Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band

"The saga of Led Zeppelin told by those who knew them when, this intimate oral history goes beyond scandal to reveal the all-too-human beings behind this most Promethean of rock bands, illuminating their expansive body of work and the times in which they exemplified the very essence of rock stardom."
?Lenny Kaye, author of You Call It Madness

In Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band, celebrated music writer Barney Hoskyns presents the definitive account of this iconic band, sharing riveting firsthand stories from the people who knew the group best. Based on more than two hundred interviews with insiders including Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and road manager Richard Cole, this comprehensive exposé explores the legends and pares away the myths. Led Zeppelin reveals what actually happened before, during, and after the group's twelve-year run as the biggest band on earth and what life was really like for four young men on top of the world as they enjoyed fame on a scale that not even the Beatles experienced as a touring live act.

Priceless accounts from fellow musicians, including Jeff Beck, members of the Rolling Stones, record company executives, recording engineers, roadies, and more than a few groupies reveal how Jimmy Page originally envisioned the band and how it was assembled, promoted, and primed for success. These insiders tell wild tales about the group's antics as they embarked on four U.S. tours in a single year yet were able to write, record, and release Led Zeppelin II at the same time. You'll discover new insights into the band's writing, arranging, and recording methods, from how they created the stupendous sound and dynamics on "Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotta Love" to the creation of the group's folk-suffused acoustic side.

Perhaps the most surprising fact you'll discover about Page, Plant, Jones, and Bonham is the loyalty they felt toward each other and the band. Their sense of themselves as four irreplaceable members of an inseparable unit is displayed movingly in the account of their decision to break up the band following John Bonham's untimely death in 1980.

Filled with dozens of never-before-published photos of the band and its members from early childhood through the glory years, this book is essential reading for every Led Zeppelin fan and for anyone interested in rock history.

1111670215
Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band

"The saga of Led Zeppelin told by those who knew them when, this intimate oral history goes beyond scandal to reveal the all-too-human beings behind this most Promethean of rock bands, illuminating their expansive body of work and the times in which they exemplified the very essence of rock stardom."
?Lenny Kaye, author of You Call It Madness

In Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band, celebrated music writer Barney Hoskyns presents the definitive account of this iconic band, sharing riveting firsthand stories from the people who knew the group best. Based on more than two hundred interviews with insiders including Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and road manager Richard Cole, this comprehensive exposé explores the legends and pares away the myths. Led Zeppelin reveals what actually happened before, during, and after the group's twelve-year run as the biggest band on earth and what life was really like for four young men on top of the world as they enjoyed fame on a scale that not even the Beatles experienced as a touring live act.

Priceless accounts from fellow musicians, including Jeff Beck, members of the Rolling Stones, record company executives, recording engineers, roadies, and more than a few groupies reveal how Jimmy Page originally envisioned the band and how it was assembled, promoted, and primed for success. These insiders tell wild tales about the group's antics as they embarked on four U.S. tours in a single year yet were able to write, record, and release Led Zeppelin II at the same time. You'll discover new insights into the band's writing, arranging, and recording methods, from how they created the stupendous sound and dynamics on "Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotta Love" to the creation of the group's folk-suffused acoustic side.

Perhaps the most surprising fact you'll discover about Page, Plant, Jones, and Bonham is the loyalty they felt toward each other and the band. Their sense of themselves as four irreplaceable members of an inseparable unit is displayed movingly in the account of their decision to break up the band following John Bonham's untimely death in 1980.

Filled with dozens of never-before-published photos of the band and its members from early childhood through the glory years, this book is essential reading for every Led Zeppelin fan and for anyone interested in rock history.

27.99 In Stock
Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band

Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band

by Barney Hoskyns
Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band

Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band

by Barney Hoskyns

eBook

$27.99 

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Overview

"The saga of Led Zeppelin told by those who knew them when, this intimate oral history goes beyond scandal to reveal the all-too-human beings behind this most Promethean of rock bands, illuminating their expansive body of work and the times in which they exemplified the very essence of rock stardom."
?Lenny Kaye, author of You Call It Madness

In Led Zeppelin: The Oral History of the World's Greatest Rock Band, celebrated music writer Barney Hoskyns presents the definitive account of this iconic band, sharing riveting firsthand stories from the people who knew the group best. Based on more than two hundred interviews with insiders including Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and road manager Richard Cole, this comprehensive exposé explores the legends and pares away the myths. Led Zeppelin reveals what actually happened before, during, and after the group's twelve-year run as the biggest band on earth and what life was really like for four young men on top of the world as they enjoyed fame on a scale that not even the Beatles experienced as a touring live act.

Priceless accounts from fellow musicians, including Jeff Beck, members of the Rolling Stones, record company executives, recording engineers, roadies, and more than a few groupies reveal how Jimmy Page originally envisioned the band and how it was assembled, promoted, and primed for success. These insiders tell wild tales about the group's antics as they embarked on four U.S. tours in a single year yet were able to write, record, and release Led Zeppelin II at the same time. You'll discover new insights into the band's writing, arranging, and recording methods, from how they created the stupendous sound and dynamics on "Dazed and Confused" and "Whole Lotta Love" to the creation of the group's folk-suffused acoustic side.

Perhaps the most surprising fact you'll discover about Page, Plant, Jones, and Bonham is the loyalty they felt toward each other and the band. Their sense of themselves as four irreplaceable members of an inseparable unit is displayed movingly in the account of their decision to break up the band following John Bonham's untimely death in 1980.

Filled with dozens of never-before-published photos of the band and its members from early childhood through the glory years, this book is essential reading for every Led Zeppelin fan and for anyone interested in rock history.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781118234907
Publisher: Trade Paper Press
Publication date: 09/28/2012
Sold by: Barnes & Noble
Format: eBook
Pages: 576
File size: 6 MB

About the Author

BARNEY HOSKYNS cofounded and editorially directs the online music-journalism resource Rock's Backpages (www.rocksbackpages.com). He is the author of several books, including Hotel California, an acclaimed history of the Los Angeles music scene. A former U.S. correspondent for MOJO and a contributing editor at British Vogue, he currently writes for MOJO, the Guardian, and other publications.

Table of Contents

Preface xiii

Personae Gratae xxiii

PART 1 ALL SHOOK UP 1

1 Surbigloom Blues 5

2 The Impenetrable Brotherhood 19

3 Walking into Stourbridge 31

4 The Freakout Zone 44

5 Happenings Fifty Years’ Time Ago 60

6 Turning to Gold 74

PART 2 IN THE LIGHT 85

7 Whatever Jimmy Wants 87

8 Atlantic Crossing 105

9 Like a Freight Train on Steroids 116

10 Every Inch of My Love 133

11 In the Misty Mountains 151

12 Stairwell to Headley 173

13 Heavy Friends 189

14 Trampled under Foot 208

15 When I Look to the West 226

PART 3 TWITCHY TIMES 241

16 Out of the Maelstrom of Mediocrity 245

17 Almost Infamous 273

18 Invocation of My Demon Brother 294

19 Turning into the Storm 316

20 A Powerhouse of Madness 338

21 Roundheads and Cavaliers 349

22 Does Anyone Remember Laughter? 371

23 Polar Opposites 379

24 Dinosaurs Rule! 396

PART 4 WEARING AND TEARING 407

25 Staggering from the Blast 409

26 The Swan Song 419

27 Jimmy’ll Fix It 427

28 Dark Days for a Cocksman 440

29 Mighty Rearrangements 455

30 What Was 471

31 And What Should Never Be 480

Author Interviews 491

Other Sources 497

Acknowledgments 511

Notes 515

Index 517

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