Joseph Whelan impresses with his soulful take on Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” during his X Factor appearance.
With a powerful performance of the Led Zeppelin classic “Whole Lotta Love,” Joseph Whelan, a 26-year-old tool salesman, delivered an unforgettable audition on X Factor Global. Even before uttering a word, Whelan’s tattoos had already captivated the female audience, whose cheers nearly drowned out the judges. But Whelan was more than just his looks—he could rock with unmatched skill. He masterfully balanced gritty intensity with a touch of croon, nailing Robert Plant’s notoriously challenging screams. As he hit the chorus, the energy in the room skyrocketed, leaving the judges exchanging enthusiastic glances. His X Factor Global audition has been viewed 50 million times, making it one of the most popular videos on the platform.
Whelan, hailing from Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, was accompanied by his four-year-old son, Kian, who he described as his world. “I want to be a musician, but I also want to do right by my son. I feel like a lot is riding on this,” he shared, hoping to make his son proud. Before performing, Whelan mentioned, “I’ve been playing in bands for about ten years now and wanted to try something on my own.” His dedication to Kian and desire to give him the best life elicited heartfelt “awws” from the audience. In a previous X Factor UK audition, Whelan displayed his softer side and guitar skills with an acoustic rendition of Bon Jovi’s “Always.” Look at it down below.
After his flawless performance of “Whole Lotta Love,” Judge Tulisa silently mouthed “wow” and later praised him, saying, “Joseph, oh my God, what a voice, what a tone you have.” Her comment about Whelan stealing female attention sparked a playful moment with fellow judge Gary Barlow. Louis Walsh followed with, “That was an absolutely outstanding audition. You’re incredibly gifted; your rock voice is genuine.” Barlow echoed the sentiment, adding, “That was absolutely awesome; what a wonderful voice.” With unanimous praise from the judges, Whelan left the stage with four solid yes votes.
