Led Zeppelin

See also: Robert Plant

This band is essentially required listening for anyone with a cock and budding hair under the arms.

Guitarist Jimmy Page formed Zep in the late '60s as a means of fulfilling the engagements of the recently defunct Yardbirds. Originally dubbed the "New Yardbirds," the band consisted of Page, bassist John Paul Jones, singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham. The group changed names and cut its first record Led Zeppelin I in the fall of 1968 and immediately started giving birth to heavy metal rock.

At first lambasted by critics for being blues god rip offs, Led Zeppelin quickly formed a fanatical following with its incessant touring and relentless stream of classic rock albums. The band hit its zenith in 1971 with the release of Led Zeppelin IV, which pretty much defines the term "classic rock" in every way. Songs such as "Rock And Roll," "Stairway To Heaven," "When The Levee Breaks," and "Black Dog" perfectly define Zep's blues-based, distortion-drenched sound.

As the '70s progressed the band toured less, though still released a couple more great records, including 1973's Houses Of The Holy and 1975's Physical Graffiti. Led Zeppelin's last few releases were not equally strong and in 1980 the group disbanded after the death of Bonham. Page and Plant have reunited on a number of occassions -- including 1998's Walking Into Clarksdale -- but poor John Paul Jones seems to never get in on the action.

If you didn't know any of what's written here, immediately go grab yourself a copy of Led Zeppelin II, Led Zeppelin IV, or Houses Of The Holy, and rock out, before we find out who you are and make fun of you.

Album reviews

BBC Sessions
Atlantic (1997)
Think Led Zeppelin was an overrated '70s band that gets played too much on the radio? Then listen to BBC Sessions, the band's first-ever officially released live album.