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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
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.
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