1968 was a remarkable year to say the least. Across the U.S. things were changing, but perhaps the most important change came with the death of one of the greatest English rock bands of all time.
In the thicket of the Vietnam War and President Johnson’s promise to carry on the legacy of President John F. Kennedy to land an American on the moon before the end of the 60’s, rock and roll was captivating young people with its anti war message and blues rhythm. It all started with an English band called The Yardbirds, who at the time were more than just a sensation. The Yardbirds rotated through three different and distinct guitarists who would all make their names immortal in Cleveland. The likes of Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, and Jimmy Page made their names with the band and all went on have illustrious careers.
But when the last of the three great guitarists left (Jimmy Page) it would put a silence on The Yardbirds who slowly faded into back up guitarists and low charting albums. Page’s entry into a new band in 1968 would spell history and change for the rock and roll world. Originally called the New Yardbirds, the band wanted to strike up a new identity . The start of the most impossible band would come with Led Zeppelin. The shear name of the band was improbable; a balloon made of led would never fly. But the band never flew, they simply kept on rising.
Combining behind Page as lead guitar, Robert Plant on vocals, John Paul Jones on bass, and John Bonham bangin’ the drums. The album self titled Led Zeppelin would make young girls shriek, young men chief, and change the business of rock forever. Stand out tracks on the record include “Dazed and Confused”, “Communication Breakdown”, and the live staple “How Many More Times”. Led Zeppelin would take off from there, gaining popularity boosts throughout the world.
It’s pretty well known about what songs the band would go on to make from there. Of course there’s “Stairway To Heaven” and “Over The Hills And Far Away” that nearly everyone has heard. “D’yer Mak’er” was the bands shot into the reggae world that the band nailed. It was an over whelming time for the band in the 70’s. From thriving on the charts to rumors of satanically undermining, Zeppelin was in the news everywhere. Tours and albums were almost an every year ordeal, traveling all across the globe; the band was an icon of superstar status.
Like all good things, Led Zeppelin had to end, but it took the death of drummer John Bonham to take the band down. So in 1980, Led Zeppelin would come to be an act for another decade.
Turning to solo careers, Page would go on to release several albums that didn’t turn out great while Plant did the same. Plant stayed a stray from the mic until 2009 when he teamed up with Allison Krause for what would be a well put together album.
Led Zeppelin hasn’t played together on the same stage with the surviving members of the band since December 10, 2007 at London’s 02 Arena. Talk of a reunion has been around for the past several months, but Plant is a no go for it. With out Robert Plant on lead vocals, there is no Led Zeppelin.
So to get to the point, what will never be. What will never be is another band like Zeppelin. Not only were they tremendously talented and lyrically gifted, but they arose at a high point of rock. Since the cycle of the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, rock hasn’t been the same. Today’s rock and roll is a struggle to hit it big on the air waves that are controlled by larger corporations with predetermined play lists and play counts.
Single handedly arming rock with the weapons to make an impact again is Detroit native Jack White. The talented guitarist/singer/song writer/drummer/bassist is creating one stocked band after another to save rock. What helps him most is the almost cult following he has started, which is what rock needs most. The rebirth of rock is still in the works, who knows when and where it will happen but the work of Zeppelin will have an impact to keep the popular noise around.
