A Brief History of Led Zeppelin

Heavy metal in the 1980’s is hard to describe. Its static style did not change much from the 1970’s, but the lyrics, image, and theatrics took a step forward. Heavy metal had a huge impact in the 1980’s and there were many successful bands. Van Halen took heavy metal to new heights. After more than two decades of playing sold-out concert halls, selling millions of albums and enduring various lineup changes and solo projects, Van Halen is recognized as one of the most resilient and successful rock bands to emerge from the 1970s and continue into the 1980’s.

The Eagles also won the 1977 Grammy Award for Record of the Year for "Hotel California" at the 20th Grammy Awards in 1978. In 2009, the song "Hotel California" was certified Platinum (Digital Sales Award) by the RIAA for sales of one million digital downloads. The song is rated highly in many rock music lists and polls; Rolling Stone magazine ranked it number 49 on its list of "Time”. It is also one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. As one of the group's most popular and well-known songs, "Hotel California" has been a concert staple for the band since its release.

Metallica is the best-selling band of all time behind the Beatles. With being a successful band, Metallica has reached out to various audiences in their thirty- year career. Metallica is a heavy metal band that has had more success than other artists in more popular genres, like pop and hip hop. Since their formation in 1981, Metallica has released ten studio albums that have all been heralded as classics, even through tragedy. With the forming of Metallica, music changed forever.

The contributions to music demonstrated by the career of Def Leppard prove beyond a doubt the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame should induct this band. Def Leppard’s worthiness of this award is shown in there achievement, influence, and professional. First of all, Def Leppard deserves this award because they have produced quality music, and they have earned several achievements. Some achievements they had was when they were on the “Bill Board 200 with their song ‘Hysteria’;.. sold 10,000 copies in the first week,… [and] spent six weeks at number one and 133 weeks on the Bill Board 200” (Caulfield 57). Another achievement was when their main drummer lost his arm in an accident but was able to continue, playing the drums with just one arm.

They are the best selling band in the United States with over one hundred and fifty million units sold according to the RIAA. Up until the band's break up, they created many songs that changed the form of popular music on the airwaves for years and years. Although not all of the members are still alive and well as of today, their music has made a longlasting impact that will be enjoyed by those who hear it for generations upon generations to come. The Beatles began to form in March of 1957 due to John Lennon starting a music group with some of his friends from Quarry Bank High School called “The Blackjacks”, which was later changed to “The Quarrymen” due to another well respected local band sharing the name of “The Blackjacks”. Paul McCartney later joined the group after he met Lennon in July of the same exact year in which the band was formed.

There have been all kinds of different types of rock bands throughout the years. Most of the bands have had a different type of style. All of these different types of style are what has shaped today’s music. Some of the bands from the earlier times were: The Beatles, AC/DC, Guns and Roses and the Bee Gees. The Beatles were the greatest and most powerful act of the rock era.

After it’s release, Led Zeppelin’s popularity grew so unbelievably within the next few months that by the time they recorded and released their second album, “Led Zeppelin II” less than six months later, they got their first number one on the billboard chart. This album alone sold 12 million copies worldwide and is still hailed as one of the best rock albums. These two albums were followed by “Led Zeppelin III”, “Led Zeppelin IV”, “Houses of the Holy”, “Physical Graffiti”, “Presence”, “In Through the Out Door”, and “Coda”, which four of them reached number one on record charts all over the world. However, the best of Led Zeppelin is their fourth album “Led Zeppelin IV”. Not only

Led Zeppelin was an English heavy metal band formed in London, England in 1968. Led Zeppelin consisted of Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. Heavy metal bands like Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, etc. were very popular due to their music and influences. In the 1980s, bands like Iron Maiden and Motorhead from England were a huge hit on the rock charts.

After the one-album stint with The Bluesbreakers, Clapton formed a new group called Cream with bassist/vocalist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker. The trio made four highly successful albums together in the next few years. Their more rock like interpretations of old blues songs made blues more popular to the mainstream, much more so than with The Yardbirds. Cream had several top 40 hits, including "Sunshine of Your Love", "White Room", and "Crossroads". Towards the end of the ‘60s Cream split up.

Peter Travers, a journalist who wrote for Rolling Stones Magazines, affirms, "During the week of April 4, 1964, the Beatles held the first five slots on the Billboard Singles chart; they went on to sell more than a billion records..." (1). they were a band that was unlike any other. Not only did they sing and write most of their own music, but they also played their own instruments, unlike many of the bands during that time. It wasn't just their music that drew people in, but it was their personality. The boys always seemed to be laughing and joking around with one another.