Led Zeppelin
In August 1968, four musicians gathered in a room below a record store on Gerrard Street in London to play their first song together. They attempted Johnny Burnette's "Train Kept A-Rollin'" as they tested the chemistry of this new lineup. John Paul Jones recalled hearing drummer John Bonham for the first time and immediately knew the group would succeed. He stated that they locked together as a team right from that initial session.
The band had evolved from the Yardbirds after guitarist Jimmy Page decided to continue the heavy blues sound he had developed there. Original members Jim McCarty and Keith Relf wanted an acoustic direction instead. Page secured support from manager Peter Grant to form a supergroup with himself and others. The project never fully formed, but Page, Beck, and Moon recorded a track called "Beck's Bolero" in 1966 with bassist John Paul Jones.
Page and Chris Dreja began assembling a new lineup after the Yardbirds played their final gig on the 7th of July 1968 at Luton College of Technology. Terry Reid declined the offer to sing, suggesting Robert Plant instead. Plant accepted and recommended his former Band of Joy drummer John Bonham. Dreja dropped out to become a photographer, so Jones joined as the final member. Page had known Jones since both worked as session musicians.
They completed the Scandinavian tour under the name New Yardbirds before recording their debut album. The record was mixed in just nine days with Page covering all costs. After completion, they faced legal pressure to change their name following a cease-and-desist letter from Dreja. The group adopted Led Zeppelin after Peter Grant suggested dropping the 'a' from lead to avoid mispronunciation. They replaced balloon with zeppelin to capture what music journalist Keith Shadwick described as heavy and light combined.
Led Zeppelin released their untitled fourth album on the 8th of November 1971 without any text or title on the cover. The record label insisted on four symbols representing the members and the album number instead. This decision became one of the most recognizable images in rock history. By 2021, the album had sold 37 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling records ever.
The track "Stairway to Heaven" never appeared as a single yet dominated American rock radio throughout the 1970s. It remains among the most requested songs in broadcast history. The band followed this release with extensive tours across North America, Japan, and Australasia from late 1971 through early 1973. Their popularity grew so rapidly that they began filling stadiums previously reserved for acts like the Beatles.
Houses of the Holy arrived in March 1973 with an orange cover depicting nude children climbing Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. The design by Hipgnosis caused controversy despite showing no frontal views of the children. The album topped charts globally while the subsequent tour broke attendance records. At Tampa Stadium in Florida, they performed before 56,800 fans, surpassing the Beatles' Shea Stadium concert from 1965. That show grossed $309,000 in ticket sales alone.
Three sold-out nights at Madison Square Garden were filmed for what would become The Song Remains the Same motion picture. Before the final performance, $180,000 stolen from a safe deposit box at the Drake Hotel represented a significant portion of their gate receipts. The film itself faced delays until its theatrical release in 1976 due to various production issues.
Music journalist Chris Welch noted that many tales of wanton destruction were exaggerated myths despite the band's reputation for trashing suites. Page and Plant wore elaborate clothing with glittering moon-and-star outfits becoming signature looks. Their shows incorporated lasers, professional light displays, and mirror balls to create spectacular visual experiences.
The band set attendance records throughout the mid-1970s while facing off-stage problems. On the 30th of April 1977, they played before 76,229 people at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan, establishing the largest indoor concert crowd ever recorded by Guinness Book of Records standards. Another incident involved over 70 arrests when fans attempted to gatecrash Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum on April 19.
A riot broke out after tickets indicated Rain or Shine protection during a Tampa Stadium show cut short by severe weather. Police made multiple arrests following injuries sustained during the chaos. These events highlighted how their massive popularity created logistical challenges beyond musical performance.
Plant suffered a broken ankle while his wife Maureen was badly injured during a car crash in Rhodes, Greece in August 1975. A blood transfusion saved her life but forced the band into an extended hiatus from touring. They reconvened in Malibu, California where much of Presence material got written during this forced break.
Presence arrived in March 1976 with a straightforward guitar-based
sound departing from previous acoustic ballads. Page had been using heroin regularly since 1975 and relied on it during rapid recording sessions for the album. He later denied claims that this habit affected live shows despite critics suggesting excesses caught up with them.
The band completed The Song Remains the Same film and soundtrack instead of touring in 1976 due to Plant's injuries. The movie premiered in New York City on the 20th of October 1976 receiving lukewarm reviews from both critics and fans. It faced particular difficulty in the UK where tax exile status complicated public relations efforts.
In Through the Out Door reached number one in both the UK and US within its second week of release in late 1979. This final studio album featured sonic experimentation drawing mixed reactions from music press reviewers. Led Zeppelin's entire catalogue returned to Billboard Top 200 charts during weeks ending October 27 and the 3rd of November 1979.
On the 24th of September 1980, drummer John Bonham attended rehearsals at Bray Studios after being picked up by assistant Rex King. During their journey he stopped for breakfast consuming four quadruple vodkas alongside a ham roll. He continued drinking heavily upon arriving at Page's house called Old Mill House in Clewer, Windsor.
At 1:45 pm the following day, tour manager Benji LeFevre
and Jones found Bonham dead in bed. Cause of death was asphyxiation from vomit according to autopsy results finding no other recreational drugs present. He had recently begun taking Motival medication to combat anxiety though unclear if substances interacted with alcohol in his system.
The planned North American tour starting the 17th of October 1980 got cancelled immediately after his passing. Rumors circulated about potential replacements including Cozy Powell or Carmine Appice but remaining members decided against continuing without him. A the 4th of December 1980 press statement declared they could not continue as they were due to deep sense of undivided harmony felt by themselves and manager Peter Grant.
Bonham's remains were cremated and ashes interred on the 12th of October 1980 at Rushock parish church in Worcestershire. The decision marked the end of Led Zeppelin despite speculation that other drummers might join the group.
Page, Plant, and Jones reunited for Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on the 13th of July 1985 playing a short set with Tony Thompson and Phil Collins sharing drum duties. The performance suffered from lack of rehearsal, out-of-tune guitar issues, and hoarse vocals described by Page as pretty shambolic while Plant called it an atrocity.
They appeared again on the
14th of May 1988 for Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert with Jason Bonham filling his father's position. Plant and Page argued before taking stage about whether to play Stairway to Heaven while Jones' keyboards remained absent from live television feed. Page later characterized the result as one big disappointment.
The Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert took place the 10th of December 2007 at O2 Arena in London setting Guinness World Record for highest ticket demand with 20 million requests submitted online. Critics praised the performance generating widespread speculation about full reunions though Plant stated he would not record or tour with them again.
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Common questions
When did Led Zeppelin form and who were the original members?
Led Zeppelin formed in August 1968 with guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. The group evolved from the Yardbirds after Page secured support from manager Peter Grant to create a new lineup following the final gig on the 7th of July 1968.
What is the significance of the untitled fourth album released by Led Zeppelin on the 8th of November 1971?
The untitled fourth album became one of the most recognizable images in rock history due to its cover featuring four symbols representing the members instead of text or title. By 2021, the record had sold 37 million copies worldwide making it one of the best-selling records ever.
How many people attended the Led Zeppelin concert at Pontiac Silverdome on the 30th of April 1977?
Led Zeppelin played before 76,229 people at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan establishing the largest indoor concert crowd ever recorded by Guinness Book of Records standards. This event occurred during the mid-1970s when the band set multiple attendance records while facing off-stage problems.
Why did Led Zeppelin disband on the 4th of December 1980 and what was John Bonham's cause of death?
Led Zeppelin disbanded following the death of drummer John Bonham who died from asphyxiation from vomit at 1:45 pm on the 25th of September 1980 after consuming alcohol heavily. The remaining members declared they could not continue without him due to a deep sense of undivided harmony felt by themselves and manager Peter Grant.
When did Led Zeppelin reunite for Live Aid and which drummers performed with them?
Page Plant and Jones reunited for the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on the 13th of July 1985 playing a short set with Tony Thompson and Phil Collins sharing drum duties. They appeared again on the 14th of May 1988 for Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert with Jason Bonham filling his father's position.