Led Zeppelin had spent the first half of the decade turning themselves into the greatest rock’n’roll band in the world. Not even the onslaught of punk could see them fail to sell out Knebworth on two weekends running in 1979. But they had a long way to fall, and a series of bad-luck events saw the Led Zeppelin empire crumble. Some said it was a karmic pay-back for Jimmy Page’s dabblings in the occult and black magic.

Within the space of five years Robert Plant would have a near-death experience when he was involved in a car crash while on holiday with his family; the group would release their first disappointing album; Jimmy Page would be seen struggling under an alleged heroin addiction; John Bonham would quickly begin to lose the grip on his nicer side, as touring commitments made him more despondent, at times seeing him lash out at anyone around him.

It could have all just been coincidence, however, but when John Bonham died on 25 September 1980, aged just 32, Led Zeppelin as the world knew them were over. Though each member would be heard from again – solo and as a group – the driving voice behind their music was silenced forever.

Personalities | Introducing Led Zeppelin
Personalities | Led Zeppelin | The Later Years (1976) | Key Events