Led Zeppelin by Bob Spitz

Amazon link: Led Zeppelin

This was the most in-depth book on Zeppelin that I've read, it also contains more about the band than I've ever seen in all the documentaries. You come out the other end of this book an awe.

Spitz tells the whole story of the band and the musicians from their start before the band until the band is no longer after John Bonham's death. Because a rock band is always more than the musicians the story also includes the crew and management - and I can say the management story rivals the band story. Peter Grant was very off and possible just fucking crazy.

Page is clearly, and not disputed by his bandmates, the leader of the band based on his musical and creative genius. His career started as a studio musician and he became one of the most sought after studio musicians in that era. This led to Jimmy meeting and playing with many of the people he admired and appearing on their records. He was a blue collar musician reporting to the studio on time, punching the clock and laying down music. He learned a lot about the music business and the process of making music which helped him considerably down the road. The book gets into similar backgrounds and stories for John, John Paul, and Robert, these stores helped me understand them much more.

Knowing the musicians doesn't help explain the actual fucking craziness that occurred between December 1968 and July 1977. These are the years Led Zeppelin toured in the United States. They were a different band when they toured in the US, it's like it changed them as people. Some of the stories I'm sure you heard but there are some that...well you just have to read them for yourself.

I had some take-aways from the book. First, John Paul Jones had more to do with the development of the bands sound and success than I thought. Second, I totally understand why Led Zeppelin never replaced Bonham and kept going. Lastly, I'm glad I didn't have the talent to make my teenage dream come true and make it in the music business - it's a horrible business to be in.

If you're a Zeppelin fan or just a fan of good musician biographies this books is a must read.