Led Zeppelin: The Definitive Biography: Led to Gold 1967 - 1989

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.

333 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 8, 2015

About the author

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

Reviews

[Paulla Ferreira Pinto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Três estrelas para a biografia que, não sendo uma extraordinária obra literária, cumpre o propósito de transportar o leitor para uma década de meteórica e intensa actividade criativa, absolutamente revolucionária quer ao nível musical quer quanto ao estabelecimento de um caótico modo de vida on the road, que passou a fazer parte do imaginário colectivo e da cultura pop, tão fulgurante quanto abruptamente interrompida.
Cinquenta milhões de estrelas para os Led Zeppelin cuja música continua tão relevante hoje como há quarenta anos, de uma intensidade, autenticidade e actualidade que derivam do melhor que o espírito humano proporciona.
Parafraseando Jack Black “Best band ever”!

[Dan Harris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unreadable if you are not convinced that the entire world rotates around your love for Led Zeppelin.
The writer refers to fans of the band as "Punters" continually, slags any great band that are not LZ because, well, they are not LZ who are obliviously his favourite band. you see, he likes them and they allowed him to be a "punter" himself as he squealed with delight and being able to beside the stage at some concerts. Good for you but try to settle down a bit pal, you come off like a giddy teenager!
His writing is extremely juvenile as the counties to blather on and on on how much better each member of the band was that anyone on the planet. They made more money, they did threw TV's around, they were better than anyone who ever played music. What an ego... what a fan boy.
Hey, I like them too but this dude needs to get a life and some perspective.
Regardless of who you like, do you really have to disrespect everyone who came before or after them?
I could not read the book as it became simply embarrassing to keep going.

[Cindy J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an in-depth look starting with the birth of Led Zeppelin to the sad end and what roads each of the 3 remaining musicians went on. I gave it 4 stars because at times it did seem to ramble...and I don't mean the song "Ramble On"!!!

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really excellent history of the group. I read Ritchie Yorke's earlier version when I was a teenager and enjoyed the new material he added here. I recently read another biography that Bob Spitz wrote and this one is quite a bit better.

[Doron Veeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best band should have the best book.
But not always...

[Ralph Burton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, considered take on the greatest band, which manages to dig up as yet unknown anecdotes and details about LZ.