Formation
Led Zeppelin first formed in 1968 when guitarists Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck recruited Robert Plant on vocals, bassist John Paul Jones, and soon after, drummer John Bonham. Though formed out of the youth of the British blues explosion, Led Zeppelin soon carved out a sound of their own. The band developed a unique style that blended heavy, distorted electric guitars with a mix of blues, folk, psychedelic rock, and hard rock played with a growling vocal melody. The intensely raw and provocative lyrics were balanced out by a deep melodic soul and a wall of layered guitars. With these elements in mind, they crafted their first album, Led Zeppelin (1969).
Early Success
Led Zeppelin became an instant success. They captured the era’s youth in their audience, who packed concert halls to hear their infectious sound. Led Zeppelin’s initial success combined with their boundary-breaking songwriting propelled them into super-stardom and became the impetus for a whole new form of music, popularly coined “heavy metal”. Led Zeppelin quickly outgrew their label and began playing larger venues, often filling 15-20,000 seat venues in Manhattan, Tokyo, and London. Here, Led Zeppelin was often heralded as one of the greatest live bands of the era, mercilessly wowing their fans with an outspoken rebellion and a crushing, riff-driven powerhouse of guitars.
Writing and Recording Style
Led Zeppelin’s writing process was far from conventional. The band often experimented with jam sessions and improvisational numbers, which resulted in some of their most influential and vast material. These songs could reach epic lengths that often exceeded write seven minutes, far beyond the typical song format of the time. One of the most renowned albums of the period, Led Zeppelin IV (1971), was created through a series of spontaneous jams in which the band just started playing and let their ideas grow organically into songs. This approach to writing focused much on the concept of the riff, a simple, but powerful chord and melody combination that would form the foundation of the song. As a result, this collection was hailed for its vast range of diverse influences, from Eastern music, to hard-driving blues, funk, and folk.
International Appeal
Led Zeppelin struck a chord with music fans all over the world. Even in international markets, like Japan, Zeppelin was revered for their intense and powerful sound. To this day, Led Zeppelin is still revered as one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time.
Aftermath
Led Zeppelin’s career was tragically cut short when their drummer, John Bonham, passed away in 1980. This led to the inevitable disbanding of the group, and all four members went onto to pursue solo projects. Despite the short-lived career, Led Zeppelin remains one of the most influential and successful bands of all time, selling over 300 million albums and winning numerous awards.
Influence
Led Zeppelin’s influence has endured throughout the years, inspiring an array of genres and impacting some of the biggest names in music, from prog-rock to modern indie-rock. Consider the iconic guitar stabs of “When the Levee Breaks”, which have been sampled by myriad different acts ranging from Dr. Dre to Daft Punk, or the classic “Immigrant Song”, which was later covered by Canadian rockers Rush and Imagine Dragons. Led Zeppelin’s influence can be heard in the rock of Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Rival Sons, and Queens of the Stone Age, and more.
Legacy
Led Zeppelin’s presence in popular culture is evident and extends well beyond the world of music. The band have featured in television shows such as South Park and The Simpsons, in films such as School of Rock and Blinded by the Light, and in videogames like Guitar Hero and Rock Band. Led Zeppelin has also been celebrated and credited in magazines and books; making them one of the most iconic rock bands of all time.
Home Video Releases
In recent years, Led Zeppelin has released over a dozen home videos, highlighting various aspects of the band’s career. These releases include Celebration Day (2012), a live concert shot in 2007 marking the band’s lasting influence and reunion. Led Zeppelin also released a massive reissue project of their first three albums, with newly remastered audio, rare live takes, and even a DVD full of rare clips. The band has remained steadfast in their commitment to making home videos and other clips available to fans for many years, helping to keep the Zeppelin flame alive and burn brighter than ever.
Zeppelin Today
Led Zeppelin continues to live on in the present day, as a reminder of their iconic and timeless legacy in music. Whether through the current hologram tour, their dominance in the streaming world – currently holding 25 of the top 100 rock songs of all time – or the dozens of tribute acts that fill concert venues and festivals regularly, their influence will only continue to grow.
Touring and Reunions
Though Led Zeppelin’s final performance was in 1980, the members of the band continued to tour, initially separately, but then in 1985 utilizing their name. These tours, usually featuring Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones with various replacement drummers, have been held sporadically ever since. The biggest show of these tours was their triumphant performance at the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute concert at the O2 Arena in 2007, where Jason Bonham filled in for his late father, John.
The Experiences on Stage
Led Zeppelin made sure that every performance was an unforgettable experience for the audience. Their live shows were often larger than life and featured elaborate props, costumes, and the iconic Hindenberg-style stage—complete with a light show that was unmatched in its intensity. It’s no wonder that many fans considered them to be the greatest live act of their era, and many of their songs have been broadcast on radio and television over the decades, firmly embedding their legacy in the hearts and minds of generations of music fans.
