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{{Short description|English rock band (1968–1980)}}
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{{about|the band|their debut album|Led Zeppelin (album){{!}}''Led Zeppelin'' (album)|other uses}}
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{{Use British English|date=July 2023}}
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{{Infobox musical artist {{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Led Zeppelin | name = Led Zeppelin
| Img = LedZeppelin1969Promo.jpg | background = group_or_band
| Img_capt = Led Zeppelin in 1968. From left to right: John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones. | image = Led Zeppelin - promotional image (1971).jpg
| alt = A photoshoot of the band Led Zeppelin in front of a white wall
| Img_size = 250
| caption = Led Zeppelin in 1971<br />From left to right: ], ], ] and ]
| Landscape = yes
| Background = group_or_band | landscape = yes
| Origin = London, England | alias =
| origin = London, England
| Genre = ], ], ], ]
| genre = {{flatlist|class=nowraplinks|
| Years_active = 1968–1980<br><small>(one-time reunions: 1985, 1988, 1995, 2007)</small>
* ]
| Label = ], ]
* ]
| Associated_acts = ], ], ], ], ], ]
* ]
| URL =
* ]}}
| Past_members = <!-- Despite the one-time 2007 reunion, Led Zeppelin are not an active recording band and Jason Bonham is not a member, please do not touch this. -->]<br/>]<br/>]<br/>]<!-- Only list names here per ]. In order of joining -->
| discography = {{hlist|]|]}}
| years_active = 1968–1980{{refn|group=nb|One-off reunions: 1985, 1988, 1995, 2007}}
| label = {{flatlist|
* ]
* ]
}}
| spinoffs = {{hlist|]|]}}
| spinoff_of = {{hlist|]|]}}
| website = {{URL|ledzeppelin.com}}
| past_members = * ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
}} }}
'''Led Zeppelin''' <!-- Note: This article is written in UK English, which treats collective nouns as plurals. (i.e. Led Zeppelin were a band.) -->were<!-- Please do not change this to "was", it will be reverted back quickly.--> an English ] band formed in 1968 by ] (]), ] (]), ] (], ]) and ] (]). With their heavy, guitar-driven sound, Led Zeppelin are<!-- see note above --> regarded as one of the first ] bands.<ref name="about.com"></ref><ref name="bbc.h2"></ref> However, the band's individualistic style draws from many sources and transcends any one genre.<ref>Brackett, John (2008). "Examining rhythmic and metric practices in Led Zeppelin’s musical style." ''Popular Music,'' Volume 27/1, pp. 53–76. Cambridge University Press.</ref> Their rock-infused interpretation of the ] and ] genres<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0496389/bio |title=Led Zeppelin - Biography |accessdate=2008-03-03 |last=Shelokhonov |first=Steve |publisher=IMDB.com }}</ref> also incorporated ],<ref>In live shows, Led Zeppelin would perform rockabilly songs originally made famous by Elvis Presley and Eddie Cochran</ref> ],<ref>''Houses of the Holy'' includes a reggae-influenced song, "D'Yer Mak'er"</ref> ],<ref> Live Led Zeppelin concerts would also include James Brown, Stax and Motown-influenced soul music and funk, as these were favourites of bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham.</ref> ],<ref>See previous reference to soul and funk</ref> ], ], ], ], ], ] and ]. The band did not release the popular songs from their albums as singles in the UK, as they preferred to develop the concept of ].<ref name="Musicmatch">, Musicmatch.com. Accessed 10 September 2006.</ref>


'''Led Zeppelin''' were <!-- This article is written in British English, which commonly treats collective nouns as plural. DO NOT change "WERE" to "WAS". --> an English ] band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised ] (vocals), ] (guitar), ] (bass and keyboards), and ] (drums). With a heavy, guitar-driven sound and drawing from influences including ] and ], Led Zeppelin are cited as a progenitor of ] and ]. They significantly influenced the music industry, particularly in the development of ] and ].
Close to 30 years after disbanding following Bonham's death in 1980, the band continue to be held in high regard for their artistic achievements, commercial success and broad influence. The band have sold more than 300 million albums worldwide,<ref>{{cite web|date=10 December 2007|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/10/led.zep.ap/index.html|title= Led Zeppelin brings down the house|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2008-01-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=14 September 2006|url=http://www.led-zeppelin.com/news/vh1_9.14.06.html|title=VH1 Welcomes the Return of the 'Third Annual UK Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony'|publisher=vh1.com|accessdate=2006-09-21}}</ref><ref></ref><ref></ref><ref></ref> including 111.5 million sales in the United States<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=tblTopArt|title=Top Selling Artists|author=RIAA}}</ref> and they have had all of their original studio albums reach the U.S. '']'' Top 10,<ref name=tripleJ> - Triple J Music Specials - Led Zeppelin (first broadcast 2000-07-12)</ref> with six reaching the number one spot. Led Zeppelin are ranked No. 1 on ]'s ''100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock''.<ref></ref> '']'' magazine has described Led Zeppelin as "the heaviest band of all time" and "the biggest band of the 70s".<ref>
"Led Zeppelin: The Legend, the Classic Reviews, a Selection of Hot Photos and More", ''Rolling Stone'' </ref>


Led Zeppelin evolved from a previous band, ], and were originally named "the New Yardbirds". They signed a deal with ] that gave them considerable artistic freedom. Initially unpopular with critics, they achieved significant commercial success with eight studio albums over ten years. Their 1969 debut, '']'', was a top-ten album in several countries and features such tracks as "]", "]" and "]". '']'' (1969), their first number-one album, includes "]" and "]". In 1970, they released '']'' which opens with "]". Their untitled fourth album, commonly known as '']'' (1971), is one of the ] in history, with 37 million copies sold. It includes "]", "]" and "]", with the latter being among the most popular and influential works in rock. '']'' (1973) includes "]" and "]". '']'' (1975), a double album, features "]" and "]".
On 10 December 2007 the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited (along with deceased drummer John Bonham's son ]) for the ] at ] in London.


Page composed most of Led Zeppelin's music, while Plant wrote most of the lyrics. Jones occasionally contributed keyboard-focused parts, particularly on the band's final album. The latter half of their career saw a series of ] that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their touring and output, which included '']'' (1976) and '']'' (1979), declined in the late 1970s. After Bonham's death in 1980, the group disbanded. The former members have sporadically collaborated and participated in one-off concerts, including the 2007 ] in London, with Bonham's son ] on drums.
==History==
===The New Yardbirds (1966-1968)===
The beginnings of Led Zeppelin can be traced back to the English ] band ].<ref></ref> Jimmy Page joined The Yardbirds in 1966 to play bass guitar after the original bassist, ], left the group. Shortly after, Page switched from bass to lead guitar, creating a dual-lead guitar line up with ]. Following the departure of Beck from the group in October 1966, The Yardbirds, tired from constant touring and recording, were beginning to wind down. Page wanted to form a ] with himself and Beck on guitars, and ]'s rhythm section—drummer ] and bassist ]. Vocalists ], ] and ] were also considered for the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.led-zeppelin.org/reference/index.php?m=assorted3|title=Led Zeppelin Assorted Info|author=Led-Zeppelin.org}}</ref> The group never formed, although Page, Beck and Moon did record a song together in 1966, "]", which is featured on Beck's 1968 album, '']''. The recording session also included bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones, who told Page that he would be interested in collaborating with him on future projects.<ref name = "Hammer of the Gods"/>
]
The Yardbirds played their final ] in July 1968. However, they were still committed to performing several ]s in Scandinavia, so drummer ] and vocalist ] authorised Page and bassist ] to use the Yardbirds name to fulfil the band's obligations. Page and Dreja began putting a new line-up together. Page's first choice for lead singer, ], declined the offer, but suggested Robert Plant, a ] singer he knew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=5047&cr=artist&or=ASCENDING&sf=length&kw=Led%20Zeppelin|title=Led Zeppelin Biography|author=Billboard}}</ref><ref name=Schulps>Dave Schulps, , '']'', October 1977.</ref> Plant eventually accepted the position, recommending a drummer, John Bonham from nearby ].<ref name="Note1">{{cite web|url=http://home.mchsi.com/~night_flight/led_zeppelin_faq.htm|title=Led Zeppelin FAQ|author=Digital Graffiti}}</ref> When Dreja opted out of the project to become a ]&mdash;he would later take the photograph that appeared on the back of Led Zeppelin's debut album&mdash;John Paul Jones, at the suggestion of his wife, contacted Page about the vacant position.<ref name=Miserandino>Dominick A. Miserandino, , TheCelebrityCafe.com.</ref> Being familiar with Jones' credentials, Page agreed to bring in Jones as the final piece.


Led Zeppelin are one of the ], with estimated record sales of between 200 and 300&nbsp;million units worldwide. They achieved eight consecutive UK number-one albums and six number-one albums on the US ], with five of their albums certified ] in the US by the ] (RIAA). '']'' described them as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the seventies", and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history".<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=2006 Rolling Stone Covers |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/2006-rolling-stone-covers-207609/led-zeppelin-rs-1006-august-10-2006-3-135624/ |access-date=14 February 2024 |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=14 December 2006 |archive-date=14 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240214133328/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/2006-rolling-stone-covers-207609/led-zeppelin-rs-1006-august-10-2006-3-135624/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They were inducted into the ] in 1995; the museum's biography states that they were "as influential" in the 1970s as ] were in the 1960s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Led Zeppelin Biography |url=http://rockhall.com/inductees/led-zeppelin/bio/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628093543/http://rockhall.com/inductees/led-zeppelin/bio/ |archive-date=28 June 2011 |access-date=5 September 2010 |website=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}</ref>
The group came together for the first time in a room below a record store on Gerrard Street in London.<ref name=complete>Liner notes by ] for '']''. The building has since been torn down, and the area has been converted into London's Chinatown.</ref> Page suggested that they try playing "]", a ] song popularised by ] that had been given new life by the Yardbirds. "As soon as I heard John Bonham play," stated Jones, "I knew this was going to be great... We locked together as a team immediately."<ref name=RS2006>{{cite journal |last=Gilmore |first=Mikal |title=The Long Shadow of Led Zeppelin |journal=Rolling Stone |issue=1006 |date=10 August 2006 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11027261/the_long_shadow_of_led_zeppelin/print |accessdate=2007-12-09 }}</ref> Shortly afterwards, the group played together on the final day of sessions for the ] album, '']''. Proby recalled, "Come the last day we found we had some studio time, so I just asked the band to play while I just came up with the words. ... They weren't Led Zeppelin at the time, they were the New Yardbirds and they were going to be my band."<ref name="Mojo"> {{cite magazine | title=Led Zep were my backing band| year=2005 | author=Fred Dollar | pages= 83 }}</ref>


== History ==
The band completed the ] as The New Yardbirds. Thus, Plant, Page, Jones and Bonham played together for the first time in front of a live audience at Gladsaxe Teen Clubs in ], Denmark on 7 September 1968.<ref></ref><ref></ref>
=== Formation: 1966–1968 ===
]


In 1966, London-based session guitarist ] joined the blues-influenced rock band ] to replace bassist ]. Page soon switched from bass to lead guitar, creating a dual lead guitar line-up with ]. Following Beck's departure in October 1966, the Yardbirds became a four-piece with Page as the sole guitarist. This new line-up recorded an album, '']'', in 1967, before embarking on a tour of the United States, during which they performed several songs which would later be part of Led Zeppelin's early repertoire, including covers of ]'s "]" and "]", a song originally written and recorded by ].{{sfn|Yorke|1993|pp=56–59}} In early April 1968, the Yardbirds held a recording session at ] in New York City, recording a number of tracks including a Page-Relf composition initially titled "Knowing That I'm Losing You", which was eventually re-recorded by Led Zeppelin as "]".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Russo |first=Greg |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sIYDAAAACAAJ |title=Yardbirds: The Ultimate Rave-up |date=March 2001 |publisher=Crossfire Publications |isbn=978-0-9648157-8-0 |language=en |access-date=15 August 2023 |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927162936/https://books.google.com/books?id=sIYDAAAACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=January to July .... and everything in between |url=https://yardbirds68.blogspot.com/2015/04/fillmore-days.html |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=January to July .... and everything in between |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801011823/https://yardbirds68.blogspot.com/2015/04/fillmore-days.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
One account of the band's naming, which has become almost legendary, has it that ] and ], drummer and bassist for ], respectively, suggested that a possible supergroup containing themselves, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck would go over like a ''lead balloon'', a term Entwistle used to describe a bad gig.<ref name="Led Zeppelin A Story of a Band and their Music 1968-1980">{{cite book | title=Led Zeppelin The Story of a Band and their Music 1968-1980| year=2005| author=Keith Shadwick| pages=36, ISBN 100879308710}}</ref> The group deliberately dropped the 'a' in ''Lead'' at the suggestion of their manager, ], to prevent "thick Americans"<ref name="Hammer of the Gods"> {{cite book | title=Hammer of the Gods (LPC) | year=1995 | author=Stephen Davis | pages= 32, 44, 64, 190, 225, 277 ISBN 0330438591}}</ref> from pronouncing it as "''leed''".<ref name="Jimmy Page Online"></ref>


The Yardbirds' 1968 tour proved to be exhausting for the band. Drummer ] and vocalist ] aimed to embark in a more acoustic direction, forming a ] duo called Together,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Together Biography, Songs, & Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/together-mn0000520166/biography |access-date=25 June 2023 |website=AllMusic |language=en |archive-date=25 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625204405/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/together-mn0000520166/biography |url-status=live }}</ref> whereas Page wanted to continue the heavier blues-based sound of the Yardbirds. Page, with the support of the Yardbirds' new manager ], planned to form a ] with Beck and himself on guitars, and ]'s ] and ] on drums and bass, respectively.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=15–16}} Vocalists ] and ] were also considered for the project.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=13–15}} The group never formed, although Page, Beck, and Moon did record a song together in 1966, "]", in a session that also included bassist-keyboardist ].{{sfn|Davis|1985|pp=28–29}}
Grant also secured an advance deal of $200,000 from ] in November 1968, then the biggest deal of its kind for a new band.<ref name = "Mojo"/> Atlantic were a label known for its catalogue of blues, soul and jazz artists, but in the late-1960s it began to take an interest in progressive British rock acts, and signed Led Zeppelin without having ever seen them, largely on the recommendation of singer ].<ref>Welch, Chris (1994) ''Led Zeppelin'', London: Orion Books. ISBN 0-85797-930-3, p. 31.</ref> Under the terms of the contract secured by Grant, the band alone would decide when they would release albums and tour, and had final say over the contents and design of each album. They also would decide how to promote each release and which (if any) tracks to select as singles,<ref name=RS2006>{{cite journal |last=Gilmore |first=Mikal |title=The Long Shadow of Led Zeppelin |journal=Rolling Stone |issue=1006 |date=10 August 2006 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/11027261/the_long_shadow_of_led_zeppelin/print |accessdate=2007-12-09 }}</ref> and formed their own company, Superhype, to handle all publishing rights.<ref name=Complete>Dave Lewis (1994), ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin'', Omnibus Press, p. 3</ref>


The Yardbirds played their final gig on 7 July 1968 at ] in Bedfordshire.{{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=1198}} They were still committed to several concerts in Scandinavia, so McCarty and Relf authorised Page and bassist ] to use the Yardbirds' name to fulfill the band's obligations. Page and Dreja began putting a new line-up together. Page's first choice for the lead singer was ], but Reid declined the offer and suggested ], a singer for the ] and Hobbstweedle.{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=65}} Plant eventually accepted the position, recommending former Band of Joy drummer ].{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} John Paul Jones enquired about the vacant position of bass guitarist, at the suggestion of his wife, after Dreja dropped out of the project to become a photographer.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=10}}{{refn|group=nb|Dreja would later take the photograph that appeared on the back of Led Zeppelin's debut album.{{sfn|Fyfe|2003|p=45}}}} Page had known Jones since they were both session musicians, and agreed to let him join as the final member.{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=64}}
===Early days (1968–1972)===
With their first album not yet released, the band made their live debut under the name "Led Zeppelin" at the ], ] on 25 October 1968. This was followed by a ] on 26 December 1968 (when promoter Barry Fey added them to a bill in ]<ref></ref>) before moving on to the west coast for dates in Los Angeles, ] and other cities.<ref></ref> Led Zeppelin's ] was released on 12 January 1969, during their first US tour. The album's blend of blues, folk and eastern influences with distorted amplification made it one of the pivotal records in the creation of ]. However, Plant has commented that it is unfair for people to typecast the band as heavy metal, since about a third of their music was acoustic.<ref>''The History of Rock 'n' Roll: The 70s: Have a Nice Decade''</ref>


] taken by news photographer Sam Shere, used on the cover of the band's debut album and extensively on later merchandise]]
]
In an interview for the '']'' radio promo CD (1990) Page said that the album took about 35 hours of studio time to create (including mixing), and stated that he knows this because of the amount charged on the studio bill. Peter Grant claimed the album cost £1,750 to produce (including artwork).<ref name="Hammer of the Gods"> {{cite book | title=Hammer of the Gods (LPC) | year=1995 | author=Stephen Davis | pages= 44, 64, 190, 225, 277 ISBN 033043859-X }}</ref> By 1975, the album had grossed $7,000,000.<ref name="Billboard"></ref> ''Led Zeppelin's'' album cover met an interesting protest when, at a 28 February 1970 gig in ], the band were billed as "]" as the result of a threat of legal action from aristocrat Eva von Zeppelin (a relative of the creator of the ] aircraft), who, upon seeing the logo of the '']'' crashing in flames, threatened to have the show pulled off the air.<ref name="Billboard Magazine"></ref>


In August 1968, the four played together for the first time in a room below a record store on ] in London.{{sfn|Lewis|1994|p=3}} Page suggested that they attempt "]", originally a ] song popularised in a ] version by ], which had been covered by the Yardbirds. "As soon as I heard John Bonham play", Jones recalled, "I knew this was going to be great&nbsp;... We locked together as a team immediately".{{sfn|Welch |Nicholls|2001|p=75}} Before leaving for Scandinavia, the group took part in a recording session for the ] album '']''. The album's track "Jim's Blues", with Plant on harmonica, was the first studio track to feature all four future members of Led Zeppelin.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=54}}
In their first year, Led Zeppelin managed to complete four US and four UK ]s, and release their second album, entitled '']''.<ref name="Mojo"> {{cite magazine | title=No Way Out| year=2005 | author=Mick Wall | pages= 83 }}</ref> Recorded almost entirely on the road at various North American ]s, the second album was an even greater success than the first and reached the number one chart position in the US and the UK.<ref name="connollyco"></ref> Here the band further developed ideas established on their debut album, creating a work which became even more widely acclaimed and arguably more influential.<ref name="allrevi"></ref>
It has been suggested that ''Led Zeppelin II'' largely wrote the blueprint for 1970s ].<ref name="allrevi"/> Following the album's release, Led Zeppelin completed several more tours of the United States. They played often, initially in clubs and ]s, then in larger ]s and eventually ]s as their popularity grew. ] could last more than three hours, with expanded, ] live versions of their song repertoire.<ref></ref> Many of these shows have been preserved as ]. An early example of Led Zeppelin excess was the infamous ], or red snapper incident, which took place at the ] in ], ], on 28 July 1969.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods"> {{cite book | title=Hammer of the Gods (LPC) | year=1995 | author=Stephen Davis | pages= 103}}</ref>


The band completed the ] as the New Yardbirds, playing together for the first time in front of a live audience at Gladsaxe Teen Club at the Egegård School (today Gladsaxe School) festive hall, ], Denmark, on 7 September 1968.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=54}} Later that month, they began recording their first album, which was based on their live set. The album was recorded and mixed in nine days, and Page covered the costs.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=51–52}} After the album's completion, the band were forced to change their name after Dreja issued a ] letter, stating that Page was allowed to use the New Yardbirds moniker for the Scandinavian dates only.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=72–73}} One account of how the new band's name was chosen held that Moon and Entwistle had suggested that a supergroup with Page and Beck would go down like a "lead balloon", an idiom for being very unsuccessful or unpopular.{{sfn|Shadwick|2005|p=36}} The group dropped the 'a' in ''lead'' at the suggestion of Peter Grant, so that those unfamiliar with the term would not pronounce it "leed".{{sfn|Davis|1985|p=57}} The word "balloon" was replaced by "]", a word which, according to music journalist Keith Shadwick, brought "the perfect combination of heavy and light, combustibility and grace" to Page's mind.{{sfn|Shadwick|2005|p=36}}
For the composition of their third album, '']'', Jimmy Page and Robert Plant retired to ], a remote cottage in Wales, in 1970. The result was a more acoustic sound (and a song, "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp", misspelt as "]" on the album cover), which was strongly influenced by ] and ], and revealed the band's versatility.


Grant secured a $143,000 advance contract (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|143000|1968|r=-3}}}} today) from ] in November 1968—at the time, the biggest deal of its kind for a new band.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=84}} Atlantic was a label with a catalogue of mainly blues, soul, and jazz artists, but in the late 1960s, it began to take an interest in British ] acts. At the recommendation of British singer ], a friend of Jones who at the time was completing her first Atlantic album, '']'', record executives signed Led Zeppelin without having ever seen them.{{sfn|Fortnam|2008|p=43}} Under the terms of their contract, the band had autonomy in deciding when they would release albums and tour and had the final say over the contents and design of each album. They would also decide how to promote each release and which tracks to release as singles. They formed their own company, Superhype, to handle all publishing rights.{{sfn|Lewis|1994|p=3}}
The album's rich acoustic sound initially received mixed reactions, with many critics and fans surprised at the turn taken by the band away from the primarily electric compositions of the first two albums. Over time, however, its reputation has recovered and ''Led Zeppelin III'' is now generally praised.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:2z3tk6sx9krj|title=Led Zeppelin III|}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.q4music.com/nav?page=q4music.review.redirect&fixture_review=124845&resource=124845&fixture_artist=144739|title=Q4 Review of Led Zeppelin 3|}}</ref> It has a unique ] featuring a wheel which, when rotated, displayed various images through cut outs in the main jacket sleeve. The album's opening track, "]", was released in November 1970 by Atlantic Records as a ] against the band's wishes (Atlantic had earlier released an edited version of "Whole Lotta Love" which cut the 5:34 song to 3:10, removing the abstract middle section). It included their only non-album ], "]". Even though the band saw their albums as indivisible, whole listening experiences&mdash;and their manager, ], maintained an aggressive pro-album stance&mdash;some singles were released without their consent. The group also increasingly resisted ] appearances, enforcing their preference that their fans hear and see them in live concerts.


=== Early years: 1968–1970 ===
]'s cover, representing Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and Robert Plant (from left to right) respectively. The symbols have origins in ].]]
Still billed as the New Yardbirds, the band began their first tour of the UK on 4 October 1968, when they played at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bath |first1=Jo |last2=Stevenson |first2=Richard F. |date=2013 |title=The Newcastle Book of Days |location=Stroud |publisher=The History Press |isbn=9780752468662 |page=280}}</ref> Their first show as Led Zeppelin was at the ] in ] on 25 October.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concert Timeline: October 25, 1968 |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/october-25-1968 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102222301/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/october-25-1968 |archive-date=2 January 2012 |access-date=3 November 2017 |website=Led Zeppelin.com|date=20 September 2007 }}</ref> Tour manager ], who would become a major figure in the touring life of the group, organised their ] at the end of the year.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=94}}{{refn|group=nb|The first show was in Denver on 26 December 1968, followed by other West Coast dates before the band travelled to California to play Los Angeles and San Francisco.{{sfn|Wall|2008||pp=92–93}}}} Their debut album, '']'', was released in the US during the tour on 13 January 1969, and peaked at number 10 on the ''Billboard'' chart;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Led Zeppelin Billboard Albums |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/led-zeppelin-p4739/charts-awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906193322/http://allmusic.com/artist/led-zeppelin-p4739/charts-awards |archive-date=6 September 2011 |website=AllMusic}}</ref> it was released in the UK, where it peaked at number 6, on 31 March.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=92, 147, 152}} According to ], the album's memorable guitar riffs, lumbering rhythms, ], groovy, ] and hints of ] made it "a significant turning point in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal".{{sfn|Erlewine|2011b}}


], near ], the Welsh cottage to which Page and Plant retired in 1970 to write many of the tracks that appeared on the band's third and fourth albums|alt=A colour photograph of a stone cottage on a hill]]
Led Zeppelin's ] was released on 8 November 1971 with several songs referencing elements of J.R.R. Tolkien's book The Lord of the Rings, which was popular at the time. There was no indication of a title or a band name on the original cover, but on the LP label four symbols were printed&mdash;]. The band was motivated to undertake this initiative by their disdain for the media, which labelled them as hyped and overrated. In response, they released the album with no indication of who they were in order to prove that the music could sell itself. The album is variously referred to as ''Four Symbols'' and ''The Fourth Album'' (both titles were used in the ] catalogue), and also ''IV'', ''Untitled'', ''Zoso'', ''Runes'', ''Sticks'', ''Man With Sticks'', and ''Four''. It is still officially untitled and most commonly referred to as '']''. In an interview with ''Rolling Stone'' magazine in 2005, Plant said that it is simply called ''The Fourth Album''.<ref name="Rolling Stone">, 05 May 2005.</ref>


In their first year, Led Zeppelin completed four US and four UK ]s, and also released their second album, '']''. Recorded mostly on the road at various North American studios, it was an even greater commercial success than their first album and reached the number one chart position in the US and the UK.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=161}} The album further developed the mostly blues-rock musical style established on their debut release, creating a sound that was "heavy and hard, brutal and direct", and which would be highly influential and frequently imitated.{{sfn|Erlewine|2010}} Steve Waksman has suggested that ''Led Zeppelin II'' was "the musical starting point for heavy metal".{{sfn|Waksman|2001|p=263}}
] further refined the band's unique formula of combining earthy, acoustic elements with heavy metal and blues emphases. The album included examples of hard rock, such as "]" and an acoustic track, "]" (a tribute to ]).<ref name="meanings"></ref> "]" is a tribute to the early rock music of the 1950s. Recently (as of 2006) and until mid-2007, the song has been used prominently in ] ] commercials&mdash;one of the few instances of Led Zeppelin's surviving members licensing songs.<ref name="about"></ref>


The band saw their albums as indivisible, complete listening experiences, disliking the re-editing of existing tracks for release as singles. Grant maintained an aggressive pro-album stance, particularly in the UK, where there were few radio and TV outlets for rock music. Without the band's consent, however, some songs were released as singles, particularly in the US.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=166–167}} In 1969, an edited version of "]", a track from their second album, was released as a single in the US. It reached number four in the ''Billboard'' chart in January 1970, selling over one million copies and helping to cement the band's popularity.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=165}} The group also increasingly shunned television appearances, citing their preference that their fans hear and see them in live concerts.{{sfn|Welch|1994|p=49}}{{sfn|Wale|1973|p=11}}
The track "]" ({{audio-nohelp|Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven.ogg|sample}}), although never released as a ], is sometimes quoted as being the most requested ] ] song. In 2005, the magazine '']'' held a poll of readers in which "Stairway to Heaven" was voted as having the greatest ] solo of all time.<ref name="About Guitar">, accessed 10 September 2006. This song, although widely played amongst the radio stations, is also considered the "Greatest Rock Song". Many claim that this song was the definition of Led Zeppelin.</ref> As of 31 July 2006, the album has sold 23 million copies in the U.S. The album cemented Led Zeppelin's superstardom in the U.S. Following the album's release, Led Zeppelin completed several more tours of the United States.


Following the release of their second album, Led Zeppelin completed several more US tours. They played initially in clubs and ballrooms, and then in larger auditoriums as their popularity grew.{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} Some early ] lasted more than four hours, with expanded and improvised live versions of their repertoire. Many of these shows have been preserved as ]. It was during this period of intensive concert touring that the band developed a reputation for off-stage excess.{{sfn|Wall|2008}}{{refn|group=nb|One alleged example of such extravagance was the shark episode said to have taken place at the ] in ] on 28 July 1969.{{sfn|Davis|1985|p=103}}{{sfn|Wall|2008}}}}
==="The Biggest Band in the World" (1973–1975)===
The success of Led Zeppelin's early years was dwarfed by this three-year period in which the band released their best selling albums and ascended to the pinnacle of musical success in the 1970s.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods" /> The band's image also changed as members began to wear elaborate, flamboyant clothing and they developed a reputation for off-stage excess. Led Zeppelin began travelling in a private ] (nicknamed '']''<ref name="Achilles Last Stand"></ref>), rented out entire sections of hotels (most notably the ] in Los Angeles, known colloquially as the "Riot House"), and became the subject of many of rock's most famous stories of ]. One escapade involved John Bonham riding a motorcycle through a rented floor of the Riot House. The band were known for trashing their hotel suites, and throwing ] sets out of the windows.


In 1970, Page and Plant retired to ], a remote cottage in ], to commence work on their third album, '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2010 |title=Led Zeppelin at Bron-Yr-Aur |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/history/pages/led-zeppelin-bron-yr-aur.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514164952/http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/history/pages/led-zeppelin-bron-yr-aur.shtml |archive-date=14 May 2011 |access-date=16 September 2011 |website=BBC Wales Music}}</ref> The result was a more acoustic style that was strongly influenced by ] and ], and showcased the band's versatility. The album's rich acoustic sound initially received mixed reactions, with critics and fans surprised at the turn from the primarily electric arrangements of the first two albums, further fuelling the band's hostility to the musical press.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=208–209}} It reached number one in the UK and US charts, but its stay would be the shortest of their first five albums.{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=130}} The album's opening track, "]", was released as a US single in November 1970 against the band's wishes, reaching the top twenty on the ''Billboard'' chart.{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=129}}
Led Zeppelin's next album, '']'', was released in 1973. It featured further experimentation, with longer tracks and expanded use of ] and ] orchestration. The song "]" does not appear on its namesake album, even though it was recorded at the same time as other songs on the album; it eventually made its way onto the 1975 album '']''.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods" /> The orange album cover of ''Houses of the Holy'' depicts images of nude children<ref>Manning, Toby. "Broad Church", ] Led Zeppelin Special Edition, 2003.</ref> climbing up the ] (in ], ]). Although the children are not depicted from the front, this was controversial at the time of the album's release, and in some areas, such as the "]" and Spain, the record was banned.<ref></ref><ref></ref>The album topped the charts, and Led Zeppelin's subsequent ] in 1973 broke records for attendance, as they consistently filled large auditoriums and stadiums. At ], ], they played to 56,800 fans (breaking the record set by ] at ] in 1965), and grossed $309,000.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods" /> Three sold-out shows at ] in New York were filmed for a motion picture, but the theatrical release of this project ('']'') would be delayed until 1976. During the final night's performance, $203,000 of the band's money from gate receipts went missing from a safety deposit box at the Drake Hotel. It was the single highest theft from a deposit box in Manhattan's history and was never recovered.{{Fact|date=October 2008}}


Page played his 1959 Dragon Telecaster until a friend stripped Page's custom modifications and repainted the guitar.<ref>{{Citation| last1 = Fender| last2 = Page| first2 = Jimmy| title = "Dragon" Telecaster (serial no. 50062)| access-date = 2024-08-15| date = 1959| url = https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/754827}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | first = Jeff |last=Slate | title =Jimmy Page: "The whole idea of the Dragon Tele was to bring a new life into it - to mix my identity into the actual guitar"| work = MusicRadar| access-date = 2024-08-15| date = 2019-07-03| url = https://www.musicradar.com/news/jimmy-page-the-whole-idea-of-the-dragon-tele-was-to-bring-a-new-life-into-it-to-mix-my-identity-into-the-actual-guitar}}</ref> From 1969 on the ] "Number 1" Les Paul has been Page's main guitar.<ref>{{Citation| last1 = Gibson| last2 = Page| first2 = Jimmy| title = "Number One" Les Paul Standard| access-date = 2024-08-15| date = 1959| url = https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/752453}}</ref>
], January 1975.]]


=== "The Biggest Band in the World": 1970–1975 ===
In 1974, Led Zeppelin took a break from touring and launched their own record label, ], named after one of only five Led Zeppelin songs which the band never released commercially (Page later re-worked the song with his band, ], and it appears as "Midnight Moonlight" on their ]). The record label's logo, based on a drawing called ''Evening: Fall of Day'' (1869) by ], features a picture of ].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rimmerhistory.co.uk/will.html| title = William Rimmer: A Claim to Fame| accessdate = 2008-02-01| year = 2006| month = September}}</ref> The logo can be found on much Led Zeppelin memorabilia, especially ]s. In addition to using Swan Song as a vehicle to promote their own albums, the band expanded the label's roster, signing artists such as ], ], ], Detective, ], Midnight Flyer, ] and Wildlife.<ref></ref> The label would be successful while Led Zeppelin existed, but folded less than three years after they disbanded.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods" />
During the 1970s, Led Zeppelin reached new heights of commercial and critical success that made them one of the most influential groups of the era, eclipsing their earlier achievements.{{sfn|Waksman|2001|p=238}}{{sfn|Wall|2008}} The band's image also changed as the members began to wear elaborate, flamboyant clothing, with Page taking the lead on the flamboyant appearance by wearing a glittering moon-and-stars outfit. Led Zeppelin changed their show by using things such as lasers, professional light shows and mirror balls.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=281}} They began travelling in a private jet airliner, a ] (nicknamed '']''), rented out entire sections of hotels (including the ] in Los Angeles, known colloquially as the "Riot House"), and became the subject of frequently repeated stories of debauchery. One involved John Bonham riding a motorcycle through a rented floor of the Riot House,{{sfn|Wall|2008a}} while another involved the destruction of a room in the Tokyo ], leading to the group being banned from that establishment for life.{{sfn|Williamson|2005|p=68}} Although Led Zeppelin developed a reputation for trashing their hotel suites and throwing television sets out of the windows, some suggest that these tales have been exaggerated. According to music journalist ], " travels spawned many stories, but it was a myth that were constantly engaged in acts of wanton destruction and lewd behaviour".{{sfn|Welch|1994|p=47}}


]
24 February 1975 saw the release of Led Zeppelin's first ], '']'', which was their first release on the ] label. It consisted of fifteen songs, eight of which were recorded at ] in 1974, and the remainder being tracks previously recorded but not released on earlier albums. A review in ''Rolling Stone'' magazine referred to ''Physical Graffiti'' as Led Zeppelin's "bid for artistic respectability," adding that the only competition the band had for the title of 'World's Best Rock Band' were ] and ].<ref name="Rolling Stone Magazine 2"> </ref> The album was a massive fiscal and critical success. Shortly after the release of ''Physical Graffiti'', all previous Led Zeppelin albums simultaneously re-entered the top-200 album chart,<ref name="Hammer of the Gods"> {{cite book | title=Hammer of the Gods (LPC) | year=1995 | author=Stephen Davis | pages=225, 277 ISBN 033043859 {{Please check ISBN|033043859 (too short)}}}}</ref> and the band embarked on another ], again playing to record-breaking crowds. In May 1975, Led Zeppelin played five highly successful, sold-out nights at the ] in London, footage of which was released in 2003, on the ''Led Zeppelin DVD''.
Led Zeppelin released their ] on 8 November 1971. It is variously referred to as ''Led Zeppelin IV'', ''Untitled'', ''IV'', or, due to the four symbols appearing on the record label, as ''Four Symbols'', ''Zoso'' or ''Runes''.{{sfn|Davis|2005|p=25}} The band had wanted to release the fourth album with no title or information, in response to the music press "going on about Zeppelin being a hype", but the record company wanted something on the cover, so in discussions, it was agreed to have four symbols to represent both the four members of the band and that it was the fourth album.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=269–270}} With 37&nbsp;million copies sold, ''Led Zeppelin IV'' is one of the ] in history, and its massive popularity cemented Led Zeppelin's status as superstars in the 1970s.{{sfn|Bukszpan|2003|p=128}}{{sfn|Brown|2001|p=480}} By 2021, it had sold 24&nbsp;million copies in the United States alone.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Led+Zeppelin&ti=Led+Zeppelin+iv&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |title=Gold & Platinum – RIAA<!-- Bot generated title --> |website=] |access-date=10 November 2021 |archive-date=10 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211110211204/https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Led+Zeppelin&ti=Led+Zeppelin+iv&lab=&genre=&format=&date_option=release&from=&to=&award=&type=&category=&adv=SEARCH#search_section |url-status=live }}</ref> The track "]", never released as a single, was the most requested and most played song on American rock radio in the 1970s.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Monitor |magazine=Broadcasting |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Broadcasting Publications Inc. |date=12 November 1979 }}</ref> The group followed up the album's release with ], ], ], ], and ] from late 1971 through early 1973.
] in March 1973, just before the release of the band's fifth album, '']''.|alt=A black and white photograph of Robert Plant with a tambourine and Jimmy Page with an acoustic guitar seated and performing.]]


Led Zeppelin's next album, '']'', was released in March 1973. It featured further experimentation by the band, who expanded their use of synthesisers and ] orchestration. The predominantly orange album cover, designed by the London-based design group ], depicts images of nude children climbing the ] in Northern Ireland. Although the children are not shown from the front, the cover was controversial at the time of the album's release. As with the band's fourth album, neither their name nor the album title was printed on the sleeve.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=290–291}}
Following these triumphant ], Led Zeppelin took an unplanned break from touring. In August 1975, Robert Plant and his wife Maureen were involved in a serious ] while on holiday in ], Greece. Robert suffered a broken ankle and Maureen was badly injured; a ] saved her life.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods" /> Unable to tour, Plant headed to the channel island of ] to spend August and September recuperating, with Bonham and Page in tow. The band then reconvened in ]. It was during this forced hiatus that much of the material for their next album, '']'', was written.


''Houses of the Holy'' topped charts worldwide,{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=294}} and the band's subsequent ] broke records for attendance, as they consistently filled large auditoriums and stadiums. At ] in Florida, they played to 56,800 fans, breaking the record set by ] and grossing $309,000.{{sfn|Davis|1985|p=194}} Three sold-out shows at ] in New York City were filmed for a motion picture, but the theatrical release of this project ('']'') was delayed until 1976. Before the final night's performance, $180,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|180000|1973|r=-3}}}} today) of the band's money from gate receipts was stolen from a safe deposit box at the ].{{sfn|Yorke|1993|pp=186–187}}
===Nearing the end, Bonham's death and break-up (1975–1980)===
] in January 1975, a few weeks before the release of '']''.|alt=A colour photograph of the four members of Led Zeppelin performing onstage, with some other figures visible in the background.]]
By 1975, Led Zeppelin were still popular worldwide, having outsold most bands of the time, including the Rolling Stones.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods"/> Their live shows increased in theatricality, featuring larger stage areas and complex light shows. However, while there were still massive musical and commercial successes for the band during this period, problems would lead to the band's end.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods"/>


In 1974, Led Zeppelin took a break from touring and launched their own record label, ], named after an unreleased song. The record label's logo is based on a drawing called ''Evening: Fall of Day'' (1869) by ]. The drawing features a figure of a winged human-like being interpreted as either ] or ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |title=William Rimmer Evening (The Fall of Day) |url=http://www.mfashop.org/wiriitfaofda.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926230017/http://www.mfashop.org/wiriitfaofda.html |archive-date=26 September 2019 |access-date=26 September 2019 |website=www.mfashop.org |publisher=Museum of Fine Arts, Boston}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Not stated--> |title=A History of the Led Zeppelin Icarus Logo |url=http://www.band-shirt.com/2013/03/09/history-of-the-led-zeppelin-icarus-logo/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926224856/http://www.band-shirt.com/2013/03/09/history-of-the-led-zeppelin-icarus-logo/ |archive-date=26 September 2019 |access-date=26 September 2019 |website=www.band-shirt.com}}</ref>{{sfn|Williamson|2007|p=107}} The logo can be found on Led Zeppelin memorabilia, especially T-shirts. In addition to using Swan Song as a vehicle to promote their own albums, the band expanded the label's roster, signing artists such as ], ] and ].{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=191}} The label was successful while Led Zeppelin existed, but folded less than three years after they disbanded.{{sfn|Davis|1985|p=312}}
'']'', released in March 1976, marked a change in the Led Zeppelin sound towards more straightforward, guitar-based jams, departing from the acoustic ballads and intricate arrangements featured on their previous albums. Though it was a ] seller, ''Presence'' received mixed responses from critics and fans and some speculated the band's legendary excesses may have caught up with them.<ref> Rolling Stone Magazine Rolling Stone Magazine Review, Published 20 May 1976]</ref> The recording of ''Presence'' coincided with the beginning of Page's ] use, which may have interfered with Led Zeppelin's later live shows and studio recordings, although Page has denied this.<ref name="Rock's BackPages"></ref> Despite the original criticisms, Jimmy Page has called ''Presence'' his favourite album, and its opening track "]" ({{audio-nohelp|Led Zeppelin Achilles Last Stand.ogg|sample}}) his favourite Led Zeppelin song. In an interview with a Swedish TV program, Plant stated that ''Presence'' is the album that sounds the most "Led Zeppelin" of all their LPs.<ref>From interview in Swedish TV program "Musikbyrån" around the time of Led Zeppelin receiving the ].</ref>


In 1975, Led Zeppelin's double album '']'' was their first release on the Swan Song label. It consisted of fifteen songs, of which eight had been recorded at ] in 1974 and seven had been recorded earlier. A review in ''Rolling Stone'' magazine referred to ''Physical Graffiti'' as Led Zeppelin's "bid for artistic respectability", adding that the only bands Led Zeppelin had to compete with for the title "The World's Best Rock Band" were ] and the Who.{{sfn|Miller|1975}} The album was a massive commercial and critical success. Shortly after the release of ''Physical Graffiti'', all previous Led Zeppelin albums simultaneously re-entered the top-200 album chart,{{sfn|Davis|1985|pp=225, 277}} and the band embarked on another ],{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=359}} now employing sophisticated sound and lighting systems.{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=197}} In May 1975, Led Zeppelin played five sold-out nights at the ] in London, at the time the largest arena in Britain.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=359}}
In May there were upheavals at Swan Song when ] was fired as vice-president of the company after refusing to take what he considered unethical steps in booking a tour by Bad Company. He was reportedly fired because nobody could be allowed to quit Led Zeppelin.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods"/>


=== Hiatus from touring and return: 1975–1977 ===
]
] in Chicago on 10 April 1977, during Led Zeppelin's last North American tour|alt=A colour photograph of Robert Plant with microphone and Jimmy Page with a double necked guitar performing on stage.]]


Following their triumphant ], Led Zeppelin took a holiday and planned an autumn tour in America, scheduled to open with two outdoor dates in San Francisco.{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=35}} In August 1975, however, Plant and his wife Maureen were involved in a serious car crash while on holiday in ], Greece. Plant suffered a broken ankle and Maureen was badly injured; a blood transfusion saved her life.{{sfn|Davis|1985|pp=354–355}} Unable to tour, he headed to the ] of ] to spend August and September recuperating, with Bonham and Page in tow. The band then reconvened in ]. During this forced hiatus, much of the material for their next album, '']'', was written.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=364}}
Robert Plant's injuries prevented Led Zeppelin from touring in 1976. Instead, the band finally completed the concert film '']'', and ] of the film. It would be the only official live document of the group available until the release of the '']'' in 1997. The recording had taken place during three nights of concerts at Madison Square Garden in July 1973, during the band's ]. The film premiered in New York on 20 October 1976, but was given a lukewarm reception by critics and fans. The film was particularly unsuccessful in the UK, where, after being unwilling to tour since 1975 due to a taxation exile, Led Zeppelin were facing an uphill battle to recapture the public spotlight at home.<ref></ref>


By this time, Led Zeppelin were the world's number one rock attraction,{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=45}} having outsold most bands of the time, including the Rolling Stones.{{sfn|Davis|1985|p=173}} ''Presence'', released in March 1976, marked a change in the Led Zeppelin sound towards more straightforward, guitar-based jams, departing from the acoustic ballads and intricate arrangements featured on their previous albums. Though it was a ] seller, ''Presence'' received a mixed reaction among fans and the music press, with some critics suggesting that the band's excesses may have caught up with them.{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}}{{sfn|Davis|1976}} Page had begun using heroin during recording sessions for the album, a habit which may have affected the band's later live shows and studio recordings, although he has since denied this.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=364}}
In 1977, Led Zeppelin embarked on another major ]. Though profitable financially, the tour was beset with off-stage problems. On 3 June, after a concert at ] was cut short because of a severe ], a ] broke out amongst the audience, resulting in several arrests and injuries.<ref></ref> Led Zeppelin set another attendance record with 76,229 people attending their Pontiac Silverdome concert on 30 April.<ref></ref> It was, according to the '']''<!-- note: deliberately using the UK title for this book. This should not be corrected to US title; see linked article for more info -->, the largest attendance to date for a single act show.<ref name="Tight But Loose Files">{{cite book | title=Tight But Loose Files:Celebration II | year=2003 | author=Dave Lewis | pages= 49}}</ref>


], Michigan, where the band set a record for the largest solo indoor attraction in 1977 with an attendance of 76,229|alt=a colour photograph of a large domed stadium]]
After a 23 July show<ref></ref> at the "]" festival at ] in ], John Bonham and members of the band's support staff (including manager Peter Grant and security coordinator ]) were arrested after a member of promoter ]'s staff was badly beaten during the performance. A member of the staff had allegedly slapped Grant's son when he was taking down a dressing room sign. This was seen by John Bonham, who came over and kicked the man. Then, when Grant heard about this, he went into the trailer, along with Bindon and assaulted the man while tour manager Richard Cole stood outside and guarded the trailer.<ref name="Hammer of the Gods">{{cite book | title=Hammer of the Gods (LPC) | year=1995 | author=Stephen Davis | pages= 277}}</ref><ref name="Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography">{{cite book | title=Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography | year=1993 | author=Ritchie Yorke | pages 210}}</ref> The following day's second Oakland concert<ref></ref> would prove to be the band's final live appearance in the United States. Two days later, as the band checked in at a French Quarter hotel for their 30 July performance at the Louisiana Superdome, news came that Plant's five year old son, Karac, had died from a stomach virus. The rest of the tour was immediately cancelled.


Because of Plant's injuries, Led Zeppelin did not tour in 1976. Instead, the band completed the concert film '']'' and the accompanying ]. The film premiered in New York City on 20 October 1976, but was given a lukewarm reception by critics and fans.{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} The film was particularly unsuccessful in the UK, where, unwilling to tour since 1975 because of their ] status, Led Zeppelin faced an uphill battle to recapture the public's affection.{{sfn|Shadwick|2005|p=320}}
December 1978 saw the group recording again, this time at ] in ], Sweden. The resultant album was '']'', which exhibited a degree of sonic experimentation that again drew mixed reactions from critics. Nevertheless, the band still commanded legions of loyal fans, and the album easily reached #1 in the UK and the U.S. in just its second week on the '']'' album chart. As a result of this album's release, Led Zeppelin's entire catalogue made the ''Billboard'' Top 200 between the weeks of 27 October and 3 November 1979.<ref name="Tight But Loose Files">{{cite book | title=Tight But Loose Files:Celebration II | year=2003 | author=Dave Lewis | pages= 80}}</ref>


In 1977, Led Zeppelin embarked on another major ]. The band set another attendance record, with an audience of 76,229 at their ] concert on 30 April.{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=229}} It was, according to the '']'', the largest attendance to that date for a single act show.{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=49}} Although the tour was financially profitable, it was beset by off-stage problems. On 19 April, over 70 people were arrested as about 1,000 fans tried to gatecrash Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum for two sold-out concerts, while others tried to gain entry by throwing rocks and bottles through glass doors.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=392}} On 3 June, a concert at Tampa Stadium was cut short because of a severe thunderstorm, despite tickets indicating "Rain or Shine". A riot broke out, resulting in arrests and injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concert Timeline: June 3, 1977 |url=http://ledzeppelin.com/show/june-3-1977 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407234121/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/june-3-1977 |archive-date=7 April 2011 |access-date=5 September 2010 |website=Led Zeppelin.com|date=22 September 2007 }}</ref>
]


After 23 July show at the ] festival at the ] in ], Bonham and members of Led Zeppelin's support staff were arrested after a member of promoter ]'s staff was badly beaten during the band's performance.{{sfn|Davis|1985|p=277}}{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=210}} The following day's second Oakland concert was the group's final live appearance in the United States. Two days later, as they checked in at a ] hotel for their 30 July performance at the ], Plant received news that his five-year-old son, Karac, had died from a stomach virus. The rest of the tour was immediately cancelled, prompting widespread speculation about Led Zeppelin's future.{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}}{{sfn|Welch|1994|p=85}}
In August 1979, after two warm-up shows in Copenhagen, Denmark, Led Zeppelin headlined ] at the ], where crowds of close to 120,000 witnessed the return of the band. However, Robert Plant was not eager to tour full-time again, and even considered leaving Led Zeppelin. He was persuaded to stay by Peter Grant. A brief, low-key ] was undertaken in June and July 1980, featuring a stripped-down set without the usual lengthy jams and solos. At one show on 27 June, in ], Germany, the concert came to an abrupt end in the middle of the third song when John Bonham collapsed on stage and was rushed to a hospital.<ref></ref> Press speculation arose that Bonham's problem was caused by an excess of alcohol and drugs, but the band claimed that he had simply overeaten, and they completed the European tour on 7 July, at Berlin.<ref></ref><ref name="Hammer of the Gods" />
{{Clear}}


=== Bonham's death and breakup: 1978–1980 ===
On 24 September 1980, John Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at ] for the upcoming tour of the United States, the band's first since 1977. During the journey Bonham had asked to stop for breakfast, where he downed four quadruple ]s (sixteen shots - or roughly 400ml - of vodka), with a ] roll. After taking a bite of the ham roll he said to his assistant, "Breakfast". He continued to drink heavily when he arrived at the studio. A halt was called to the rehearsals late in the evening and the band retired to Page's house — The Old Mill House in ], ]. After midnight, Bonham had fallen asleep and was taken to bed and placed on his side. Benji LeFevre (who had replaced ] as Led Zeppelin's tour manager) and John Paul Jones found him dead the next morning. Bonham was 32 years old.<ref></ref> The cause of death was ]tion from vomit. A subsequent and thorough ] found no other drugs in Bonham's body.<ref></ref> The ] that had plagued the drummer since his earliest days with the band ultimately led to his death. Bonham was cremated on 10 October 1980, at Rushock parish church in ], ], England.
]


In November 1978, the group recorded at ] in Stockholm, Sweden. The resulting album, '']'', featured sonic experimentation that again drew mixed reactions from critics.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=424}} Nevertheless, the album reached number one in the UK and the US in just its second week of release. With this album's release, Led Zeppelin's entire catalogue returned to the ''Billboard'' Top 200 in the weeks of 27 October and 3 November 1979.{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=80}}
Despite rumours that ], ], ], ] or ] would join the group as his replacement, the remaining members decided to disband after Bonham's death. They issued a press statement on 4 December 1980 confirming that the band would not continue without Bonham. "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."<ref name="Mojo2">{{cite magazine | title=No Way Out| year=2005 | author=Mick Wall | pages= 86 }}</ref>


In August 1979, after two warm-up shows in ], Led Zeppelin headlined ] at the ], playing to a crowd of approximately 104,000 on the first night.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=425}} A brief, low-key ] was undertaken in June and July 1980, featuring a stripped-down set without the usual lengthy jams and solos. On 27 June, at a show in ], West Germany, the concert came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the third song, when Bonham collapsed onstage and was rushed to hospital.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=431–432}} Speculation in the press suggested that his collapse had been the result of excessive alcohol and drug use, but the band claimed that he had simply overeaten.{{sfn|Davis|1985|p=300}}
===Post-Led Zeppelin (1981–2007)===
In 1982, the surviving members of the group released a collection of out-takes from various sessions during Led Zeppelin's career, entitled '']''. It included two tracks taken from the band's performance at the ] in 1970, one each from the ''Led Zeppelin III'' and ''Houses of the Holy'' sessions, and three from the ''In Through the Out Door'' sessions. It also featured a 1976 John Bonham drum instrumental with electronic effects added by Jimmy Page, called "]".


], the band's first since 1977, was scheduled to commence on 17 October 1980. On 24 September, Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at ].{{sfn|Welch|1994|p=92}} During the journey, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he downed four quadruple vodkas (from {{convert|16|to|24|usoz|abbr=on}}), with a ham roll. After taking a bite of the ham roll he said to his assistant, "breakfast". He continued to drink heavily after arriving at the studio. The rehearsals were halted late that evening and the band retired to Page's house—the Old Mill House in ], ].
On 13 July 1985, Page, Plant and Jones reunited for the ] concert at ], ], for a short set featuring drummers ] and ] and bassist ]. Collins had played on Plant's first two solo albums. However, the performance was marred by the lack of rehearsal with the two drummers and Page's out-of-tune Les Paul (and heavy intoxication). Page himself had described the performance as "pretty shambolic."<ref>"Jimmy Page says last Led Zeppelin reunion was a disaster", List.co.uk. </ref> When Live Aid footage was released on a four-DVD set in late 2004, the group unanimously agreed not to allow footage from their performance to be used, agreeing that it was not up to their standard.<ref></ref> However, to show their ongoing support Page and Plant pledged proceeds from their forthcoming Page and Plant DVD release to the campaign and John Paul Jones pledged the proceeds of his then-current U.S. tour with Mutual Admiration Society to the project. The three members reunited again in May of 1988, for Atlantic Records' 40th Anniversary concert, with Bonham's son, ], on drums. However, the performance was widely criticized for being "flat" and for Page's poor guitar playing.{{Fact|date=December 2007}} Also, an article in ''Rolling Stone'' magazine talked about how the keyboard sound never made it to tape during the performance of "Kashmir," which Page reportedly found unforgivable.


After midnight, Bonham, who had fallen asleep, was taken to bed and placed on his side. At 1:45&nbsp;pm the next day, Benji LeFevre (Led Zeppelin's new tour manager) and John Paul Jones found Bonham dead. The cause of death was ] from vomit; the finding was accidental death.{{sfn|Welch|1994|pp=92–94}}<ref name="srapdisbnds">{{Cite news |date=6 December 1980 |title=Rock group Led Zeppelin disbands |page=24 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=Associated Press |location=(Spokane, WA, U.S.) |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=McopAAAAIBAJ&pg=7157%2C2314905 |url-status=live |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210090253/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=McopAAAAIBAJ&pg=7157,2314905 |archive-date=10 December 2020}}</ref> An ] found no other recreational drugs in Bonham's body. Although he had recently begun to take Motival (a cocktail of the ] ] and the ] ]) to combat his anxiety, it is unclear if these substances interacted with the alcohol in his system.{{sfn|Gilmore|2006}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Bonham Biography |url=http://home.att.net/~chuckayoub/john_bonham_biography.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316013818/http://home.att.net/~chuckayoub/john_bonham_biography.htm |archive-date=16 March 2010 |website=home.att.net/~chuckayoub}}</ref> Bonham's remains were cremated and his ashes interred on 12 October 1980, at ] parish church, ].
23 October 1990 saw the release of the ], featuring tracks remastered under the personal supervision of Jimmy Page. This set also included four previously unreleased tracks, including the ] song "]", which was released as a single in the US. The song was a huge hit, with the video in heavy rotation on MTV.
1992 saw the release of the "]" b/w "]" (the original b-side) as a CD single in the United States ] was released in 1993; the two box sets together contain all known studio recordings, as well as some rare live tracks.


The planned North American tour was cancelled, and despite rumours that ], ], ], ], ] or ] would join the group as his replacement, the remaining members decided to disband. A 4 December 1980 press statement stated that, "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."<ref name="srapdisbnds" /> The statement was signed simply "Led Zeppelin".{{sfn|Welch|1994|pp=94–95}}
In 1994, ] reunited in the form of a 90 minute "UnLedded" ] project. They released an album called "]", which featured some reworked Led Zeppelin songs, and embarked on a world tour the following year. This is said to be the beginning of the inner rift between the band members, as Jones was not even told of the reunion.<ref name=Miserandino>Dominick A. Miserandino, , TheCelebrityCafe.com.</ref> When asked where Jones was, Plant had replied that he was out "parking the car."
On 12 January 1995, Led Zeppelin were inducted into the United States ]. They were inducted by ]'s vocalist, ] and guitarist ]. Jason and Zoe Bonham also attended, representing their late father. At the ], the band's inner rift became apparent when Jones joked upon accepting his award, "Thank you, my friends, for finally remembering my phone number", causing consternation and awkward looks from Page and Plant.<ref>Lewis, Dave Lewis and Simon Pallett (1997) ''Led Zeppelin: The Concert File'', London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-5307-4, p. 144.</ref> Afterwards, they played a brief set with Tyler and Perry (featuring ] on drums), and with ] and ] replacing Bonham.


=== Post-breakup ===
On 29 August 1997, Atlantic released a single edit of "]" in the U.S. and the UK, making it the only Led Zeppelin UK CD single. Additional tracks on this CD-single are "]" and "]". It is the only single the band ever released in the UK. It peaked at #21.<ref></ref> 11 November 1997 saw the release of '']'', the first Led Zeppelin album in fifteen years. The two-disc set included almost all of the band's recordings for the BBC. ] released another album called '']'' in 1998, featuring all new material. However, the album wasn't as successful as '']'' was, and the band slowly dissolved afterwards.
==== 1980s ====
] in ] in 1983.|alt=A colour photograph of Jimmy Page performing on stage with a double-necked guitar]]


Following Led Zeppelin's dissolution, the first significant musical project by one of its members was ], which Plant initially formed in 1981. The group, featuring Page on lead guitar, along with studio musicians and friends of the pair, including Jeff Beck, ], and ], released its only album in 1984. Plant focused on a different direction from Zeppelin, playing ] and in a more ] style, highlighted by a cover of "]" that peaked at number three on the ] in early 1985.{{sfn|Huey|2011}}
On 29 November 1999 the ] announced that the band were only the third act in music history to achieve four or more ] albums.<ref>], "".</ref> In 2002, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones reconciled after years of strife that kept the band apart. This was followed by rumours of reunion, quickly quashed by individual members' representatives. 2003 saw the release of a triple live album, '']'', and a video collection, '']'', both featuring material from the band's heyday. By the end of the year, the DVD had sold more than 520,000 copies.


The studio album '']'' – a collection of Zeppelin outtakes and unused tracks – was issued in November 1982. It included two tracks from the ] in 1970, one each from the ''Led Zeppelin III'' and ''Houses of the Holy'' sessions, and three from the ''In Through the Out Door'' sessions. It also featured a 1976 Bonham drum instrumental with electronic effects added by Page, called "]".{{sfn|Yorke|1993|p=267}}
In 2005, Led Zeppelin received a ]. Led Zeppelin ranked #14 on ''Rolling Stone's'' 2004 list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".<ref>{{cite web| title = The Immortals: The First Fifty| work = Rolling Stone Issue 946| publisher = Rolling Stone| url =http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5939214/the_immortals_the_first_fifty}}</ref> In November 2005, it was announced that Led Zeppelin and Russian conductor ] were the winners of the 2006 ]. The ] presented the prize to Plant, Page and Jones, along with John Bonham's daughter, in ] in May 2006.<ref name="BBC News story"></ref> In November 2006, Led Zeppelin were inducted into the ]. The television broadcasting of the event consisted of an introduction to the band by various famous admirers, a presentation of an award to Jimmy Page and then a short speech by the guitarist. After this, rock group ] played a tribute to Led Zeppelin, playing the song "]".<ref name="wolfmother live at UK hall of fame"></ref><ref name="BBC News story Sept. 2006"></ref>


]
On 27 July 2007, ]/], & ] announced three new Led Zeppelin titles to be released in November, 2007. Released first was '']'' on 13 November, a 24-track best-of spanning the band's career, followed by a reissue of the soundtrack to '']'' on 20 November which includes previously unreleased material, and a new DVD.<ref name="fall-releases"></ref> On 15 October 2007, published an article that Led Zeppelin were expected to announce a new series of agreements that make the band's songs available as legal digital downloads, first as ringtones through Verizon Wireless then as digital downloads of the band's eight studio albums and other recordings on 13 November. The offerings will be available through both Verizon Wireless and iTunes. On 3 November 2007, a UK newspaper the '']'' announced that it had world exclusive rights to stream six previously unreleased tracks via its . On 8 November 2007, ] launched ], the network's first artist-exclusive channel dedicated to Led Zeppelin. On 13 November 2007, Led Zeppelin's complete works were published on ].


On 13 July 1985, Page, Plant, and Jones reunited for the ] concert at ], playing a short set featuring drummers ] and ], and bassist ]. Collins had contributed to Plant's first two solo albums while Martinez was a member of Plant's solo band. The performance was marred by a lack of rehearsal with the two drummers, Page's struggles with an out-of-tune guitar, poorly functioning monitors, and Plant's hoarse voice.{{sfn|Lewis|Pallett|1997|p=139}}{{sfn|Prato|2008}} Page described the performance as "pretty shambolic",<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 November 2007 |title=Jimmy Page says last Led Zeppelin reunion was a disaster |work=The List |url=http://www.list.co.uk/article/5700-jimmy-page-says-last-led-zeppelin-reunion-was-a-disaster/ |url-status=dead |access-date=29 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140712163557/http://www.list.co.uk/article/5700-jimmy-page-says-last-led-zeppelin-reunion-was-a-disaster/ |archive-date=12 July 2014}}</ref> while Plant characterised it as an "atrocity".{{sfn|Lewis|Pallett|1997|p=139}}
===2007 reunion and present day developments===
] at The O<sub>2</sub> in London in 2007]]
{{main article|Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert}}


The three members reunited again on 14 May 1988, for the ] concert, with Bonham's son ] on drums. The result was again disjointed: Plant and Page had argued immediately prior to taking the stage about whether to play "Stairway to Heaven", and Jones' keyboards were absent from the live television feed.{{sfn|Prato|2008}}{{sfn|Lewis|Pallett|1997|p=140}} Page described the performance as "one big disappointment" and Plant said "the gig was foul".{{sfn|Lewis|Pallett|1997|p=140}}
On 10 December 2007 the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited for a one-off ] held in memory of music executive ], with ] taking up his late father's place on drums. It was announced on 12 September 2007 by promoter ] in a press conference. The concert was to help raise money for the Ahmet Ertegün Education Fund, which pays for university scholarships in the UK, US and ]. Music critics praised the band's performance. ''NME'' proclaimed, "What they have done here tonight is proof they can still perform to the level that originally earned them their legendary reputation...We can only hope this isn't the last we see of them."<ref></ref>. Page suggested the band may start work on new material,<ref></ref> and stated that a world tour may be in the works.<ref></ref> Meanwhile, Plant made his position regarding a reunion tour known to the '']'', stating: "The whole idea of being on a cavalcade of merciless repetition is not what it's all about". However, he also made it known that he could be in favour of more one-off shows in the near future: "It wouldn't be such a bad idea to play together from time to time."


==== 1990s ====
On 25 January 2008, in an interview during the half time of a basketball game at ], Robert Plant was asked if Led Zeppelin would be seen back together again in the venue. He said "I don't know what is around the corner ... Right now all my energy is based on other projects".<ref>] broadcast, ] vs ], 25 January 2008</ref> Three days later, at a press conference in Tokyo, Jimmy Page revealed that he is prepared to embark upon a world tour with Led Zeppelin, but due to Robert Plant's tour commitments with ], such plans will not be announced until at least September.<ref></ref> On 17 May 2008, Canadian music station ] announced that Led Zeppelin plans to announce four August dates in ] at the ]. However the band's management has since denied the rumours.<ref></ref> On 07 June 2008, Page and Jones joined ] frontman ] and drummer ] onstage at ] to perform Led Zeppelin tracks "]" (Hawkins on vocals and Grohl on drums), followed by "]" (Grohl on vocals and Hawkins on drums). Dave Grohl has been a longtime Led Zeppelin fan, telling the audience "welcome to the greatest day of my entire fucking life".<ref>Damian Jones, "", ], 8 June 2008.</ref>
], who filled his late father's position for reunions in 1988, 1995 and 2007|alt=A colour photograph of Jason Bonham playing drums]]


The first ], featuring tracks remastered under Page's supervision, was released in 1990 and bolstered the band's reputation, leading to abortive discussions among members about a reunion.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=457}} This set included four previously unreleased tracks, including a version of ]'s "]".{{sfn|Erlewine|2011c}} The song peaked at number seven on the ''Billboard'' ] chart.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Artist Chart History&nbsp;– Led Zeppelin |url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Singles&model.vnuArtistId=5047&model.vnuAlbumId=10333 |url-status=dead |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221050358/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Singles&model.vnuArtistId=5047&model.vnuAlbumId=10333 |archive-date=21 February 2009}}</ref> '']'' was released in 1993; the two box sets together contained all known studio recordings, as well as some rare live tracks.{{sfn|Erlewine|2011e}}
====Reunion tour reports====
In late summer 2008, reports surfaced that three of the four performers at the December 2007 benefit concert, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham, were recording and rehearsing for a possible tour in 2009. Robert Plant was not included in the initial speculation, but in late September tabloid newspaper reports that Plant would join the other three surfaced.<ref name="septrumours">{{cite web |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/46401/robert-plant-i-wont-tour-or-record-with-led-zeppelin |title=Robert Plant: 'I Won't Tour Or Record With Led Zeppelin' |publisher=gigwise.com |author=Gregory, Jason |date=2008-09-29 |accessdate=2008-09-29}}</ref> However, Plant emphatically and categorically denied the rumours in a statement posted on his website on 29 September 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.robertplant.com/index.php?l1=2&l2=0&l3=0&articleID=186&rt=NE&PHPSESSID=6235928e9e15317186503f0c80686264 |title=Robert Plant &ndash; Official Statement |publisher=robertplant.com |date=2008-09-29 |accessdate=2008-09-29}}</ref>


In 1994, ] reunited for a 90-minute "UnLedded" MTV project. They later released an album called '']'', which featured some reworked Led Zeppelin songs, and embarked on a world tour the following year. This is said to be the beginning of a rift between the band members, as Jones was not even told of the reunion.{{sfn|Murray|2004|p=75}}
The BBC reported on 26 August 2008 that Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham had been recording material which may become a new Led Zeppelin project; Robert Plant had not been performing in the sessions.<ref>"", ], 26 August 2008.</ref>


In 1995, Led Zeppelin were inducted into the United States ] by ] and ] of ]. Jason and Zoë Bonham also attended, representing their late father.{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=163}} At the ], the band's inner rift became apparent when Jones joked upon accepting his award, "Thank you, my friends, for finally remembering my phone number", causing consternation and awkward looks from Page and Plant.{{sfn|Lewis|Pallett|1997|p=144}} Afterwards, they played one brief set with Tyler and Perry, with Jason Bonham on drums, and then a second with ], this time with ] playing the drums.{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=163}}
On 20 September 2008 it was reported in the British tabloid newspaper '']'' that Page, Jones and Jason Bonham had been rehearsing with an American singer. ''The Sun'' claimed that the three would tour with or without Plant.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/bizarre/article1712616.ece |title=Led Zeppelin plan to audition new singer |publisher=] |date=2008-09-20 |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref> Robert Plant and Alison Krauss received awards including Album of the Year for their duet album '']'' from the ] two days before ''The Sun'' story first broke,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hEXEqN6U7loskByo3kfg65DExRjwD939VRT86 |title=Krauss, Plant big winners at Americana awards |publisher=Associated Press |date=2008-09-19 |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref> and other reports suggested that bureaucracy had kept a reunion of the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin from becoming reality.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kbsradio.ca/news/music/87/793038 |publisher=Astral Media Radio Group / KBSradio.ca |author=Kaye, Don |title=Robert Plant says 'paperwork' holds up Led Zeppelin reunion |accessdate=2008-09-20}}</ref>


In 1997, Atlantic released a single edit of "Whole Lotta Love" in the US and the UK, the only single the band released in their homeland, where it peaked at number 21.{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=166}} November 1997 saw the release of '']'', a two-disc set largely recorded in 1969 and 1971.{{sfn|Erlewine|2011f}} Page and Plant released another album called '']'' in 1998, featuring all new material, but after disappointing sales, the partnership dissolved before a planned Australian tour.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=460–461}}
On 26 September 2008 the Australian tabloid newspaper '']'' reported that Robert Plant would join the remaining members of Led Zeppelin and the band were planning to embark on a reunion tour in summer 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24405451-5012327,00.html |publisher=Daily Telegraph Sydney |title=Led Zeppelin to reunite |accessdate=2008-09-26}}</ref> Later the same day ''The Sun'' confirmed that Robert Plant would in fact be lead singer with Led Zeppelin during the next summer.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/music/article1735624.ece |title=Robert Plant agrees to join Led Zeppelin for reunion |publisher=] |date=26 September 2008 |accessdate=2008-09-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://winnipegsun.com/Entertainment/Music/2008/09/27/6899896-sun.html |publisher=The Winnipeg Sun |author=MacNeil, Jason |title=Plant okays Zep tour? |date=2008-09-27 |accessdate=2008-09-27}}</ref> On the 27th, the London tabloid the '']'' reported that Jason Bonham was selling his country house in Worcestershire in anticipation of embarking on the rumoured tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/09/27/zep-s-jason-sells-up-for-world-tour-115875-20755279/ |publisher=The Daily Mirror |author=Chaytor, Rod |date=2008-09-27 |accessdate=2008-09-27 |title=Zep's Jason sells up for 'world tour'}}</ref>


==== 2000s ====
On 29 September frontman Robert Plant released a statement in which he called reports of a Led Zeppelin reunion "frustrating and ridiculous". He said he would not be recording or touring with the band, before adding, "I wish Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham nothing but success with any future projects."<ref name="septrumours" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aU_5GfM1LTsc&refer=muse |title=Led Zeppelin Singer Robert Plant Rules Out Reunion Record, Tour |publisher=bloomberg.com |author=Beech, Mark |date=2008-09-29 |accessdate=2008-09-29}}</ref>
] in London in December 2007|alt=A colour photograph of John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page performing on stage, with Jason Bonham partially visible on drums in the background]]


The year 2003 saw the release of the triple live album '']'', and '']'', a six-hour chronological set of live footage that became the best-selling music DVD in history.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=437}} In July 2007, Atlantic/] and ] announced three Zeppelin titles to be released that November: '']'', a 24-track best-of spanning the band's career; a reissue of the soundtrack ''The Song Remains the Same'', including previously unreleased material; and a new DVD.{{sfn|Cohen|2007}} Zeppelin also made their catalogue legally available for download,<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 October 2007 |title=Led Zeppelin to sell music online |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/music-zeppelin-downloads-dc-idUSL1535184120071017 |url-status=live |access-date=23 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512213033/http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/10/17/music-zeppelin-downloads-dc-idUSL1535184120071017 |archive-date=12 May 2012}}</ref> becoming one of the last major rock bands to do so.{{sfn|Thorpe|2007}}
==Songs in other media==


On 10 December 2007, Zeppelin reunited for the ] at ] in London, with Jason Bonham again taking his father's place on drums. According to ''Guinness World Records 2009'', the show set a record for the "Highest Demand for Tickets for One Music Concert" as 20&nbsp;million requests were submitted online.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 December 2009 |title=Guinness 2010 entertainment winners |work=TVNZ |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/guinness-2010-entertainment-winners-revealed-3313600 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110306170534/http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/guinness-2010-entertainment-winners-revealed-3313600 |archive-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> Critics praised the performance{{sfn|Gardner|2007}} and there was widespread speculation about a full reunion.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=472}} Page, Jones and Jason Bonham were reported to be willing to tour and to be working on material for a new Zeppelin project.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 August 2008 |title=Led Zeppelin trio back in studio |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7582917.stm |url-status=live |access-date=25 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111031035611/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7582917.stm |archive-date=31 October 2011}}</ref> Plant continued his touring commitments with ],{{sfn|Talmadge|2008}} stating in September 2008 that he would not record or tour with the band.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2008 |title=Robert Plant&nbsp;– official statement |url=http://www.robertplant.com/index.php?l1=2&l2=0&l3=0&articleID=186&rt=NE&PHPSESSID=6235928e9e15317186503f0c80686264 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080930212955/http://www.robertplant.com/index.php?l1=2&l2=0&l3=0&articleID=186&rt=NE&PHPSESSID=6235928e9e15317186503f0c80686264 |archive-date=30 September 2008 |access-date=29 September 2008 |website=Robertplant.com}}</ref>{{sfn|Beech|2008}} "I told them I was busy and they'd simply have to wait," he recalled in 2014. "I would come around eventually, which they were fine with – at least to my knowledge. But it turns out they weren't. And what's even more disheartening, Jimmy used it against me."{{sfn|Anders|2014|p=30}}
While members of Led Zeppelin have seldom allowed their works to be licensed for films or commercials, in recent years, their position has softened. The songs of Led Zeppelin can be heard in movies such as '']'', '']'', '']'' ("]" in all three), '']'' ("]", "]", and "]"), '']'' ("]", "]", "]", "]", and "]"), '']'' ("]"), and '']'' ("]"). The television series'' ]'' featured the song "]". The band has denied frequent requests by developers of popular ]s to use their songs. Like with other forms of media, the band seeks to protect the integrity of their work. Specifically, "the band isn't comfortable with the prospect of granting outsiders access to its master tapes, a necessary step in creating the ]".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121487474239618065.html |title=Aerosmith Stars in Guitar Hero Videogame |author=Wingfield, Nick; Smith, Ethan|publisher='']'' |origdate= 2008-07-01|accessdate = 2008-07-10}}</ref>


Jones and Page reportedly looked for a replacement for Plant; candidates including ] of ], and ] of ].{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=459–460}} However, in January 2009, it was confirmed that the project had been abandoned.{{sfn|Bosso|2009}} "Getting the opportunity to play with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham was pretty special," Kennedy recalled. "That is pretty much the zenith right there. That was a crazy, good experience. It's something I still think of often ... It's so precious to me."{{sfn|Chamberlain|2014|p=138}}
Also noteworthy is ]'s use of "Rock and Roll" in their US TV advertising campaign. Recently, Led Zeppelin have agreed to allow ] to sell their music in Apple's ], with the recently released greatest hits collection '']'' as the marquee offering.<ref name="Led Zeppelin enters Net Generation"></ref> In April 2007 ] announced it had secured an agreement with the band to create "]" - a roller coaster built by B&M synchronised to the music of Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta Love. The coaster will stand {{convert|155|ft|m}} tall, feature six inversions, and spiral over a lagoon. It will be found in the "Rock and Roll Heaven" section of ]. As of 13 September 2007, the ride track is complete, and the park conducted successful test runs in December.


==== 2010s ====
== Allegations of plagiarism ==
]'' at the ] in London, October 2012]]
The credits for ''Led Zeppelin II'' were the subject of some debate after the album's release. The prelude to "]" is a cover of ]'s "Bring It On Home" and drew comparisons with ]'s "Bring It On Back". "]" ({{audio-nohelp|Led Zeppelin Whole Lotta Love.ogg|sample}}) shared some lyrics with Dixon's "You Need Love/Woman You Need Love", though the riff from the song was an original Jimmy Page composition. In the 1970s, Arc Music, the publishing arm of ], brought a lawsuit against Led Zeppelin for ] over "Bring It On Home"; the case was settled out of court.<ref name=tripleJ> - Triple J Music Specials - Led Zeppelin (first broadcast 2000-07-12)</ref> Dixon himself did not benefit until he sued Arc Music to recover his ] and ]s. Sixteen years later, Dixon filed suit against Led Zeppelin over "Whole Lotta Love" and an out-of-court settlement was reached.<ref></ref> Later pressings of ''Led Zeppelin II'' credit Dixon. Similarly, the "Lemon Song", from the same album, included an adaptation of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor". The band and Chester Burnett reached an out-of-court settlement to give co-credit to the author of the original song.<ref></ref>


A film of the O2 performance, '']'', premiered on 17 October 2012 and was released on DVD on 19 November.{{sfn|Greene|2012}} The film grossed $2&nbsp;million in one night, and the live album peaked at number 4 and 9 in the UK and US, respectively.{{sfn|Dawtrey|2012}} Following the film's premiere, Page revealed that he had been ].{{sfn|Renshaw|2012}} The first wave of albums, '']'', '']'', and '']'', were released on 2 June 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2014 |title=First Three Albums Newly Remastered With Previously Unreleased Companion Audio |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2014/03/13/first-three-albums-newly-remastered-previously-unreleased-companion-audio |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314235805/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2014/03/13/first-three-albums-newly-remastered-previously-unreleased-companion-audio |archive-date=14 March 2014 |access-date=14 March 2014 |website=Led Zeppelin.com}}</ref> The second wave of albums, '']'' and '']'', were released on 27 October 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2014 |title=Led Zeppelin Reissues Continue with Deluxe Editions of Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2014/07/29/led-zeppelin-reissues-continue-deluxe-editions-led-zeppelin-iv-and-houses-holy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512125927/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2014/07/29/led-zeppelin-reissues-continue-deluxe-editions-led-zeppelin-iv-and-houses-holy |archive-date=12 May 2016 |access-date=22 January 2017 |website=Led Zeppelin.com}}</ref> '']'' was released on 23 February 2015, almost exactly forty years to the day after the original release.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 January 2015 |title=Physical Graffiti Deluxe Edition Arrives Exactly 40 Years After Debut, Produced and Newly Remastered by Jimmy Page, with Previously Unreleased Companion Audio |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2015/01/08/physical-graffiti-deluxe-edition-arrives-exactly-40-years-after-debut-produced-and-n |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150119205049/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2015/01/08/physical-graffiti-deluxe-edition-arrives-exactly-40-years-after-debut-produced-and-n |archive-date=19 January 2015 |access-date=22 January 2017 |website=Led Zeppelin.com}}</ref> The fourth and final wave of studio album reissues, '']'', '']'', and '']'', were released on 31 July 2015.{{sfn|Grow|2015}}
Dave Headlam, in an article entitled "Does the song remain the same? Questions of authenticity and identification in the music of Led Zeppelin", suggests that "...in the course of studies on the music of Led Zeppelin, it has become apparent that many songs are compilations of pre-existent material from multiple sources, both acknowledged and unacknowledged." He contends that "...songs like 'Whole Lotta Love' and 'Dazed and Confused' are on the one hand not "authored" by Led Zeppelin, but traditional lyrics..."
<ref>Headlam, Dave. "Does the song remain the same? Questions of authenticity and identification in the music of Led Zeppelin." In ''Concert Music, Rock, and Jazz Since 1945: Essays and Analytical Studies. By Elizabeth West Marvin and Richard Hermann. Published 1995. Boydell & Brewer. 449 pages
ISBN 1580460968 http://books.google.ca/books?id=OhUVusniuzoC</ref> However, noted blues author and producer ] states "It is the custom, in blues music, for a singer to borrow verses from contemporary sources, both oral and recorded, add his own tune and/or arrangement, and call the song his own".<ref>{{cite book | title=In the Houses of the Holy: Led Zeppelin and the Power of Rock Music| year=2001| author=Susan Fast| page=210, ISBN 0-19-511756-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=Led Zeppelin: The Music (liner notes)| year=1991| author=Robert Palmer| Atlantic 82144-2}}</ref> Folklorist Carl Lindahl, refers to these recycling of lyrics in songs as "floating lyrics". He defines it within the folk-music tradition as "lines that have circulated so long in folk communities that tradition-steeped singers call them instantly to mind and rearrange them constantly, and often unconsciously, to suit their personal and community aesthetics".<ref>Carl Lindahl, "Thrills and Miracles: Legends of Lloyd Chandler", ''Journal of Folklore Research'', Bloomington: May-Dec 2004, Vol. 41, Issue 2/3, pp. 133-72.</ref>


Through this remastering project, each studio album was reissued on CD and vinyl and was also available in a Deluxe Edition, which contained a bonus disc of previously unheard material ('']'' Deluxe Edition would include two bonus discs). Each album was also available in a Super Deluxe Edition Box Set, which included the remastered album and bonus disc on both CD and 180-gram vinyl, a high-definition audio download card of all content at 96&nbsp;kHz/24 bit, a hardbound book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia, and a high-quality print of the original album cover.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 June 2015 |title=Pre-Order Deluxe Editions of Presence, In Through the Out Door, and Coda, Each Newly Remastered by Jimmy Page, With Previously Unreleased Companion Audio |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2015/06/03/pre-order-deluxe-editions-presence-through-out-door-and-coda-each-newly-remastered-j |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017230942/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2015/06/03/pre-order-deluxe-editions-presence-through-out-door-and-coda-each-newly-remastered-j |archive-date=17 October 2016 |access-date=22 January 2017}}</ref>
In an interview he gave to ''Guitar World'' magazine in 1993, Page commented on the band's use of classic blues songs:
{{cquote|s far as my end of it goes, I always tried to bring something fresh to anything that I used. I always made sure to come up with some variation. In fact, I think in most cases, you would never know what the original source could be. Maybe not in every case -- but in most cases. So most of the comparisons rest on the lyrics. And Robert was supposed to change the lyrics, and he didn't always do that -- which is what brought on most of the grief. They couldn't get us on the guitar parts of the music, but they nailed us on the lyrics. We did, however, take some liberties, I must say . But never mind; we did try to do the right thing.<ref name=page93>, '']'' magazine, 1993</ref>}}


On 6 November 2015, the '']'' compilation was reissued using the band's newly remastered audio tracks.<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 October 2015 |title=Led Zeppelin / Mothership 4LP vinyl |url=http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/led-zeppelin-mothership-4lp-vinyl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017204901/http://www.superdeluxeedition.com/news/led-zeppelin-mothership-4lp-vinyl/ |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=23 January 2017 |website=superdeluxeedition.com}}</ref> The reissuing campaign continued the next year with the re-release of '']'' on 16 September 2016. The reissue contained a bonus disc with nine unreleased ] recordings, including the heavily bootlegged but never officially released "Sunshine Woman".<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 July 2016 |title=The Complete BBC Sessions – With Previously Unreleased Recordings Out Sept. 16th |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2016/07/20/complete-bbc-sessions-previously-unreleased-recordings-out-sept-16th |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202013016/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/2016/07/20/complete-bbc-sessions-previously-unreleased-recordings-out-sept-16th |archive-date=2 February 2017 |access-date=22 January 2017}}</ref>
In another interview, Page responded to the suggestion that Led Zeppelin used a lot of traditional and blues lyrics and tunes and called them their own:
{{cquote|The thing is they were traditional lyrics and they went back far before a lot of people that one related them to. The riffs we did were totally different, also, from the ones that had come before, apart from something like "You Shook Me" and "I Can't Quit You," which were attributed to Willie Dixon. The thing with "Bring It On Home," Christ, there's only a tiny bit taken from Sonny Boy Williamson's version and we threw that in as a tribute to him. People say, "Oh, 'Bring It On Home' is stolen." Well, there's only a little bit in the song that relates to anything that had gone before it, just the end.<ref name = Schulps />}}


To commemorate the band's 50th anniversary, Page, Plant and Jones announced an official illustrated book celebrating 50 years since the formation of the band.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 December 2017 |title=Led Zeppelin Official Illustrated Book – Coming 2018 |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/led-zeppelin-official-illustrated-book-coming-2018-1260556 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125135155/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/led-zeppelin-official-illustrated-book-coming-2018-1260556 |archive-date=25 January 2018 |access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref> Also released for the celebration was a reissue of '']'' on 23 March 2018, which includes the album's first pressing on vinyl.<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 January 2018 |title=Live Album How The West Was Won To Be Reissued With New Remastering Supervised By Jimmy Page |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/live-album-how-west-was-won-be-reissued-new-remastering-supervised-jimmy-page-1261051 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134837/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/news/live-album-how-west-was-won-be-reissued-new-remastering-supervised-jimmy-page-1261051 |archive-date=25 January 2018 |access-date=24 January 2018}}</ref> For ] on 21 April 2018, Led Zeppelin released a 7" single ]/], their first single in 21 years.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 January 2019 |title=Led Zeppelin share teaser trailer for beautiful Record Store Day release |agency=NME |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/led-zeppelin-announce-special-7-inch-single-record-store-day-2249554 |url-status=live |access-date=3 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103161251/https://www.nme.com/news/music/led-zeppelin-announce-special-7-inch-single-record-store-day-2249554 |archive-date=3 January 2019}}</ref>
==Discography==
{{main|Led Zeppelin discography}}
;Studio albums
*'']'' (1969)
*'']'' (1969)
*'']'' (1970)
*'']'' (1971)
*'']'' (1973)
*'']'' (1975)
*'']'' (1976)
*'']'' (1979)
*'']'' (1982)<ref name=Explanation>While some external sources, such as ], categorise ''Coda'' as a ], Led Zeppelin's official album label, ], categorises it as studio album. See for example the liner notes for the '']'' and the label attached to the '']'' boxed set, which state that Led Zeppelin released nine studio albums.</ref>


==== 2020s ====
;Filmography
In October 2020, Page released a photo collection called ''Jimmy Page: The Anthology'', confirming a band documentary for the band's 50th anniversary.{{sfn|Light|2020}} A work-in-progress version of the documentary film '']'' was screened at the ] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Reed |first=Ryan |title=Led Zeppelin Documentary to Feature Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/led-zeppelin-documentary-robert-plant-jimmy-page-john-paul-jones-832748/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |publisher=Penske Business Media |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=25 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225104302/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/led-zeppelin-documentary-robert-plant-jimmy-page-john-paul-jones-832748/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the first time band members have agreed to participate in a biographical documentary.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Simpson |first=George |date=2 August 2021 |title=Led Zeppelin official documentary title announced: 'Film had unprecedented access to band' |work=Express |publisher=Express Newspapers |url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1471317/Led-Zeppelin-documentary-Becoming-Led-Zeppelin-Robert-Plant-Jimmy-Page |access-date=2 March 2023 |archive-date=2 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302093733/https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/films/1471317/Led-Zeppelin-documentary-Becoming-Led-Zeppelin-Robert-Plant-Jimmy-Page |url-status=live }}</ref> It was announced the film would premiere in ] in the United States on 7 February 2025.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Rebecca |title='Becoming Led Zeppelin' Documentary Sets 2025 Release Date |url=https://variety.com/2024/film/news/becoming-led-zeppelin-documentary-release-date-imax-1236236439/ |website=Variety |publisher=Variety Media, LLC |access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
*'']'' (1976)
*'']'' (2003)
*'']'' (2007)


==References== == Musical style ==
]
{{Reflist|2}}
Led Zeppelin's music was rooted in the ].{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} The influence of American blues artists such as ] and ] was particularly apparent on their first two albums, as was the distinct ] style of ].{{sfn|Gulla|2001|pp=153–159}} There were tracks structured around the ] on every studio album except for one, and the blues directly and indirectly influenced other songs both musically and lyrically.{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=8}} The band were also strongly influenced by the music of the ], ], and ].{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} Scottish folk guitarist ] helped inspire Page, and from him he adapted ] and aggressive strokes into his playing.{{sfn|Wall|2008|p=94}} The band also drew on a wide variety of genres, including ],{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} and elements of early ], ], ], ], ], and ], particularly on ''Houses of the Holy'' and the albums that followed.{{sfn|Gulla|2001|pp=153–159}}


The material on the first two albums was largely constructed out of extended jams of ]{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} and ].{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=56–59}}{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=26}} This method led to the mixing of musical and lyrical elements of different songs and versions, as well as improvised passages, to create new material, but would lead to later accusations of plagiarism and legal disputes over copyright.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=56–59}} Usually the music was developed first, sometimes with improvised lyrics that might then be rewritten for the final version of the song.{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=26}} From the visit to ] in 1970, the songwriting partnership between Page and Plant became predominant, with Page supplying the music, largely via his acoustic guitar, and Plant emerging as the band's chief lyricist. Jones and Bonham then added to the material, in rehearsal or in the studio, as a song was developed.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=294–296 and 364–366}} In the later stages of the band's career, Page took a back seat in composition and Jones became increasingly important in producing music, often composed on the keyboard. Plant would then add lyrics before Page and Bonham developed their parts.{{sfn|Yorke|1993|pp=236–237}}{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=412–413}}
==Published sources==
* Dave Lewis (2003), ''Led Zeppelin: Celebration II: The 'Tight But Loose' Files'', London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 1-84449-056-4.
* Dave Lewis and Simon Pallett (1997) ''Led Zeppelin: The Concert File'', London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-5307-4.
* Dave Lewis (1994) ''The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin'', London: Omnibus Press, ISBN 0-7119-3528-9.
* Chris Welch (2006) ''Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused: The Stories Behind Every Song'', Thunder's Mouth Press, ISBN 1-56025-818-7.
* Chris Welch (2002), ''Peter Grant: The Man Who Led Zeppelin'', London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 0-7119-9195-2.
* ] and Richard Trubo (1992), ''Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored'', New York: HarperCollins, ISBN 0-06-018323-3.
* ] (1985) ''Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga'', New York: William Morrow & Co., ISBN 0-688-04507-3.
* ] (1997) ''Led Zeppelin Live: An Illustrated Exploration of Underground Tapes'', Ontario: The ] Press. ISBN 4ISBN 0-9698080-7-0.
* Susan Fast (2001) ''In the Houses of the Holy: Led Zeppelin and the Power of Rock Music'', Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19514-723-5.
* ''The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll'' (2001 edition).


] used for playing "Stairway to Heaven" among other songs live|alt=A black and white photograph of Jimmy Page playing a double-necked guitar]]
==External links==
Early lyrics drew on the band's blues and folk roots, often mixing lyrical fragments from different songs.{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=25}} Many of the band's songs dealt with themes of romance, unrequited love and sexual conquest, which were common in rock, pop and blues music.{{Sfn|Cope|2010|p=81}} Some of their lyrics, especially those derived from the blues, have been interpreted as ].{{sfn|Cope|2010|p=81}} Particularly on ''Led Zeppelin III'', they incorporated elements of ] and ] into their music,{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} which largely grew out of Plant's interest in legends and history.{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=59}} These elements were often taken to reflect Page's interest in the ], which resulted in accusations that the recordings contained ] satanic messages, some of which were said to be contained in ]; these claims were generally dismissed by the band and music critics.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=278–279}} The pastoral fantasies in Plant's songwriting were inspired by the landscape of the ] region and ]'s high fantasy novel '']''.{{sfn|Schinder |Schwartz|2008|p=383}} Susan Fast argues that as Plant emerged as the band's main lyricist, the songs more obviously reflected his alignment with the West Coast ].{{sfn|Fast|2001|pp=9–10}} In the later part of the band's career Plant's lyrics became more autobiographical, and less optimistic, drawing on his own experiences and circumstances.{{sfn|Wall|2008|pp=364–365}}
{{Portal}}

{{commonscat|Led Zeppelin}}
According to musicologist ], "Led Zeppelin's sound was marked by speed and power, unusual rhythmic patterns, contrasting terraced dynamics, singer Robert Plant's wailing vocals, and guitarist Jimmy Page's heavily distorted crunch".{{sfn|Walser|1993|p=10}} These elements mean that they are often cited as one of the originators of ]{{sfn|Fast|2011|p=5}} and ]{{sfn|Walser|1993|p=10}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Led Zeppelin |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/led-zeppelin/biography |url-status=dead |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505012026/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/led-zeppelin/biography |archive-date=5 May 2011 |access-date=24 December 2009}}</ref> and they have been described as the "definitive heavy metal band",{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} although the band members have often eschewed the label.{{sfn|Bukszpan|2003|p=124}} Led Zeppelin, together with ] and ], have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid- seventies".{{sfn|McIver|2006|loc=Chapter 11, p. 1}} Part of this reputation depends on the band's use of distorted guitar riffs on songs like "Whole Lotta Love" and "]".{{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=1198}}{{sfn|Fast|2001|pp=113–117}} Often riffs were not doubled by guitar, bass and drums exactly, but instead there were melodic or rhythmic variations.{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=96}} Page's guitar playing incorporated elements of the ] with those of ].{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=87}} Plant's use of high-pitched shrieks has been compared to ]'s vocal technique.{{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=1198}}{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=45}} ] found him integral to the group's heavy "power blues" aesthetic, functioning as a "mechanical effect" similarly to Page's guitar parts. While noting Plant "hints at real feeling" on some of their acoustic songs, Christgau believed he abandoned traditional blues singing's emphasis on emotional projection in favour of vocal precision and dynamics: "Whether he is mouthing sexist blues cliches or running through one of the band's half-audible, half-comprehensible ... lyrics about chivalry or the counter-culture, his voice is devoid of feeling. Like the tenors and baritones of yore, he wants his voice to be an instrument—specifically, an electric guitar."{{sfn|Christgau|1972a}} Bonham's drumming was noted for its power, his rapid rolls and his fast beats on a single bass drum; while Jones' basslines have been described as melodic and his keyboard playing added a classical touch to the band's sound.{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=13}}{{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=1198}}
{{wikiquote}}

*
{{quote box|quote=At some deep level, Led Zeppelin's music is about the relationship between humanity and technology. Philosophically, the band prefers humanity pure and simple, but in practice it must realize its humanity technologically. That seems truer than most good-time pastoral fantasies.{{sfn|Christgau|1972a}}|source=—], 1972|width=30%|align=right|style=padding:8px;}}
*

* {{MusicBrainz artist|id=678d88b2-87b0-403b-b63d-5da7465aecc3|name=Led Zeppelin}}
Led Zeppelin have been widely viewed as a hard rock band, although Christgau regarded them as ] as well.{{sfn|Christgau|1980}} According to popular music scholar ], "because hip critics could not find a constructive way of positioning themselves in relation to Led Zeppelin's ultra-macho presentation, they were excluded from the art rock category despite their broad range of influences."{{sfn|Garofalo|2008|p=233}} Christgau wrote in 1972, the band could be considered art rock because they "relate to rock and roll not organically but intellectually", idealising the "amplified beat" as "a kind of formal challenge". Unlike their contemporaries in ] and ], who use "the physical compulsion of beat and volume to involve the mind", Led Zeppelin "make body music of an oddly cerebral cast, arousing aggression rather than sexuality." As such, along with other second-generation English hard rock bands like ] and ], they can attract both intellectuals and working-class youths in "a strange potential double audience."{{sfn|Christgau|1972b}} Years later, ''In Through the Out Door''{{'}}s "tuneful synthesizer pomp" further confirmed for Christgau they were an art rock band.{{sfn|Christgau|1980}}

Page stated that he wanted Led Zeppelin to produce music that had "light and shade". This began to be more clearly realised beginning with ''Led Zeppelin III'', which made greater use of acoustic instruments.{{sfn|Erlewine|2011a}} This approach has been seen as exemplified in the fourth album, particularly on "]", which begins with acoustic guitar and recorder and ends with drums and heavy electric sounds.{{sfn|Schinder |Schwartz|2008|p=390}}{{sfn|Fast|2001|p=79}} Towards the end of their recording career, they moved to a more mellow and ] sound, dominated by Jones' keyboard motifs.{{sfn|Schinder |Schwartz|2008|pp=380–391}} They also increasingly made use of various layering and production techniques, including multi-tracking and ] guitar parts.{{sfn|Gulla|2001|pp=153–159}} Their emphasis on the sense of dynamics and ensemble arrangement{{sfn|Gulla|2001|pp=153–159}} has been seen as producing an individualistic style that transcends any single music genre.{{sfn|Brackett|2008|pp=53–76}}{{sfn|Buckley|2003|p=585}} Ian Peddie argues that they were "...&nbsp;loud, powerful and often heavy, but their music was also humorous, self-reflective and extremely subtle".{{sfn|Peddie|2006|p=136}}

== Legacy ==
] |url=https://www.dw.com/en/how-robert-plant-contributed-to-creating-the-rock-god-archetype/g-45147384 |url-status=live |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703211239/https://www.dw.com/en/how-robert-plant-contributed-to-creating-the-rock-god-archetype/g-45147384 |archive-date=3 July 2020}}</ref> A 2011 '']'' readers' pick named him the "Best Lead Singer of All Time".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=12 April 2011 |title=Rolling Stone Readers Pick the Best Lead Singers of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-best-lead-singers-of-all-time-19450/1-robert-plant-256503/ |url-status=live |access-date=3 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703213249/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/rolling-stone-readers-pick-the-best-lead-singers-of-all-time-19450/1-robert-plant-256503/ |archive-date=3 July 2020}}</ref>|alt=A black and white photograph showing a headshot of Robert Plant with a microphone in hand]]
Many have considered Led Zeppelin to be one of the most successful, innovative, and influential bands in the history of rock music.{{sfn|Schinder |Schwartz|2008|p=380}} Rock critic ] said, "Led Zeppelin—talented, complex, grasping, beautiful and dangerous—made one of the most enduring bodies of composition and performance in twentieth-century music, despite everything they had to overpower, including themselves".{{sfn|Gilmore|2006}}

Led Zeppelin have influenced hard rock and heavy metal bands such as ],{{sfn|Thompson|2004|p=61}} ],<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 March 2006 |title=Black Sabbath: the greatest metal bands of all time |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal/greatest_metal_bands/071406/index2.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319045933/http://www.mtv.com/bands/m/metal/greatest_metal_bands/071406/index2.jhtml |archive-date=19 March 2008 |access-date=5 September 2010 |publisher=MTV}}</ref> ],{{sfn|Prown |Newquist |Eiche|1997|p=167}} ],{{sfn|Prown |Newquist |Eiche|1997|p=106}} ],{{sfn|Nur Pervan|2022}} ],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aerosmith inducts Led Zeppelin 1995 |url=https://rockhall.com/inductees/aerosmith/video/4433/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160523004050/https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/aerosmith/video/4433/ |archive-date=23 May 2016 |access-date=10 May 2016 |website=Rockhall.com}}</ref> ],<ref name="The Black Crowes">{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes Interview |url=https://www.guitar.com/articles/jimmy-page-and-black-crowes-interview |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513025921/https://www.guitar.com/articles/jimmy-page-and-black-crowes-interview |archive-date=13 May 2016 |access-date=10 May 2016 |website=Guitar.com}}</ref> and ]{{sfn|Davies|2010}} as well as progressive metal bands like ]{{sfn|Pareles|1997}} and ].{{sfn|Sparks|2010}} They influenced some early ] and ] bands, among them the ],{{sfn|Jones|2003}} ]{{sfn|Day|2005}}{{sfn|johnrobb|2012}} and ].{{sfn|Erlewine|2007}} They were also an important influence on the development of ], as bands adapted elements from the "Zeppelin sound" of the mid-1970s,{{sfn|Witmer|2010}}{{sfn|Grossman|2002}} including ],{{sfn|Haskins|1995|p=xv}}{{sfn|Turner|2010}} ],{{sfn|Gaar|2009|p=36}} ],{{sfn|Schinder |Schwartz|2008|p=405}} and ].{{sfn|Budofsky|2006|p=147}} Bands and artists from diverse genres have acknowledged the influence of Led Zeppelin, such as ],<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 January 1999 |title=Interview Madonna reviews life on Larry King Live |publisher=CNN |url=http://articles.cnn.com/1999-01-19/entertainment/9901_19_madonna.lkl_1_dancer-madonna-madonna-ciccone-modern-dance/12?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ |url-status=dead |access-date=5 September 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121105431/http://articles.cnn.com/1999-01-19/entertainment/9901_19_madonna.lkl_1_dancer-madonna-madonna-ciccone-modern-dance/12?_s=PM%3ASHOWBIZ |archive-date=21 January 2012}}</ref> ],{{sfn|García Márquez|2002}} ],{{sfn|Cochrane|2009}} ],{{sfn|Hendicott|2011}} and ].{{sfn|Melua|2007}}

], West Germany in 1980 on their last tour|alt=A red tinged photograph of John Paul Jones playing a bass guitar]]
Led Zeppelin have been credited with a major impact on the nature of the music business, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock (AOR) and ].{{sfn|Bukszpan|2003|p=121}}{{sfn|Waksman|2009|pp=21–31}} In 1988 ], then-] executive of ], remarked that
{{quote|In my opinion, next to the Beatles they're the most influential band in history. They influence the way music is on records, AOR radio, concerts. They set the standards for the AOR-radio format with 'Stairway to Heaven,' having AOR hits without necessarily having ] hits. They're the ones who did the first real big arena concert shows, consistently selling out and playing stadiums without support. People can do as well as them, but nobody surpasses them.{{sfn|Pond|1988|pp=68–69}}}}
], the former producer and manager of the Rolling Stones, commented on how Led Zeppelin had a major influence on the record business, and the way rock concerts were managed and presented to huge audiences.{{sfn|Hughes|2010}} In 2007, they were a featured artist in the stadium rock episode of the BBC/VH1 series '']''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Seven Ages of Rock. Episode 5: Stadium Rock |work=BBC one |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qhtg |url-status=live |access-date=7 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808212720/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b007qhtg |archive-date=8 August 2019}}</ref>

The band have sold over 200&nbsp;million albums worldwide according to some sources,{{sfn|Thorpe|2007}}{{sfn|Beaumont|2020}} while others state that they have sold in excess of 300&nbsp;million records,{{sfn|Sorel-Cameron|2007}} including 111.5&nbsp;million certified units in the United States. According to the ], Led Zeppelin are the ], and one of only four acts to earn five or more Diamond albums.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top-Selling Artists |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719114528/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists |archive-date=19 July 2012 |access-date=8 January 2011 |website=RIAA's Gold & Paltinum Program |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America}}</ref> They achieved eight consecutive number-ones on the ], a record for most consecutive UK number-one albums shared with ].{{sfn|Lane|2013}} Led Zeppelin remain one of the most ] artists in the history of rock music.{{sfn|Clinton|2004|p=8}}

Led Zeppelin also made a significant cultural impact. Jim Miller, editor of ''Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll'', argues that "on one level, Led Zeppelin represents the final flowering of the sixties' psychedelic ethic, which casts rock as passive sensory involvement".{{sfn|Straw|1990|p=84}} Led Zeppelin have also been described as "the quintessential purveyors"{{sfn|Waksman|2001|pp=238–239}} of masculine and aggressive "]", although this assertion has been challenged.{{sfn|Fast|2001|pp=162–163}} The band's fashion-sense has been seminal; Simeon Lipman, head of pop culture at ] auction house, has commented that "Led Zeppelin have had a big influence on fashion because the whole aura surrounding them is so cool, and people want a piece of that".{{sfn|Long|2007}} Led Zeppelin laid the foundation for the ] of the 1980s ] bands such as ] and ].{{sfn|Batchelor|Stoddart|2007|p=121}} Other musicians have also adapted elements from Led Zeppelin's attitude to clothes, jewellery and hair, such as the hipster flares and tight band T-shirts of ], shaggy hair, clingy T-shirts and bluesman hair of ] of ], and ] guitarist ]'s silk scarves, ] and side-laced tight jeans.{{sfn|Long|2007}}

== Achievements ==
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Led Zeppelin}}
] at the 2012 ].]]
Led Zeppelin have collected many honours and awards throughout the course of their career. They were inducted into the ] in 1995,{{sfn|Lewis|2003|p=163}} and the ] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 September 2006 |title=Led Zeppelin make UK Hall of Fame |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5338196.stm |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813230616/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5338196.stm |archive-date=13 August 2011}}</ref> Among the band's awards are an ] in 2005, and the ] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 May 2006 |title=Award for 'pioneers' Led Zeppelin |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5007476.stm |url-status=live |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210002035/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/5007476.stm |archive-date=10 February 2012}}</ref> Led Zeppelin were the recipient of a ] in 2005,<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 February 2005 |title=Zeppelin celebrate Grammy honour |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4261905.stm |url-status=live |access-date=22 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615104949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/4261905.stm |archive-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> and four of their recordings have been inducted into the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=GRAMMY Hall of Fame |url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111124012108/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |archive-date=24 November 2011 |access-date=18 December 2011 |website=GRAMMY.org |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences}}</ref> They have been awarded five ], as well as fourteen Multi-Platinum, four Platinum and one Gold album in the United States,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold & Platinum database search: 'Led Zeppelin' |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=4&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Led_Zeppelin&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=&endMonth=&startYear=&endYear=&sort=Artist&perPage=100 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154623/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=4&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Led_Zeppelin&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=&endMonth=&startYear=&endYear=&sort=Artist&perPage=100 |archive-date=24 September 2015 |access-date=26 March 2009 |website=RIAA's Gold & Paltinum Program |publisher=]}}</ref> while in the UK they have five Multi-Platinum, six Platinum, one Gold and four Silver albums.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Certified Awards Search—Led Zeppelin |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805005459/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |archive-date=5 August 2011 |access-date=18 December 2011 |website=]}}</ref> '']'' named Led Zeppelin the 14th-greatest artist of all time in 2004.{{sfn|Grohl|2011|p=27}}

In 2003, ''Rolling Stone''{{'}}s ] list included '']'' at number 29,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Led Zeppelin ranked no. 29 |newspaper=Rollingstone.com |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902065011/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-date=2 September 2011 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> '']'' at number 66,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Led Zeppelin IV ranked no. 66 |newspaper=Rollingstone.com |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-iv-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902065011/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-iv-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-date=2 September 2011 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> '']'' at number 70,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Physical Graffiti ranked no. 70 |newspaper=Rollingstone.com |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/physical-graffiti-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902033813/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/physical-graffiti-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-date=2 September 2011 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> '']'' at number 75,<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Led Zeppelin II ranked no. 75 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-19691231 |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902065005/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-ii-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-date=2 September 2011 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> and '']'' at number 149.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Houses of the Holy ranked no. 149 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/houses-of-the-holy-led-zeppelin-19691231 |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902072718/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/houses-of-the-holy-led-zeppelin-19691231 |archive-date=2 September 2011 |access-date=15 October 2021}}</ref> And in 2004, on their ] list, ''Rolling Stone'' included "]" at number 31, "]" at number 75,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 1–100 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619072533/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page |archive-date=19 June 2008 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> "]" at number 140,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 101–200 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620035744/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/2 |archive-date=20 June 2008 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> "]" at number 294,<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 September 2007 |title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 201–300 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619105433/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/3 |archive-date=19 June 2008 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> "]" at number 320,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 301–400 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621075825/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/4 |archive-date=21 June 2008 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref> and "]" at number 433.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 2004 401–500 |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622112029/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/5 |archive-date=22 June 2008 |access-date=15 October 2021 |publisher=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

In 2005, Page was appointed an ] in recognition of his charity work, and in 2009 Plant was honoured as a ] for his services to popular music.{{sfn|Leonard|2008}} The band are ranked number one on ]'s ''100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock''<ref>{{Cite web |year=2000 |title=VH1: '100 Greatest Hard Rock Artists' |url=http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/vh1hardrock.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080108173414/http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2000/vh1hardrock.htm |archive-date=8 January 2008 |access-date=17 February 2010 |publisher=] |via=RockOnTheNet.com}}</ref> and '']''{{'}}s "50 best live acts of all time".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 2008 |title=50 Best Live Acts of All Time |magazine=] |issue=118 |pages=34–45}}</ref> They were named as the best Rock band in a poll by BBC Radio 2.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The Best Band |work=BBC – Radio 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/rocknrollband/best-band/ |url-status=live |access-date=27 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204224424/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/rocknrollband/best-band/ |archive-date=4 December 2014}}</ref> They were awarded an ] for "Outstanding Contribution to British Music" in 1977,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=28 May 1977 |title=PRS/Novello Awards shared by intl artists |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2UQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT3 |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001000601/https://books.google.com/books?id=2UQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT3 |archive-date=1 October 2020 |access-date=18 December 2011}}</ref> as well as a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 42nd Annual Ivor Novello awards ceremony in 1997.{{sfn|Hunter|1997}} The band were honoured at the ] with the "Best Live Act" prize for their one-off reunion, and were described as the "greatest rock and roll band of all time".<ref>{{Cite web |year=2008 |title=Mojo Awards 'Best Live Act' 2008&nbsp;– Acceptance Speech |url=http://www.ledzeppelin.com/node/3312/2112 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111013003739/http://www.ledzeppelin.com/node/3312/2112 |archive-date=13 October 2011 |website=Led Zeppelin.com |format=video}}</ref> In 2010, ''Led Zeppelin IV'' was one of ten classic album covers from British artists ] issued by the ]; they were unveiled by Jimmy Page.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Royal Mail unveil classic album cover stamps |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/royal-mail-unveil-classic-album-cover-stamps-1860738.html |access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-date=11 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200511182125/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/royal-mail-unveil-classic-album-cover-stamps-1860738.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Royal Mail puts classic albums on to stamps |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2009/nov/21/guidelines-rock-stamp-album-covers |access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923165945/https://www.theguardian.com/music/gallery/2009/nov/21/guidelines-rock-stamp-album-covers |url-status=live }}</ref> Led Zeppelin were named as 2012 recipients of the ].{{sfn|Gans|2007}}

== Band members ==
* ] – vocals, harmonica
* ] – guitars
* ] – bass, keyboards
* ] – drums, percussion <small>(died 1980)</small>

'''Guest musicians post-breakup'''
* ] – drums <small>(1985)</small>
* ] – drums <small>(1985)</small>
* ] – bass <small>(1985)</small>
* ] – drums, percussion, backing vocals <small>(1988, 1995, 2007)</small>
* ] – drums <small>(1995)</small>

== Discography ==
{{Main|Led Zeppelin discography|List of songs recorded by Led Zeppelin}}
* '']'' (1969)
* '']'' (1969)
* '']'' (1970)
* ] (1971) (commonly known as ''Led Zeppelin IV'')
* '']'' (1973)
* '']'' (1975)
* '']'' (1976)
* '']'' (1979)
* '']'' (1982)

== See also ==
* ]
* ]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=20em}}

=== Bibliography ===
{{Refbegin|colwidth=30em}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Anders|first=Marcel|date=October 2014|title=Q&A: Robert Plant |magazine=]|issue=202}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Batchelor |first1=Bob |title=American Popular Culture Through History: the 1980s |last2=Stoddart |first2=Scott |publisher=Greenwood |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-313-33000-1 |location=Westport, Connecticut}}
* {{Cite news |last=Beaumont |first=Mark |date=1 December 2020 |title=The untimely death of Led Zeppelin |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/led-zeppelin-split-john-bonham-jimmy-page-b1762786.html |access-date=12 July 2021 |archive-date=13 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230413100955/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/led-zeppelin-split-john-bonham-jimmy-page-b1762786.html |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news|last=Beech|first=Mark|date=29 September 2008|title=Led Zeppelin Singer Robert Plant rules out reunion record, tour|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aU_5GfM1LTsc&refer=muse|access-date=29 September 2008|work=Bloomberg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805024112/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aU_5GfM1LTsc&refer=muse|archive-date=5 August 2011|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web |last=Bosso |first=Joe |date=7 January 2009 |title='Led Zeppelin are over!', says Jimmy Page's manager |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/led-zeppelin-are-over-says-jimmy-pages-manager-190946 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012165241/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/led-zeppelin-are-over-says-jimmy-pages-manager-190946 |archive-date=12 October 2011 |access-date=1 October 2011 |website=] }}
* {{cite journal|last=Brackett|first=John|title=Examining rhythmic and metric practices in Led Zeppelin's musical style|journal=Popular Music|volume=27|issue=1|pages=53–76|year=2008|doi=10.1017/s0261143008001487|s2cid=55401670|url=https://hcommons.org/deposits/download/hc:16060/CONTENT/examining_rhythmic_and_metric_practices.pdf/|id={{ProQuest|1325852}}|access-date=1 June 2020|archive-date=27 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927162938/https://hcommons.org/deposits/objects/hc:16060/datastreams/CONTENT/content?download=true|url-status=live|issn=0261-1430 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Pat |title=The Guide to United States Popular Culture |publisher=Popular Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-87972-821-2 |location=Minneapolis}}
* {{Cite book |last=Buckley |first=Peter |url=https://archive.org/details/roughguidetorock00roug |title=The Rough Guide to Rock |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-85828-457-6 |location=London }}
* {{Cite book |last=Budofsky |first=Adam |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MWA6a9AKhzUC&pg=PA147 |title=The Drummer: 100 Years of Rhythmic Power and Invention |publisher=Hal Leonard |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-4234-0567-2 |location=Milwaukee |access-date=26 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160913135251/https://books.google.com/books?id=MWA6a9AKhzUC&pg=PA147 |archive-date=13 September 2016 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Bukszpan |first=Daniel |title=The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal |publisher=Barnes & Noble |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-7607-4218-1 |location=New York}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Chamberlain|first=Rich|date=October 2014|title=Heavy Load: Myles Kennedy|magazine=]|issue=202}}
* {{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=15 June 1972a|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/news/nd720615.php|title=A Power Plant|work=]|access-date=10 September 2018|via=www.robertchristgau.com|url-status=live|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426105401/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/news/nd720615.php}}
* {{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|date=December 1972b|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-aow/mott.php|title=Growing Up Grim With Mott the Hoople|work=Newsday|access-date=10 September 2018|via=www.robertchristgau.com|url-status=live|archive-date=10 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910204453/https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-aow/mott.php}}
* {{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|date=31 March 1980|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv3-80.php|title=Christgau's Consumer Guide|work=]|access-date=6 September 2018|via=www.robertchristgau.com|url-status=live|archive-date=25 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825025717/http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv3-80.php}}
* {{Cite book |last=Clinton |first=Heylin |title=Bootleg! The Rise & Fall of the Secret Recording Industry |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-84449-151-3 |location=London}}
* {{cite news|last=Cochrane|first=Greg|date=23 January 2009|work=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7846000/7846658.stm|access-date=13 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126040104/http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7846000/7846658.stm|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 January 2009|title=Lady GaGa reveals her touring secrets}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1050472/led-zeppelin-readies-fall-reissue-bonanza|title=Led Zeppelin readies fall reissue bonanza|magazine=Billboard|date=27 July 2007|access-date=1 October 2011|archive-date=26 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126230903/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1050472/led-zeppelin-readies-fall-reissue-bonanza|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |last=Cope |first=Andrew L. |title=Black Sabbath and the Rise of Heavy Metal Music |publisher=Ashgate |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-7546-6881-7 |location=Aldershot}}
* {{Cite web |last=Davies |first=Claire |date=29 September 2010 |title=Megadeth interview (Monster Riffs Week): Megadeth axeman Dave Mustaine walks Total Guitar through the fiery riff from 'Hangar 18' |url=http://www.musicradar.com/totalguitar/monster-riffs-week-megadeth-interview-280473/3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202082432/http://www.musicradar.com/totalguitar/monster-riffs-week-megadeth-interview-280473?cpn=RSS&source=MRTOTALGUITAR |archive-date=2 February 2012 |access-date=22 February 2012 |website=Total Guitar }}
* {{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Erik |title=Led Zeppelin IV |publisher=Continuum |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-8264-1658-2 |location=New York}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Davis|first=Stephen|date=20 May 1976|author-link=Stephen Davis (music journalist)|title=Album Review: Led Zeppelin: Presence|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/albums/album/224305/review/5945483/presence|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423153508/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/albums/album/224305/review/5945483/presence|archive-date=23 April 2009|access-date=29 July 2011|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite book |last=Davis |first=Stephen |title=Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga |title-link=Hammer of the Gods (book) |publisher=Pan |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-330-34287-2 |location=London |author-link=Stephen Davis (music journalist)}}
* {{Cite web |last=Dawtrey |first=Adam |date=26 October 2012 |title='Zeppelin' film grosses $2 mil in one night |url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/zeppelin-film-grosses-2-mil-in-one-night-1118061306/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106173816/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118061306/ |archive-date=6 January 2013 |access-date=12 January 2013 |website=] |publisher=] }}
* {{Cite web |last=Day |first=Adrienne |date=4 July 2005 |title=The Records That Changed My Life: Bernard Sumner of New Order |url=https://www.spin.com/2005/07/records-changed-my-life-bernard-sumner-new-order/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142102/https://www.spin.com/2005/07/records-changed-my-life-bernard-sumner-new-order/ |archive-date=12 June 2018 |access-date=31 August 2017 |website=Spin }}
* {{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |year=2007 |title=The Cult&nbsp;– Biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4001 |access-date=15 January 2007 |website=AllMusic |archive-date=17 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017062429/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4001 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |year=2010 |title=Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin II: review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r11460 |access-date=5 September 2010 |website=AllMusic |archive-date=3 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110103000930/http://www.allmusic.com/album/r11460 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |date=2011a |title=Led Zeppelin: biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/led-zeppelin-p4739/biography |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905083801/http://allmusic.com/artist/led-zeppelin-p4739/biography |archive-date=5 September 2011 |access-date=8 September 2011 |website=AllMusic }}
* {{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |date=2011b |title=Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin: review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-r11459/review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926082019/http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-r11459/review |archive-date=26 September 2011 |access-date=16 September 2011 |website=AllMusic }}
* {{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |year=2011c |title=Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin Box Set: review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-box-set-r11470/review |access-date=22 September 2011 |website=AllMusic |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927162939/https://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-box-set--mw0000690188 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |year=2011e |title=Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin Box Set 2: review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-box-set-2-r168735 |access-date=22 September 2011 |website=AllMusic |archive-date=28 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828031654/http://www.allmusic.com/album/led-zeppelin-box-set-2-r168735 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |year=2011f |title=Led Zeppelin: BBC Sessions: review |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bbc-sessions-r318040/review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125092924/http://www.allmusic.com/album/bbc-sessions-r318040/review |archive-date=25 November 2011 |access-date=22 September 2011 |website=AllMusic }}
* {{Cite book |last=Fast |first=Susan |title=In the Houses of the Holy: Led Zeppelin and the Power of Rock Music |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-19-514723-0 |location=New York}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2011 |title=Led Zeppelin (British Rock Group) |encyclopedia=] |url=https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/334473/Led-Zeppelin |access-date=17 January 2010 |last=Fast |first=Susan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100212201316/https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/334473/Led-Zeppelin |archive-date=12 February 2010 |url-status=live }}
* {{cite magazine|last=Fortnam|first=Ian|date=2008|title=Dazed & Confused |magazine=]: Classic Rock Presents Led Zeppelin}}{{full citation needed|date=July 2020|reason=Best guess is that this is a magazine source. Title is probably incorrect; need volume, issue or full date. (Improved guess July 2022 based on refs in Robert Plant article.)}}
* {{Cite book |last=Fyfe |first=Andy |url=https://archive.org/details/whenleveebreaks00andy |title=When the Levee Breaks: The Making of Led Zeppelin IV |publisher=Chicago Review Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-55652-508-7 |location=Chicago }}
* {{cite news |last=Gans |first=Alan |title=Dustin Hoffman, David Letterman, Natalia Makarova, Buddy Guy, Led Zeppelin Are Kennedy Center Honorees |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/169937-Dustin-Hoffman-David-Letterman-Natalia-Makarova-Buddy-Guy-Led-Zeppelin-Are-Kennedy-Center-Honorees |work=Playbill |access-date=12 September 2012 |date=11 December 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109035635/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/169937-Dustin-Hoffman-David-Letterman-Natalia-Makarova-Buddy-Guy-Led-Zeppelin-Are-Kennedy-Center-Honorees }}
* {{cite news |last=Gardner |first=Alan |title=You review: Led Zeppelin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/dec/11/youreviewledzeppelin |work=The Guardian |access-date=20 February 2012 |date=11 December 2007 |archive-date=13 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113210713/http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/dec/11/youreviewledzeppelin |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Gaar |first=Gillian G. |title=The Rough Guide to Nirvana |publisher=Dorling Kindersley |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-85828-945-8 |location=London}}
* {{cite news |first=Gabriel |last=García Márquez |date=8 June 2002 |title=The poet and the princess |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/jun/08/shopping.colombia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802170421/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/jun/08/shopping.colombia |archive-date=2 August 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=20 February 2012 }}
* {{Cite book |last=Garofalo |first=Reebee |title=Rockin' Out: Popular Music in the USA |publisher=Pearson Prentice Hall |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-13-234305-3 |edition=4th}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Gilmore|first=Mikal|title=The Long Shadow of Led Zeppelin|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=10 August 2006|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-long-shadow-of-led-zeppelin-20060810|access-date=1 July 2020|archive-date=13 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613234300/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/the-long-shadow-of-led-zeppelin-20060810|url-status=live}}
* {{cite magazine |first=Andy |last=Greene |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/led-zeppelins-2007-reunion-concert-to-hit-theaters-in-october-20120913 |title=Led Zeppelin's 2007 reunion concert to hit theatres in October |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=13 September 2012 |access-date=29 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918040533/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/led-zeppelins-2007-reunion-concert-to-hit-theaters-in-october-20120913 |archive-date=18 September 2012 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Grohl |first=Dave |title=Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time |publisher=Rolling Stone |year=2011 |editor-last=Brackett |editor-first=Nathan |chapter=Led Zeppelin |access-date=2 September 2017 |chapter-url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-20110419 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019204145/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/100-greatest-artists-of-all-time-19691231/led-zeppelin-20110419 |archive-date=19 October 2012 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite encyclopedia |year=2002 |title=Alternative rock |encyclopedia=St. James Encyclopedia of Pop Culture 2002 |publisher=Gale Group |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_tov/ai_2419100030/ |last=Grossman |first=Perry |isbn=1-55862-400-7 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101013070816/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g1epc/is_tov/ai_2419100030/ |archive-date=13 October 2010 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite magazine|last=Grow|first=Kory|date=3 June 2015|title=Led Zeppelin Announce Final Three Deluxe Reissues|magazine=]|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/led-zeppelin-announce-final-three-deluxe-reissues-20150603|access-date=3 June 2015|archive-date=4 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150604144435/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/led-zeppelin-announce-final-three-deluxe-reissues-20150603|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |last=Gulla |first=Bob |title=Guitar Gods: The 25 Players Who Made Rock History |publisher=ABC-CLIO |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-313-35806-7 |location=Santa Barbara, California}}
* {{Cite book |last=Haskins |first=Django |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VwS-wUBRvnoC&q=smashing+pumpkins+led+zeppelin&pg=PR15 |title=Stand Alone Tracks '90s Rock: Handy Guide, Book & CD |publisher=Alfred Music |year=1995 |isbn=978-0-88284-658-3 |location=Los Angeles |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927162939/https://books.google.com/books?id=VwS-wUBRvnoC&q=smashing+pumpkins+led+zeppelin&pg=PR15#v=snippet&q=smashing%20pumpkins%20led%20zeppelin&f=false |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Hendicott |first=James |date=5 July 2011 |title=Ke$ha: 'I have 200 songs for my second album' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/keha/57771 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150723220910/http://www.nme.com/news/keha/57771 |archive-date=23 July 2015 |access-date=21 January 2017 |website=NME }}
* {{Cite web |last=Huey |first=Steve |year=2011 |title=The Honeydrippers: biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-honeydrippers-p4507/biography |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110114220027/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-honeydrippers-p4507/biography |archive-date=14 January 2011 |access-date=19 September 2011 |website=AllMusic }}
* {{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Rob |date=January 2010 |title=The real Jimmy Page |url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/jimmy_page/special_features/12529 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101051527/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/jimmy_page/special_features/12529 |archive-date=1 January 2011 |access-date=31 May 2010 |website=Uncut }}
* {{cite magazine |first=Nigel |last=Hunter |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KBAEAAAAMBAJ&q=ivor+novello+award+led+zeppelin+1997+lifetime+achievement&pg=PA48 |title=Anniversaries abound at the Novello Awards |magazine=Billboard |date=21 June 1997 |access-date=18 December 2011 |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927163441/https://books.google.com/books?id=KBAEAAAAMBAJ&q=ivor+novello+award+led+zeppelin+1997+lifetime+achievement&pg=PA48#v=snippet&q=ivor%20novello%20award%20led%20zeppelin%201997%20lifetime%20achievement&f=false |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=johnrobb |date=26 October 2012 |title=Peter Hook : my top 10 favourite albums – Louder Than War |url=http://louderthanwar.com/peter-hook-my-top-10-favourite-albums/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827051450/http://louderthanwar.com/peter-hook-my-top-10-favourite-albums/ |archive-date=27 August 2017 |access-date=31 August 2017 }}
* {{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Robert |date=2 April 2003 |title=Conservative Punk's interview with Johnny Ramone |url=http://www.robertjonesphoto.com/johnnyramone.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204132350/http://www.robertjonesphoto.com/johnnyramone.html |archive-date=4 December 2010 |access-date=2 December 2010 }}
* {{Cite web |last=Lane |first=Daniel |date=10 November 2013 |title=Eminem scores seventh consecutive UK Number 1 album |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/eminem-scores-seventh-consecutive-uk-number-1-album-2599/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008102148/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/eminem-scores-seventh-consecutive-uk-number-1-album-2599/ |archive-date=8 October 2014 |access-date=30 September 2016 |publisher=Official Charts Company }}
* {{cite news |first=Michael |last=Leonard |title=Robert Plant awarded CBE in UK Honours list |url=http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/robert-plant-awarded-cbe-in-uk-honours-list-189898 |work=MusicRadar |date=31 December 2008 |access-date=18 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513154843/http://www.musicradar.com/news/guitars/robert-plant-awarded-cbe-in-uk-honours-list-189898 |archive-date=13 May 2012 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Dave |title=The Complete Guide to the Music of Led Zeppelin |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=1994 |isbn=978-0-7119-3528-0 |location=London}}
* {{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=Dave |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFWS0Xx3esYC&pg=PA166 |title=Led Zeppelin: Celebration II: The 'Tight But Loose' Files |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2003 |isbn=978-1-84449-056-1 |location=London |access-date=26 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506153639/https://books.google.com/books?id=oFWS0Xx3esYC&pg=PA166 |archive-date=6 May 2016 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Lewis |first1=Dave |title=Led Zeppelin: The Concert File |last2=Pallett |first2=Simon |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-7119-5307-9 |location=London}}
* {{cite magazine |last=Light |first=Alan |date=20 October 2020 |title=Jimmy Page Is Still Practicing |magazine=Esquire |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a34417764/jimmy-page-2020-interview/ |access-date=6 March 2021 |archive-date=6 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206153052/https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/music/a34417764/jimmy-page-2020-interview/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |first=Carola |last=Long |title=Led Zeppelin: the enduring influence of flares and flowing locks |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/led-zeppelin-the-enduring-influence-of-flares-and-flowing-locks-763442.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405082313/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/led-zeppelin-the-enduring-influence-of-flares-and-flowing-locks-763442.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 April 2008 |date=7 December 2007 |access-date=27 September 2011 }}
* {{Cite book |last=McIver |first=Joel |title=Sabbath Bloody Sabbath |publisher=Omnibus Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-84449-982-3 |location=London |author-link=Joel McIver}}
* {{cite news |last=Melua |first=Katie |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/led-zeppelin-katie-melua-on-rocknroll-riffs-that-rake-the-psyche-763443.html |title=Led Zeppelin: Katie Melua on rock'n'roll riffs that rake the psyche |work=The Independent |date=7 December 2007 |access-date=5 March 2010 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523220138/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/led-zeppelin-katie-melua-on-rocknroll-riffs-that-rake-the-psyche-763443.html }}
* {{cite magazine|first=Jim|last=Miller|title=Album review: Physical Graffiti|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=27 March 1975|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/physical-graffiti-19750327|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423132813/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/ledzeppelin/albums/album/158693/review/5944206/physical_graffiti|archive-date=23 April 2009|access-date=29 July 2011}}
* {{cite news|first=Charles Shaar|last=Murray|author-link=Charles Shaar Murray|title=The Guv'nors|work=]|date=August 2004}}
* {{Cite web |last=Nur Pervan |first=Melek |date=15 February 2022 |title=Klaus Meine Names The Song That Laid Out The Formula For Scorpions |url=https://rockcelebrities.net/klaus-meine-names-the-song-that-laid-out-the-formula-for-scorpions/ |access-date=28 April 2022 |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519000019/https://rockcelebrities.net/klaus-meine-names-the-song-that-laid-out-the-formula-for-scorpions/ |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903EEDF1738F937A25754C0A961958260 |title=Lollapalooza's recycled hormones: rebellion by the numbers |work=The New York Times |date=14 July 1997 |access-date=4 December 2010 |archive-date=17 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080617003352/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9903EEDF1738F937A25754C0A961958260 |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Peddie |first=Ian |title=The Resisting Muse: Popular Music and Social Protest |publisher=Ashgate |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-7546-5114-7 |editor-last=Ian Peddie |location=Aldershot |chapter=The bleak country: the Black Country and the rhetoric of escape}}
* {{cite magazine|first=Steven |last=Pond |title=Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same |magazine=Rolling Stone |volume=522|date=24 March 1988 }}
* {{Cite web |last=Prato |first=Greg |year=2008 |title=Jimmy Page: biography |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-page-p5091/biography |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112000235/http://allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-page-p5091/biography |archive-date=12 November 2010 |access-date=11 November 2008 |website=AllMusic }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Prown |first1=Pete |title=Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock's Greatest Guitarists |last2=Newquist |first2=H. P. |last3=Eiche |first3=Jon F. |publisher=H.Leonard |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-7935-4042-6 |location=Milwaukee}}
* {{Cite web |last=Renshaw |first=David |date=30 October 2012 |title=Jimmy Page remastering Led Zeppelin albums for 2013 boxset release |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/led-zeppelin-98-1247962 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202091950/http://www.nme.com/news/music/led-zeppelin-98-1247962 |archive-date=2 February 2017 |access-date=22 January 2017 |website=NME }}
* {{Cite book |last1=Schinder |first1=Scott |url=https://archive.org/details/iconsofrockencyc0000schi |title=Icons of Rock |last2=Schwartz |first2=Andy |publisher=Greenwood |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-313-33846-5 |location=Westport, Connecticut |url-access=registration }}
* {{Cite book |last=Shadwick |first=Keith |title=Led Zeppelin: The Story of a Band and Their Music 1968–1980 |publisher=Backbeat Books |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-87930-871-1 |location=San Francisco}}
* {{cite news |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/09/led.zep/index.html |title=Can Led Zeppelin still rock? |last=Sorel-Cameron |first=Peter |date=9 December 2007 |work=CNN.com Entertainment |access-date=17 February 2011 |archive-date=26 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110226125245/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/09/led.zep/index.html |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite web |last=Sparks |first=Ryan |year=2010 |title=Carpe Diem: an exclusive interview with Mike Portnoy from Dream Theater |url=http://www.classicrockrevisited.com/interviewsportnoy.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100103230524/http://classicrockrevisited.com/interviewsportnoy.htm |archive-date=3 January 2010 |access-date=29 July 2011 |publisher=classicrockrevisited.com }}
* {{Cite book |last=Straw |first=Will |title=On Record: Rock, Pop and the Written Word |publisher=Routledge |year=1990 |isbn=978-0-415-05306-8 |editor-last=Simon Frith |location=London |chapter=Characterizing rock music culture: the case of heavy metal |editor-last2=Andrew Goodwin}}
* {{cite news|last=Talmadge|first=Eric|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/28/led-zeppelin-guitarist-wa_n_83534.html|title=Led Zeppelin guitarist wants World tour|work=The Huffington Post|date=28 January 2008|access-date=25 November 2008|archive-date=18 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918081945/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/01/28/led-zeppelin-guitarist-wa_n_83534.html|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Dave |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LzzCw6xs9roC&q=Led+Zeppelin+Deep+Purple&pg=PA61 |title=Smoke on the Water: The Deep Purple Story |publisher=ECW Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-55022-618-8 |location=Toronto, Ontario |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927163442/https://books.google.com/books?id=LzzCw6xs9roC&q=Led+Zeppelin+Deep+Purple&pg=PA61#v=snippet&q=Led%20Zeppelin%20Deep%20Purple&f=false |url-status=live }}
* {{cite news|first=Vanessa|last=Thorpe|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/jul/29/musicnews.music|title=Led Zeppelin join the net generation|work=The Observer|date=29 July 2007|access-date=23 July 2011|archive-date=5 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005061523/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/jul/29/musicnews.music|url-status=live}}
* {{cite news |first=Gustavo |last=Turner |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2010-08-26/music/the-l-a-weekly-interview-billy-corgan/3/ |title=The L.A. weekly interview: Billy Corgan |work=LA Weekly |date=26 August 2010 |access-date=20 October 2010 |archive-date=31 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831094238/http://www.laweekly.com/2010-08-26/music/the-l-a-weekly-interview-billy-corgan/3/ |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Waksman |first=Steve |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-DWxyYapaBwC&q=led+zeppelin&pg=PA238 |title=Instruments of Desire: the Electric Guitar and the Shaping of Musical Experience |publisher=] |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-674-00547-1 |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927163443/https://books.google.com/books?id=-DWxyYapaBwC&q=led+zeppelin&pg=PA238#v=snippet&q=led%20zeppelin&f=false |url-status=live }}
* {{Cite book |last=Waksman |first=Steve |title=This Ain't the Summer of Love: Conflict and Crossover in Heavy Metal and Punk |publisher=University of California Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-520-25310-0 |location=Berkeley, California}}
* {{cite news|first=Michael|last=Wale|url=http://archive.timesonline.co.uk/tol/viewArticle.arc?articleId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1973-07-11-11-003&pageId=ARCHIVE-The_Times-1973-07-11-11|title=Led Zeppelin|work=The Times|date=11 July 1973|access-date=23 January 2010}}{{dead link|date=November 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* {{cite book|first=Mick|last=Wall|author-link=Mick Wall|year=2008|title=When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin|location=London|publisher=Orion|isbn=978-1-4091-0319-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d0-nmLBW-SUC}}
* {{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mick|date=1 November 2008a|title=The truth behind the Led Zeppelin legend|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-truth-behind-the-led-zeppelin-legend-k5z80vsmpqc|work=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219230054/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/the-truth-behind-the-led-zeppelin-legend-k5z80vsmpqc|archive-date=19 December 2019}}
* {{cite book|first=Robert|last=Walser |author-link=Robert Walser (musicologist) |year=1993 |title=Running with the Devil: Power, Gender, and Madness in Heavy Metal Music |location=New York |publisher=Wesleyan University Press |isbn=978-0-8195-6260-9}}
* {{cite book|first=Chris|last=Welch|author-link=Chris Welch|year=1994|title=Led Zeppelin|location=London|publisher=Orion|isbn=978-1-85797-930-5}}
* {{cite book|first1=Chris|last1=Welch|first2=Geoff|last2=Nicholls|year=2001|title=John Bonham: A Thunder of Drums|location=San Francisco|publisher=Backbeat |isbn=978-0-87930-658-8}}
* {{cite news|first=Nigel|last=Williamson|title=Forget the myths |work=] |date=May 2005 }}
* {{cite book|first=Nigel|last=Williamson|year=2007|title=The Rough Guide to Led Zeppelin|place=London|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|isbn=978-1-84353-841-7}}
* {{cite book|first=Scott|last=Witmer|year=2010|title=History of Rock Bands|location=Edina, Minnesota|publisher=ABDO|isbn=978-1-60453-692-8}}
* {{cite book|first=Ritchie|last=Yorke|author-link=Ritchie Yorke|year=1993|title=Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography|url=https://archive.org/details/ledzeppelindefin0000york|url-access=registration|location=Novato, California|publisher=Underwood–Miller|isbn=978-0-88733-177-0}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
{{Refbegin}}
* {{Cite web |title=Sold on song: Stairway to Heaven |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/indepth/stairway.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040709101842/https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/soldonsong/songlibrary/indepth/stairway.shtml |archive-date=9 July 2004 |access-date=22 September 2011 |publisher=]}}
* {{Cite book|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|chapter=Genius Dumb: Led Zeppelin|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EdN8VLiEZtcC&pg=PA89|title=Grown Up All Wrong: 75 Great Rock and Pop Artists from Vaudeville to Techno|pages=89–90|year=1998|publisher=]|isbn=978-0-674-44318-1}}
* {{Cite web |last=Copsey |first=Rob |date=19 June 2020 |title=Live albums: The Number 1s and top sellers on the Official Chart |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/live-albums-the-number-1s-and-top-sellers-on-the-official-chart__30022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715170045/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/live-albums-the-number-1s-and-top-sellers-on-the-official-chart__30022/ |archive-date=15 July 2020 |access-date=16 July 2022 |publisher=]}}
* {{Cite magazine|last=Fricke|first=David|author-link=David Fricke|date=26 November 2012|title=Jimmy Page Digs Up 'Substantial' Rarities for New Led Zeppelin Remasters|magazine=Rolling Stone|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/jimmy-page-digs-up-substantial-rarities-for-new-led-zeppelin-remasters-20121126|access-date=27 November 2012|archive-date=27 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127083403/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/jimmy-page-digs-up-substantial-rarities-for-new-led-zeppelin-remasters-20121126|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite magazine|last=Greene|first=Andy|title=This week in rock history: Bob Dylan wins his first Grammy and Led Zeppelin become the Nobs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=28 February 2011|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/this-week-in-rock-history-bob-dylan-wins-his-first-grammy-and-led-zeppelin-become-the-nobs-20110228|access-date=24 April 2011|archive-date=8 April 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408060856/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/this-week-in-rock-history-bob-dylan-wins-his-first-grammy-and-led-zeppelin-become-the-nobs-20110228|url-status=live}}
* {{Cite web |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=20 December 2012 |title=Chart watch extra: Led Zep's road to the Kennedy Center Honors |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-led-zep-road-kennedy-center-205104385.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231214135/http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/chart-watch-extra-led-zep-road-kennedy-center-205104385.html |archive-date=31 December 2012 |access-date=27 December 2012 |publisher=Yahoo! Chart Watch}}
* {{Cite web |last=Kielty |first=Martin |date=28 November 2012 |title=Led Zep talks will delay remasters |url=http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/led-zeppelin-talks-will-delay-remasters/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121201080946/http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/led-zeppelin-talks-will-delay-remasters/ |archive-date=1 December 2012 |access-date=30 November 2012 |website=]}}
* {{Cite news|last=Rogers|first=Georgie|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20080616_mojo.shtml|access-date=8 December 2008|title=MOJO award winners|publisher=] |date=16 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-date=19 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219034157/http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20080616_mojo.shtml}}
* {{Cite web |title=Led Zeppelin&nbsp;– Charting History |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/led%20zeppelin/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029092333/http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/led%20zeppelin/ |archive-date=29 October 2012 |access-date=12 January 2013 |publisher=]}}
* {{Cite magazine |url=http://archive.rollingstone.com/Desktop#/20060810/C1 |title=Led Zeppelin: the heaviest band of all time |date=10 August 2006 |volume=1006 |magazine=Rolling Stone |location=New York |access-date=29 July 2011 |archive-date=5 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170605215941/http://archive.rollingstone.com/Desktop#/20060810/C1 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2024}}<!-- Yes, dead, despite the archive link. -->
* {{Cite magazine |title=The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=18 November 2003 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080710133428/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time |archive-date=10 July 2008 |access-date=4 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
{{Sisterlinks|b=no|s=no|v=no|species=no|n=no|wikt=no|d=Q2331|commons=Category:Led Zeppelin}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240508165156/https://www.atlanticrecords.com/artists/led-zeppelin |date=8 May 2024 }} at ]
* on the ]
* {{YouTube|u=ledzeppelin|{{PAGENAMEBASE}}}}


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Latest revision as of 12:35, 27 December 2024

English rock band (1968–1980) This article is about the band. For their debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). For other uses, see Led Zeppelin (disambiguation).

Led Zeppelin
A photoshoot of the band Led Zeppelin in front of a white wallLed Zeppelin in 1971
From left to right: John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, John Bonham and Robert Plant
Background information
OriginLondon, England
Genres
Discography
Years active1968–1980
Labels
Spinoffs
Spinoff of
Past members
Websiteledzeppelin.com

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The band comprised Robert Plant (vocals), Jimmy Page (guitar), John Paul Jones (bass and keyboards), and John Bonham (drums). With a heavy, guitar-driven sound and drawing from influences including blues and folk music, Led Zeppelin are cited as a progenitor of hard rock and heavy metal. They significantly influenced the music industry, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock and stadium rock.

Led Zeppelin evolved from a previous band, the Yardbirds, and were originally named "the New Yardbirds". They signed a deal with Atlantic Records that gave them considerable artistic freedom. Initially unpopular with critics, they achieved significant commercial success with eight studio albums over ten years. Their 1969 debut, Led Zeppelin, was a top-ten album in several countries and features such tracks as "Good Times Bad Times", "Dazed and Confused" and "Communication Breakdown". Led Zeppelin II (1969), their first number-one album, includes "Whole Lotta Love" and "Ramble On". In 1970, they released Led Zeppelin III which opens with "Immigrant Song". Their untitled fourth album, commonly known as Led Zeppelin IV (1971), is one of the best-selling albums in history, with 37 million copies sold. It includes "Black Dog", "Rock and Roll" and "Stairway to Heaven", with the latter being among the most popular and influential works in rock. Houses of the Holy (1973) includes "The Song Remains the Same" and "Over the Hills and Far Away". Physical Graffiti (1975), a double album, features "Trampled Under Foot" and "Kashmir".

Page composed most of Led Zeppelin's music, while Plant wrote most of the lyrics. Jones occasionally contributed keyboard-focused parts, particularly on the band's final album. The latter half of their career saw a series of record-breaking tours that earned the group a reputation for excess and debauchery. Although they remained commercially and critically successful, their touring and output, which included Presence (1976) and In Through the Out Door (1979), declined in the late 1970s. After Bonham's death in 1980, the group disbanded. The former members have sporadically collaborated and participated in one-off concerts, including the 2007 Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London, with Bonham's son Jason Bonham on drums.

Led Zeppelin are one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with estimated record sales of between 200 and 300 million units worldwide. They achieved eight consecutive UK number-one albums and six number-one albums on the US Billboard 200, with five of their albums certified Diamond in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Rolling Stone described them as "the heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the seventies", and "unquestionably one of the most enduring bands in rock history". They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995; the museum's biography states that they were "as influential" in the 1970s as the Beatles were in the 1960s.

History

Formation: 1966–1968

The name Led Zeppelin in irregular capitals in black and white
The band's logotype, used since 1973

In 1966, London-based session guitarist Jimmy Page joined the blues-influenced rock band the Yardbirds to replace bassist Paul Samwell-Smith. Page soon switched from bass to lead guitar, creating a dual lead guitar line-up with Jeff Beck. Following Beck's departure in October 1966, the Yardbirds became a four-piece with Page as the sole guitarist. This new line-up recorded an album, Little Games, in 1967, before embarking on a tour of the United States, during which they performed several songs which would later be part of Led Zeppelin's early repertoire, including covers of Johnny Burnette's "Train Kept A-Rollin'" and "Dazed and Confused", a song originally written and recorded by Jake Holmes. In early April 1968, the Yardbirds held a recording session at Columbia Studios in New York City, recording a number of tracks including a Page-Relf composition initially titled "Knowing That I'm Losing You", which was eventually re-recorded by Led Zeppelin as "Tangerine".

The Yardbirds' 1968 tour proved to be exhausting for the band. Drummer Jim McCarty and vocalist Keith Relf aimed to embark in a more acoustic direction, forming a folk rock duo called Together, whereas Page wanted to continue the heavier blues-based sound of the Yardbirds. Page, with the support of the Yardbirds' new manager Peter Grant, planned to form a supergroup with Beck and himself on guitars, and the Who's Keith Moon and John Entwistle on drums and bass, respectively. Vocalists Steve Winwood and Steve Marriott were also considered for the project. The group never formed, although Page, Beck, and Moon did record a song together in 1966, "Beck's Bolero", in a session that also included bassist-keyboardist John Paul Jones.

The Yardbirds played their final gig on 7 July 1968 at Luton College of Technology in Bedfordshire. They were still committed to several concerts in Scandinavia, so McCarty and Relf authorised Page and bassist Chris Dreja to use the Yardbirds' name to fulfill the band's obligations. Page and Dreja began putting a new line-up together. Page's first choice for the lead singer was Terry Reid, but Reid declined the offer and suggested Robert Plant, a singer for the Band of Joy and Hobbstweedle. Plant eventually accepted the position, recommending former Band of Joy drummer John Bonham. John Paul Jones enquired about the vacant position of bass guitarist, at the suggestion of his wife, after Dreja dropped out of the project to become a photographer. Page had known Jones since they were both session musicians, and agreed to let him join as the final member.

A black and white photograph of an airship near a mooring mast exploding at its stern.
A 1937 photograph of the burning LZ 129 Hindenburg taken by news photographer Sam Shere, used on the cover of the band's debut album and extensively on later merchandise

In August 1968, the four played together for the first time in a room below a record store on Gerrard Street in London. Page suggested that they attempt "Train Kept A-Rollin'", originally a jump blues song popularised in a rockabilly version by Johnny Burnette, which had been covered by the Yardbirds. "As soon as I heard John Bonham play", Jones recalled, "I knew this was going to be great ... We locked together as a team immediately". Before leaving for Scandinavia, the group took part in a recording session for the P. J. Proby album Three Week Hero. The album's track "Jim's Blues", with Plant on harmonica, was the first studio track to feature all four future members of Led Zeppelin.

The band completed the Scandinavian tour as the New Yardbirds, playing together for the first time in front of a live audience at Gladsaxe Teen Club at the Egegård School (today Gladsaxe School) festive hall, Gladsaxe, Denmark, on 7 September 1968. Later that month, they began recording their first album, which was based on their live set. The album was recorded and mixed in nine days, and Page covered the costs. After the album's completion, the band were forced to change their name after Dreja issued a cease and desist letter, stating that Page was allowed to use the New Yardbirds moniker for the Scandinavian dates only. One account of how the new band's name was chosen held that Moon and Entwistle had suggested that a supergroup with Page and Beck would go down like a "lead balloon", an idiom for being very unsuccessful or unpopular. The group dropped the 'a' in lead at the suggestion of Peter Grant, so that those unfamiliar with the term would not pronounce it "leed". The word "balloon" was replaced by "zeppelin", a word which, according to music journalist Keith Shadwick, brought "the perfect combination of heavy and light, combustibility and grace" to Page's mind.

Grant secured a $143,000 advance contract ($1,253,000 today) from Atlantic Records in November 1968—at the time, the biggest deal of its kind for a new band. Atlantic was a label with a catalogue of mainly blues, soul, and jazz artists, but in the late 1960s, it began to take an interest in British progressive rock acts. At the recommendation of British singer Dusty Springfield, a friend of Jones who at the time was completing her first Atlantic album, Dusty in Memphis, record executives signed Led Zeppelin without having ever seen them. Under the terms of their contract, the band had autonomy in deciding when they would release albums and tour and had the final say over the contents and design of each album. They would also decide how to promote each release and which tracks to release as singles. They formed their own company, Superhype, to handle all publishing rights.

Early years: 1968–1970

Still billed as the New Yardbirds, the band began their first tour of the UK on 4 October 1968, when they played at the Mayfair Ballroom in Newcastle upon Tyne. Their first show as Led Zeppelin was at the University of Surrey in Battersea on 25 October. Tour manager Richard Cole, who would become a major figure in the touring life of the group, organised their first North American tour at the end of the year. Their debut album, Led Zeppelin, was released in the US during the tour on 13 January 1969, and peaked at number 10 on the Billboard chart; it was released in the UK, where it peaked at number 6, on 31 March. According to Steve Erlewine, the album's memorable guitar riffs, lumbering rhythms, psychedelic blues, groovy, bluesy shuffles and hints of English folk music made it "a significant turning point in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal".

A colour photograph of a stone cottage on a hill
Bron-Yr-Aur, near Machynlleth, the Welsh cottage to which Page and Plant retired in 1970 to write many of the tracks that appeared on the band's third and fourth albums

In their first year, Led Zeppelin completed four US and four UK concert tours, and also released their second album, Led Zeppelin II. Recorded mostly on the road at various North American studios, it was an even greater commercial success than their first album and reached the number one chart position in the US and the UK. The album further developed the mostly blues-rock musical style established on their debut release, creating a sound that was "heavy and hard, brutal and direct", and which would be highly influential and frequently imitated. Steve Waksman has suggested that Led Zeppelin II was "the musical starting point for heavy metal".

The band saw their albums as indivisible, complete listening experiences, disliking the re-editing of existing tracks for release as singles. Grant maintained an aggressive pro-album stance, particularly in the UK, where there were few radio and TV outlets for rock music. Without the band's consent, however, some songs were released as singles, particularly in the US. In 1969, an edited version of "Whole Lotta Love", a track from their second album, was released as a single in the US. It reached number four in the Billboard chart in January 1970, selling over one million copies and helping to cement the band's popularity. The group also increasingly shunned television appearances, citing their preference that their fans hear and see them in live concerts.

Following the release of their second album, Led Zeppelin completed several more US tours. They played initially in clubs and ballrooms, and then in larger auditoriums as their popularity grew. Some early Led Zeppelin concerts lasted more than four hours, with expanded and improvised live versions of their repertoire. Many of these shows have been preserved as bootleg recordings. It was during this period of intensive concert touring that the band developed a reputation for off-stage excess.

In 1970, Page and Plant retired to Bron-Yr-Aur, a remote cottage in Wales, to commence work on their third album, Led Zeppelin III. The result was a more acoustic style that was strongly influenced by folk and Celtic music, and showcased the band's versatility. The album's rich acoustic sound initially received mixed reactions, with critics and fans surprised at the turn from the primarily electric arrangements of the first two albums, further fuelling the band's hostility to the musical press. It reached number one in the UK and US charts, but its stay would be the shortest of their first five albums. The album's opening track, "Immigrant Song", was released as a US single in November 1970 against the band's wishes, reaching the top twenty on the Billboard chart.

Page played his 1959 Dragon Telecaster until a friend stripped Page's custom modifications and repainted the guitar. From 1969 on the mahogany "Number 1" Les Paul has been Page's main guitar.

"The Biggest Band in the World": 1970–1975

During the 1970s, Led Zeppelin reached new heights of commercial and critical success that made them one of the most influential groups of the era, eclipsing their earlier achievements. The band's image also changed as the members began to wear elaborate, flamboyant clothing, with Page taking the lead on the flamboyant appearance by wearing a glittering moon-and-stars outfit. Led Zeppelin changed their show by using things such as lasers, professional light shows and mirror balls. They began travelling in a private jet airliner, a Boeing 720 (nicknamed the Starship), rented out entire sections of hotels (including the Continental Hyatt House in Los Angeles, known colloquially as the "Riot House"), and became the subject of frequently repeated stories of debauchery. One involved John Bonham riding a motorcycle through a rented floor of the Riot House, while another involved the destruction of a room in the Tokyo Hilton, leading to the group being banned from that establishment for life. Although Led Zeppelin developed a reputation for trashing their hotel suites and throwing television sets out of the windows, some suggest that these tales have been exaggerated. According to music journalist Chris Welch, " travels spawned many stories, but it was a myth that were constantly engaged in acts of wanton destruction and lewd behaviour".

Led Zeppelin's Four Symbols

Led Zeppelin released their fourth album on 8 November 1971. It is variously referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, Untitled, IV, or, due to the four symbols appearing on the record label, as Four Symbols, Zoso or Runes. The band had wanted to release the fourth album with no title or information, in response to the music press "going on about Zeppelin being a hype", but the record company wanted something on the cover, so in discussions, it was agreed to have four symbols to represent both the four members of the band and that it was the fourth album. With 37 million copies sold, Led Zeppelin IV is one of the best-selling albums in history, and its massive popularity cemented Led Zeppelin's status as superstars in the 1970s. By 2021, it had sold 24 million copies in the United States alone. The track "Stairway to Heaven", never released as a single, was the most requested and most played song on American rock radio in the 1970s. The group followed up the album's release with tours of the UK, Australasia, North America, Japan, and the UK again from late 1971 through early 1973.

A black and white photograph of Robert Plant with a tambourine and Jimmy Page with an acoustic guitar seated and performing.
Plant and Page perform acoustically in Hamburg in March 1973, just before the release of the band's fifth album, Houses of the Holy.

Led Zeppelin's next album, Houses of the Holy, was released in March 1973. It featured further experimentation by the band, who expanded their use of synthesisers and mellotron orchestration. The predominantly orange album cover, designed by the London-based design group Hipgnosis, depicts images of nude children climbing the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland. Although the children are not shown from the front, the cover was controversial at the time of the album's release. As with the band's fourth album, neither their name nor the album title was printed on the sleeve.

Houses of the Holy topped charts worldwide, and the band's subsequent concert tour of North America in 1973 broke records for attendance, as they consistently filled large auditoriums and stadiums. At Tampa Stadium in Florida, they played to 56,800 fans, breaking the record set by the Beatles' 1965 Shea Stadium concert and grossing $309,000. Three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City were filmed for a motion picture, but the theatrical release of this project (The Song Remains the Same) was delayed until 1976. Before the final night's performance, $180,000 ($1,235,000 today) of the band's money from gate receipts was stolen from a safe deposit box at the Drake Hotel.

A colour photograph of the four members of Led Zeppelin performing onstage, with some other figures visible in the background.
Led Zeppelin perform at Chicago Stadium in January 1975, a few weeks before the release of Physical Graffiti.

In 1974, Led Zeppelin took a break from touring and launched their own record label, Swan Song, named after an unreleased song. The record label's logo is based on a drawing called Evening: Fall of Day (1869) by William Rimmer. The drawing features a figure of a winged human-like being interpreted as either Apollo or Icarus. The logo can be found on Led Zeppelin memorabilia, especially T-shirts. In addition to using Swan Song as a vehicle to promote their own albums, the band expanded the label's roster, signing artists such as Bad Company, the Pretty Things and Maggie Bell. The label was successful while Led Zeppelin existed, but folded less than three years after they disbanded.

In 1975, Led Zeppelin's double album Physical Graffiti was their first release on the Swan Song label. It consisted of fifteen songs, of which eight had been recorded at Headley Grange in 1974 and seven had been recorded earlier. A review in Rolling Stone magazine referred to Physical Graffiti as Led Zeppelin's "bid for artistic respectability", adding that the only bands Led Zeppelin had to compete with for the title "The World's Best Rock Band" were the Rolling Stones and the Who. The album was a massive commercial and critical success. Shortly after the release of Physical Graffiti, all previous Led Zeppelin albums simultaneously re-entered the top-200 album chart, and the band embarked on another North American tour, now employing sophisticated sound and lighting systems. In May 1975, Led Zeppelin played five sold-out nights at the Earls Court Arena in London, at the time the largest arena in Britain.

Hiatus from touring and return: 1975–1977

A colour photograph of Robert Plant with microphone and Jimmy Page with a double necked guitar performing on stage.
Plant and Page performing in Chicago Stadium in Chicago on 10 April 1977, during Led Zeppelin's last North American tour

Following their triumphant Earls Court appearances, Led Zeppelin took a holiday and planned an autumn tour in America, scheduled to open with two outdoor dates in San Francisco. In August 1975, however, Plant and his wife Maureen were involved in a serious car crash while on holiday in Rhodes, Greece. Plant suffered a broken ankle and Maureen was badly injured; a blood transfusion saved her life. Unable to tour, he headed to the Channel Island of Jersey to spend August and September recuperating, with Bonham and Page in tow. The band then reconvened in Malibu, California. During this forced hiatus, much of the material for their next album, Presence, was written.

By this time, Led Zeppelin were the world's number one rock attraction, having outsold most bands of the time, including the Rolling Stones. Presence, released in March 1976, marked a change in the Led Zeppelin sound towards more straightforward, guitar-based jams, departing from the acoustic ballads and intricate arrangements featured on their previous albums. Though it was a platinum seller, Presence received a mixed reaction among fans and the music press, with some critics suggesting that the band's excesses may have caught up with them. Page had begun using heroin during recording sessions for the album, a habit which may have affected the band's later live shows and studio recordings, although he has since denied this.

a colour photograph of a large domed stadium
The Pontiac Silverdome, Michigan, where the band set a record for the largest solo indoor attraction in 1977 with an attendance of 76,229

Because of Plant's injuries, Led Zeppelin did not tour in 1976. Instead, the band completed the concert film The Song Remains the Same and the accompanying soundtrack album. The film premiered in New York City on 20 October 1976, but was given a lukewarm reception by critics and fans. The film was particularly unsuccessful in the UK, where, unwilling to tour since 1975 because of their tax exile status, Led Zeppelin faced an uphill battle to recapture the public's affection.

In 1977, Led Zeppelin embarked on another major concert tour of North America. The band set another attendance record, with an audience of 76,229 at their Silverdome concert on 30 April. It was, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest attendance to that date for a single act show. Although the tour was financially profitable, it was beset by off-stage problems. On 19 April, over 70 people were arrested as about 1,000 fans tried to gatecrash Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum for two sold-out concerts, while others tried to gain entry by throwing rocks and bottles through glass doors. On 3 June, a concert at Tampa Stadium was cut short because of a severe thunderstorm, despite tickets indicating "Rain or Shine". A riot broke out, resulting in arrests and injuries.

After 23 July show at the Day on the Green festival at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California, Bonham and members of Led Zeppelin's support staff were arrested after a member of promoter Bill Graham's staff was badly beaten during the band's performance. The following day's second Oakland concert was the group's final live appearance in the United States. Two days later, as they checked in at a French Quarter hotel for their 30 July performance at the Louisiana Superdome, Plant received news that his five-year-old son, Karac, had died from a stomach virus. The rest of the tour was immediately cancelled, prompting widespread speculation about Led Zeppelin's future.

Bonham's death and breakup: 1978–1980

A black and white photograph of John Bonham playing drums
After the death of Bonham (pictured in July 1973) on 25 September 1980, the remaining members of Led Zeppelin decided to disband the group.

In November 1978, the group recorded at Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden. The resulting album, In Through the Out Door, featured sonic experimentation that again drew mixed reactions from critics. Nevertheless, the album reached number one in the UK and the US in just its second week of release. With this album's release, Led Zeppelin's entire catalogue returned to the Billboard Top 200 in the weeks of 27 October and 3 November 1979.

In August 1979, after two warm-up shows in Copenhagen, Led Zeppelin headlined two concerts at the Knebworth Music Festival, playing to a crowd of approximately 104,000 on the first night. A brief, low-key European tour was undertaken in June and July 1980, featuring a stripped-down set without the usual lengthy jams and solos. On 27 June, at a show in Nuremberg, West Germany, the concert came to an abrupt halt in the middle of the third song, when Bonham collapsed onstage and was rushed to hospital. Speculation in the press suggested that his collapse had been the result of excessive alcohol and drug use, but the band claimed that he had simply overeaten.

A North American tour, the band's first since 1977, was scheduled to commence on 17 October 1980. On 24 September, Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend rehearsals at Bray Studios. During the journey, Bonham asked to stop for breakfast, where he downed four quadruple vodkas (from 16 to 24 US fl oz (470 to 710 ml)), with a ham roll. After taking a bite of the ham roll he said to his assistant, "breakfast". He continued to drink heavily after arriving at the studio. The rehearsals were halted late that evening and the band retired to Page's house—the Old Mill House in Clewer, Windsor.

After midnight, Bonham, who had fallen asleep, was taken to bed and placed on his side. At 1:45 pm the next day, Benji LeFevre (Led Zeppelin's new tour manager) and John Paul Jones found Bonham dead. The cause of death was asphyxiation from vomit; the finding was accidental death. An autopsy found no other recreational drugs in Bonham's body. Although he had recently begun to take Motival (a cocktail of the antipsychotic fluphenazine and the tricyclic antidepressant nortriptyline) to combat his anxiety, it is unclear if these substances interacted with the alcohol in his system. Bonham's remains were cremated and his ashes interred on 12 October 1980, at Rushock parish church, Worcestershire.

The planned North American tour was cancelled, and despite rumours that Cozy Powell, Carmine Appice, Barriemore Barlow, Simon Kirke, Ric Lee or Bev Bevan would join the group as his replacement, the remaining members decided to disband. A 4 December 1980 press statement stated that, "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." The statement was signed simply "Led Zeppelin".

Post-breakup

1980s

A colour photograph of Jimmy Page performing on stage with a double-necked guitar
Page performs at the Cow Palace in Daly City, California in 1983.

Following Led Zeppelin's dissolution, the first significant musical project by one of its members was the Honeydrippers, which Plant initially formed in 1981. The group, featuring Page on lead guitar, along with studio musicians and friends of the pair, including Jeff Beck, Paul Shaffer, and Nile Rodgers, released its only album in 1984. Plant focused on a different direction from Zeppelin, playing standards and in a more R&B style, highlighted by a cover of "Sea of Love" that peaked at number three on the Billboard chart in early 1985.

The studio album Coda – a collection of Zeppelin outtakes and unused tracks – was issued in November 1982. It included two tracks from the Royal Albert Hall in 1970, one each from the Led Zeppelin III and Houses of the Holy sessions, and three from the In Through the Out Door sessions. It also featured a 1976 Bonham drum instrumental with electronic effects added by Page, called "Bonzo's Montreux".

Page, Plant, and Jones performing at Live Aid in Philadelphia

On 13 July 1985, Page, Plant, and Jones reunited for the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, playing a short set featuring drummers Tony Thompson and Phil Collins, and bassist Paul Martinez. Collins had contributed to Plant's first two solo albums while Martinez was a member of Plant's solo band. The performance was marred by a lack of rehearsal with the two drummers, Page's struggles with an out-of-tune guitar, poorly functioning monitors, and Plant's hoarse voice. Page described the performance as "pretty shambolic", while Plant characterised it as an "atrocity".

The three members reunited again on 14 May 1988, for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert, with Bonham's son Jason on drums. The result was again disjointed: Plant and Page had argued immediately prior to taking the stage about whether to play "Stairway to Heaven", and Jones' keyboards were absent from the live television feed. Page described the performance as "one big disappointment" and Plant said "the gig was foul".

1990s

A colour photograph of Jason Bonham playing drums
Jason Bonham, who filled his late father's position for reunions in 1988, 1995 and 2007

The first Led Zeppelin box set, featuring tracks remastered under Page's supervision, was released in 1990 and bolstered the band's reputation, leading to abortive discussions among members about a reunion. This set included four previously unreleased tracks, including a version of Robert Johnson's "Travelling Riverside Blues". The song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart. Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 was released in 1993; the two box sets together contained all known studio recordings, as well as some rare live tracks.

In 1994, Page and Plant reunited for a 90-minute "UnLedded" MTV project. They later released an album called No Quarter: Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Unledded, which featured some reworked Led Zeppelin songs, and embarked on a world tour the following year. This is said to be the beginning of a rift between the band members, as Jones was not even told of the reunion.

In 1995, Led Zeppelin were inducted into the United States Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. Jason and Zoë Bonham also attended, representing their late father. At the induction ceremony, the band's inner rift became apparent when Jones joked upon accepting his award, "Thank you, my friends, for finally remembering my phone number", causing consternation and awkward looks from Page and Plant. Afterwards, they played one brief set with Tyler and Perry, with Jason Bonham on drums, and then a second with Neil Young, this time with Michael Lee playing the drums.

In 1997, Atlantic released a single edit of "Whole Lotta Love" in the US and the UK, the only single the band released in their homeland, where it peaked at number 21. November 1997 saw the release of Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions, a two-disc set largely recorded in 1969 and 1971. Page and Plant released another album called Walking into Clarksdale in 1998, featuring all new material, but after disappointing sales, the partnership dissolved before a planned Australian tour.

2000s

A colour photograph of John Paul Jones, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page performing on stage, with Jason Bonham partially visible on drums in the background
Led Zeppelin performing at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert in London in December 2007

The year 2003 saw the release of the triple live album How the West Was Won, and Led Zeppelin DVD, a six-hour chronological set of live footage that became the best-selling music DVD in history. In July 2007, Atlantic/Rhino and Warner Home Video announced three Zeppelin titles to be released that November: Mothership, a 24-track best-of spanning the band's career; a reissue of the soundtrack The Song Remains the Same, including previously unreleased material; and a new DVD. Zeppelin also made their catalogue legally available for download, becoming one of the last major rock bands to do so.

On 10 December 2007, Zeppelin reunited for the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 Arena in London, with Jason Bonham again taking his father's place on drums. According to Guinness World Records 2009, the show set a record for the "Highest Demand for Tickets for One Music Concert" as 20 million requests were submitted online. Critics praised the performance and there was widespread speculation about a full reunion. Page, Jones and Jason Bonham were reported to be willing to tour and to be working on material for a new Zeppelin project. Plant continued his touring commitments with Alison Krauss, stating in September 2008 that he would not record or tour with the band. "I told them I was busy and they'd simply have to wait," he recalled in 2014. "I would come around eventually, which they were fine with – at least to my knowledge. But it turns out they weren't. And what's even more disheartening, Jimmy used it against me."

Jones and Page reportedly looked for a replacement for Plant; candidates including Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, and Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge. However, in January 2009, it was confirmed that the project had been abandoned. "Getting the opportunity to play with Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham was pretty special," Kennedy recalled. "That is pretty much the zenith right there. That was a crazy, good experience. It's something I still think of often ... It's so precious to me."

2010s

Led Zeppelin answering questions at the film premiere of Celebration Day at the Hammersmith Apollo in London, October 2012

A film of the O2 performance, Celebration Day, premiered on 17 October 2012 and was released on DVD on 19 November. The film grossed $2 million in one night, and the live album peaked at number 4 and 9 in the UK and US, respectively. Following the film's premiere, Page revealed that he had been remastering the band's discography. The first wave of albums, Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, and Led Zeppelin III, were released on 2 June 2014. The second wave of albums, Led Zeppelin IV and Houses of the Holy, were released on 27 October 2014. Physical Graffiti was released on 23 February 2015, almost exactly forty years to the day after the original release. The fourth and final wave of studio album reissues, Presence, In Through the Out Door, and Coda, were released on 31 July 2015.

Through this remastering project, each studio album was reissued on CD and vinyl and was also available in a Deluxe Edition, which contained a bonus disc of previously unheard material (Coda's Deluxe Edition would include two bonus discs). Each album was also available in a Super Deluxe Edition Box Set, which included the remastered album and bonus disc on both CD and 180-gram vinyl, a high-definition audio download card of all content at 96 kHz/24 bit, a hardbound book filled with rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia, and a high-quality print of the original album cover.

On 6 November 2015, the Mothership compilation was reissued using the band's newly remastered audio tracks. The reissuing campaign continued the next year with the re-release of BBC Sessions on 16 September 2016. The reissue contained a bonus disc with nine unreleased BBC recordings, including the heavily bootlegged but never officially released "Sunshine Woman".

To commemorate the band's 50th anniversary, Page, Plant and Jones announced an official illustrated book celebrating 50 years since the formation of the band. Also released for the celebration was a reissue of How the West Was Won on 23 March 2018, which includes the album's first pressing on vinyl. For Record Store Day on 21 April 2018, Led Zeppelin released a 7" single "Rock and Roll" (Sunset Sound Mix)/"Friends" (Olympic Studio Mix), their first single in 21 years.

2020s

In October 2020, Page released a photo collection called Jimmy Page: The Anthology, confirming a band documentary for the band's 50th anniversary. A work-in-progress version of the documentary film Becoming Led Zeppelin was screened at the Venice Film Festival in 2021. It is the first time band members have agreed to participate in a biographical documentary. It was announced the film would premiere in IMAX in the United States on 7 February 2025.

Musical style

A black and white photograph of John Bonham wearing a headband and behind the cymbals of a drum kit
John Bonham's aggressive drumming style was critical to the hard rock sound associated with the band.

Led Zeppelin's music was rooted in the blues. The influence of American blues artists such as Muddy Waters and Skip James was particularly apparent on their first two albums, as was the distinct country blues style of Howlin' Wolf. There were tracks structured around the twelve-bar blues on every studio album except for one, and the blues directly and indirectly influenced other songs both musically and lyrically. The band were also strongly influenced by the music of the British, Celtic, and American folk revivals. Scottish folk guitarist Bert Jansch helped inspire Page, and from him he adapted open tunings and aggressive strokes into his playing. The band also drew on a wide variety of genres, including world music, and elements of early rock and roll, jazz, country, funk, soul, and reggae, particularly on Houses of the Holy and the albums that followed.

The material on the first two albums was largely constructed out of extended jams of blues standards and folk songs. This method led to the mixing of musical and lyrical elements of different songs and versions, as well as improvised passages, to create new material, but would lead to later accusations of plagiarism and legal disputes over copyright. Usually the music was developed first, sometimes with improvised lyrics that might then be rewritten for the final version of the song. From the visit to Bron-Yr-Aur in 1970, the songwriting partnership between Page and Plant became predominant, with Page supplying the music, largely via his acoustic guitar, and Plant emerging as the band's chief lyricist. Jones and Bonham then added to the material, in rehearsal or in the studio, as a song was developed. In the later stages of the band's career, Page took a back seat in composition and Jones became increasingly important in producing music, often composed on the keyboard. Plant would then add lyrics before Page and Bonham developed their parts.

A black and white photograph of Jimmy Page playing a double-necked guitar
Page with the double-neck Gibson EDS-1275 used for playing "Stairway to Heaven" among other songs live

Early lyrics drew on the band's blues and folk roots, often mixing lyrical fragments from different songs. Many of the band's songs dealt with themes of romance, unrequited love and sexual conquest, which were common in rock, pop and blues music. Some of their lyrics, especially those derived from the blues, have been interpreted as misogynistic. Particularly on Led Zeppelin III, they incorporated elements of mythology and mysticism into their music, which largely grew out of Plant's interest in legends and history. These elements were often taken to reflect Page's interest in the occult, which resulted in accusations that the recordings contained subliminal satanic messages, some of which were said to be contained in backmasking; these claims were generally dismissed by the band and music critics. The pastoral fantasies in Plant's songwriting were inspired by the landscape of the Black Country region and J. R. R. Tolkien's high fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings. Susan Fast argues that as Plant emerged as the band's main lyricist, the songs more obviously reflected his alignment with the West Coast counterculture of the 1960s. In the later part of the band's career Plant's lyrics became more autobiographical, and less optimistic, drawing on his own experiences and circumstances.

According to musicologist Robert Walser, "Led Zeppelin's sound was marked by speed and power, unusual rhythmic patterns, contrasting terraced dynamics, singer Robert Plant's wailing vocals, and guitarist Jimmy Page's heavily distorted crunch". These elements mean that they are often cited as one of the originators of hard rock and heavy metal and they have been described as the "definitive heavy metal band", although the band members have often eschewed the label. Led Zeppelin, together with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid- seventies". Part of this reputation depends on the band's use of distorted guitar riffs on songs like "Whole Lotta Love" and "The Wanton Song". Often riffs were not doubled by guitar, bass and drums exactly, but instead there were melodic or rhythmic variations. Page's guitar playing incorporated elements of the blues scale with those of eastern music. Plant's use of high-pitched shrieks has been compared to Janis Joplin's vocal technique. Robert Christgau found him integral to the group's heavy "power blues" aesthetic, functioning as a "mechanical effect" similarly to Page's guitar parts. While noting Plant "hints at real feeling" on some of their acoustic songs, Christgau believed he abandoned traditional blues singing's emphasis on emotional projection in favour of vocal precision and dynamics: "Whether he is mouthing sexist blues cliches or running through one of the band's half-audible, half-comprehensible ... lyrics about chivalry or the counter-culture, his voice is devoid of feeling. Like the tenors and baritones of yore, he wants his voice to be an instrument—specifically, an electric guitar." Bonham's drumming was noted for its power, his rapid rolls and his fast beats on a single bass drum; while Jones' basslines have been described as melodic and his keyboard playing added a classical touch to the band's sound.

At some deep level, Led Zeppelin's music is about the relationship between humanity and technology. Philosophically, the band prefers humanity pure and simple, but in practice it must realize its humanity technologically. That seems truer than most good-time pastoral fantasies.

Robert Christgau, 1972

Led Zeppelin have been widely viewed as a hard rock band, although Christgau regarded them as art rock as well. According to popular music scholar Reebee Garofalo, "because hip critics could not find a constructive way of positioning themselves in relation to Led Zeppelin's ultra-macho presentation, they were excluded from the art rock category despite their broad range of influences." Christgau wrote in 1972, the band could be considered art rock because they "relate to rock and roll not organically but intellectually", idealising the "amplified beat" as "a kind of formal challenge". Unlike their contemporaries in Jethro Tull and Yes, who use "the physical compulsion of beat and volume to involve the mind", Led Zeppelin "make body music of an oddly cerebral cast, arousing aggression rather than sexuality." As such, along with other second-generation English hard rock bands like Black Sabbath and Mott the Hoople, they can attract both intellectuals and working-class youths in "a strange potential double audience." Years later, In Through the Out Door's "tuneful synthesizer pomp" further confirmed for Christgau they were an art rock band.

Page stated that he wanted Led Zeppelin to produce music that had "light and shade". This began to be more clearly realised beginning with Led Zeppelin III, which made greater use of acoustic instruments. This approach has been seen as exemplified in the fourth album, particularly on "Stairway to Heaven", which begins with acoustic guitar and recorder and ends with drums and heavy electric sounds. Towards the end of their recording career, they moved to a more mellow and progressive sound, dominated by Jones' keyboard motifs. They also increasingly made use of various layering and production techniques, including multi-tracking and overdubbed guitar parts. Their emphasis on the sense of dynamics and ensemble arrangement has been seen as producing an individualistic style that transcends any single music genre. Ian Peddie argues that they were "... loud, powerful and often heavy, but their music was also humorous, self-reflective and extremely subtle".

Legacy

A black and white photograph showing a headshot of Robert Plant with a microphone in hand
Plant's vocal style has been highly influential in rock music, while his mane of long blond hair and powerful, bare-chested appearance, helped to create the "rock god" archetype. A 2011 Rolling Stone readers' pick named him the "Best Lead Singer of All Time".

Many have considered Led Zeppelin to be one of the most successful, innovative, and influential bands in the history of rock music. Rock critic Mikal Gilmore said, "Led Zeppelin—talented, complex, grasping, beautiful and dangerous—made one of the most enduring bodies of composition and performance in twentieth-century music, despite everything they had to overpower, including themselves".

Led Zeppelin have influenced hard rock and heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Rush, Queen, Scorpions, Aerosmith, the Black Crowes, and Megadeth as well as progressive metal bands like Tool and Dream Theater. They influenced some early punk and post-punk bands, among them the Ramones, Joy Division and the Cult. They were also an important influence on the development of alternative rock, as bands adapted elements from the "Zeppelin sound" of the mid-1970s, including the Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden. Bands and artists from diverse genres have acknowledged the influence of Led Zeppelin, such as Madonna, Shakira, Lady Gaga, Kesha, and Katie Melua.

A red tinged photograph of John Paul Jones playing a bass guitar
Jones performing with the band in Mannheim, West Germany in 1980 on their last tour

Led Zeppelin have been credited with a major impact on the nature of the music business, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock (AOR) and stadium rock. In 1988 John Kalodner, then-A&R executive of Geffen Records, remarked that

In my opinion, next to the Beatles they're the most influential band in history. They influence the way music is on records, AOR radio, concerts. They set the standards for the AOR-radio format with 'Stairway to Heaven,' having AOR hits without necessarily having Top 40 hits. They're the ones who did the first real big arena concert shows, consistently selling out and playing stadiums without support. People can do as well as them, but nobody surpasses them.

Andrew Loog Oldham, the former producer and manager of the Rolling Stones, commented on how Led Zeppelin had a major influence on the record business, and the way rock concerts were managed and presented to huge audiences. In 2007, they were a featured artist in the stadium rock episode of the BBC/VH1 series Seven Ages of Rock.

The band have sold over 200 million albums worldwide according to some sources, while others state that they have sold in excess of 300 million records, including 111.5 million certified units in the United States. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, Led Zeppelin are the third-highest-selling band, the fifth highest selling music act in the US, and one of only four acts to earn five or more Diamond albums. They achieved eight consecutive number-ones on the UK Albums Chart, a record for most consecutive UK number-one albums shared with ABBA. Led Zeppelin remain one of the most bootlegged artists in the history of rock music.

Led Zeppelin also made a significant cultural impact. Jim Miller, editor of Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll, argues that "on one level, Led Zeppelin represents the final flowering of the sixties' psychedelic ethic, which casts rock as passive sensory involvement". Led Zeppelin have also been described as "the quintessential purveyors" of masculine and aggressive "cock rock", although this assertion has been challenged. The band's fashion-sense has been seminal; Simeon Lipman, head of pop culture at Christie's auction house, has commented that "Led Zeppelin have had a big influence on fashion because the whole aura surrounding them is so cool, and people want a piece of that". Led Zeppelin laid the foundation for the big hair of the 1980s glam metal bands such as Mötley Crüe and Skid Row. Other musicians have also adapted elements from Led Zeppelin's attitude to clothes, jewellery and hair, such as the hipster flares and tight band T-shirts of Kings of Leon, shaggy hair, clingy T-shirts and bluesman hair of Jack White of the White Stripes, and Kasabian guitarist Sergio Pizzorno's silk scarves, trilbies and side-laced tight jeans.

Achievements

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were honoured by US President Barack Obama at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors.

Led Zeppelin have collected many honours and awards throughout the course of their career. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. Among the band's awards are an American Music Award in 2005, and the Polar Music Prize in 2006. Led Zeppelin were the recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2005, and four of their recordings have been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. They have been awarded five Diamond albums, as well as fourteen Multi-Platinum, four Platinum and one Gold album in the United States, while in the UK they have five Multi-Platinum, six Platinum, one Gold and four Silver albums. Rolling Stone named Led Zeppelin the 14th-greatest artist of all time in 2004.

In 2003, Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list included Led Zeppelin at number 29, Led Zeppelin IV at number 66, Physical Graffiti at number 70, Led Zeppelin II at number 75, and Houses of the Holy at number 149. And in 2004, on their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list, Rolling Stone included "Stairway to Heaven" at number 31, "Whole Lotta Love" at number 75, "Kashmir" at number 140, "Black Dog" at number 294, "Heartbreaker" at number 320, and "Ramble On" at number 433.

In 2005, Page was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his charity work, and in 2009 Plant was honoured as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his services to popular music. The band are ranked number one on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock and Classic Rock's "50 best live acts of all time". They were named as the best Rock band in a poll by BBC Radio 2. They were awarded an Ivor Novello Award for "Outstanding Contribution to British Music" in 1977, as well as a "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 42nd Annual Ivor Novello awards ceremony in 1997. The band were honoured at the 2008 MOJO Awards with the "Best Live Act" prize for their one-off reunion, and were described as the "greatest rock and roll band of all time". In 2010, Led Zeppelin IV was one of ten classic album covers from British artists commemorated on a UK postage stamp issued by the Royal Mail; they were unveiled by Jimmy Page. Led Zeppelin were named as 2012 recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors.

Band members

Guest musicians post-breakup

Discography

Main articles: Led Zeppelin discography and List of songs recorded by Led Zeppelin

See also

Notes

  1. One-off reunions: 1985, 1988, 1995, 2007
  2. Dreja would later take the photograph that appeared on the back of Led Zeppelin's debut album.
  3. The first show was in Denver on 26 December 1968, followed by other West Coast dates before the band travelled to California to play Los Angeles and San Francisco.
  4. One alleged example of such extravagance was the shark episode said to have taken place at the Edgewater Inn in Seattle on 28 July 1969.

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