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Led Zeppelin defined what has become heavy metal and hard rock, earning themselves a place in music history as one of the greatest bands ever.
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| Here's they're bio: When the Yardbirds split in 1967, Jimmy Page was left to fulfill concert obligations left by the band. With two integral members missing, Page and bassist Chris Dreja were left with the rights to the band's name. Immediate action needed to be taken to make these tour dates. On a tip from Terry Reid, Page went to hear Robert Plant, who at the time was singing with a band called Hobbstweedle. Almost immediately, Page was taken by Plant's voice and stage presence, and in August 1968, Plant became the band's frontman. Right around this time, Dreja quit and John Paul Jones took his place as bassist. Now all the band needed was a commanding drummer. After a month of courting, Page convinced John Bonham to join. Touring under the name the New Yardbirds, the foursome fulfilled the old band's concert schedule and in October 1968 the band, now called Led Zeppelin, went into the studio and recorded their self-titled debut album in under 30 hours. Before the year was over, Zeppelin signed a contract with Atlantic Records and set out to tour the States. When Led Zeppelin came out in January 1969, it only took two months for it to catch on like wildfire. The album soared to the top of the charts and Led Zeppelin, with their heavy, free-form, psychedelic style of rock, began their ascent to god-like status. Touring endlessly through that year, Zeppelin recorded their second album, Led Zeppelin II, on the road. Like the first album, Led Zeppelin II hit the No. 1 spot and stayed there for seven weeks. In support of the album, Zeppelin hit the road and didn't stop for a full year. Taking a step back from hard rock, the band focused more on the mystical aspects of British folk music for their third album, Led Zeppelin III, which came out in October 1970. But it wasn't until the untitled album (referred to as "Led Zeppelin IV") was released in November of 1971 that the band fully captured the folk spirit. It was also on this untitled album that the band produced their most popular classic songs like "Stairway To Heaven," "Rock & Roll" and "When The Levee Breaks." This became the band's biggest album, selling more than 16 million copies over the course of 25 years. In the spring of 1973, the band broke from their traditional album-naming convention with the release of Houses of the Holy. Here traces of funk and reggae experimentation can be heard melded with the already well-known rock and folk sound. This album debuted at No. 1 both in America and England. While they toured to support the album, Led Zeppelin shot footage that would later be produced as their 1976 rockumentary, The Song Remains The Same. To better accommodate their recording needs in 1974 Led Zeppelin formed their own label, Swan Song. Zeppelin would record all their albums on Swan Song from this point---including the double album, Physical Graffiti, Presence and In Through The Out Door, the band's eighth and final studio album. Following the successful release of In Through The Out Door, Zeppelin toured Europe for one last time. In September 1980, the group rehearsed in preparation of an America leg of their tour. On Sept. 25, John Bonham was found dead in his bed after choking on his own vomit following an all-day drinking binge. In December of that same year, the surviving members of the band reported that without Bonham Led Zeppelin could not be a band, and broke up. |
 | Led zeppelin's debut album is marked by many as a significant turning point in the evolution of hard rock and heavy metal. This album includes the classic "Communication Breakdown". Other song highlights: "Good Times Bad Times", "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You", "Dazed and Confused". Release date: 1969 |
 | This album was recorded quickly during Led Zepplin's first American tours, but nevertheless it provided the blueprint for all the heavy metal bands that followed it. Song Highlights: "Whole Lotta Love", "Heartbreaker", "Ramble On". Release date: 1969 |
 | While they're first two albums unleashed a relentless barrage of heavy blues it was this album that provided the band with the necessary room to grow musically. Song highlights: "Immigrant Song", "Since I've Been Loving You", "Celebration Day". Release date: 1970 |
 | This is easily Led Zeppelin's best album and one of the greatest albums ever. This is a true masterpiece, from the first to the last song. This album includes what is considered by many (not just by me) to be the greatest song ever: "Stairway to Heaven". Another classic is "Black Dog". Other song highlights: "Rock and Roll", "The Battle of Evermore", "Going to California" (and pretty much the whole album). Release date: 1971 |
 | This album follows the same basic pattern as Led Zepplin IV, but this time the approach is looser and more relaxed. This album includes the classic "Over the Hills and Far Away". Other song highlights: "The Rain Song", "D'Yer Mak'er", "No Quarter". Release date: 1973 |
 | This ambitious double album was released nearly two years after Houses of the Holy". Although it's overall an excellent album, it's remembered primarily for the classic (eastern influenced): Kashmir". Other song highlights: "Custard Pie", "Trampled Underfoot", "Ten Years Gone". Release date: 1975 |
 | Led zeppelin became known worldwide for they're great concerts. That's why it's no surprise that they decided to make an album consisting only live performances of they're best songs, some ridiculously long ("Dazed and Confused" is nearly half an hour long). Release date: 1976 |
 | This album was accepted better by critics than it's predecessor "The Song Remains the Same", although one might feel that the album never really lives up to it's potential. While half of the album is far from being they're best work, some songs could have found themselves in one of they're earlier albums: "Achilles Last Stand", "For Your Life", "Nobody's Fault But Mine". Release date: 1976 |
 | Pretty much the same story as Presence, a good album but not nearly as good as they're earlier albums. Led Zeppelin also started using synthesizers in they're music. Overall, the album was a graceful way to close they're career, even if it wasn't intended as the final chapter. Song highlights: "In the Evening", "Fool in the Rain", "All My Love". Release date: 1979 |
