Led Zeppelin The Illustrated Biography

When Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonzo Bonham first gathered in a London rehearsal space in late 1968, few could have predicted that within just five years they would be piloting the biggest band in the world towards an almost unprecedented level of success. Perhaps fewer still could have foreseen their enduring appeal and impact, but with a combination of raw talent, dogged determination and the fanatical support of audiences around the globe, Led Zeppelin would transcend their relatively inauspicious beginnings to establish themselves as one of the most important and influential bands in the history of rock and roll. Although initially guided by Page, who had assembled the group in the wake of the Yardbirds' demise, Led Zeppelin quickly developed a
distinctive sound that combined the practiced musicianship of former session musicians Page and Jones with the unbridled passion of Plant and Bonham. While rooted in the blues, their music would fuse elements of folk, country, soul, funk and reggae as well as Middle Eastern, Asian and African influences. Characterized by Plant's urgent, soulful wail, Page's heavy riffs and virtuoso solo work, Jones' melodic, driving bass and atmospheric keyboards, and Bonham's power and dexterity, Led Zeppelin's music would effectively come to define the sound of hard rock in the 197os � � perfectly embodying a contrast between delicacy and weight. However, this dynamic between light and shade would find a mirror in the extreme highs and lows of Led Zeppelin's career, for their extreme
success would be tainted by rumours of drug addiction, debauchery and even ritual magic, whilst the band's later years would be touched by personal tragedy, such as Robert Plant's serious injury in a car accident in 1975, the loss of his young son just two years later and the tragic death of John Bonham in 1980, which finally led to the group's decision to disband. Through a combination of stunning photographs and insightful captions, this book chronicles the meteoric rise to fame of one of the world's biggest bands, from their roots in the British Blues scene, through the highs and lows of relentless touring, and the success and excesses of stardom, to assume their rightful place in the pantheon of rock and roll. Furthermore, it charts the solo projects, collaborations and
reunions that have taken place since Led Zeppelin's official demise in 1980, including the band's triumphant and long awaited return to the stage in 2007.