My favourite Hard Rock band of all times.
They were formed in 1968 by Jimmy Page (when the Yardbirds kicked the bucket..) with Jimmy at his Gibson Les Paul guitar, Robert Plant on vocals, John Paul Jones at the keyboards and the bass, and the late John Bonham at the drums.
Their first album, Led Zeppelin was released by Atlantic in 1968,and went gold within a few months. Their music was a mixture of blues and orchestrated rock riffs, and sort of filled in the void left by the Cream after their breakeup. Add the image of a very energetic on stage, stripped-to-the-waist Jimmy Page to their superb musicianship and their success in the USA was a fact.First album's hit-single on the charts was Good Times,Bad Times. With a reputation built already, their second album Led Zeppelin II which included their anthem Whole Lotta Love secured a place in the US Top 10 in no time. But ,strangely enough, not in the UK Tops..
They hit the road big time, and completed a major U.S. tour in 1973, based on the success of their previously released albums, III -which included the famous Immigrant song followed by Led Zeppelin IV with the now all-time Classic Masterpiece Stairway to Heaven (see separate page!).
They now release Houses of Holy and hit the road again for over a year to return in 1975 with -a novelty in albums, the moveable-sleeve cover - Physical Graffiti (including my fave Kashmir),attracting more and more favourable critical reactions.
In 1975 Robert Plant is injured in a car crash (here in Greece..) and his incapacity keeps the band off tours for a couple of years. In the meantime their 1976 album Presence goes Platinum in no time,and their movie/OST album The Songe Remains the Same also enjoys a great success.
A massive US tour in 1977,grossing over a million $ in New York alone, is interrupted by a new tragedy to Plant.. His son Karac passes away of a virus infection. Rumours of break-up get strong, but band sticks together,and continues their creative work. August 1979 finds them at a major outdoor concert at Knebworth and thenafter they release their 9th album In Through the Out Door in Sweden, where they had been invited to work in the ABBA studio.This album also features a novelty : it is packed in brown paper, featuring six different covers !!
The end for Led Zep came in 1980 - the death (O/D) of drummer John Bonham sees a press release announcing the end of the group.. Their final album Coda is released ..
Despite Plant's and Page's collaboration a few times over the following years, and strong rumours of reformation (even at a time with John Bonham's son Jason replacing his father at the drums) Led Zep were never to be again.

It's Pics Time: My scans and two off the net.. Click on thumb to get full image.

.