivotal artists that inspired them to take music seriously and become the artist they are today.

To me the emotion in GVF's music is the clearest influential link to Bob Dylan. Their music is so packed with imagery and emotion while generally steering away from the generic pop tropes, leaning more towards ethereal concepts.