Herculian blues rock giants LED ZEPPELIN (1968-1980) released their
7th LP, named PRESENCE,on 31 March 1976, today 50 years ago.
It went #1 in the UK and the US
Rolling Stone wrote: “In spite of a few dull blues rock songs, the album is
another monster in what by now is a continuing tradition of battles won by
this band of survivors.”
Turn Up The Volume: For many bands, this would have been a top album.
For Led Zep – given the brilliant work they released before – it was nothing
more than a good, but too familiar-sounding LP.
Bassist and keyboardist JOHN PAUL JONES who formed legendary rock band Led Zeppelin back in 1968, along with guitarist Jimmy Page, was born named John Richard Baldwin on 3 January 1946 in Kent, Engeland.
Happy 80 to a musical architect, whose contributions
to Led Zep‘s work and success was instrumental.
When the band called it a day in 1980 following the death of drummer John Bonham started to work with countless other artists such as Queens Of The Stone Age‘s frontman Josh Homme, Peter Gabriel, Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Lenny Kravitz, Cinderella, The Mission,
La Fura dels Baus, the Harp Consort, Brian Eno, Seasick Steve, and the Butthole Surfers.
LED ZEPPELIN 4th ‘s was untitled, but is commonly known
as Led Zeppelin IV. Many critics lauded it as one of their best.
It came out on 8 November 1971. Today 54 years ago.
Rolling Stone said: “Their most consistently good album yet.
Out of eight cuts, there isn’t one that steps on another’s toes,
that tries to do too much all at once.”
It featured their timeless masterstroke Stairway To Heaven (more than
1,2 billion streams on Spotify).
Heavy blues rock titans LED ZEPPELIN (1968–1980) released their
3td LP Led Zeppelin III on 5 October 1970, today 55 years ago.
It topped both the British, American, Australian and Canadian charts.
The album showed a progression from straightforward rock towards folk and
acoustic music. It was one of the most anticipated LPS of 1970, and its shipping
date was held up by the intricate inner sleeve design based around a volvelle,
with numerous images visible through holes in the outer cover.
Although many critics were initially confused over the change in musical style and
gave the album a mixed response, Led Zeppelin III has since been acknowledged as representing an important milestone in the band’s history and a turning point in their
music.
AllMusic: “Led Zeppelin III provided the band with the necessary room to grow musically.
While there are still a handful of metallic rockers, III is built on a folky, acoustic foundation
that gives the music extra depth. the heart of the album lies on the second side, when the
band delve deeply into English folk.”
Jimmy Page: “I play like I play. You hear it on
‘Celebration Day’ It’s pretty good for a one-night
shot.”
Robert Plant: “I don’t want to scream ‘Immigrant Song’
every night for the rest of my life, and I’m not sure I could.”
Sorry, Robert, Immigrant Song is one of my
all-time favorite Led Zep juggernauts.
On 25 September 1980, today 45 years ago, hard blues rock legends LED ZEPPELIN’s phenomenal drummer, JOHN BONHAM, nicknamed Bonzo, died at the age of 32.
After a day of heavy drinking he fell a sleep and was suffocated by his own vomit.
Regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time, the self-taught drummer was
known for his epic velocity, power, and versatility as a percussionist. He influenced
tons of other drummers.
The remaining 3 band members decided to call it a day. No Bonzo no Led Zeppelin.
They released this statement: “We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend
and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were.”
Led Zeppelin’s Golden GodROBERT PLANT (aged 77 now) returns, with a new album of mystical roots maneuvers named Saving Grace, after his touring band for six years now. He regales MOJO with classic tales and forthright views as they riffle through his record collection and compiles a free killer CD, titled Higher Rock, for the readers.
CHEVROLET Lead single from Plant’s new LP Out on September 26th
Also in the issue: Ozzy Osbourne – the inside story; Joni Mitchell’s incredible 1975; Spinal Tap’s second wind; Willie Nelson – Red Headed Stranger; Michael Kiwanuka gets unreasonable. Plus: Gary Numan; Van Morrison; The Police; Mike Taylor; Baxter Dury; Andrew Watt; Big Thief; Lucinda Williams; Swell Maps; Woody Guthrie; Springsteen; and Communist jazz!
You can purchase a copy and let it be sent to your home. Info HERE.
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During the heydays of their career, LED ZEPPELIN didn’t release singles in
the UK. They sporadically did in the US, Canada, Japan and other countries
outside of England.
Their infamous manager Peter Grant thought
the band would sell more albums without singles.
Then finally on 8 September 1987, 29 years after the band first formed, their timeless signature rocker WHOLE LOTTA LOVE, came out as a single. The first ever in their home country. The track recorded in 1969 and featured on their 2nd LP was issued to promote their re-issued back catalogue.
You need coolin’, baby, I’m not foolin’,
I’m gonna send you back to schoolin’,
Way down inside honey, you need it,
I’m gonna give you my love,
I’m gonna give you my love.
On 24 February 1975, heavy rock titans LED ZEPPELIN‘s masterpiece Physical Graffiti celebrated its 50th anniversary. It was their 6th LP, a double one, probably their best ever. It went straight to the top spot in both the UK and the US.
Of course, it got the super deluxe edition treatment.
And another celebration item is coming up,
on September 12. It’s a 4-track live EP that
will be released on both vinyl and CD.
It features rare live recordings of “In My Time Of Dying” and “Trampled Under Foot”
from London’sEarl’s Court show in 1975, alongside “Sick Again” and “Kashmir” from
their massive Knebworth concert in 1979.
Here’s taster ‘Trampled Under Foot’, live at Earl’s Court in London.
LED ZEPPELIN‘s red-hot smoking stonker single WHOLE LOTTA LOVE
(from their 1969 Led Zep II album) was voted the song with the greatest
guitar riff ever in rock history in 2014 by listeners of BBC Radio in the UK.
It topped a list of 100 classic ones.
Other riffs in the list included ‘Layla’ by Derek And The Dominoes, ‘Sweet Child
Of Mine’ by Guns N’ Roses, ‘Pretty Vacant’ by the Sex Pistols and Metallica‘s ‘Enter
Sandman’.
