ER
WHEN LED ZEPPELIN released their debut album, Led Zeppelin I. Recorded in October 1968 at the Olympic Studios in London, the album was released on January 12, 1969 by Atlantic Records. The album featured concerted contributions from each of the Led Zeppelin members and laid the foundation for Led Zeppelin’s signature blues-rock fusion. Led Zeppelin also created a large following with a unique heavy metal concept that helped spark a countercultural movement on both sides of the Atlantic.
Flashed back before the band started, by August 1968, the Yardbirds had officially broken up. Jimmy Page, the only remaining member of The Yardbirds, was left with the rights to the band’s name and contractual obligations to a series of concert tours in Scandinavia. Jimmy Page was looking for new members for his band, The Yardbirds, which he had joined in 1966.
He first saw Robert Plant singing with his band Hobbstweedle at a college in Birmingham. Impressed by Plant’s voice, Page thought it was too great to have gone undiscovered and wondered if Plant was difficult to work with. The meeting was arranged by Terry Reid, lead singer of Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers.
Reid, who had commitments with the Rolling Stones and turned down offers to join both Page’s new project and Deep Purple, recommended Plant instead. Page then chose Plant as the vocalist for his new band, which he initially called The New Yardbirds. Reid also suggested Plant’s drummer, John Bonham. This lineup, with Page recruiting John Paul Jones, eventually evolved into Led Zeppelin.
In September 1968, Led Zeppelin toured as The New Yardbirds, playing a number of old Yardbirds songs along with new songs such as “Communication Breakdown”, “I Can’t Quit You Baby”, “You Shook Me”, “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” and “How Many More Times”. A month after their return to London, in October 1968, Page changed the name of The New Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin, and Led Zeppelin entered London’s Olympic Studios to record their debut album.
Led Zeppelin released their debut album Led Zeppelin I. It was recorded in October 1968 at Olympic Studios, London and released by Atlantic Records on January 12, 1969. The album was accompanied by concerted contributions from each of the Led Zeppelin members and laid the foundation for Led Zeppelin’s signature blues-rock fusion.
Led Zeppelin also created a large group of fans with a unique heavy metal concept that helped create a countercultural movement on both sides of the Atlantic. [sources/photo special]
