Led Zeppelin began in 1968 when guitarist Jimmy Page
(second from right in the photo) left
the Yardbirds when they broke up to form his own group. It was initially
called the New Yardbirds and featured Page as well as session bassist John
Paul Jones, singer Robert Plant, and drummer John Bonham.The band's name
came from a phrase that Who drummer Keith Moon used to describe
disastrous gigs. Page was the main creative force in the group; he produced
their albums and co-wrote songs with Robert Plant. The band's trademark was
a huge, powerful, cohesive sonic onslaught that he conceived and which
provided the inspiration for countless heavy metal bands in the 1970s
and 80s. Page's distorted guitar sound, Plant's wailing vocals, and the
throbbing rhythm section of Bonham and Jones was the template for groups
like Black Sabbath.
Led Zeppelin had six #1 selling albums, broke attendance and single
concert revenue records, and in 1970 replaced the Beatles as top group in a
New Musical Express poll. In 1980 the group disbanded following the death of
Bonham who like Jimi Hendrix, died after choking on his own vomit.
#1 albums: Led Zeppelin II (1969), Led Zeppelin III (1970),
Houses of the Holy (1973), Physical Graffiti (1975),
Presence (1976), In Through the Out Door (1979).
