The Gigging History of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin, formed in 1968, was an English rock band consisting of members Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. One of the greatest and most influential bands of the twentieth century, Led Zeppelin sold millions of records around the world and continues to be an iconic presence in the rock and roll hall of fame. But, how many gigs did they perform during their ten-year career?
Well, the answer is not a simple one. Firstly, there is little in the way of exact numbers. Second, they have been known to perform under different names or anonymously for different shows. Also, they have been touring since they formed in 1968 to when they unfortunately disbanded in 1980.
It is estimated that Led Zeppelin’s touring career consists of around 600 gigs, this number may sound high, but most of these were the band’s headlining concerts in thrilling and iconic locations around the world. According to Jody Denberg from KUTX, “ what is interesting is that Led Zeppelin’s U.S. touring history was very limited, only playing 53 shows in the U.S over their 10 years together.” And even fewer when considering their entire touring career.
That means that out of 600 gigs, less than a tenth were in the United States. According to Audra Schroeder from The Daily Dot, “Zeppelin played more shows in the U.K. and Europe for a very specific reason, one that had to do with the money the members made from their gigs.” In Europe, they often had VIP seating and service packages as well as other exclusive benefits that just weren’t available or weren’t pursued as much for shows in the United States.
So, while it’s hard to know the exact number, the estimated 600 gigs also include backing gigs and surprise shows. It’s likely that with the 600 estimated gigs, Led Zeppelin also performed a few gigs anonymously or under a different name. Even though exact numbers are hard to determine, it is safe to say that the number is within and probably closer to 600 gigs.
Heavier and Longer Concerts
Not only do Led Zeppelin have an impressive number of completed gigs under their ten-year career, but the strength and length of their live shows have also innovatively shaped the live music scene. According to an article by Andres Tardio from Rolling Stone, “Led Zeppelin were noted for their long, rapid-fire improvisations within extended song structures—as well as their use of hard-rock instrumentation.”
The scale and scope of Led Zeppelin concerts were marked by heavier and longer sets with extended improvisations and instrumentals which helped to seriously extend the length of their shows. Their shows often included cover versions of popular songs that were included in their shows that wasn’t heard in studio recordings.
This set them apart from the other hard rock bands of the time as well as pushed the boundaries in terms of traditional setlists. “We always tried to play as long as we could as a band” says Jimmy Page to Andres Tardio from Rolling Stone. This gives a further insight into the lengths they wanted to go when creating a performance that would electrify an audience, often lasting for hours.
Furthermore, Zeppelin were the first band to create a stadium-style ambiance as Jimmy Page states “…and that was the first time that we ever started playing an outdoor kind of thing that had a stadium sound in its production…”. This vision has been carried on by many rock groups today and is one of the hallmarks of a great rock show.
Records and Achievements
Led Zeppelin is still known today for having one of the greatest rock soundtracks of all time and they’re renowned for selling some of the most memorable live performances in the annals of rock music. The influence of Led Zeppelin is clear even when we think of music today.
In 2011, they set a record at the 02 Arena in London for the highest grossing show by a single band, grossing over $4 million. The concert was the first time Carl Plant the lead singer and Jimmy Page performed together in over twenty years, essentially making the night a historic event.
This also linked into their overall trend of longer shows as this fully packed show ran for three and a half hours that proved no one could have a larger fan base than Zeppelin. But, they weren’t done.
The Led Zeppelin Reunion
Though Led Zeppelin officially disbanded in 1980, the band regrouped for a one-off show in 2007 in London, and then again at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2012. On the 07 show Jimmy Page stated, “We haven’t played together for twenty seven and a half years” and then followed up with “so it’s really about time we did something”.
This performance was a long awaited and highly anticipated performance that shocked music fans all over the world. It included the full original line-up of the band with Robert Plant on lead vocals, Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, and John Bonham’s son Jason Bonham on drums.
The re-union show was held on December 10th, 2007, at London’s 02 Arena in front of 20,000 people, performing a set list of sixteen songs from their ten studio albums. According to a post-concert review by Paul Stokes from NME, the band put on a show that was “had absolutely everything a fan could have wished for” and “set a benchmark for rock concerts which may well never be matched”.
The End of An Era
John Bonham, known for being the drummer of Led Zeppelin, passed away in 1980 at the age of 32, which led to the disbandment of the group shortly after. Since then, the group has been one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and their music together and influence on the rock genre as a whole is undeniable.
Led Zeppelin released nine studio albums in the ten years they were together, and throughout their work together they have consistently been praised for their world-class musicianship and quality of their sound. According to Bianca Gracie from Idolator, Led Zeppelin “transformed the rock genre, and its rippling effect has been felt for over 50 years in music. Subliminally, Led Zeppelin rehearsed the fashion, attitude, and sonic expression that would later become symbols of the unsaid movement for the coming age of rock”.
The group were fundamentally set in stone as one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time, and it’s hard to think what the world of music would have been like had they not have driven the rock scene as they did.
The Legacy of Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin is among the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed rock bands in the world. As of 2009, they had sold an estimated 300 million albums, making them one of the best selling music artists in history.
Throughout their career, they have released 8 studio albums, 1 live album, 4 compilation albums, and approximately 24 single disc releases. Consequently, Led Zeppelin are one of the most monumental bands in rock history, with numerous bands citing them as an influence.
In addition to their musical impact, Led Zeppelin’s lyrics have also been acknowledged for going against the grain of mainstream people throughout the 70s. They were among the first bands to examine social injustices with the likes of ‘Immigrant Song’ and ‘Black Dog’ discussing unspoken issues that had been neglected by the popular media of the time.
As Peter Chianca from the blog The Rock Masters puts it, “Led Zeppelin might have been loud, but they were never blind to the conditions around them.”
The Influence of Led Zeppelin
Not only have Led Zeppelin made a name for themselves, they have also made an impact on a countless number of bands and fans alike. According to Kirk Walker from CBS News, “Led Zeppelin influenced more rock and metal bands than can be counted”.
Classic rock icons such as Led Zeppelin can be heard in the works of contemporary artists such as Twenty One Pilots, Foo Fighters, and The Black Keys as they owe a lot of their musical influence to Led Zeppelin’s progressive approach to rock and roll. The group also demonstrates a style and attitude that is currently echoed in many modern rock bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Muse and Kings of Leon.
In regard to their lasting influence, John Cavacas from Ultimate Classic Rock claims “Led Zeppelin have secured their place in music history, and nothing will change that.” With every generation of musicians
