Robert Plant - vocals
Jimmy Page - guitar
John Bonham - drums
John Paul Jones - Bass guitar, mandolin and keyboard
They are one of the best selling music artists of all time. The band did not have any political or social message like some of bands but they became one of the biggest audience bands.
There first album was called Led Zeppelin. The album's blend of blues, folk and eastern influences with distorted amplification made it one of the pivotal records in the creation of heavy rock music. It is reputed the album took 36 hours to record and cost £1750. It grossed £7000000 by 1975.
Led Zeppelin toured America and England extensively during their first year and their concerts lasted around 4 hours
Led Zeppelin III was recorded in Wales and was a more acoustic album strongly influenced by folk and Celtic music
Led Zeppelin II was recorded on the road at various North American studios and was an even greater success. Immigrant song was released as a single off the album against the bands wishes.
In the 1970 the band started to wear extravagant costumes on stage and lead a rock and roll life style having their own private jet. They had wild hotel parties and were reported as throwing TV sets out of windows. They were banned from the Tokyo Hilton for life.
Led Zeppelin IV was released with no name or indication who the band was because the band did not want to be hyped or labeled. The album was a mixture of blues, rock and acoustic sounds. The album was one of the best selling albums in history and included the classic track "stairway to heaven". Robert Plant said it was a cynical song about a lady wanting her own way all the time and not giving anything back.
House of the Holy was the next album and was banned in some religious countries because of the nude children on the front. However the album topped the charts.
The band expanded into other areas and formed their own record label called swan song. They used the label to promote their own songs and also signed up other bands including Bad Company.
The band launched a double album on their own label called 'Physical Graffiti' which was an enormous success. They went on tour to sell out audiences. They were now one of the biggest bands in the world along with Rolling Stones and The Who.
Robert Plant and his wife had a car accident in 1975 which forced the band to take a break and it was during this period that the created 'Presence'. This album received a mixed response as the music was move guitar based jams an not acoustic ballads.
In 1976 the band concentrated on the concert film 'The song remains the same' which again received a luke warn response. The band was in tax exile from the UK and they had an uphill battle with the fans.
In 1977 Led Zeppelin went on a record sell out tour of North America. The concert at Pontiac Silverdome on 30 April entered the Guinness book of records for the largest crowd of 76,229. This tour was however marked by gatecrashers and riots. On July 30 Plants 5 year old son died of a stomach virus and the tour was cancelled.
'We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend, and the deep sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were'
This was signed Led Zeppelin
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