LED ZEPPELIN: ROYAL ALBERT HALL 1970 PT4

LED ZEPPELIN: LIVE AT ROYAL ALBERT HALL, ENGLAND 1970 PART 4 OF 6

2003 marks the 35th anniversary of the first fateful rehearsal which brought together the talents of guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham in the summer of 1968. Universally recognised as one of the most innovative, powerful, and influential groups in rock history, Led Zeppelin has sold some 200 million albums worldwide. This is all the more impressive considering that the band only existed for a comparatively short 12-year period. In the decade between 1969 and 1979, the British quartet released eight studio albums and a live soundtrack (a posthumous set of previously unreleased studio material followed in ’82).

While their work in the studio was brilliant, their work onstage was transforming. In concert, Led Zeppelin displayed a power and charisma unparalleled in modern music. Never content to simply replay their recordings, Zeppelin used the stage as a creative platform in its own right – introducing material live before it was recorded, and always expanding, improvising, and pushing into uncharted territory. Their legendary, epic live sets – often lasting more than three hours – were wildly magical experiences which traversed exceptional musical territory, sonic journeys which were truly cathartic experiences for the band and audience alike.