Music
The rockers' debut album, named after the band's name, Led Zeppelin, was recorded in 1969 in just 30 hours. It had many messages on mythical and mystical themes. In addition, the music traced the trends of traditional rock and roll and blues.
The musicians themselves called the resulting genre "heavy blues", which immediately received great recognition. Jimmy Page was constantly experimenting with sound, as a result of which he was able to become the author of a number of new studio effects.
In particular, Page came up with his famous “pre-echo”, which made this or that song completely different and unusual. After the release of the first disc, Led Zeppelin went on tour in the United States. Subsequently, this disc received the status of multi-platinum and made the musicians millionaires.
In the same year, the new album "Led Zeppelin II" was recorded, which received even greater popularity. It featured such hits as "Whole Lotta Love", "Heartbreaker", "Ramble On" and others. Critics unanimously stated that the songs of the British had a versatile and rich sound. They perfectly combined Page's virtuoso guitar parts, Plant's screaming vocals, as well as Jones's flamboyant bass guitar accompaniment and Bonham's drums. It is noteworthy that Led Zeppelin deliberately refused to release individual singles. Instead, the guys focused on volumetric records, as a result of which they became the founders of such a term as "album rock". In 1970, the release of Led Zeppelin III was announced, inspired by Celtic motifs and acoustic melodies. When "Led Zeppelin IV" was released the following year, the British were awarded the title of "Best Band of the 70s". The circulation of this disc exceeded 37 million copies, as a result of which it turned out to be not only the most commercially successful album in the history of the group, but also one of the best-selling in world history.
The composition “Stairway to Heaven” present on it deserves special attention, which today is the most rotated piece of music, of any genre, on American radio and one of the most famous compositions in the history of music.
These discs received the unofficial nickname "Four Symbols", since each participant created his own emblem for one of the records. By that time, the image of Led Zeppelin had already changed significantly: the musicians went on stage in luxurious and embroidered caftans.
Instead of touring vans, the group began to use a private jet, and instead of individual hotel rooms, they filmed entire sections. "Led Zeppelin" traveled to many countries on different continents. Each of their concerts was accompanied by a full house.