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LED ZEPPELIN
Publicity photo by Chris Walter, 1969
VIDEO
THE BAND
ROBERT PLANT - VOCALS (born 1948)
JIMMY PAGE - GUITARS (born 1944)
JOHN PAUL JONES - BASS, KEYBOARDS (real name John Baldwin, born 1946)
JOHN BONHAM - DRUMS (1948 - 80)
Publicity photo, 1969
THE STORY
Led Zeppelin were one of the best known and loved rock bands in the world. The band was formed in1968 by guitarist Jimmy Page. Page had previously been in several bands including The Yardbirds (1966-88), he had also worked as a successful session musician featuring on tracks by Lulu, Them, The Who, and The Kinks. Led Zeppelin would have the same line up throughout their career. Page was joined by vocalist Robert Plant, Bassist John Paul Jones (real name John Baldwin), and power house drummer John Bonham (Bonzo).
The band played their first gig in Copenhagen on September 14th 1968 under the name New Yardbirds. Legend has it that Keith Moon from The Who gave them the name Led Zeppelin. Zeppelin signed to Atlantic Records in November 1968 and released their first album Led Zeppelin 1 in 1969. Sell out tours ensued with Zeppelin`s blues tinged rock gathering a solid global following. Led Zeppelin 2 quickly followed (also released in 1969) which contained the classic track Whole Lotta Love. 1970 saw the release of Led Zeppelin 3 which was a more diverse album with some excellent acoustic music. The album was inspired by the band's visit to a remote Welsh cottage "Bron-Y-Aur".
Led Zeppelin`s 4th album was released in 1971. This untitled record is often referred to as IV or four symbols (a reference to the symbols in the inner sleeve which each band member had chosen to represent themselves). The 4th album was a real triumph for Led Zeppelin, selling 16 million copies in the USA alone by 1996. The anthem Stairway To Heaven from 4th would become the band's best known and popular song. The 5th album Houses Of The Holy (1973) was another strong album, and the subsequent US tour saw Led Zeppelin break all previous attendance records. The band played to 56,800 fans at the Tampa Bay Stadium in Florida in 1973.
Led Zeppelin went on to set up their own record label Swan Song in 1974. The label would sign acts such as Bad Company. Next came Zeppelin`s double disc album Physical Graffiti (released in 1975), containing another classic song Kashmir. The band performed 5 nights at Earls Court in London (playing to 85,000 fans) during the next UK tour, but the rest of the tour was cancelled when Robert sustained multiple injuries after a car accident on Rhodes in 1975. After his recovery the band released the disappointing Presence in 1976, which is regarded by many fans as Zeppelin`s weakest album. The live album / movie The Song Remains The Same was also released in 1976 and contains footage from Madison Square Gardens (New York City) in 1973. Then tragedy struck the band when Robert's son Karac died from a viral infection in 1977.
Led Zeppelin played what was to become their last UK show at the Knebworth festival in August 1979. The last album In Through The Out Door was released in 1979 and showed a return to form. Led Zeppelin played their last ever live performance at Eissporthalle, Berlin on July 7th 1980.
On September 25th 1980 John Bonham was found dead after a party in Jimmy Page`s home. Unable to continue without Bonzo Led Zeppelin announced their retirement on December 4th 1980.
A collection of unreleased tracks "Coda" was released in 1982. The excellent Remasters was released in 1991 with Remasters 2 out in '93 (Jimmy Page personally remastered the entire Zeppelin back catalogue). Other subsequent releases include BBC Sessions (1997), the superb live album How The West Was Won (a triple disc set released in 2003 featuring performances in the USA from 1972), and the Led Zeppelin DVD (2003, see Scot Rock review).
Jimmy, Robert, and John Paul have kept busy with various successful bands, projects, and solo work since the demise of Zeppelin. Rumours abound regarding reunions (with John Bonham`s son Jason a favourite to play drums). Yet brief shows at Live Aid (1985), the Atlantic Records 40th birthday bash (1988), and Jason`s wedding reception, have not matched former glories.
A special note should also go to the bands larger than life manager Peter Grant. The 6 ft 3" ex wrestler did much to aid Zeppelin`s dramatic rise to success and keep them there. Peter died in 1995 aged 60.
Being 8 years old in 1980 I never had the chance to see Zeppelin live. Although having seen Page & Plant live twice I got a real taste of what it must be like to have seen Led Zeppelin in full flight.
(AC 05)
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JIMMY PAGE BY BOB GRUEN, Madison Square Garden NYC 1975
SCOT ROCK REVIEWS
LED ZEPPELIN - DVD (2003)
 This is the ultimate Led Zeppelin DVD experience. The double DVD is packed with nearly 6 hours of live material, all of which has been lovingly produced by Jimmy Page. Disc 1 contains footage from The Royal Albert Hall in 1970, while disc 2 features Madison Square Gardens in 1973, Earls Court 1975, and the classic Knebworth headline performance from 1979. Both discs have bonus material which includes an early performance on the Danmarks Radio Supershow. Sound and visual quality is superb. Highly recommended and a must for all Zeppelin fans.
SR rating of 10 out of 10.
(by Alan Cosh 2005)
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ROBERT PLANT & STRANGE SENSATION - MIGHTY REARRANGER (2005)
 Mighty Rearranger is a remarkable new studio album from former Led Zeppelin vocal legend Robert Plant. It`s a creative and diverse album with Robert drawing from a rich knowledge of different musical styles such as folk, electronica, eastern, north African / Moroccan influences, and of course blues driven rock. The acoustic All The King`s Men is quite stunning while the catchy Shine It All Around, and opening track Another Tribe are superb. While Robert may not quite have the vocal range of his younger years his voice remains strong and distinctive. This is a mature album which sees its creator continue to push musical boundaries.
SR rating of 9 out of 10.
(by Alan Cosh, 2005)
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ROBERT PLANT
ALBUMS
LED ZEPPELIN 1(1969) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10. More info HERE
LED ZEPPELIN 2 (1969) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10. More info HERE
LED ZEPPELIN 3 (1970) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10. More info HERE
LED ZEPPELIN 4TH (1971) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10. More info HERE
HOUSES OF THE HOLY (1973) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10. More info HERE
PHYSICAL GRAFFITI (1975) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10. More info HERE
PRESENCE (1976) - SR Rating Of 7 Out Of 10.
IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR (1979) - SR Rating Of 8 Out Of 10.
CODA (1982) - SR Rating Of 7 Out Of 10.
Led Zeppelin albums feature in our Best Rock Albums section, visit HERE
LIVE ALBUMS -
THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME (1976), the original soundtrack from the film The Song Remains The Same. All tracks on the album were recorded live from three concerts at Madison Square Garden (New York) in 1973 - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10.
BBC SESSIONS (1997) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON (2003) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10. More info HERE
COMPILATIONS -
REMASTERS (1990) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10.
LED ZEPPELIN, BOX SET 1 (1990) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10.
LED ZEPPELIN, BOX SET 2 (1993) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10.
THE COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS (1993) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10.
EARLY DAYS AND LATTER DAYS (2003) - SR Rating Of 10 Out Of 10.
PHOTO BY BOB GRUEN, Los Angeles, CA 1975
AFTER ZEPPELIN
JIMMY PAGE & ROBERT PLANT -
THE HONEY DRIPPERS : VOLUME ONE (1984)
NO QUARTER (1994) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10.
WALKING INTO CLARKSDALE (1998) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10.
JIMMY PAGE -
DEATH WISH 2 SOUNDTRACK (1982)
JIMMY PAGE & ROY HARPER, WHATEVER HAPPENED TO JUGULA (1985)
OUTRIDER (1988) - SR Rating Of 8 Out Of 10.
COVERDALE . PAGE (1993) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10.
JIMMY PAGE & THE BLACK CROWES, LIVE AT THE GREEK (1999) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10.
ROBERT PLANT -
PICTURES AT ELEVEN (1982)
THE PRINCIPLE OF MOMENTS (1983)
SHAKEN N` STIRRED ( 1985)
NOW AND ZEN (1988) - SR Rating Of 8 Out Of 10.
MANIC NIRVANA (1990) - SR Rating Of 8 Out Of 10.
FATE OF NATIONS (1993) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10. More info HERE
DREAMLAND (2002) - SR Rating Of 8 Out Of 10.
SIXTY SIX TO TIMBUKTU (2003)
Robert Plant & Strange Sensation, Mighty Rearranger (2005) - SR Rating Of 9 Out Of 10. More info HERE
JOHN PAUL JONES -
SCREAM FOR HELP (1985)
DIAMANDA & JOHN PAUL JONES, THE SPORTING LIFE (1994)
ZOOMA (1999) - SR Rating Of 7 Out Of 10.
THE THUNDERTHEIF (2001)
LINKS
Scot Rock is copyright © of Alan Cosh 2004 - 2008, All Rights Reserved.
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