The supergroup to end all supergroups, Led Zeppelin were often unfairly viewed by the press as a corporate entity that had not paid its dues. You only have to look at the history, however, to see how wrong that is.

It must have been fate. At the same time as Robert Plant (b. 1948) and John Bonham (1948–80) were working the music circuit in the Midlands, playing and getting their experience with various bands before moving up in the ranks of known musicians, over in London two like-minded musicians were doing the same in the local music scene. Jimmy Page (b. 1944) had been playing in front of live crowds since his teens, and John Paul Jones (b. 1946) had been working behind the scenes on various artists’ records at the same time. Both quickly made a name for themselves and rose to the upper echelons of session musicians while even releasing their own solo singles. Page became an indispensable session musician and producer for the likes of Decca and Immediate, while Jones would become right-hand session man for Mickie Most.

Before Led Zeppelin was even an entity, between them Page and Jones had played on tracks recorded by ex-Shadows members, The Kinks, The Who, Marianne Faithfull and Tom Jones. But they were far too talented to remain back-room men, and it wouldn’t be long before they got their chance to move to the front-line of rock’n’roll’s greatest icons.

Personalities | Introducing Led Zeppelin
Personalities | Led Zeppelin | Before The Band (1960–67) | Key Events