Led Zeppelin

On June 30, 1966, Jimmy Page became a member of The Yardbirds as a bass player. After The Yardbirds disbanded, Jimmy Page sought new musicians.

Led Zeppelin's four members came together for the first time in a small basement in London. They realized they had something special after playing 'Train Kept a-Rollin' and decided to start rehearsing for their album.

Led Zeppelin, then known as The New Yardbirds, performed their first live show in a converted gym in Gladsaxe, Denmark. Guitarist Jimmy Page, the only familiar face in the lineup, funded the tour through Scandinavia. The performance was praised for its flawless music by a local reviewer.

On September 27, 1968, the recording sessions for the debut album 'Led Zeppelin I' by the band Led Zeppelin continued.

On October 15, 1968, Led Zeppelin performed their first show.

Led Zeppelin performed their first show under the name Led Zeppelin at the University of Surrey in Battersea. This event signified the official transition from The New Yardbirds to Led Zeppelin.

On November 11, 1968, Led Zeppelin officially signed with Atlantic Records, marking a significant milestone in their music career as announced through a press release.

Peter Grant secured a $200,000 record deal for Led Zeppelin with Atlantic Records, a significant milestone for the band as a newcomer in the music industry.

In December 1968, Led Zeppelin embarked on their North American Tour 1968/1969, marking their first major tour in the United States and Canada.

Led Zeppelin released their debut album, 'Led Zeppelin I', on January 9, 1969. The album showcased the band's unique blend of blues, rock, and folk influences, setting the stage for their legendary career.

On January 12, 1969, Led Zeppelin released their debut album 'Led Zeppelin I' in the United States and Canada, marking the beginning of their iconic music career.

In February 24, 1969, Led Zeppelin embarked on their Europe 1969 Tour.

On March 28, 1969, the debut album 'Led Zeppelin I' was released in the UK.

On May 8, 1969, Led Zeppelin had a jam session with Screaming Lord Sutch at Thee Experience.

Led Zeppelin III album, known for its more 'folk' orientation, is released on October 5, 1970, and reaches number 1 on the U.K. top 100 chart.

In November 2021, Led Zeppelin celebrated the 50th anniversary of their iconic track 'Stairway to Heaven', which was released on 8th November 1971. The song is considered one of the greatest rock songs of all time.

In 1972, Led Zeppelin embarked on a highly successful North American tour, solidifying their status as one of the biggest rock bands in the world. The tour featured epic performances and further cemented the band's legendary reputation.

Led Zeppelin released 'Houses of the Holy' in March 1973. The album showcased the band's experimentation with synthesisers and mellotron orchestration, and the controversial album cover featured images of nude children.

Led Zeppelin established Swan Song Records on May 10, 1974.

Led Zeppelin released their album 'Physical Graffiti' on this date. The album later achieved the number 1 position on the U.K top 100 charts.

Robert Plant and his wife were involved in a car crash in Greece. Plant suffered a broken ankle while his wife was critically injured. As a result, Plant was unable to tour and retreated to California with Jimmy Page and John Bonham, where they wrote most of the album 'Presence'.

On 30 July 1977, Robert Plant received the devastating news that his five-year-old son, Karac, had passed away from a stomach virus. This tragic event led to the immediate cancellation of Led Zeppelin's ongoing tour, sparking speculation about the band's future.

In November 1978, the band regrouped to start working on their next album, In Through The Outdoor.

In August 1979, Led Zeppelin announced their performance at the Knebworth Festival, which turned out to be a huge success with a three-hour show and four encores.

During a show in Nuremberg, Germany on 27 June 1980, Led Zeppelin's concert came to an abrupt halt when Bonham collapsed onstage and was rushed to the hospital.

On 24 September 1980, Led Zeppelin's drummer John Bonham passed away at Bray Studios after consuming excessive alcohol, leading to asphyxiation from vomit.

On 25th September 1980, John Bonham tragically passed away at the age of 32 due to asphyxiation after heavy drinking. His death led to the disbandment of Led Zeppelin, marking a significant loss in the music world.

John Bonham, the drummer of Led Zeppelin, passed away at the age of 32 due to asphyxiation from vomit after consuming a large amount of alcohol. He had been drinking heavily throughout the day and was found dead the next morning at Page's house by their tour manager and John Paul Jones.

After the tragic loss of their drummer Bonham, Led Zeppelin announced their disbandment due to the deep sense of loss and inability to continue without him.

Page, Plant, and Jones reunited for the Live Aid concert at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia, playing a short set featuring drummers Tony Thompson and Phil Collins, and bassist Paul Martinez. The performance was marred by a lack of rehearsal, out-of-tune guitar, poorly functioning monitors, and hoarse voice.

In 1995, Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on their first ballot. The band's influential contribution to rock music was recognized by this prestigious honor.

Led Zeppelin performed a highly anticipated reunion concert at The O2 Arena in London, marking their first full concert since the death of John Bonham in 1980.

Led Zeppelin reunited for the Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert at the O2 Arena in London in December 2007, with Jason Bonham filling in on drums for his late father. The show set a record for the highest demand for tickets for one music concert, with 20 million requests submitted online.

Jimmy Page, a member of Led Zeppelin, had thoughts of creating a supergroup with musicians like Steve Winwood, Keith Moon, John Entwistle, and Jeff Beck. However, this supergroup idea never materialized.

The film of Led Zeppelin's O2 performance, Celebration Day, premiered on October 17, 2012. It grossed $2 million in one night and the live album peaked at number 4 and 9 in the UK and US, respectively.

Page revealed that he had been remastering Led Zeppelin's discography, with the first wave of albums - Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin II, and Led Zeppelin III - released on June 2, 2014.

Led Zeppelin's album Physical Graffiti was released on February 23, 2015, almost exactly forty years after its original release, as part of the band's remastering project.

To celebrate the band's 50th anniversary, Led Zeppelin reissued How the West Was Won on March 23, 2018, including the album's first pressing on vinyl.

For Record Store Day on April 21, 2018, Led Zeppelin released a 7' single 'Rock and Roll'/'Friends', marking their first single release in 21 years.

An upcoming documentary film, Becoming Led Zeppelin, was released in 2021. It is the first time band members have agreed to participate in a biographical documentary.

An article written by Alli Patton detailing the beginnings of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin.