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Led Zeppelin I is released in early 1969, the
album included "Dazed and Confused," and "Communication Breakdown," among others
and would eventually crack the top 10 in the US. They make a good number off BBC
appearances and appear in the movie Supershow. Plant Marries Maureen (later
divorced) in London, on November 9th, 1969 which was also Zeppelin's first date
at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm. In late 1969 Led Zeppelin II
 is
released and goes number 1. The single "Whole Lotta Love" would crack the top
ten in the US, and end up being Zeppelin's only UK single ever to be released as
it does get released in 1997. The group takes a different turn for Led Zeppelin
III  as
the album is half acoustic. This surprises a lot of critics and fans. There were
still hard rockers like the Immigrant Song and "Celebration Day,' plus the
classic "Since I've Been Loving You," but many people did think that Zeppelin
was capable of producing "Gallows Pole," or Tangerine." After the fourth album
was completed that band decided to issue it without their on the album (although
after record company disputes their name did appear on the record only) and
without an album name. Each member choose a symbol to be put on the album.
Jimmy's symbol looked like it spelled Zoso,
 so
some people call that album Zoso, or Led Zeppelin Four, or Runes because of the
cover. Plant's symbol was the circle with the feather in it. This album became
Zeppelin's best seller because of "Stairway To Heaven" which was never released
as a single. The rest of the album is outstanding too. There's an excellent duo
with Plant and Fairport Convention singer Sandy Denny on "The Battle of
Evermore." In 1972 Page and Plant tried to rerecord "Four Sticks" and "Friends"
with Indian musicians in India. Although these recording were never released
they did paint a picture of what kind of direction Plant and Page could take
Zeppelin's music. After a delays House Of The Holy
was released in March of 1973, and consists of a time when the band wrote some
of their best material together. John Bonham ever is credited as the head writer
in "The Ocean," "D'yer Ma'ker," and "The Crunge."
The tour for these album would
include some of Zeppelin's best performances ever in concert. After taking some
time off the group formed Swan Song Records, and eventually released the double
album Physical Graffiti
 After
the release all previous Zeppelin albums recharted at the same time giving them
six albums that charts at the same time, a first for anyone. After a shaky US
tour and 5 great nights in Earl's Court in May of 1975, the group was planning
to do more touring later in the year. Plant was involved in a serious car
accident with Maureen on August 4th, 1975 which changed any touring plans. This
made the recording of Zeppelin's Presence to be done while he was in a wheel
care.  The
album included the ten minute classic "Achilles Last Stand," and "Nobody's Fault
But Mine," as well as "Hots On For Nowhere." Although the album was number one,
it didn't do quite well because there was no tour. Plant recovered fully from
the accident as he was able to take first unaided steps in the beginning of
1976. The movie and the soundtrack to The Song Remains The Same
 is
issued later in 1976. It contained footage from 3 nights at Madison Square
Garden in New York for 1973 and filled the void because there was no Zep tour
that year.
While on tour in the US during July of 1977, Plant's son Karac dies suddenly of
a stomach infection. Forcing Zeppelin to cancel what would be their last U.S.
tour.
Plant spends a long time away from the group and many people believe that the
group may have broken up. In late 1978 a refreshed Plant and other Zeppelin
members begin rehearsing on their final studio album In Through the Out Door.
 The album
is JPJ dominated but does include some great Page solos on "Fool In The Rain,"
and "I'm Gonna Crawl." After a few disappointing shows in Copenhagen and
Knebworth the group doesn't appear anywhere until December 1979 when Plant
performs with JPJ, and Bonzo, with Paul McCartney and Wings Kampuchea benefit
show at London's Hammersmith Odeon. Performs with Rockpile singing "Little
Sister" There last tour starts in 1980 in
Europe, and ends on July 7th. As there are preparing for their US tour John
Bonham dies after a night of heavy drinking on September 25th. On December
fourth Led Zeppelin announces their breakup by making the statement that they
can not continue as they were.
Post Zeppelin
A few months after the breakup of Led Zeppelin, Plant
commences a series of live gigs at a Stourbridge Wine Bar called "McCoys." He
Played old R & B number with a band known as the Honeydrippers, and during
August and September of 1981 begins working on his first solo album at Rockfield
Studios. On June 28, 1982
 Pictures at
Eleven is released and debuts at number two on the charts in the U.K. The album
includes his first singles "Burning
Down One Side" and "Fat
Lip." Burning Down One Side would also be his
first music video. Other notable tracks on this album include "Worse
Than Detroit," "Moonlight
In Samosa," and "Like
I've Never Been Gone." Later in the year Led
Zeppelin released Coda In 1983 Plant releases his second album, The Principle of
Moments 
The single "Big
Log" becomes a top 20 hit in U.S. and reaches
number 11 in U.K. Other great tracks include the AOR hit "Other
Arms," and "In
The Mood." Starts his first solo tour on August
29, 1983 in Chicago, and would later tour in the U.K. and Australia. Gets
together with a number of musicians and records old R & B tunes as the
Honeydrippers releasing Honeydrippers Volume 1
This album is incredible successful with the hit "Sea
of Love" as the song charts at #3 in the US.
Plant would then play with the Honeydrippers on the December 15th edition of
Saturday Night Live which is hosted is Eddie Murphy. Plant records and released
 Shaken
and Stirred which was released in 1985. The album includes "Little
By Little," "Sixes
and Sevens," and "Pink
And Black," while the rest of the album is a
different sound that didn't work for a lot of listeners. As some people think
material like "Too
Loud" is a little far out. Robert tours to
support this album and the Honeydripper album and does half the show with
material from each group, he's actually quite successful with this. Right in the
middle of the tour he joins JPJ, and Page at Live Aid on July 13, 1985 and sings
a few Zeppelin classics after a weak album sales for Shaken and Stirred Plant
disbands his touring and recording band. In early 1987 sings one song, "The
Only One," that would appear on Jimmy Page's
1988 Outrider album. Plant picks up a new band and starts recording a new album
and has Page play on two tracks. Plays a few concerts in December and performs
Zeppelin songs for the first time. Releases
Now and Zen which is extremely successful because of songs like "Tall
Cool One," "Heaven
Knows," and "Ship
Of Fools." "Tall Cool One" contained Zeppelin
samples that Page wasn't too thrilled with at the time. This album revived
Plant's solo career as he performed to over 1 million people in the U.S. He
later did one Coke commercial which he now regrets. Also during 1988 during the
Atlantic 40th Anniversary, Plant performs he solo set with his band. Later on
that evening he reunites with Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, with Jason Bonham
at the drums for a Zeppelin set. The performance wasn't perfect, and Plant
didn't want to sing
Stairway (he did), but it was a contrast in performance than how good the
rehearsals were. At the end of the year he performed on MTV New Years Eve party
in 1988. Performing 'Heaven Knows,' 'Tall Cool One,' and 'Ship of Fools.' As a
follow-up Plant released Manic Nirvana in 1990. This album contained some
samples as well, and had a great sound that isn't captured on any other Plant
album. Highlights include "S
S S And Q," "Tie
Dye On The Highway," and "Nirvana."
Plant would receive the Knebworth Silver Clef
 award
and performs with Jimmy Page for a few Zeppelin songs on June 30th. Later in
1990 the Led Zeppelin box set is released. There are two versions the Four CD-US
version or the 3CD-UK version. Released
 Fate Of
Nations in 1993 which includes "Calling
To You," "29
Palms," as well as lighter material like Tim
Hardin's "If
I Were A Carpenter," and "Great
Spirit." Plant would perform on David Letterman
and Jay Leno , and have a special appearing on PBS
in the U.S. (an edited version later aired on VH-1). Later in 1993 the second
Led Zeppelin box set was released containing material not on the first US box
set, and the complete studio recordings were released in one set.
Together Again
After touring with his solo band in 1994 Plant
reunited with Jimmy Page and worked on the Unledded "No Quarter" project. A
special aired on MTV followed by a release of CD and home video version of
 No
Quarter. Most of the material was rehashed Zeppelin material with a new flavor,
although they did cover some of the lesser known Zep tunes, like "Friends"
and "That's
The Way," the album did include the epic "Kashmir."
Plus three new songs (four if you count the UK album) including "Yallah"
and "Wonderful
One." Early in 1995 Led Zeppelin was inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. And although they did forget John Paul
Jones phone number, the three members with Jason Bonham and Joe Perry and Steven
Tyler of Aerosmith played a Zeppelin set that night. Page/Plant would also jam
with Neil Young.
A month later Page and Plant would begin a world tour on February 26th in
Pensacola Florida. They performed mostly Zeppelin material with one Plant song,
"Calling To You," one Page song, "Shake My Tree," and one song from second
guitarist Porl Thompson from the Cure, "Lullaby." Porl Thompson left after the
end of the second US tour as Page and Plant would later tour Japan and
Australia, and playing 'Tea For One,' and 'Ten Years Gone' in Japan. In 1997 the
Led Zeppelin BBC sessions would
 be
released containing songs that a lot of people owned on bootleg but this time
would great quality and on CD After what seemed forever Page/Plant release
Walking Into Clarkdale the album includes "Shining
In The Light" "When
The World Was Young," and "Most
High." They did another world tour to support
their gold album. The album though didn't sell as well as previous Plant albums
which may have prevented the duo from recording again.
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