Led Zeppelin
from WikiMusicGuide, the free music guide. Your music wiki.
Led Zeppelin is a British heavy metal band of the late 60's and a rock music icon of today. Comprised of Robert Plant as their lead vocalist, Jimmy Page on guitars, John Bonham on drums and John Paul Jones on bass, Led Zeppelin is one of the most highly influential and successful groups in music history even after they disbanded in 1980 in response to John Bonham's death. They helped define a new sound by taking the blues up to another level which is now known as heavy metal. Part of their achievements in more than 20 years was when they ranked first on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock.
Contents |
About
Led Zeppelin was formed out of the early English rock band, The Yardbird's. Jimmy Page joined the band in 1966 and played a pivotal role on The Yardbird's' final album in 1967's Little Games. String arrangements by John Paul Jones was featured in the album. While deciding on their future, Page thought of forming a band with former The Yardbird's lead guitarist, Jeff Beck, John Entwistle and drummer Keith Moon. Though the band was never formed, they still managed to record a song in 1966 which is featured in Jeff Beck's album released in 1968, Truth. John Paul Jones was again featured in the said album and during their sessions, he requested to be a part of Jimmy Page's plans for any future projects.
The Yardbirds went on their final tour after the members left (namely Keith Relf and Jim McCarty) to form another band, Renaissance, leaving Page and bassist Chris Dreja the rights to use the band's name and the obligation of performing several concerts in Scandinavia. Page and Dreja put up a new line up for a vocalist and drummer. Page found Terry Reid for vocals and B.J. Wilson of Procol Harum as drummer but neither of the two joined the group. Instead, Reid suggested Robert Plant who's singing for the band Hobbstweedle and Band of Joy.
Plant joined the band on August 1968 but Chris Dreja dropped out of the band the same month to become a photographer. John Paul Jones replaced Dreja on bass and Plant recommended fellow Band of Joy member, John Bonham as their drummer. The following month, John Bonham joined the band. They completed their previously booked concerts under the new name The New Yardbirds in late September, 1968. On October of the same year, they recorded an album in less than 30 hours and also switched their name to Led Zeppelin. They got the name (originally Lead Zeppelin) from what Keith Moon suggested when they we're planning to form a band with the remaining members of The Yardbirds. But they dropped the "a" as their manager Peter Grant suggested to prevent from pronouncing it as leed.
After securing a $200,000 advance deal with Atlantic Records in the US before the year ended, they planned on touring the US in 1969. They set out on their first US tour in early 1969 which helped them promote their eponymous self-titled debut album. Two months after its release in January 12, 1969, it moved into the US and UK charts, peaking number 10 and number 6, respectively. They've toured extensively, playing dates in England and the US. While it continued receiving positive reviews, some flout it especially Rolling Stone magazine's John Mendelsohn who accused the band of showing off, stealing music and mimicking other artists (pertaining to black artists). This marked the beginning of their long rift. As Led Zeppelin became more successful, Rolling Stone magazine requested for an interview and cover stories which they rejected.
Led Zeppelin's debut album kick-started their career particularly in the US. While on the road, they recorded their sophomore effort Led Zeppelin II. Released in October 1969, it was another success. Topping both the US and UK charts for two months and spent seven weeks in the top spot, trading with The Beatles' Abbey Road. During this time, they've made several tours in the US, playing often in clubs and larger auditoriums as their popularity rises. Their concerts lasts for more than 3 hours often incorporating sounds like soul and funk music.
Their sound began to deepen particularly in their third album, Led Zeppelin III, released on October 1970. The album topped the US and UK charts again with their half acoustic sounds, demostrating the other side of Led Zeppelin. In addition to the acoustic tracks in this album, it also includes some blues rock song. The lyrics in the songs in the album contains mythological and folk references, popularising the terms hammer of the gods, rock gods and god of rock used to describe Led Zeppelin and later on, other artists with the same sound. It ultimately led to their fourth untitled album, Led Zeppelin IV in November 1971.
Awards & Certifications
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Grammy | Lifetime Achievement Award | Won |
| 2005 | Polar Music Prize | Won | |
| 2005 | Radio Music Award | Artist of the Year/Rock Radio | Nominated |
| 1995 | American Music Awards | International Artist Award | Won |
| 1992 | Q Merit Award | Won |
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | The Billboard Hot 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Good Times Bad Times | 73 | Led Zeppelin |
| 1969 | Babe I'm Gonna Leave You | 73 | Led Zeppelin |
| 1969 | Whole Lotta Love | 4 | Led Zeppelin II |
| 1969 | Heartbreaker | 20 | Led Zeppelin II |
| 1969 | Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman) | 20 | Led Zeppelin II |
| 1970 | Immigrant Song/Hey Hey What Can I Do | 16 | Led Zeppelin III |
| 1971 | Black Dog | 15 | Led Zeppelin IV |
| 1972 | Rock and Roll | 47 | Led Zeppelin IV |
| 1973 | D'Yer Mak'er | 20 | Houses of the Holy |
| 1973 | Over The Hills And Far Away | 51 | Houses of the Holy |
| 1973 | Dancing Days | 51 | Houses of the Holy |
| 1975 | Kashmir | 16 | Physical Graffiti |
| 1975 | Trampled Underfoot/Black Country Woman | 38 | Physical Graffiti |
| 1976 | Candy Store Rock | 50 | Presence |
| 1976 | Royal Orleans | 50 | Presence |
| 1979 | Fool in the Rain/Hot Dog | 21 | In Through the Out Door |
| 1980 | South Bound Saurez/All My Love | 50 | In Through the Out Door |
News
Tours & Concerts
No tours to date
Announcements
Discography
Albums
 |
 |
 |
 Led Zeppelin IV (also known as Four Symbols, ZOSO or Untitled)
Released: 1971 Label: Atlantic Records |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Good Times Bad Times | Led Zeppelin |
| 1969 | Babe I'm Gonna Leave You | Led Zeppelin |
| 1969 | Whole Lotta Love | Led Zeppelin II |
| 1969 | Heartbreaker | Led Zeppelin II |
| 1969 | Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman) | Led Zeppelin II |
| 1970 | Immigrant Song/Hey Hey What Can I Do | Led Zeppelin III |
| 1971 | Black Dog | Led Zeppelin IV |
| 1972 | Rock and Roll | Led Zeppelin IV |
| 1973 | D'Yer Mak'er | Houses of the Holy |
| 1973 | Over The Hills And Far Away | Houses of the Holy |
| 1973 | Dancing Days | Houses of the Holy |
| 1975 | Kashmir | Physical Graffiti |
| 1975 | Trampled Underfoot/Black Country Woman | Physical Graffiti |
| 1976 | Candy Store Rock | Presence |
| 1976 | Royal Orleans | Presence |
| 1979 | Fool in the Rain/Hot Dog | In Through the Out Door |
| 1980 | South Bound Saurez/All My Love | In Through the Out Door |
Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- A legal threat from Chris Dreja, who claimed that he shared the rights to the Yardbirds name caused the band to change the name from the New Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin
- Led Zeppelin's music: "Misty Mountain Hop" is named after Tolkien's Misty Mountains; "Ramble On" refers to Gollum and Mordor and "The Battle of Evermore" is an actual allegory from the "Battle of the Pelennor Fields" from The Return of the King
- VH1 named the group the #1 Greatest Artist of Hard Rock.
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
- Led Zeppelin traveled in a jet nicknamed "The Starship".
- Shortly after the release of Physical Graffiti which was their sixth studio album, the entire Led Zeppelin catalog of six albums simultaneously entered the top- 200 album chart.
- Robert Plant was given the nickname of Percy while he was a member of Led Zeppelin.
- Dazed and Confused, In the Light, In the Evening, and How Many More Times are the only Led Zeppelin songs where lead guitarist Jimmy Page bows the guitar with a violin bow.
- Jack Black videotaped a plea to Led Zeppelin to use "Immigrant Song" in his movie "School of Rock". After receiving the message, the band gave him permission to use the song for his movie.
- Led Zeppelin's song Rock And Roll has been used in Cadillac car commercials.
- Steve Winwood, Steve Marriot, and Donovan were considered for the job of lead singer for Led Zeppelin before Robert Plant was hired to be the lead singer for the band.
- Sandy Denny is the only guest vocalist ever to be included in a Led Zeppelin song. She sang The Battle of Evermore with Led Zeppelin on their untitled fourth album.
- The fourth untitled Led Zeppelin album has been referred to as Untitled, Zoso, Runes, Sticks, Man With Sticks, or as simply Led Zeppelin IV.
- The largest concert in the history of the band took place on August of 1979 at the Knebworth Festival where 420,000 people witnessed Led Zeppelin perform.
- Led Zeppelin's last official concert before John Bonham's death was in Berlin, Germany on July 7, 1980 at the Eissporthalle.
- Presence is the only Led Zeppelin album that does not have any pianos, organs, or any keyboard-type instruments being used on any of the songs.
- The ex-Yardbird Chris Dreja took the picture that appears on the back of the self-titled debut Led Zeppelin album.
- In Rolling Stone's list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all-time, Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page was ranked at #9.
- After drummer John Bonham's death, there were rumors that Cozy Powell, Carmine Appice, Simon Kirke, or Bev Bevan might be considered to replace John Bonham for the drummer's spot with the band. However, they decided against it.
- In My Time of Dying is the longest song that Led Zeppelin ever recorded on a studio album. The song clocks at 11 minutes and 4 seconds. It is found on the Physical Graffiti album which they released in 1975.
- Led Zeppelin's concert in Uniondale, New York at the Nassau County Coliseum on June 14, 1972 is the longest concert the band has ever performed in. The concert lasted four and a half hours.
External Links
Categories: Artist | Heavy Metal | Rock
