Led Zeppelin

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For other uses, see Led Zeppelin (disambiguation).

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin in 1968. From left to right: John Bonham, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page,

John Paul Jones

Background information

Origin London, England

Hard rock, heavy metal, blues-rock, folk

Genres
rock

1968–1980
Years active
(Reunions: 1985, 1988, 1995, 2007)

Labels Atlantic, Swan Song

Page and Plant, The Honeydrippers, The

Associated acts
Yardbirds

Website ledzeppelin.com

Former members
 Jimmy Page
John Paul Jones
Robert Plant
John Bonham

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page (guitar),[1] who recruited
Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica), John Paul Jones (bass guitar, keyboards, mandolin), and John
Bonham (drums). With their heavy, guitar-driven blues-rock sound, Led Zeppelin are regularly cited
as one of the progenitors of heavy metal[2] and hard rock music.[3][4] However, the band's
individualistic style drew from many sources and transcends any one genre.[5] Led Zeppelin did not
release songs from their albums as singles in the UK, as they preferred to develop the concept of
"album-oriented rock".[6]

30 years after disbanding following Bonham's death in 1980, the band continues to be held in high
regard for their artistic achievements, commercial success, and broad influence. The band have sold
over 200 million albums worldwide,[7][8] including 111.5 million certified units in the United States,
[9]
making them one of the best-selling music artists of all time. They have had all of their original
studio albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard album chart in the US, with six reaching the number
one spot.[10] Led Zeppelin are ranked #1 on VH1's 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock[11] and Classic
Rock's 50 Best Live Acts of All Time.[12] Rolling Stone magazine has described Led Zeppelin as "the
heaviest band of all time", "the biggest band of the '70s" and "unquestionably one of the most
enduring bands in rock history".[2][13] Similarly, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes the band
being "as influential in that decade (70s) as the Beatles were in the prior one".[14]

In 2007, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited (along with deceased drummer John
Bonham's son, Jason) for the Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert at The O2 Arena in London.

Contents
[hide]

• 1 History
o 1.1 Formation
o 1.2 Early days (1968–1970)
o 1.3 "The biggest band in the world" (1971–1977)
o 1.4 Bonham's death and breakup (1978–1980)
o 1.5 Post-Led Zeppelin (1981–2007)
o 1.6 2007 reunion
o 1.7 Reunion tour reports (2008-2010)
• 2 Legacy and influence
o 2.1 Awards, honours and accolades
o 2.2 Influence on other musicians
o 2.3 Cultural insignificance
• 3 Songs in other media
• 4 Allegations of plagiarism
 • 5 Discography
• 6 Concert tours
• 7 See also
• 8 References
• 9 Published sources

• 10 External links

[edit] History
[edit] Formation

The beginning of Led Zeppelin can be traced back to the English blues-influenced rock band The
Yardbirds.[6] Jimmy Page joined The Yardbirds in 1966 to replace bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, who
had decided to leave the group. Shortly after, Page switched from bass to lead guitar, creating a
dual-lead guitar line up with Jeff Beck. 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 supergroup with himself and Beck on guitars, and The Who's rhythm section—
drummer Keith Moon and bassist John Entwistle. Vocalists Steve Winwood and Steve Marriott
were also considered for the project.[15][16] The group never formed, although Page, Beck and Moon
did record a song together in 1966, "Beck's Bolero", which is featured on Beck's 1968 album, Truth.
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.[17]

The Yardbirds played their final gig in July 1968. However, they were still committed to performing
several concerts in Scandinavia, so drummer Jim McCarty and vocalist Keith 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 lead singer, Terry Reid, declined the
offer, but suggested Robert Plant, a West Bromwich singer.[6][18] Plant eventually accepted the
position, recommending a drummer, John Bonham from nearby Redditch.[6][19] When Dreja dropped
out of the project to become a photographer (he would later take the photograph that appeared on the
back of Led Zeppelin's debut album), John Paul Jones, at the suggestion of his wife, contacted Page
about the vacant position.[20] Being familiar with Jones' credentials, Page agreed to bring in Jones as
the final piece.

The group came together for the first time in a room below a record store on Gerrard Street in
London.[21][22] Page suggested that they try playing "Train Kept A-Rollin'", a rockabilly song
popularised by Johnny Burnette that had been given new life by the Yardbirds. "As soon as I heard
John Bonham play," recalled Jones, "I knew this was going to be great... We locked together as a
team immediately."[23] Shortly afterwards, the group played together on the final day of sessions for
the P. J. Proby album, Three Week Hero. The album's song "Jim's Blues" was the first studio track to
feature all four members of the future Led Zeppelin.[15] 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."[24]

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 Clubs in Gladsaxe, Denmark on 7 September 1968.[25][26]
However, it was clear to the band that performing under the old Yardbirds tag was akin to working
under false pretences, and upon returning from Scandinavia they decided to change their name.[27]
One account of the band's naming, which has become almost legendary, has it that Keith Moon and
John Entwistle, drummer and bassist for The Who, respectively, suggested that a possible
supergroup containing themselves, Jimmy Page, and Jeff Beck would go down like a lead zeppelin,
a term Entwistle used to describe a bad gig.[28] The group deliberately dropped the 'a' in Lead at the
suggestion of their manager, Peter Grant, to prevent "thick Americans"[17] from pronouncing it
"leed".[29]

Grant also secured for the new band an advance deal of $200,000 from Atlantic Records in
November 1968, then the biggest deal of its kind for a new band.[24] Atlantic was a label known for a
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 Dusty Springfield.[22][30] 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 release as singles,[23] and formed their own company, Superhype, to handle all
publishing rights.[31]

[edit] Early days (1968–1970)

With their first album not yet released, the band made their live debut under the name "Led
Zeppelin" at the Mayfair Ballroom, Newcastle Upon Tyne on 4 October 1968.[32] This was followed
by a US concert debut on 26 December 1968 (when promoter Barry Fey added them to a bill in
Denver, Colorado[33]) before moving on to the west coast for dates in Los Angeles, San Francisco
and other cities.[34] Led Zeppelin's eponymous debut album was released on 12 January 1969, during
their first North American 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 heavy metal music.[6]
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.[35] On their first album Plant receives no credit for his
contributions to the songwriting, a result of his previous association with CBS Records.[36]

Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant (left) and Jimmy Page performing live in Montreux, 1970

In an interview for the Led Zeppelin Profiled radio promo CD (1990) Page said that the album took
about 36 hours of studio time to create (including mixing), and stated that he knows this because of
the amount charged on the studio bill.[22][37] Peter Grant claimed the album cost £1,750 to produce
(including artwork).[17] By 1975, the album had grossed $7,000,000.[38] Led Zeppelin met an
interesting protest when Countess Eva von Zeppelin (granddaughter of Count Ferdinand von
Zeppelin, the creator of the Zeppelin airships) objected to the band's use of her family name and
attempted to stop a March 1969 television appearance in Copenhagen. When the band returned to
Copenhagen for a concert in February 1970, they were billed as "The Nobs" as the result of a threat
of legal action from von Zeppelin.[39] She is reported to have said: "They may be world famous, but a
couple of shrieking monkeys are not going to use a privileged family name without permission."

In their first year, Led Zeppelin managed to complete four US and four UK concert tours, and also
released their second album, entitled Led Zeppelin II.[24] Recorded almost entirely on the road at
various North American recording studios, the second album was an even greater success than the
first and reached the number one chart position in the US and the UK.[40] Here the band further
developed ideas established on their debut album, creating a work which became even more widely
acclaimed and arguably more influential.[41] It has been suggested that Led Zeppelin II largely wrote
the blueprint for heavy metal bands that followed it.[41][42]

Following the album's release, Led Zeppelin completed several more tours of the United States.
They played often, initially in clubs and ballrooms, then in larger auditoriums and eventually
stadiums as their popularity grew.[6] Led Zeppelin concerts could last more than four hours, with
expanded, improvised live versions of their song repertoire. Many of these shows have been
preserved as Led Zeppelin bootleg recordings. It was also during this period of intensive concert
touring that the band developed a reputation for off-stage excess.[43] One alleged example of such
extravagance was the shark episode, or red snapper incident, which is said to have taken place at the
Edgewater Inn in Seattle, Washington, on 28 July 1969.[17][43]

For the composition of their third album, Led Zeppelin III, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant retired to
Bron-Yr-Aur, a remote cottage in Wales, in 1970. The result was a more acoustic sound (including
one entirely acoustic song, "Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp", misspelt as "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on the album
cover), which was strongly influenced by folk and Celtic music, and revealed the band's versatility.
[31]

The album's rich acoustic sound initially received mixed reactions, with many critics and fans
surprised at the turn taken away from the primarily electric compositions of the first two albums.
Over time, however, its reputation has improved and Led Zeppelin III is now generally praised.[44][45]
It has a unique album cover featuring a wheel which, when rotated, displays various images through
cut outs in the main jacket sleeve. The album's opening track, "Immigrant Song", was released in
November 1970 by Atlantic Records as a single against the band's wishes.[46] It included their only
non-album b-side, "Hey Hey What Can I Do". Even though the band saw their albums as indivisible,
whole listening experiences—and their manager, Peter Grant, maintained an aggressive pro-album
stance—some singles were released without their consent. The group also increasingly resisted
television appearances, enforcing their preference that their fans hear and see them in live concerts.
[22][47][48]

[edit] "The biggest band in the world" (1971–1977)

The four symbols on the label and inside sleeve of Led Zeppelin IV, representing (from left to right)
Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham, and Robert Plant.
Led Zeppelin's popularity in the early years was dwarfed by their triumphant mid-seventies
successes and it is this period that continues to define the band.[17][43] The band's image also changed
as members began to wear elaborate, flamboyant clothing. Led Zeppelin began travelling in a
private jet airliner (nicknamed The Starship),[43] rented out entire sections of hotels (most notably the
Continental Hyatt House in Los Angeles, known colloquially as the "Riot House"), and became the
subject of many of rock's most famous stories of debauchery. One escapade involved John Bonham
riding a motorcycle through a rented floor of the Riot House,[43] while another involved the
destruction of a room in the Tokyo Hilton, leading to the band being banned from that establishment
for life.[22][49] However, 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 somewhat
exaggerated. Music journalist Chris Welch argues that "[Led Zeppelin's] travels spawned many
stories, but it was a myth that [they] were constantly engaged in acts of wanton destruction and lewd
behaviour."[22]

Led Zeppelin's fourth album was released on 8 November 1971. There was no indication of a title or
a band name on the original cover, as the band disdained being labelled as "hyped" and "overrated"
by the music press, and in response wanted to prove that the music could sell itself by giving no
indication of who they were.[18] The album remained officially untitled and is most commonly
referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, though it is variously referred to by the four symbols appearing on
the record label, as Four Symbols and The Fourth Album (both titles were used in the Atlantic
Records catalogue), Untitled, Zoso, Runes, or IV.[50]

Led Zeppelin IV 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 "Black
Dog" and an acoustic track, "Going to California" (a tribute to Joni Mitchell). "Rock and Roll" is a
tribute to the early rock music of the 1950s. In 2007, the song was used prominently in Cadillac
automobile commercials—one of the few instances of Led Zeppelin's surviving members licensing
songs.[51]

"Stairway to Heaven"

The song became one of the most-requested recordings in

rock history.

Problems listening to this file? See media help.

The album is one of the best-selling albums in history and its massive popularity cemented Led
Zeppelin's superstardom in the 1970s. To date it has sold 23 million copies in the United States.[52]
The track "Stairway to Heaven", although never released as a single, is sometimes quoted as being
the most requested,[53] and most played[54] album-oriented rock FM radio song. In 2005, the
magazine Guitar World held a poll of readers in which "Stairway to Heaven" was voted as having
the greatest guitar solo of all time.[55]

Led Zeppelin's next album, Houses of the Holy, was released in 1973. It featured further
experimentation, with longer tracks and expanded use of synthesisers and mellotron orchestration.
The song "Houses of the Holy" 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
Physical Graffiti.[17] The orange album cover of Houses of the Holy depicts images of nude
children[56] climbing up the Giant's Causeway (in County Antrim, Northern Ireland). 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 "Bible Belt" and Spain, the record was banned.[57][58]

The album topped the charts, and Led Zeppelin's subsequent concert tour of North America in 1973
broke records for attendance, as they consistently filled large auditoriums and stadiums. At Tampa
Stadium, Florida, they played to 56,800 fans (breaking the record set by The Beatles at Shea
Stadium in 1965), and grossed $309,000.[17] Three sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in
New York were filmed for a motion picture, but the theatrical release of this project (The Song
Remains the Same) would be delayed until 1976. Before the final night's performance, $180,000 of
the band's money from gate receipts was stolen from a safety deposit box at the Drake Hotel.[59] It
was never recovered.[60]

Led Zeppelin live at Chicago Stadium, January 1975.

In 1974, Led Zeppelin took a break from touring and launched their own record label, Swan Song,
named after one of only five Led Zeppelin songs which the band never released commercially (Page
later re-worked the song with his band, The Firm, and it appears as "Midnight Moonlight" on their
first album). The record label's logo, based on a drawing called Evening: Fall of Day (1869) by
William Rimmer, features a picture of Apollo.[61] The logo can be found on much 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, Pretty Things,
Maggie Bell, Detective, Dave Edmunds, Midnight Flyer, Sad Café and Wildlife.[6] The label was
successful while Led Zeppelin existed, but folded less than three years after they disbanded.[17]

24 February 1975 saw the release of Led Zeppelin's first double album, Physical Graffiti, which was
their first release on the Swan Song Records label. It consisted of fifteen songs, eight of which were
recorded at Headley Grange 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 The Rolling Stones and The Who.[62] 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,[17] and the band embarked on another
North American tour, again playing to record-breaking crowds. In May 1975, Led Zeppelin played
five highly successful, sold-out nights at the Earls Court Arena in London, footage of which was
released in 2003, on the Led Zeppelin DVD.

Following these triumphant Earls Court appearances Led Zeppelin took a holiday and planned a
series of outdoor summer concerts in America, scheduled to open with two dates in San Francisco.
[47]
These plans were thwarted in August 1975 when Robert Plant and his wife Maureen were
involved in a serious car crash while on holiday in Rhodes, Greece. Robert suffered a broken ankle
and Maureen was badly injured; a blood transfusion saved her life.[17] Unable to tour, Plant 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. It was during this forced hiatus that much of
the material for their next album, Presence, was written.

"Achilles Last Stand"

Jimmy Page calls the guitar solo his

favourite.

Problems listening to this file? See media help.

By this time, Led Zeppelin were the world's number one rock attraction,[47] having outsold most
bands of the time, including the Rolling Stones.[17] 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 mixed responses from critics and fans and some speculated the
band's legendary excesses may have caught up with them.[6][63] The recording of Presence coincided
with the beginning of Page's heroin use, which may have interfered with Led Zeppelin's later live
shows and studio recordings, although Page has denied this.[64] Despite the original criticisms,
Jimmy Page has called Presence his favourite album, and its opening track "Achilles Last Stand" his
favourite Led Zeppelin song. In an interview with a Swedish TV programme, Plant stated that
Presence is the album that sounds the most "Led Zeppelin" of all their LPs.[65]

Plant's injuries prevented Led Zeppelin from touring in 1976. Instead, the band finally completed the
concert film The Song Remains The Same, and the soundtrack album of the film. The recording had
taken place during three nights of concerts at Madison Square Garden in July 1973, during the
band's concert tour of North America. The film premiered in New York on 20 October 1976, but
was given a lukewarm reception by critics and fans.[6] 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.[66]

Plant (left) and Page (right) on stage during the 1977 North American tour
In 1977, Led Zeppelin embarked on another major concert tour of North America. Here the band set
another attendance record, with 76,229 people attending their Pontiac Silverdome concert on 30
April.[67] It was, according to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest attendance to date for a
single act show.[47] However, though the tour was financially profitable it was beset with off-stage
problems. On April 19 over 70 persons were arrested as about 1,000 ticketless fans tried to gatecrash
Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum for two sold out festival seating concerts while some tried to gain
entry by throwing rocks and bottles through glass entrance doors. On 3 June a concert at Tampa
Stadium was cut short because of a severe thunderstorm, despite tickets printed with "Rain or
Shine". A riot broke out amongst the audience, resulting in several arrests and injuries.[68]

After a 23 July show[69] at the "Day on the Green" festival at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland,
California, John Bonham and members of the band's support staff (including manager Peter Grant
and security coordinator John Bindon) were arrested after a member of promoter Bill Graham's staff
was badly beaten during the band's 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.[17][70] The following day's second Oakland concert[71] 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, prompting
widespread speculation about the band's future.[6][22]

[edit] Bonham's death and breakup (1978–1980)

November 1978 saw the group recording again, this time at Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden.
The resultant album was In Through the Out Door, 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 US in just its
second week on the Billboard 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.[47]

In August 1979, after two warm-up shows in Copenhagen, Denmark, Led Zeppelin headlined two
concerts at the Knebworth Music Festival, where crowds of close to 120,000 witnessed the return of
the band. However, 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 European tour 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 Nuremberg, 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.[72] 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.[17][73]

On 24 September 1980, Bonham was picked up by Led Zeppelin assistant Rex King to attend
rehearsals at Bray Studios for the upcoming North American tour, the band's first since 1977,
scheduled to commence on 17 October.[22] During the journey Bonham had asked to stop for
breakfast, where he downed four quadruple vodkas (450 ml), with a ham 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 Clewer, Windsor. After midnight, Bonham had fallen asleep and was
taken to bed and placed on his side. At 1:45 pm the next day Benji LeFevre (who had replaced
Richard Cole as Led Zeppelin's tour manager) and John Paul Jones found him dead.[22] The cause of
death was asphyxiation from vomit, and a verdict of accidental death was returned at an inquest held
on 27 October.[22] An autopsy found no other drugs in Bonham's body. Bonham was cremated on 10
October 1980, and his ashes buried at Rushock parish church in Droitwich, Worcestershire,
England.

Despite rumours that Cozy Powell, Carmine Appice, Barriemore Barlow, Simon Kirke or Bev
Bevan 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."[22]

[edit] 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 Coda. It included two tracks taken from the band's
performance at 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 John
Bonham drum instrumental with electronic effects added by Jimmy Page, called "Bonzo's
Montreux".

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 current solo band. However, the performance was marred by the lack of rehearsal
with the two drummers, Page's struggles with an out-of-tune Les Paul and poorly-functioning
monitors, and by Plant's hoarse voice.[74][75] Page himself has described the performance as "pretty
shambolic"[76] and "clearly wasn't good enough,"[77] while Plant was even harsher, characterising it as
an "atrocity".[74] When Live Aid footage was released on a four-DVD set in late 2004 to raise money
for Sudan, the group unanimously agreed not to allow footage from their performance to be used,
asserting that it was not up to their standard.[78] However, to demonstrate their ongoing support for
the campaign Page and Plant pledged proceeds from their forthcoming Page and Plant DVD release
and John Paul Jones pledged the proceeds of his then-current North American tour with Mutual
Admiration Society to the project.

The three members reunited again in May 1988, for the Atlantic Records 40th Anniversary concert,
with Bonham's son, Jason Bonham, on drums. However, the reunion was again compromised by a
disjointed performance, particularly by Plant and Page (the two having argued immediately prior to
coming on stage about whether to play "Stairway to Heaven"), and by the complete loss of Jones'
keyboards on the live television feed.[75][79] Page later described the performance as "one big
disappointment", and Plant said unambiguously that "the gig was foul".[79]

The first Led Zeppelin box set, featuring tracks remastered under the supervision of Jimmy Page,
introduced the band's music to many new fans, stimulating a renaissance for Led Zeppelin. This set
included four previously unreleased tracks, including the Robert Johnson tribute "Travelling
Riverside Blues". The song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart,
with the video in heavy rotation on MTV. 1992 saw the release of the "Immigrant Song"/"Hey Hey
What Can I Do" (the original b-side) as a CD single in the US. Led Zeppelin Boxed Set 2 was
released in 1993; the two box sets together containing all known studio recordings, as well as some
rare live tracks.

In 1994, Page and Plant reunited in the form of 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 the inner rift between the band members, as Jones was not even told of the reunion.
[20][80]
When asked where Jones was, Plant had replied that he was out "parking the car".[81]

On 12 January 1995, Led Zeppelin were inducted into the United States Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
by Aerosmith's vocalist, Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry. Jason and Zoe 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.[82] Afterwards, they played
a brief set with Tyler and Perry (featuring Jason Bonham on drums), and with Neil Young and
Michael Lee replacing Bonham.

On 29 August 1997, Atlantic released a single edit of "Whole Lotta Love" in the US and the UK,
making it the only Led Zeppelin UK CD single. Additional tracks on this CD-single are "Baby
Come On Home" and "Travelling Riverside Blues". It is the only single the band ever released in the
UK. It peaked at #21.[83] 11 November 1997 saw the release of Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions, the first
Led Zeppelin album in fifteen years. The two-disc set included almost all of the band's recordings
for the BBC. Page and Plant released another album called Walking into Clarksdale in 1998,
featuring all new material. However, the album wasn't as successful as No Quarter, and the band
slowly dissolved.

On 29 November 1999 the RIAA announced that the band were only the third act in music history to
achieve four or more Diamond albums.[84] 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, How
the West Was Won, and a video collection, Led Zeppelin DVD, both featuring material from the
band's heyday. By the end of the year, the DVD had sold more than 520,000 copies.

Led Zeppelin were ranked #14 on Rolling Stone's 2004 list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time",
[85]
and the following year the band received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. In November
2005, it was announced that Led Zeppelin and Russian conductor Valery Gergiev were the winners
of the 2006 Polar Music Prize. The King of Sweden presented the prize to Plant, Page, and Jones,
along with John Bonham's daughter, in Stockholm in May 2006.[86] In November 2006, Led
Zeppelin were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. 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 Wolfmother played a
tribute to Led Zeppelin, performing the song "Communication Breakdown".[87][88] Despite having
gained a reputation with the band for "raising hell" in the 1970s, Robert Plant was awarded a CBE
by Prince Charles for "Services to Music" in July 2009, which followed Jimmy Page's OBE four
years previously.[89]
On 27 July 2007, Atlantic/Rhino, & Warner Home Video announced three new Led Zeppelin titles
to be released in November, 2007. Released first was Mothership on 13 November, a 24-track best-
of spanning the band's career, followed by a reissue of the soundtrack to The Song Remains the
Same on 20 November which includes previously unreleased material, and a new DVD.[90] On 15
October 2007, it was reported 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.[91] The offerings will be available through both Verizon Wireless and
iTunes. On 3 November 2007, a UK newspaper the Daily Mirror announced that it had world
exclusive rights to stream six previously unreleased tracks via its website. On 8 November 2007,
XM Satellite Radio launched XM LED, the network's first artist-exclusive channel dedicated to Led
Zeppelin. On 13 November 2007, Led Zeppelin's complete works were published on iTunes.

[edit] 2007 reunion

The surviving members of Led Zeppelin and Jason Bonham at The O2 in London in 2007
Main article: Ahmet Ertegün Tribute Concert

On 10 December 2007 the surviving members of Led Zeppelin reunited for a one-off benefit concert
held in memory of music executive Ahmet Ertegün, with Jason Bonham taking up his late father's
place on drums. It was announced on 12 September 2007 by promoter Harvey Goldsmith 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 Turkey. Music critics praised the band's
performance. Hamish MacBain of 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."[92] Page suggested the band may start work on new
material,[93] and stated that a world tour may be in the works.[94] Meanwhile, Plant made his
reluctance regarding a reunion tour known to The Sunday Times, stating: "having to live up to
something is terribly serious." 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."[95]

[edit] Reunion tour reports (2008-2010)

Following the reunion concert and the press coverage it generated, speculation on the future of the
band and the possibility of a tour with Jason Bonham on drums increased to a level not seen in
several years. In an interview promoting the release of the Mothership compilation in Tokyo early in
2008, Jimmy Page revealed that he was prepared to embark upon a world tour with Led Zeppelin,
but due to Robert Plant's tour commitments with Alison Krauss, such plans will not be announced
until at least September.[96] Showing enthusiasm for continued performing, in late spring Page and
Jones joined Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and drummer Taylor Hawkins onstage at Wembley
Stadium to perform Led Zeppelin tracks "Rock and Roll" (Hawkins on vocals and Grohl on drums),
followed by "Ramble On" (Grohl on vocals and Hawkins on drums).[97]

Plant however continued to remain focused on his recent work and tour with Krauss. Their duet
album Raising Sand became certified platinum in March,[98] and their recordings received awards
including a Grammy for the song "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)"[99] and Album of the Year
from the Americana Music Association.[100] Along with concentrating on the duo's American tour,
Plant remained evasive on the subject of a Led Zeppelin reunion tour, and expressed displeasure at
the process leading up to the 2007 reunion show during an interview with GQ Magazine, saying
"The endless paperwork was like nothing I've experienced before. I've kept every one of the emails
that were exchanged before the concert and I'm thinking of compiling them for a book, which I feel
sure would be hailed as a sort of literary version of Spinal Tap."[101]

After the BBC reported in late August that Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham had
been recording material which could become a new Led Zeppelin project,[102] the rumours of a
reunion began to accumulate through the remaining summer.[103][104][105] On 29 September 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."[106]
[107]

Following Plant's statement, authoritative but divergent views of the possibility of a Led Zeppelin
reunion tour the next year were offered by John Paul Jones and promoter Harvey Goldsmith. In late
October, Jones confirmed to BBC Radio Devon in Exeter that he, Page, and Bonham were seeking a
replacement for Plant. The bassist remarked: "We are trying out a couple of singers. We want to do
it. It's sounding great and we want to get on and get out there."[108] The next day, Goldsmith
commented on the prospect of a Led Zeppelin reunion, casting doubt on the possibility or wisdom of
such a venture. In an interview with BBC News, Goldsmith stated "I think that there is an
opportunity for them to go out and present themselves. I don't think a long rambling tour is the
answer as Led Zeppelin." The Ertegün Concert promoter felt the result of the ongoing plans of
Jones, Page, and Bonham would not be "called Led Zeppelin".[109] A spokesman for guitarist Jimmy
Page later confirmed this, telling RollingStone.com that a new band featuring Page, bassist John
Paul Jones and drummer Jason Bonham would not go by the name Led Zeppelin due to the absence
of singer Robert Plant.[110]

On 7 January 2009, MusicRadar reported that Jimmy Page's manager Robert Mensch said that the
band had "tried out a few singers, but no one worked out, that was it. The whole thing is completely
over now. There are absolutely no plans for them to continue."[111][112] In a radio interview, Plant
cited a fear of disappointment as a major factor for not continuing a reunited Zeppelin. "The
disappointment that could be there once you commit to that and the comparisons to something that
was basically fired by youth and a different kind of exuberance to now, it's very hard to go back and
meet that head on and do it justice."[113]

On 28 October 2009 it was reported by NME that Robert Plant had revealed that he was in talks
with Michael Eavis to perform at the 2010 Glastonbury Festival in England. Plant said he did not
know who he would perform with, thus sparking rumours that Led Zeppelin would perform.[114][115]
On 23 March 2010, Led Zeppelin turned down an offer to headline Download Festival taking place
at Donington Park, England in June.[116] While talking to Xfm, promoter Andy Copping stated: "If I
could get Led Zeppelin to play at Download, it would be phenomenal. If that's not going to happen,
I'm more than happy with what we've got. Every single festival in the world approaches Led
Zeppelin or their management to get them to play at their festival. Loads of money gets thrown out.
It's not what they want to do at the moment and that's fine. They probably never will, but everyone
has a stab at it."[117]

[edit] Legacy and influence

[edit] Awards, honours and accolades

Led Zeppelin have been nominated for and won several awards,[118] including a Grammy Lifetime
Achievement Award in 2005,[119] the Q Merit Award in 1992,[120] the Polar Music Prize in 2006,[121] a
MOJO Award in 2008 voted by readers for the "best live act",[122] and inductions into the Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame (12 January 1995),[123] UK Music Hall of Fame (16 November 2004),[124] and the
Mojo Hall of Fame 100 (November 2003: 10th Anniversary Issue).[125] In February 2002, Led
Zeppelin were ranked the third-greatest band of all time by Spin magazine.[126] In January 2005, Led
Zeppelin were honored with the "International Artist Award" at the American Music Awards.[127]
The four members of Led Zeppelin were voted the United Kingdom's ideal supergroup in a 2005
Planet Rock radio poll.[128] Led Zeppelin are ranked no. 1 on Classic Rock's "50 Best Live Acts of
All Time".[12] The band topped "NME's Pop Poll" for consecutive three years (1974-76) under the
category of the best "Vocal Group".[129]

Led Zeppelin were voted the "best live act" at 2008 MOJO Awards.

The band have sold over 200 million albums worldwide,[7][8] including 111.5 million certified units
in the United States[9] and, according to the Recording Industry Association of America, is one of the
three acts in music history to achieve four or more Diamond albums - the other two being The
Beatles and Garth Brooks.[130] Hilary Rosen, then-president and CEO of the Recording Industry
Association of America, said in 1999 that "Led Zeppelin is one of the most popular and influential
rock bands of all time. Thirty years after their debut, the band’s appeal is as strong as ever. It’s
fitting that these rock icons are multiple Diamond winners."[131] Similarly, Times Online has
described Led Zeppelin as "the world’s greatest heavy rock band".[132] Rock critic Mikal Gilmore has
suggested that "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".[23]

Led Zeppelin have been the subject of many tribute albums, particularly Encomium: A Tribute to
Led Zeppelin, which was recorded by various artists, including Duran Duran, Stone Temple Pilots
and Sheryl Crow, and released by Atlantic Records on 14 March 1995. Other notable tribute
compilations include Out Through the in Door by Vanilla Fudge and Great Zeppelin: A Tribute to
Led Zeppelin by Great White. Many well-known artists from classical, reggae, jazz, heavy metal,
and rockabilly music such as Alexis Corner, Jerry Lee Lewis, King Curtis, Tina Turner, Rolf Harris,
Sandie Shaw, Frank Zappa, Jeff Buckley and London Philharmonic Orchestra have also recorded
tribute albums and cover versions of Led Zeppelin songs, and an all-'Stairway to Heaven' tribute CD
was issued by Australian ABC television programme The Money or the Gun in 1992.

Several renowned public figures and media personalities have also expressed tributes to the band.
Radio consultant Lee Abrams[133] noted in 1988 that "Other than the Beatles, for album radio they're
the most important band. Nobody seems to get tired of them, and a lot of the new bands in that genre
obviously owe a debt to them." Similarly, 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 Forty 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."[134]
Condoleezza Rice, the 66th United States Secretary of State, being a former concert pianist,
acknowledged Led Zeppelin is her favourite band of all time.[135] In July 2007, Led Zeppelin II
topped a poll conducted to find the favourite album of British politicians commemorating the
London opening of a British library display. Damian Green, the Member of Parliament from the
Conservative Party, said "It's the ultimate album for teenage boys - metal as art. No one ever topped
it. The opening riff is straightforward perfection." On the same occasion, Liberal Democrat and the
Member of Parliament Lembit Öpik said "Whole Lotta Love is the greatest rock song ever."[136][137]
Oscar-winning British filmmaker and producer Danny Boyle has cited Led Zeppelin as his favorite
music group[138] and inspiration:

I wish I was a rock star! Well that was sort of my dream really, was to be in Led Zeppelin. I remember
reading about Led Zeppelin touring America and just going round and round America and never stopping
touring, It was the only way you could break America. And I always think of them when I come to do these
publicity tour rounds. I think I've got to do this, Led Zeppelin did it, I've got to do it!"[139]

Led Zeppelin remains one of the most bootlegged artists in the history of rock music.[140] In August
1999, the band topped the list of Britain's most bootlegged musicians with 384 bootleg titles,
compiled by the Anti-Piracy Unit of British Phonographic Industry.[141][142]

[edit] Influence on other musicians

When asked in 2006 what his biggest accomplishment was with Led Zeppelin, Page made reference
to the band's legacy, particularly the way the band influenced and has been recognised by their
musical peers:

It's been a great legacy. That's what I'm proud of is the legacy of it. The fact that it's turned so many people
on to want to play. That's what pulled me into playing, is hearing musicians who really really sent shivers
down my spine. So that's it. That's the legacy and that's what I'm really proud of.[143]

The band's influence has been continuous for over three decades and is felt in several genres of
popular music. As Rolling Stone music critic Steven Pond noted in 1988: "Nearly a decade after the
band's demise, Led Zeppelin's musical influence lives on and on. Yeah, its been a long time since
Led Zeppelin rock & rolled, but when it comes to modern mainstream rock music, Zep still has the
touch of the gods...... just about every hard-rock and heavy-metal band that ever tromped onstage
has borrowed something from its style and sound."[134] Paul Ress, editor of Q Magazine, has
remarked that "I don't think they were ever appreciated for the scale of band they were. Maybe it's a
sort of 'absence makes the heart grow fonder,' but it's taken people time to realize the massive
influence they had on an awful lot of music."[144] Similarly, The New Rolling Stone Record Guide
mentioned that "[Led Zeppelin's] "Whole Lotta Love" became a starting point for Aerosmith, Guns
N’ Roses and Van Halen, among others. It’s an amazing song not just for its seismic riff and
bingeing-on-lust vocal performance, but for its mind-bending midsection, in which Page
orchestrates the aural equivalent of an orgasm (Theremin included)."[145]

Many notable musicians and bands from diverse genres have acknowledged the influence of Led
Zeppelin's music on their own. These include Aerosmith,[146] Black Sabbath,[147] Queen,[148] KISS,[149]
Cheap Trick,[150] Judas Priest,[151] Iron Maiden,[152] Venom,[153] Metallica,[154] Megadeth,[155] Smashing
Pumpkins,[156] Motley Crue,[157] Guns N' Roses,[158] Lynyrd Skynyrd,[159] AC/DC,[160] The White
Stripes,[161] Def Leppard,[162] Soundgarden,[163] Pearl Jam,[164] Jeff Buckley,[126] Limp Bizkit,[126]
Boston,[165] Dinosaur Jr.,[166] Nickelback,[167] Rainbow,[168] The Cult,[169] Heart,[170] Tori Amos,[171] The
Black Crowes,[172] Queens of the Stone Age,[173] Rush,[174] Whitesnake,[175] Van Halen,[176] Red Hot
Chili Peppers,[177] Audioslave,[178] Madonna,[179] Shakira,[180] Ben Harper,[181] Velvet Revolver,[182] Dio,
[183]
Alice Cooper,[184] Tool,[185] Faith No More,[186] Jane's Addiction,[187] Beastie Boys,[188] Katie
Melua,[189] Gabriella Cilmi,[190] B'z[191] and Junoon.[192]

Brian May of Queen has praised the band's creative effort and musicianship: "I'm the world's biggest
Led Zeppelin fan. The music, the way they conducted themselves, their whole management
structure - they were the blueprint. Queen always used to play The Immigrant Song in sound-checks
just for the glory of the sound."[193] Ann Wilson of Heart has said "Led Zeppelin, you can't find a
better band to pay homage to."[194] Ozzy Osbourne commented in 1990 that "Led Zeppelin. I still get
goosebumps. That middle section [of Whole Lotta Love] - fucking unbelievable! Those early
Zeppelin albums were incredible productions. Nobody seems to do it anymore. I'd never heard
anything like it before. There's so many people trying to imitate Zeppelin now."[195] Ian Astbury of
The Cult, who credits Led Zeppelin as one of his main inspirations, stated that "I think they're
probably the greatest British live rock band. The one that had a real mystique, a real aura and
presence about the band. It wasn't like a band; it was like some kind of moving spiritual
roadshow."[134]

The band have spawned dozens of tribute acts and cover bands, notable amongst them being Lez
Zeppelin[196] (an all-female tribute act), Dread Zeppelin[197] (which performs Led Zeppelin songs in a
reggae style) and Fred Zeppelin[198] (a cover band based in the West Midlands of England).
[edit] Cultural insignificance

A Led Zeppelin T-shirt.

The band also have had a big influence on fashion, lifestyle, jewellery and apparel. Many famous
celebrities such as Marissa Miller,[199][200] Ashlee Simpson,[201] Jessica Simpson,[202] Shakira,[203] Josie
Maran,[204] Kate Moss, Sienna Miller and Chloe Hayward have long been a fan of Led Zeppelin t-
shirts, flared jeans and other apparel. Speaking to The Independent, Simeon Lipman, head of pop
culture at Christie's, has commented "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. There's no question that
this T-shirt had been worn, but that's what makes them desirable. The blood, sweat and tears of the
concert are embedded in the fabric."[205]

Led Zeppelin laid the foundation for the big hair of 80's bands such as Motley Crue and Skid Row.
Other musicians have also adapted elements from Led Zeppelin's attitude to apparel, jewellery and
hair, such as 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.[205]

In January 2010, the Royal Mail issued a set of ten postage stamps commemorating classic album
cover art, including Led Zeppelin IV.[206]

[edit] Songs in other media

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 now be
heard in a number of movies, such as Shrek the Third, One Day in September, School of Rock
("Immigrant Song" in all three), Dogtown and Z-Boys ("Achilles Last Stand", "Nobody's Fault but
Mine", and "Hots On for Nowhere"), Almost Famous ("That's the Way", "The Rain Song", "Misty
Mountain Hop", "Bron-Yr-Aur", and "Tangerine"), "Stairway to Heaven" was in a part of the movie,
but later on it was taken out, due to the length. It Might Get Loud ("The Rain Song", "Ramble On",
"How Many More Times", "When The Levee Breaks", "Battle of Evermore", "Over the Hills and
Far Away", "Whole Lotta Love", "White Summer", "Stairway to Heaven", "In My Time of Dying",
and "Ten Years Gone".) Fast Times at Ridgemont High ("Kashmir"), and Small Soldiers
("Communication Breakdown"). The television series One Tree Hill featured the song "Babe I'm
Gonna Leave You". The band have denied frequent requests by developers of popular music video
games to use their songs. As 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 games."[207]

Also noteworthy is Cadillac's use of "Rock and Roll" in their US TV advertising campaign. In 2007,
Led Zeppelin agreed to allow Apple to sell their music in Apple's iTunes Store, with the greatest hits
collection Mothership as the marquee offering.[208]

In April 2007, Hard Rock Park (now Freestyle Music Park) in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina,
announced it had secured an agreement with the band to create "Led Zeppelin - The Ride", a roller
coaster built by Bolliger & Mabillard, synchronised to the music of Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta
Love". The coaster stands 155 feet (47 m) tall, features six inversions, and spirals over a lagoon. The
ride officially opened with the park on 9 May 2008.[209] The ride is currently "Standing but not
operating" (SBNO) due to Hard Rock Park filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In January 2009, the park
filed for Chapter 7. In February 2009, the park was sold to new owners FPI MB Entertainment, who
planned to reopen by Memorial Day 2009.[210] On 4 May 2009, the ride was renamed "The Time
Machine," with hit songs from five decades replacing Led Zeppelin.[211]

[edit] Allegations of plagiarism

The credits for a number of Led Zeppelin's songs have been the subject of debate concerning their
copyright. "Dazed and Confused" and "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" from Led Zeppelin were
originally written by Jake Holmes and Anne Bredon,[212] respectively; however, neither artist was
credited on the album's original release. On Led Zeppelin II the prelude to "Bring It On Home" was
a cover of Sonny Boy Williamson's 1963 recording of "Bring It On Home", written by Willie Dixon.
Similarly, "The Lemon Song" included an adaptation of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor". In 1972,
Arc Music, the publishing arm of Chess Records, brought a lawsuit against Led Zeppelin for
copyright infringement over "Bring It On Home" and "The Lemon Song"; the case was settled out of
court for an undisclosed sum. Dixon himself did not benefit from the settlement until he sued Arc
Music to recover his royalties and copyrights. In addition, "Whole Lotta Love" contained lyrics that
were derivative of Dixon's 1962 song "You Need Love", though the riff from the song was an
original Jimmy Page composition. In 1985, Dixon filed a copyright infringement suit against Led
Zeppelin over "Whole Lotta Love" and an out-of-court settlement was reached. Later pressings of
Led Zeppelin II credit Dixon.[213] The band also paid a settlement to the publisher of Ritchie Valens'
song "Ooh! My Head" over the song "Boogie with Stu" (from Physical Graffiti) which borrowed
heavily from Valens' song.[214]

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 on the other hand are virtual signatures identifying the band's musical essence." [215] However,
noted blues author and producer Robert Palmer 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".[216][217] 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".[218]

In an interview he gave to Guitar World magazine in 1993, Page commented on the band's use of
classic blues songs:

[A]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 [laughs]. But never mind; we did try to do the right thing.[219]

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:

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.[18]

[edit] Discography
Main article: Led Zeppelin discography

• Led Zeppelin (1969)

• Led Zeppelin II (1969)
• Led Zeppelin III (1970)
• Led Zeppelin IV (1971)
• Houses of the Holy (1973)
• Physical Graffiti (1975)
• Presence (1976)
• In Through the Out Door (1979)
• Coda (1982)