How to celebrate 50 years of the mighty Led Zeppelin
It’s hard to believe, but it was 50 years ago that the legendary members of Led Zeppelin first got together to play music together.
The band, raised out of the ashes from The Yardbirds by guitarist Jimmy Page, would put together the talents of Page, noted session bassist John Paul Jones, drummer John Bonham, and singer Robert Plant, both of whom had been playing around London in The Band of Joy. The four of them would change the world of music together, weaving their way through eight studio albums and a live film soundtrack in their brief 12 years together.
During that time, though, the band not only created the template for hard rock and heavy metal (“Whole Lotta Love,” “The Immigrant Song,” “Communication Breakdown”) but they also managed to put their own unique stamp on traditional blues (“How Many More Times”) and folk music (“That’s the Way”).
This year, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the formation of Led Zeppelin, the band released their first-ever self-titled, hardcover book. Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin (RAP, 2018) is photographic journey through the band’s entire career, featuring rare and exclusive images, many that have never been seen before. Watching the group progress through styles over the course of their career is an amazing trip for long time fans; there are promo pictures and images that capture Zeppelin live on stage, where they arguably did their greatest work.
Along with the images, Page, Plant, and Jones share new anecdotes throughout the book, while Bonham is represented via archival quotes. For fans dying for an official version of their history, Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin is an essential purchase that demonstrates why the band continues to be a touchstone for music lovers, young and old.
Of course, this year and every year you can hear the mighty Led Zeppelin across many SiriusXM channels, including Classic Vinyl, Deep Tracks, Ozzy’s Boneyard and The Spectrum.
You can also hear recent Robert Plant interviews via the SiriusXM app here.
Order a copy of Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin here.
