‘JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure’: In My Time of Dying, Will A. Zeppeli

It is no easy task to defeat a vampire, especially if the vampire is Dio. Luckily for Jonathan, he has a mentor who knows just what to do.

Will Anthonio Zeppeli.

The Italian Zeppeli family — who borrow their name from the British rock band Led Zeppelin (a reference the mangaka Hirohiko Araki later felt he had used too early on in the series) — are allies of the Joestar clan in Parts One and Two (and later make a return in Part Seven).  

A young Will Zeppeli followed in his father’s footsteps and became an archaeologist. Together with a team from the university, they traveled the world discovering lost artifacts and civilizations. On one such trip to Mexico where they were excavating an Aztec ruin, the Stone Mask was unearthed.

Tragedy strikes on the journey back. Difficult to resist the temptation of the Stone Mask, a lone crew member wears it and slaughters 58 poor souls aboard the ship — the perpetrator none other than Zeppeli’s own father who is scorched by the light of the morning sun when dawn broke.

“And if you feel that you can’t go on/And your will’s sinking low

Just believe, and you can’t go wrong/ In the light you will find the road/You will find the road“

“In the Light”

Jimmy Page used a violin bow for the guitar intro and the result is a distinct sound blended with the synthesizer. Page had said that song was the follow-up to “Stairway to Heaven.” It is built on the foundations of the song “In the Morning” and was originally titled “Take Me Home.” The somber tune compliments Will Zeppeli’s predicament — Young Zeppeli, the sole survivor (he had the foresight to jump into the sea when the massacre began), is rescued by a fishing boat. 

Determined to destroy the Stone Mask, Zeppeli’s journey brings him to India where he encounters a man who is able to heal even the gravest of wounds. On his advice, Zeppeli seeks out his master — Tonpetty (named after musician Tom Petty). Tonpetty teaches Zeppeli the way of the Ripple (Hamon), an ancient form of martial arts. This breathing technique allows the user to manifest energy similar to the rays of the sun on the body, in the form of ripples.

“It starts out like a murmur/Then it grows like thunder

Until it bursts inside of you/Try to hold it steady

Wait until you’re ready/Any second now will do“

“Wearing and Tearing,” Led Zeppelin’s final song on their last album, Coda, (1982) was their answer to the growing punk rock scene that bloomed in the late Seventies. The Ripple technique similarly was the answer to beat vampires, pillar men and zombies whose weakness was the sun.

“In the pits you go no lower/The next stop’s underground

Oh, hello, underground/Your wine and roses ain’t quite over

Fate deals a losing hand“

Tonpetty has a premonition. He warns Zeppeli that were he (Zeppeli) to go down this path, the only thing waiting for him at the end would be death. Zeppeli however is unfazed, resigned to his fate. He completes his training and sets off to find the Stone Mask.

His search leads him to Jonathan, who was recuperating after his fight with the newly-turned Dio. He heals Jonathan’s shattered arm and offers to teach him the way of the Ripple. Jonathan’s first task — to defeat Jack the Ripper, who had been zombified by Dio. Cue in the “Immigrant Song.“

“The hammer of the gods/Will drive our ships to new land

To fight the horde, sing and cry/Valhalla, I am coming“

Zeppeli leaves Jonathan with a cryptic piece of advice, “The Northern Wind Made the Vikings” and a full glass of wine, of which he must not spill a single drop. Jonathan completes his task successfully, harnessing the power of the Ripple with Zeppeli remarking that the “North Wind” has made a “Viking” of Jonathan.

And so, the three (Zeppeli, Jonathan and Speedwagon) of them set off to defeat Dio and his army of zombies.

“Walking side by side with death/The devil mocks their every step, ooh

The snow drives back the foot that’s slow/The dogs of doom are howling more, oh“

Dio is quick to reveal himself to the challengers, prompting Zeppeli to battle him, alone. Dio is a challenging opponent. Realizing the power of the Ripple might be his undoing, he freezes Zeppeli’s arm, rendering him unable to use the Ripple. Speedwagon comes to his aid, thawing his arm.

Oh, dance in the dark of night/Sing to the morning light

The dark Lord rides in force tonight/And time will tell us all

Oh, throw down your plow and hoe/Rest not to lock your homes

Side by side we wait the might of the darkest of them all

Oh-oh

I hear the horses’ thunder down in the valley below/I’m waiting for the angels of Avalon

Waiting for the eastern glow

“The Battle of Evermore” is the only Led Zeppelin song to feature a guest vocalist, Sandy Denny (member of British folk band Fairport Convention). The track is also unconventional due to the absence of John Bonham’s drumming and the use of the mandolin. Replete with references from Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, the song describes the balance between good and evil, and the heavy price that goes into maintaining it.

Zeppeli ultimately falls in a fierce battle he and Jonathan wage against Tarkus (a reference to the Emerson, Lake and Palmer album of the same name). Tarkus’ chains break Jonathan’s neck and slice Zeppeli into two at the waist. By sheer willpower, in his last moments, Zeppeli gives the last of his life energy and power to heal Jonathan’s wounds.

“In my time of dying, want nobody to mourn“

Zeppeli tells Jonathan not to grieve and instead implores Jonathan to finish this fight, defeat Dio once and for all and destroy the Stone Mask, to put an end to the battle.

“Dull is the armour, cold is the day/Hard was the journey, dark was the way, way“

Zeppeli did not live to see Jonathan fight Dio. But he knew that his will would live on via Jonathan. And so, on that battlefield Will Antonio Zeppeli climbs the Stairway to Heaven.  

Will Anthonio Zeppeli’s Discography

In order of appearance

“In the Light” (Album: Physical Graffiti, 1975)

“Wearing and Tearing” (Album: Coda, 1982)

“For Your Life” (Album: Presence,1976)

“Immigrant Song” (Album: Led Zeppelin III,1970)

“No Quarter” (Album: Houses of the Holy, 1973)

“The Battle of Evermore” (Album: Led Zeppelin IV, 1971)

“In My Time of Dying” (Album: Physical Graffiti, 1975)

“Carouselambra” (Album: In Through the Out Door, 1979)

“Stairway to Heaven” (Album: Led Zeppelin IV, 1971)