Led Zeppelin

The Biography

By: Bob Spitz

Narrated by: Rob Shapiro

“In this authoritative, unsparing history of the biggest rock group of the 1970s, Spitz delivers inside details and analysis with his well-known gift for storytelling.” —PEOPLE

From the author of the iconic, bestselling history of The Beatles, the definitive account of arguably the greatest rock band of all time.

Rock star. Whatever that term means to you, chances are it owes a debt to Led Zeppelin. No one before or since has lived the dream quite like Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. In Led Zeppelin, Bob Spitz takes their full measure, separating myth from reality with his trademark connoisseurship and storytelling flair.

From the opening notes of their first album, the band announced itself as something different, a collision of grand artistic ambition and brute primal force, of English folk music and African American blues. Spitz’s account of their artistic journey, amid the fascinating ecosystem of popular music, is irresistible. But the music is only part of the legend: Led Zeppelin is also the story of how the sixties became the seventies, of how innocence became decadence, of how rock took over. Led Zeppelin wasn’t the first band to let loose on the road, but as with everything else, they took it to an entirely new level. Not all the legends are true, but in Spitz’s careful accounting, what is true is astonishing and sometimes disturbing.

Led Zeppelin gave no quarter, and neither has Bob Spitz. Led Zeppelin is the long-awaited full reckoning the band richly deserves.

Definitive Biography

Having read a few biographies about Led Zeppelin and also biographies which specifically focused on the different band members, I wasn’t expecting such a well written and thoughtful book. Bob Spitz pulls no punches, telling Zeppelin’s story from beginning to end. A must read for any Zeppelin fan. Spitz digs deep into the high highs and low lows. I was a bit concerned, after reading some reviews. I thought it might poison my perception of the band. There were some surprises but nothing too drastic considering it was the 1970’s. Different time, different place, and different zeitgeist. Plowed through it in a few days. Well worth the time and effort.

Engaging, informative and very interesting.

Definitely one of the best band bios I have read… and I’ve read quite a few. If you have any interest at all in Led Zeppelin, this book is well worth your time.

I think it’s the closest we’ll get.

This book seems to be the closest to a true biography one could listen to from LED ZEPPELIN.

Hooray! Very informative.

The whole story of a great band. Informative and nostalgic. It was a thrill to listen to it.

Upstage with Zep!!

Bob Spitz with Rob Shapiro has created a gut-wrenching thrilling narrative that struts and stumbles onstage with arguably the greatest rock and roll band in history.