Led Zeppelin: Difference between revisions

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====The formation/The New Yardbirds ====
 
The beginnings of Led Zeppelin can be traced to [[Jimmy Page]], who had joined the [[rock band]] [[The Yardbirds]] in [[1966]], to play [[bass guitar]] after bassist [[Paul Samwell-Smith]] quit the group. Shortly thereafterafter, Page switched from bass to [[lead guitar]] creating a lineup that featured both Jimmy Page and [[Jeff Beck]] playing dual lead ([[Chris Dreja]] moved from [[rhythm guitar]] to take over on bass). Following the departure of Jeff Beck in October [[1966]], The Yardbirds, tired from constant touring and recording, were beginning to wind down. Page discussed forming a [[supergroup (music)|supergroup]] with himself and Beck on guitar, and [[The Who]]'s [[Keith Moon]] and [[John Entwistle]] on drums and bass, respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livedaily.com/artists/discography/album/R%20%20%20586056.html|title=Guitar Legends, Nick Manciano|author=Greg Prato, All Music Guide}}</ref> Vocalists [[Donovan]], [[Steve Winwood]] and [[Steve Marriott]] were also considered for the project.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.led-zeppelin.org/reference/index.php?m=assorted3|title=Led Zeppelin Assorted Info|author=Led-Zeppelin.org}}</ref> The group never formed, although Page, Beck and Moon did record a song together in 1966, "[[Beck's Bolero]]", which is featured on Beck's 1968 album, ''[[Truth (album)|Truth]]''. The recording session also included bassist [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]], who told Page that he would be interested in collaborating with him on future projects. <ref name="Hammer of the Gods"> {{cite book | title=Hammer of the Gods (LPC) | year=1995 | author=Stephen Davis | pages= 44, 64, 190, 225, 277 ISBN 033043859}}</ref>
 
The Yardbirds played their final [[gig]] in July 1968, after which vocalist [[Keith Relf]] and drummer [[Jim McCarty]] left the band, wishing to pursue a shared interest in [[folk music]]. However, The Yardbirds were still committed to perform several concerts in [[Scandinavia]], so McCarty and Relf authorised Page and Dreja to use the ''Yardbirds'' name to fulfil the band's obligations. Page and Dreja began putting a new line-up together. Page's first choice for lead singer, [[Terry Reid]], declined the offer, but suggested a singer he knew of who played on the [[Birmingham]] scene called [[Robert Plant]]. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/bio/index.jsp?pid=5047&cr=artist&or=ASCENDING&sf=length&kw=Led%20Zeppelin|title=Led Zeppelin Biography|author=Billboard}}</ref> Plant accepted the position, and also recommended [[John Bonham]] from nearby [[Redditch]] who also played regularly in Birmingham bands. <ref name="Note1">{{cite web|url=http://home.mchsi.com/~night_flight/led_zeppelin_faq.htm|title=Led Zeppelin FAQ|author=Digital Graffiti}}</ref> Plant and Bonham had recently played in the [[Band of Joy]] together. When Dreja opted out of the project to become a photographer (he would later take the photograph that appeared on the back of Led Zeppelin's debut album), John Paul Jones contacted Page about the empty position. Page, being familiar with his credentials, gladly accepted him as the band's new bassist.