Tell someone to name a band from the 1960s and '70s and you
could probably listen to a dozen answers before hearing the same one
twice. The overwhelming amount of talent squeezed into these two
decades has produced some of the most popular, most powerful, and in
some cases, the most bizarre music ever. Led Zeppelin, The Beatles,
Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan,
Elvis Presley, Queen, Aerosmith, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The
Eagles All were from this era that seemed to glorify music as no other
time period did, or ever will. The amount of evolution of music that
occurred in this time period is amazing as well. The mainstream went
from listening to songs like Bill Haley and the Comet's "Rock Around The
Clock," to The Beatles' frightening "Revolution 9." While these two
examples may seem completely different, they are not as distant as one
might think. Nearly all music from the '60s and '70s was bred from its
earlier ancestors. Music has been constantly evolving, and during the
two decades in question, it underwent a radical change like never before.
The New Yardbirds In early 1968 the music group The Yardbirds
was in shambles. Their last, and half-put together album "Little Games"
was a total flop and the band had to struggle to have the release of the
album in the UK stopped. On March 30, the group allowed a taping of
their concert in Madison Square Garden to be considered for a live album
to be released later. They easily convinced their record contractor, Epic
Records, to ditch the project. The lead guitarist of The Yardbirds, Jeff
Beck, had suffered from a mental breakdown a few years earlier and
could no longer handle the pressure of touring. The band members,
Keith Relf, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, and Jimmy Page decided to throw in
the towel and let the band collapse. Playing wasn't the same rush it used
to be, and it just wasn't fun anymore. Each member elected to follow
their own projects. Dreja planned a career in photography, McCarty and
Relf intended on starting bands of their own. Lead guitarist, Jimmy Page
was given legal rights to the band's name, songs, and albums. However,
along with the rights that Page was given, were 10 tour dates that still
needed to be honored in Scandinavia. Page needed to construct a new
band in a matter of two months time. In July '68, Page met ex-session
guitarist and phenomenal arranger John Paul Jones (b. John Baldwin,
June 3, 1946, Sidcup, Kent). Willingly joined in on bass. 19-year old
vocalist, Robert Plant (b. August 20, 1948, West Bromwich, W.
Midlands.) is asked to perform with The New Yardbirds. Plant accepts
and leaves his homeland in the Midlands with only his subway fair in his
pocket. The last link to the chain was John Bonham (b. May 20, 1948,
Bromwich) on drums. The band finished their ten date tour of
Scandinavia with some unexpected success. Everywhere they went
people were asking how a band like this could go unnoticed. The unique
blend of blues-influenced rock, and guitar-riff based songs blew their
audience away. On October 15, 1968, Led Zeppelin, made up of
Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham, made it's official debut at Surrey
University. The group began touring the US, backing up such headliners
as Vanilla Fudge, and The MC5 shortly thereafter. Instantaneous
recognition followed. The groups popularity was soaring. On January 31,
'69, Led Zeppelin opened for Iron Butterfly, then one of the world's
biggest bands. Led Zeppelin received such a resounding approval from
the audience, that Doug Ingle, lead singer for Iron Butterfly decided to
scrap the show. Reason being are that Iron Butterfly was afraid that they
can't produce such an effect on their crowd in their own concert in
which they are headlining. Led Zeppelin soon became a headliner in their
own right. Within eight months of their official debut, Led Zeppelin were
at the top of the bill at the Playhouse Theater in London, and the Pop
Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. On October 17, '69, a year and
two days from the bands conception, Led Zeppelin played in Carnegie
Hall, ending a ban on rock groups at the concert hall, originally caused by
the Rolling Stones in 1965. While playing in Denmark, Eva von Zeppelin,
relative of the designer of the airship, Ferdinand von Zeppelin, threatened
to sue the band if they used the name in the country. Led Zeppelin
played under the alias The Nobs. The first album Led Zeppelin
climbed to #10 in the US and to #6 in the UK. Album two, entitled Led
Zeppelin 2, moved up to #1 in both the US and the UK, staying on the
charts for 98 in the States and an astounding 138 weeks in Britain. Six
straight #1 albums in either the US or the UK. Countless sellout concerts.
Records for box office drawings. Records for attendance. 51,000 tickets
for 3 shows Earls Court, London sell out in less than two hours.
International fame. No other group had ever become so popular in such a
small period of time. Led Zeppelin was revolutionizing music as they
went. While most bands were shunned from playing a song different
from it sounds on the record, Led Zeppelin was free to roam in their
music. It wasn't unusual to hear a song that would be half-an-hour long,
as opposed to its counterpart on the album, which was only five minutes
long. These lengthy jam sessions diguised as concerts gave way to new
ground being touched musically. Led Zeppelin introduced the world to
the music of black artists such as Muddy Watters, Otis Rush, Otis
Redding, and Willie Dixon. Pieces of songs from the 1930s were being
worked into their own music, as in their covers of Dixon's You Need Love,
and Rush's Can't Quit You, and it was working. The blues riffs
incorporated into their own music later influenced bands heavily, and
opened doors to new tastes in music for the predominately American
audience. The most significant thing about Led Zeppelin's music today,
is that it doesn't sound dated. The music seems similar to music today.
The lasting impression of their music is obvious, and can be heard in any
Rock band of today.Unfortunately, the machine that was Led Zeppelin
came to a screeching halt on the morning of September 25, 1980. When
band members decided to go into Bonham's bedroom to pull a prank on
him in his sleep, Bonham was found dead. After a night of heavy
drinking, Bonham had turned the wrong way in his sleep, and asphyxiated
himself upon his own vomit. A statement was released on December 4,
1980, stating that the band could not go on in its present state. After 11
incredible years, the band could not function with "the loss of our dear
friend." Led Zeppelin had owned the 70s, and they were going to finish
their reign quietly, and let the throne open to the next "supergroup." As
suddenly as Led Zeppelin began, it had ended even more so. The giant
had fallen. "As it was, then again it will be, Though the course
may change sometimes, Rivers always reach the sea."
-Ten Years Gone Led
Zeppelin
. intended on starting bands of their own. Lead guitarist, Jimmy Page
was given legal rights to the band's name, songs, and albums. However,
along with. bill at the Playhouse Theater in London, and the Pop
Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London. On October 17, '69, a year and
two days from the bands