1968 to 1969

Arguably the greatest Rock band of all time. Until the death of drummer John Bonham LED ZEPPELIN reigned supreme, breaking concert attendance records with ease and selling over 70 million albums. Guitarist JIMMY PAGE had previously worked the London studios as a much in demand session guitarist, performing on many of the mid to late 60s Pop hits. He first found fame as a guitar partner to JEFF BECK in the YARDBIRDS, completing world tours alongside such acts as IKE AND TINA TURNER and the ROLLING STONES.

Page set about forming THE NEW YARDBIRDS and targeted JAYWALKERS vocalist TERRY REID for the vocal position. Reid declined the offer and suggested one ROBERT PLANT from the BAND OF JOY. Plant in turn recommended the band's drummer John Bonham, with whom he had played in bands since their first meeting in the CRAWLING KINGSNAKES. The original plan had been for YARDBIRDS bassist Chris Dreja to complete the group, but Dreja opted out to pursue a career as a photographer. JOHN PAUL JONES, who had previously been an accomplished session musician, was drafted in by Page after he had responded to an article about the new group in 'Disc' magazine.

Jones and Page had worked together on numerous sessions in the past noticeably the JEFF BECK 'Beck's Bolero' recording with THE WHO's Keith Moon. The freshly completed line-up promptly tested each other's capabilities with a first rehearsal of 'Train Kept A Rollin' and the unanimous response was to carry on as a band.

The first course of action was to fulfil Page's remaining YARDBIRDS obligations on a tour of Scandinavia billed THE NEW YARDBIRDS prior to entering the studio. The debut album was essentially the act's live set from the time with a couple of hangovers from the YARDBIRDS days such as 'Dazed And confused' and 'How Many More Times'. Jones made his songwriting presence felt immediately by contributing Good Times, Bad Times' and 'Your Time Is Gonna Come'. The group also intended to use THE BAND's 'Chest Fever' but after rehearsals this idea was dropped.

Having gained a more than generous deal from Atlantic Records thanks to the shrewd business brain of manager Peter Grant, the group's eponymous debut album was released in February 1969 and would quickly earn LED ZEPPELIN enormous kudos.

Following their live debut at Surrey University during October 1968, LED ZEPPELIN would premiere in the United States in advance of the album's release with a gig in Boston on December 26 the same year, sharing a bill with VANILLA FUDGE and the MC5. By the end of January 1969 the band found themselves headlining. The band's live set at this time would often end with a rousing version of EDDIE COCHRAN's 'Somethin' Else'.

The second album, simply billed 'Led Zeppelin II' and recorded and mixed amidst a hectic third American tour, received advance orders alone of 40'000 in America, easily propelling it from a debut at number 199 to number 1 in the national charts. The album proved to be an eclectic collection of varied and influences. It ranged from the tour de force 'Whole Lotta Love' with it's timeless opening riff and experimental midsection to Bonham's drum solo 'Moby Dick'; the Tolkeinesque lyrical stance of 'Ramble On' and even a reworking of HOWLIN' WOLF's 'Killing Floor' which the group retitled 'The Lemon Song'.

The album was released in October 1969 whilst the band's first album was still in the Billboard charts having racked up over 800'000 sales. 'Led Zeppelin II' soon beat off both THE BEATLES and the ROLLING STONES to the number 1 position.

A single was let out by the record company and despite band protestations, the band believing it would only harm album sales, the seminal 'Whole Lotta Love' reached number 4 having sold over a million copies on the way.

LED ZEPPELIN performed a series of dates in France prior to embarking on another mammoth excursion into the American heartlands breaking themselves in with two sell out shows at the prestigious New York Carnegie Theatre venue. Dates later into the tour saw fellow Englishmen JETHRO TULL supporting.

1970

1970 began for LED ZEPPELIN with a relatively low scale tour of England. Shortly after Plant was to suffer cuts and bruises in a car crash, necessitating the cancellation of a show in Scotland. Thankfully, by the time of the opening date of the band's first, full blown European tour in Copenhagen Plant was back to full health. Rather bizarrely, a member of the real Zeppelin family threatened legal action if the band continued to use the name LED ZEPPELIN and, succumbing to pressure, the first Scandinavian shows saw the band playing as THE NOBS.

Travelling to North America once again, LED ZEPPELIN went out on a full nation-wide tour minus the usually obligatory support band, their status now so great they no longer required an opener to sell extra tickets.

The group's third album, 'Led Zeppelin III', was written in the pastoral settings of Wales, as both JIMMY PAGE and ROBERT PLANT dug deeper into their interests in Celtic mythology to fuel the album. Recording took place at Headley Grange, soon to become a permanent fixture in the band's recordings. In spite of a riotous 'Immigrant Song' the third album was to become more noted for the inclusion of a solid quota of quiet, Folky numbers. South Korean releases, on the Oasis label, became collectable when it was learned the track 'Gallows Pole' had been excised from the track listing due to K.E.C.P.P censorship.

Debut performances for the new songs came with a brace of Icelandic shows before LED ZEPPELIN topped the bill at the Bath Festival, headlining above THE BYRDS, SANTANA and JEFFERSON AIRPLANE amongst others. LED ZEPPELIN had actually refused an offer of more financially lucrative American shows to play Bath, spurred on by an eagerness to achieve true star status in their home country.

LED ZEPPELIN deliberately played down their superstar standing by dressing in almost pheasant like medieval garb. The show proved a massive success, the band giving the audience a three hour set including no less than five encores and set the scene for an equally successful trio of German shows that bolstered their reputation in Europe.

LED ZEPPELIN then geared up for yet another trek across America. Their sixth tour of the USA began in Cincinnati with a two hour show, no support band and the band's organisation now dictating to venues, by the standards of the time, huge fees. For example, shows at New York's Madison Square Gardens pulled in over $100'000.

Despite the enormous touring success of the band the third album failed to sell as well as it's predecessor. The American Rock media lambasted both the band and their fans, many of whom felt that 'Led Zeppelin III' just did not match the heaviness of the previous effort. As the LED ZEPPELIN legend grew though so did the album's by 2000 it had sold over 12 million copies in America.

The band returned to England for their fourth album and Plant's delving into Celtic myth was to realise itself in what was to become the archetypal Rock track. It's title? 'Stairway to Heaven'.

1971

1971 LED ZEPPELIN put in another low key British tour, performing at many small clubs and university venues as homage to those promoters who had been brave enough to book the band in their formative years. Shows included Nottingham's minuscule Boat Club and London's Marquee Club. The tour started with the band's first show in Ireland and in Belfast fans were given the honour of being the first to hear 'Stairway to Heaven' performed live. The next date in Dublin witnessed the band as an acoustic trio - minus Bonham - playing in a boxing arena.

Meanwhile valuable time was wasted when the fourth album tapes were flown to Los Angeles to be mixed with engineer Andy Johns. Returning to a studio in England following the sessions, the band discovered to their horror the mixes that had sounded so convincing in America were far from acceptable. In the lull, LED ZEPPELIN flew to Italy for a show in Milan. However, the show turned into a full scale riot with clashes between fans and police.

With the fourth album set for release LED ZEPPELIN insisted that the new record was to have no identifying logos or names on the cover. Atlantic Records were aghast and tried every means of persuasion, but the band stuck to their guns. JIMMY PAGE's reasoning being that following the harsh criticisms afforded 'Led Zeppelin III' it was to be an experiment if the music could sell itself without the illustrious name.

The only concession the record company was having the lyrics to 'Stairway To Heaven' printed on the sleeve, Jimmy Page's name as producer and four arcane symbols chosen to represent each band member. Without an official title the album came to be known either as 'Four Symbols', 'Led Zeppelin IV' or 'ZoSo' (the latter after Page's chosen glyph).

The band broke another music business dogma as they toured to promote the 'Four Symbols' album before its release. Their record company warned that the outcome would be disastrous, but as usual the tour sold out. Starting in Vancouver on 19th August 1971, LED ZEPPELIN's seventh American tour was the first to gross the band over one million dollars. Further shows resulted in dates in Hawaii and the band's first Japanese tour, where 'Immigrant Song' was the no. 1 single. On a darker note, it was also the beginning of anonymous death threats against the band.

Still, the band's success also saw Epic Records issuing a live recording of the YARDBIRDS to capitalise on Page's new found status as the undisputed number one Rock guitarist. ZEPPELIN soon had an injunction on the album (titled 'Live Yardbirds featuring Jimmy Page') and the record was quickly withdrawn.

Released in November 1971, the 'Four Symbols' album has now exceeded American sales alone of over 22 million. It's initial progress was slow however. Once again the critics wavered, but the album stayed in the Billboard charts and refused to move and the year was rounded off by a British tour, including two London Wembley shows, that sold out entirely within 24 hours.

The landmark 'Stairway To Heaven' would stamp it's authority on the Rock world in quite spectacular fashion, being hailed by many as THE no. 1 Rock song of all time. The song seemed to encapsulate every essence of LED ZEPPELIN, the mythically inspired folk intro, the pomposity of the main guitar riff, Plant's seminal vocal performance and Page's gargantuan guitar solo. 'Stairway' would come to be revered in such high regard that it would often be used at funerals. The song became so pervasive that the opening passages are usually the first project any budding Rock guitarist tackles. It's presence was still being felt in 2001 when a Lanarkshire man, Gordon Roy, had the entire set of 'Stairway To Heaven' lyrics tattooed on his back in tribute to a deceased friend.

Between tours and recording Page had involved himself with Los Angeles based film director Kenneth Anger. An outside project to LED ZEPPELIN, Page was commissioned to write a musical score for Anger's movie 'Lucifer Rising'. The two had similar occult interests; Anger having lived in Boleskine House, the old haunt of mage Aleister Crowley, previous to Page's occupancy. When Page outbid Anger at auction for the original manuscript to Crowley's 'Perfumed Garden' the film-maker contacted the guitarist. However, after many years of struggle only twenty minutes of music ended up in finished form.

1972 to 1973

1972 began with a further bout of touring, this time to further flung territories. The projected first show in Singapore was cancelled when the band were refused entry into the country because of their long hair. LED ZEPPELIN went straight on to Australia for February dates in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane before a debut gig in New Zealand at Western Springs Stadium stock car raceway circuit in Auckland on the 25th. For this concert, attended by 25,000 fans, a one off "Led Zeppelin" train was laid on to ferry fans into the capitol from Wellington. LED ZEPPELIN then returned to Australia to round off with gigs in Sydney and Brisbane, the latter the only indoor concert on this run.

The band utilised Olympic Studios to cut new tracks in May. A European warm up double commenced at the Oude Rai in Rotterdam, Holland on May 27th and closed at the Brussels Vorst National the following day in preperation for another US expedition. It was during this tour that manager Peter Grant re-wrote the rules for venues and promoters by demanding a staggering 90% of gate receipts. With the band's stature at such a high, most complied. LED ZEPPELIN opened proceedings on June 6th at the Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan. Whilst in New York the group took time out from the road to mix songs recorded in the UK a month previous, and record a brand new song entitled 'Houses Of The Holy'. The US tour closed on June 28th at the Tucson Community Center in Arizona.

Japanese gigs, opening in Tokyo at the fabled Budokan Hall on October 2nd, marked the introduction of Jimmy Page's trademark Gibson double necked guitar. The band used Japan to try out as yet uncommitted to vinyl songs such as 'Over The Hills And Far Away', 'Dancing Days', 'Rain Song' and 'The Song Remains The Same' plus some unexpected cover versions.

Their longest UK tour to date, 25 shows, was preceded by two concerts at the Montreaux Casino in Switzerland. The British dates kicked off in Newcastle upon Tyne on November 30th. All 100,000 tickets for the entire UK tour had sold out on the first day of sale on October 10th. Two dates were re-scheduled due to Plant contracting influenza, in Bradford and Preston, and an extra show added at Southampton University. Fans were treated to the same four new numbers the group had aired in Japan.

'House Of The Holy' emerged in early 1973, immediately hitting number 1 in the UK and USA. A European tour kicking off on March 2nd in Copenhagen saw the band visiting Sweden, Germany, Austria and France upfront of a further US jaunt, which opened at the Braves Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia on May 4th, performing to over 49,000 people, the largest audience in the state's history. The following day 56,800 fans saw LED ZEPPELIN at the Tampa Stadium in Florida, breaking the previous all time attendance record set by THE BEATLES. For their 'Houses Of The Holy' American tour the band hired a Boeing 720b, known as 'The Starship', to ferry them in from gig to gig on a 33 date extravaganza that pulled in a staggering five million dollars. The group also employed an arsenal of stage effects including a pyrotechnic catherine wheel, mirrors and lasers.

ZEPPELIN's July 1973 show at Madison Square Garden in New York was filmed for footage that would eventually be released as the 'The Song Remains The Same' movie. The film and accompanying soundtrack album would surface towards the end of 1976. With the tour complete, the group took an eighteen month sabbatical from road work.

The remainder of 1973 was spent working with director Jim Massot on individual fantasy sequences for the movie. Managers Peter Grant and Richard Cole took on the roles of Mafia henchmen. JOHN PAUL JONES acted out the character of a ghost at his Sussex residence whilst John Bonham was captured on film riding his Harley Davidson motorbike in Blackpool and drag racing at Santa Pod. ROBERT PLANT chose to enact an Arthurian scenario at Raglan Castle in Wales. In December JIMMY PAGE was filmed for his segment scaling a mountain top near Loch Ness in Scotland. That same month Page joined his friend Roy Harper onstage at the Royal Albert Hall in London on the 3rd, guesting on the song 'Male Chauvinist Pig Blues'. On December 12th John Paul Jones appeared as a backing musician for Maggie Bell's televised performance for the BBC show 'Colour My Soul'.

1974 to 1976

Towards the close of 1974 LED ZEPPELIN renegotiated their contract with Atlantic Records and founded their own imprint in Swansong Records. As well as servicing LED ZEPPELIN it would later release albums by such artists as BAD COMPANY (achieving platinum success), PRETTY THINGS and the MICHAEL DES BARRES fronted DETECTIVE.

ZEPPELIN themselves took a more relaxed attitude to the recording of their next album ''Physical Graffiti'. Work commenced in November 1973, but it was to be 1975 before the double album was finally released; grossing $15 million of pre-orders. (The album has to date sold over 15 million copies in America) The resulting tour sold out of its initial allocated 700'000 tickets in less than a day.

The album entered the American charts at number 3, climbed to number 1 and settled down for a lengthy stay as the American tour steadily grew until it's final show in February 1976. The bands new album would reactivate the back catalogue in spectacular fashion breaking another record in the process. All six of their albums registered on the Billboard charts simultaneously, a feat never before made in the history of Billboard. 'Led Zeppelin IV came in at no. 83, 'Houses of the Holy' at no. 92, 'Led Zeppelin II' at no. 104, 'Led Zeppelin' at no. 116 and 'Led Zeppelin III' at no. 124.

LED ZEPPELIN offered two albums during the year America celebrated 200 years of independence. 'Presence' would feature yet another classic cut in 'Achilles Last Stand', whilst 'The Song Remains The Same' coincided with the movie entering cinemas world-wide.

Page, under an alias of Jimmy Robinson, was to produce the 1976 debut album from PARIS, a band assembled by former JETHRO TULL man Glenn Cornick, FLEETWOOD MAC refugee BOB WELCH and Nazz drummer Thom Mooney.

1977 to 1980

On April 30th 1977, LED ZEPPELIN broke their own attendance record, drawing 76'229 fans to their Detroit Pontiac Silverdome show grossing $792, 000. The band's Oakland Coliseum gig on July 23rd sunk the band and it's entourage into further controversy. Bonham, Grant and actor friend John Bindon were arrested on a charge of 'Battery' following an alleged punch up between the three and employees of promoter Bill Graham. They pleaded guilty and settled out of court when faced with a $2 million law suit.

Concerts for 'In Through The Out Door' took place in Sweden while the Punk backlash against the perceived dinosaurs of Rock, LED ZEPPELIN often being the focal point for visceral attacks, raged in England. Responding to this the band pointedly ignored questions relating to the new musical movement and it's criticisms, but did concede in the studio to adding some newer flavours to their sound such as 'Ozone Baby' and 'Wearin' And Tearin'.

In the lull between recording and the album release JIMMY PAGE busied himself with various environmental projects whilst ROBERT PLANT performed impromptu gigs in his native West Midlands with a motley act titled THE TURD BURGLERS.

The 1979 release of 'In Through The Out Door' (graced in no less than six different covers), provoked renewed interest in the band's back catalogue to such an extent that all the previous albums reappeared in the American Billboard top 200 chart, selling an additional million copies. And LED ZEPPELIN snuk in a couple of warm up shows prior to the gargantuan Knebworth event by performing two low key club shows in Copenhagen on July 24th and 25th.

The Knebworth shows proved to be a resounding statement that LED ZEPPELIN were still undisputed champions of the Hard Rock scene, although, unknown to all at the time, fate dictated that a stripped down, back to basics European tour the following year was to be their last. The band's final show came in Berlin on July 7th.

The band reconvened in England for a proposed massive assault on America, but midway through rehearsals Bonham was found dead in bed after a heavy night's drinking and LED ZEPPELIN broke up, claiming they would never work together again without Bonham.

Actually Page and Plant did consider working on a new project shortly after the loss of Bonham. Bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White of a recently fragmented YES were using Page's house to rehearse. Page and Plant did rehearse with the YES duo and plans for an act provisionally titled XYZ (a pun on ex YES, ex ZEPPELIN) were mooted. Although music was laid down the quartet's progress faltered as soon as the two sides managers began talking. It is debatable regardless of any business complications whether this union would have transpired as Squire has commented that Plant was simply unready for the limelight so soon after his friend's death and that the singer found the material too involved. Page did jam with the reformed YES at a European gig giving a brief indicator as to what XYZ could have become.

 

Since the band's definitive decision to split the surviving trio have all undertaken solo careers with varying degrees of success, Plant's being the most notable in terms of commercial appreciation.

1981 to 2006

To the outside world LED ZEPPELIN and it's legacy seemed laid to rest. During April 1981, and in conditions of great secrecy, Squire and White came close to forging what would have been a band truly meriting the description of 'Supergroup'. Page began rehearsals in union with no less than bassist Chris Squire and drummer Alan White of YES fame for a projected band titled XYZ ('Ex-YES, ex-ZEPPELIN'). Nearly a whole album's worth of demo material was laid down on tape but the project was ultimately nixed by ROBERT PLANT who felt the direction to be too involved. Some of the music compiled during this time would much later re-surface on the YES 'Keys To Ascension' albums. In fact, the first post LED ZEPPELIN related material was issued anonymously, the light-hearted THE HONEYDRIPPERS project, which found JIMMY PAGE and ROBERT PLANT in collusion with ex-YARDBIRDS man JEFF BECK. The record, issued in 1984, soon charted once the public became aware of its pedigree.

In 1982 Plant issued his debut solo album 'Pictures At Eleven' whilst Page busied himself with archive LED ZEPPELIN material. In 1983 a welcome LED ZEPPELIN album emerged titled 'Coda', essentially a collection of album outtakes.

The rumour mill has always been rife with tales of a LED ZEPPELIN reunion, especially whenever the surviving trio have actually worked together either by participating in one-off shows (such as 'Live Aid' in 1985) or, in the case of Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, recorded together. Following Live Aid there moves to get the band back together and rehearsals were held in Bath during 1986 with drummer Tony Thompson from THE POWERSTATION. Unfortunately Thompson was injured in a car accident and the sessions ended as Plant resumed his solo career.

1988 found Jones working as producer for Gothic Rock act THE MISSION. Many critics commented that the single 'Tower Of Strength' showed enormous LED ZEPPELIN influences. Jones would later work with Seattle band HEART on a live album 'The Road Home'.

In 1991 LED ZEPPELIN fans were buoyed by the release of a four CD set featuring 54 tracks remastered by Page after the guitarist revealed his dissatisfaction with the CD re-issues of the original back catalogue.

The enduring quality of LED ZEPPELIN's music has survived well into the 90s. The 1990 'Remasters' collection was still charting in Sweden some seven years after its original release. Demand is still so much so that, during the early part of 1995, a LED ZEPPELIN tribute album, featuring tracks by various artists covering their favourite songs, was released. Unfortunately, the album was blessed with few major names and instead comprised of the likes of mainly minor American acts, although Plant himself contributed a duet with TORI AMOS and Popsters DURAN DURAN covered 'Thank You'.

The late 90's witnessed the nearest thing yet to a LED ZEPPELIN reunion with the formation of the JIMMY PAGE & ROBERT PLANT venture. Their debut 'No Quarter - Unledded' project provided many obvious references to their former band including reworked LED ZEPPELIN material. Tellingly, JOHN PAUL JONES- on tour with his DIAMANDA GALAS project at the time, was not invited into the recordings. 'No Quarter - Unledded' was recorded live in front of an invited audience and included LED ZEPPELIN standards such as 'Kashmir' and 'Battle Of Evermore' alongside four new songs, including Moroccan experimental tracks.

The touring band included former HOLOSADE, THE CULT and LITTLE ANGELS drummer Michael Lee and a full eight man strong band of traditional Egyptian musicians. A mammoth world tour began in America during February 1995 in Pensacola. Taking in Japan and South America it would not wind down until the final Australian date in Melbourne a full year later. After 15 years Page and Plant were giving their fans exactly what they wanted with a set list comprising a healthy portion of LED ZEPPELIN classics.

Eager to dampen down speculations as to the status of LED ZEPPELIN the band attempted to divorce themselves from the legend in the marketing of the tour. Individual promoters and reviewers had their own ideas however. The success of the American dates was staggering with 20'000 capacity venues selling out. The first leg of the tour was marred though when a 'fan' attempted to run at Page with a pocket knife. The would be assailant later claimed to see demons surrounding the guitarist.

Headline dates in France and the low countries led into German festivals. Organised late in the day the band played on billings below STATUS QUO, SIMPLE MINDS and ELTON JOHN. July of 1995 had the band performing to totally sold out venues in Britain and Ireland before kicking off another stretch of American shows starting in Mexico. By January of 1996 the group was operating in Brazil, Chile and Argentina before Japanese shows including 6 consecutive sold out dates at the Tokyo Budokan. The climax of the tour in Melbourne Australia was a relaxed affair with the band wearing a mixture of animal costumes and women's clothing onstage!

A new album 'Walking Into Clarksdale', produced by Steve Albini, was heralded with a 1998 tour of Eastern Europe. The album sold over 80'000 copies in its first week on the American charts paving the way for a colossal world tour.

By 2001 LED ZEPPELIN's achievement in sheer terms of numbers proved to be quite astounding. In America alone the band had sold an awe inspiring 100 million albums with 'Led Zeppelin IV' topping the pile with no less than 22 million. 'Led Zeppelin I' stood at 8 million, 'Led Zeppelin II' at 12 million, 'Led Zeppelin III' at 6 million, 'Houses Of The Holy' at 11 million and 'Physical Graffiti' at 15 million. Even later reissues had clocked up platinum awards with ease as the 'BBC Sessions' 2 million, 'Complete Studio Recordings' 2 million, 'Remasters' 2 million and 'Led Zeppelin's 7 million testify.

Another famous face took a stab at covering the perennial 'Stairway To Heaven' when Country & Western diva DOLLY PARTON included her version, approved by both Plant and Page, on her 2002 album 'Halos And Horns'. A further female figure issued an album with strong LED ZEPPELIN connections when John Bonham's younger sister DEBBIE BONHAM re-activated her Rock career with the high profile album release 'Old Hyde'. Among the special guests donating their services to this outing would be FLEETWOOD MAC's Mick Fleetwood, her nephew Jason Bonham, former ROBERT PLANT band members Dougie Boyle and Robbie Blunt as well as erstwhile PRETENDERS man Robbie McIntosh. The album included a bonus disc that included cover versions including that of LED ZEPPELIN's 'Battle Of Evermore'.

Following the release of ROBERT PLANT's 2002 solo album 'Dreamland' the singer engaged himself in promotion for the esteemed American car manufacturer Cadillac, being photographed for advertising spreads by none other than the highly successful Canadian Rocker BRYAN ADAMS. Cadillac's partnership with Plant was an extension of an ongoing commercial makeover that had commenced with the brand utilising LED ZEPPELIN's 'Rock n' Roll' as a theme track. Sales of Cadillac cars duly rose 16 percent.

Renewed rumblings indicating a possible creative union of Page, Plant and John Paul Jones gathered steam during August as apparent management sources indicated that talks were under way. Projecting live work for sometime in 2003, reports indicated that once Page had finished working on archive LED ZEPPELIN DVD material, ROBERT PLANT had wrapped up promotion for his 'Dreamland' album and JOHN PAUL JONES likewise for his 'Thunderchief' record, the trio were set to reunite. In October the British 'Sun' newspaper put out a story that Page, Plant and Jones were indeed mooting a 2003 North American tour with Jason Bonham behind the kit.

Although the rumours of a reformation once more came to naught a long anticipated live collection entitled 'How The West Was Won' was unveiled in both DVD and CD format. Digitally restored and remixed in surround sound by Jimmy Page the two formats contained material from different concert sources. So eager were fans to get their hands on these sets that Atlantic Records announced that the album version had pre-sold over a million copies before it hit the stores whilst the five hour DVD version claimed pre-sale quadruple platinum status too making it in the process the highest ever first week sales for a music DVD. None too surprisingly 'How The West Was Won' debuted on the US charts at no. 1, the band's first since their final 1979 studio album 'In Through The Out Door'. A May 15th press screening at London's Leicester Square was notable for the by now exceptionally rare coming together of ROBERT PLANT, JIMMY PAGE and JOHN PAUL JONES.

LED ZEPPELIN bassist John Paul Jones made his presence felt in Japan during late August, forming up part of the "Guitar Wars" shows in Osaka and Tokyo alongside guitarists PAUL GILBERT of RACER X and MR. BIG repute, NUNO BETTENCOURT of EXTREME fame and the esteemed erstwhile GENESIS guitarist STEVE HACKETT.

The band was back in the news in October, apparently breaking an age old tradition of vetoing any use of their music in outside projects by lending 'Immigrant Song' to the Paramount Pictures comedy 'School Of Rock'. A special filmed appeal from star Jack Black convinced the members to allow the use of the track. Black's passionate plea was shot on location during the filming of the movie's climactic final concert scene, with the actor standing on stage in front of a packed auditorium. The speech that won over the surviving LED ZEPPELIN trio was quoted as "Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, the gods of rock, the greatest rock band of all time: We need your song, we need the 'Immigrant Song'. Your song would be the hard rockin' cherry on the top of the mountain..." Black then led the crowd in a mass entreaty, "Lords of rock, Led Zeppelin, grace us with your mighty love," the segment ending with Black's manic vocal rendition of the song's signature musical intro and the entire crowd chanting "Zeppelin, Zeppelin..."

JIMMY PAGE put in a rare public appearance alongside QUEEN's BRIAN MAY as panel judge for the 'UK Riffathon'. Held at the University of Surrey, by coincidence the venue for LED ZEPPELIN's first ever British gig in October of 1968, ten guitarists, winners of nationwide heats, were put through their paces to determine the winner. 14-year old Tommy Hubbard walked away with the prize, a £5,000 Gibson guitar.

JOHN PAUL JONES got back onto the US touring circuit in 2004, forming up a band entitled the MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY, a union with Glen Phillips, ex-TOAD THE WET SPROCKET, Sara Watkins, Chris Thile, and Sean Watkins of NICKEL CREEK.

LED ZEPPELIN generated a wave of publicity in July when they vetoed the use of their 1985 Philadelphia 'Live Aid' performance on the hugely anticipated DVD release of the historic event. Plant, Page and Jones would be quick to reason that they "found that both the sound and general reproduction of their performance at Live Aid Philadelphia was sub-standard". The DVD campaign, aimed by Sir Bob Geldof to raise an expected 320 million dollars for famine relief in Sudan, would still benefit from the band's input though, Page and Plant donating proceeds from their own DVD release and Jones contributing profits from his US MUTUAL ADMIRATION SOCIETY tour.

LED ZEPPELIN members JIMMY PAGE and JOHN PAUL JONES would be on hand at a 12th February 2005 ceremony held in Los Angeles to accept the 'Lifetime Achievement Award' from the Recording Academy in recognition of the band's "lasting contribution to culture around the world". Meantime, ROBERT PLANT addressed the SXSW Convention in Austin, Texas on 17th March with a keynote speech. A live show to coincide saw the inclusion of no less than six LED ZEPPELIN numbers included in the set, comprising 'No Quarter', 'Heartbreaker', 'Black Dog', 'When The Levee Breaks', 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You' and 'Whole Lotta Love'.

In June JIMMY PAGE was granted an OBE (Order of the British Empire) by Queen Elizabeth II for his work with disadvantaged children in Brazil. That same month the Recording Industry Association of America revealed LED ZEPPELIN had sold over 107 million albums in the USA.

On 5th October ROBERT PLANT jammed on both cover tunes and LED ZEPPELIN material with PEARL JAM during a benefit for Hurricane Katrina relief at the House of Blues in Chicago. Plant and members of his band joined PEARL JAM onstage during the latter group's second encore for a version of LED ZEPPELIN's 'Going To California'. Plant then duetted with PEARL JAM vocalist Eddie Vedder on 'Thank You' and 'Fool In The Rain'. Both singers used a lyric sheet for 'Fool', a song which Plant and LED ZEPPELIN had never performed live. Other songs performed by the pairing included ELVIS PRESLEY's 'Little Sister', Motown hit 'Money (That's What I Want)', before closing the show with NEIL YOUNG's 'Rockin' In The Free World', which featured Plant playing guitar. Tickets for the show were $1,000, with proceeds going to the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity and the Jazz Foundation of America.

The surviving members of LED ZEPPELIN received the prestigious 'Polar Music Prize' from the king of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, on May 22nd 2006. The award, instigated by ABBA's manager Stig Anderson, was given in recognition of the band's 1979 classic 'In Through The Out Door', recorded at Polar Studios during 1979. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, together with John Bonham's daughter Zoe, accepted the award at the Stockholm Concert Hall. Former DEEP PURPLE keyboard player JON LORD, read the academy's citation, describing LED ZEPPELIN as "one of the great pioneers of rock."

Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones joined the FOO FIGHTERS onstage on Saturday June 7th 2008 during the final encore of the band's concert at Wembley Stadium in London. The ZEPPELIN duo joined the FOO FIGHTERS to play 'Rock And Roll', with Dave Grohl on drums and drummer Taylor Hawkins on vocals. Grohl and Hawkins then switched places for 'Ramble On'.

A Rhino Records compilation album, entitled 'Mothership', scored strong sales, topping the European charts and soon attaining platinum sales status in the USA.

LED ZEPPELIN finally relented for a reunion Ahmet Ertegun memorial concert on 10th December 2007 at London's 02 Arena. The concert was originally planned for 26th November, but re-scheduled when Jimmy Page broke his little finger on his left hand.  METALLICA soundman Big Mick Hughes handled the front of house sound for the band whilst Robert Plant's vocals were entrusted to long term sound engineer Roy Williams.The group opened with 'Good Times, Bad Times' and closed a 16 song set with 'Rock And Roll'.

Media reviews were unanimously positive, igniting a frenzied media campaign to coerce the band into a full world tour. Within the industry, promoters soon noted that potential was there and enormous offers were put on the table. In March 2008 UK newspaper the Daily Mirror reported Robert Plant had turned down an offer of $200 million to tour with LED ZEPPELIN.

Speculation arose in 2008 as to extracurricular activities of John Paul Jones when the musician posted an online update in April stating he hoped "to be everywhere this summer" with "a couple of other people" and "on some other music, which is more rock-based." This transpired to involve Dave Grohl of the FOO FIGHTERS and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman Josh Homme and had in actuality having been brewing since 2005. The three had guested with each other's acts previously, Grohl as session studio drummer for QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE and Jones having sat in on FOO FIGHTERS concerts.

Robert Plant scotched any hopes for a full blown LED ZEPPELIN tour in October 2008 when he revealed through his official website that he could not contemplate anything for "at least two years". Undeterred, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham maintained rehearsals. AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler confirmed he had jammed with the trio and reports also suggested Myles Kennedy of ALTER BRIDGE had been involved. Rumours also pinpointed collaborations with Sammy Hagar, Dave Grohl, Jack White and Chris Cornell, prompting the latter two frontmen to deny any involvement or approaches.

In July 2009 Robert Plant was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, by the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. Later that same month Jesse Hughes of EAGLES OF DEATH METAL, another of Josh Homme's projects, revealed on an on-air radio interview the Jones / Grohl / Homme project was going by the name THEM CROOKED VULTURES.

Speculation suggested THEM CROOKED VULTURES was scheduled to make its live debut on Sunday 9th August at the Metro club in Chicago as part of a 'Lollapalooza' festival afterparty when an image promoting the event surfaced on the eTix.com web site, with the artwork featuring a symbol that corresponded to each musician in the group. The show comprised an 80 minute set of completely original material. The trio made its European debut on 19th August with a concert in Melkweg, Netherlands.

THEM CROOKED VULTURES put in subsequent European festival performances in at the 'Pukkelpop' and 'Lowlands' events, after which the band first played in the United Kingdom at London's Brixton Academy supporting ARCTIC MONKEYS on 26th August 26. The group then featured on the bill at the Reading and Leeds Festivals on 28th and 29th August.

THEM CROOKED VULTURES officially kicked off its inaugural North American tour, dubbed 'Deserve The Future', on 5th October in Nashville. UK dates completely sold out with quarter of an hour. The opening album was preceded by the single 'New Fang', on 26th October, and a free download, 'Mind Eraser (No Chaser)', on 3rd November.

The self-titled and self-produced debut album, recorded at Pink Duck studios in Los Angeles, was in finally stores on 17th November via DGC/Interscope Records in the USA and Sony Music internationally. As a download, the set had been issued via Youtube on 9th November.

Garry Sharpe-Young