Led Zeppelin - The Definitive Biography

by Ritchie Yorke

Their music blazed a trail across the world but Led Zeppelin’s media silence was as deafening as their live shows. Throughout their extraordinary career the band were untouchables, refusing interviews and treating press attention with disdain. Few journalists were allowed to enter the house of the holy, even when Led Zeplin ll knocked Abbey Road from number 1 and Stairway To Heaven became the most requested radio track of all time. Yet one writer did penetrate their inner sanctum. Ritchie Yorke has eaten, slept and breathed Led Zeppelin for the length of his distinguished career, touring with them and regularly granted an audience with the band. The result is Led Zeppelin – From the early days to Page and Plant. Originally published as The Led Zeppelin Biography in 1975, and frequently updated, it’s a definitive rock work which is the most detailed study ever of a group who remained a closed book to every other writer. Over two decades and 50 million album sales since it first appeared, this famous account of Led Zeppelin’s odyssey is updated to cover the death of infamous manager Peter Grant and the successful musical reunion of Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. Led Zeppelin – From the early days to Page and Plant is the stuff of rock legend.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Ritchie Yorke an author, broadcaster, historian and music journalist.

Reviews

[null · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Zeppelin book published in the last 30 years has used this one by the late and great Ritchie Yorke as source material, or Yorke’s earlier edition published in the 1970s. Because Yorke had access to the members of the group and Peter Grant, “Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography” is comprised of first hand interviews with the band and their manager, and Yorke’s own boots-on-the ground reporting; it does not rely on rumors and exaggerated tales from hangers-on with questionable motives like more recent books. Yorke paints a mostly flattering portrait, but still tackles the pitfalls faced by the group such as substance abuse and tour excesses. This edition covers the evolution of Led Zeppelin, the band’s demise, and the post-Zeppelin activities of the surviving members through the early 1990s when the book was published. Included is a 26-page discography including bootleg recordings. It is a shame this book is not more well known.

[Jamie Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As much as I love the juicy side of rock biographies it is still a pleasure to once in a while read one that is mostly devoid of the stories of excess. If you want that side of the mighty Led Zeppelin then I invite you to explore "Hammer of the Gods." If you're a music fan and you want to read about the coming together of bodies of work that eventually became some of the most essential albums of the '70's then here is where you belong.

[Heidi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, it was very much music orientated rather than focusing on the rumours, drama and controversy that surrounds the band which some other biographies get caught up in! If depends as a Led Zeppelin fan what strikes your interest the most and for everyone that’ll be different. Must admit I prefer this writing style to to that of the ‘Hammer Of the Gods’ biography which was a lot more to do with tour chaos and gossip.

[Deia Skitalica · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's more 2.5 stars than 3, but because the subject is so riveting, I've rounded up.
As someone wise answered the question: "what's the best Led Zep bio?" with: "it hasn't been written yet!", I'll just have to take whatever is out there to satisfy some momentary urges.

Yorke's writing isn't bad, his proofreader/editor, however, has hopefully been fired.
But I have a bit of a problem with enthusiasts and admirers writing (definitive) biographies. Firstly, they are far from being definitive. And, then, they're utterly unable to be objective. And objectivity in writing (and Yorke was a journalist!) is good to round up the accounts, along with any of the essential constructive criticism. Come on, I'm - I wouldn't outright call myself a fan, but - a Zep enthusiast, and I know they're an amazing creative quartet that got together to churn out some of the most iconic sounds that have come to symbolise the 70s, but repeatedly proclaiming that is not what makes the story.
In my great regard and respect for the band, I am also happy to accept that everyone is far from perfect, and the lads probably are as well - in fact, as humanly as possible - so no need to paint them as golden gods that can do no wrong..
A lot of Yorke's material does seem to be first-hand, and some quotes were from face-to-face interviews, although for whatever reason - maybe he was closest to Page.. or Page was the most accessible or willing to be interviewed (by Yorke) - they're very Page-centric. So much so that he repeatedly refers to him as 'Pagey', while Jonesy just so remains John Paul Jones throughout the book. He's quite the character, would have loved to have gotten more insight on him!

I purposely chose this one because the reviews of Richard Cole's and Mick Wall's books were appalling. I don't need to fill in informational gaps on members of Zep, I would just like to read some good storylines. So, which should I take up next?

[Victoria Cowden-moyneur · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is the actual biography of Led Zeppelin, done with their consent, and is much tamer than the other two novels about them (Stairway to Heaven - Richard Cole) and (Hammer of the Gods - Stephen Davis). The crazy lives they lived on the road are only referenced slightly, yet I felt they could have been expanded on to give the 'real' story. Yorke was definitely an insider to the band and gives tremendous details on the dates and outcome of their concerts, recording sessions, and the albums in general. A must read for the Zeppelin fans out there, especially the details of the discography.

[Steve · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty lame. Ritchie Yorke's writing is HORRIBLE. He's an aged, fawning fanboy with absolutley no objectivity. It is like a handbook for tired cliches and tortured, redundant "metaphors". I can't say enough bad stuff about this piece of crap.

Regardless, Led Zeppelin is still a pretty AWESOME band.

[Rosebud · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reading but have read that there are some of factual errors in this book which put me off enjoying it completely.