Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin

“ Watched...

Moved, touched.

Never has filthy lucre been so worth it.

All the photos together in one book and some

of their short “testimonies.”

Very simple... No groupies, no guests, just and always the four of them together until the end.

I would have only given more space to Peter, because he is one of them...

To me, the Zepp are 5.

Beautiful.

A hug brother. “

This is the message I sent to my most noble blood brother Riff (also a Musical Master from the Led Zeppelin to the Blues everything) after flipping through the Book.

Those 15/20 minutes were enough for me to relive “everything.”

It might and should end here, but since I'm not normal and overflow with adrenaline that I need to unleash, I continue more hagiographical and old than ever... warned, you can/should stop this kind of reading.

What could I ever expect and/or what could a book about the Led Zeppelin ever give me?!

I have (almost) everything that has come out over the decades, a myriad of books besides all the music magazines that have written and still write about them today, photos, interviews...

Meanwhile, this is the Book of the 50 years since their genesis. It is the (almost) exclusively photographic Book. It is the Book about the Led Zeppelin, by the Led Zeppelin.

Jones, Page, and Plant did everything as they wanted to celebrate their time together. They chose how to set it up and above all the selection from the thousands of existing photos.

And here comes (almost) all those images I had already seen and that I own in various books now contained in a single noble volume.

The chronological order with images associated with tours and the most important performances, album releases, and some of their quotes from the moment makes you take a perfect journey through their twelve years together.

So very well done... but that's not the “thing.”

The “thing” is precisely the journey.

I have often said that I associate the music I love with moments in life, that I don't care about the artists I love as rock stars, and that I would never ask for autographs or similar crap. They are particular “friends” whose music has been and is the soundtrack of this life of mine, period.

And so, even though calendar years don't coincide, it's as if I live their story parallel to mine. As if everything about the first two albums was my rebellious adolescence. As if the third and fourth were my coming of age and becoming more aware of my qualities and ambitions. As if Houses was the mess when I just wanted to have fun and intended to do it only my way at the cost of becoming exaggerated, thinking I was something in Physical or in TSRTS. As if I lived through the cursed years of misfortunes between '75 and '77 as my own personal dramas. As if Presence was the jolt before the end....

And it would be too simple, as it is for (almost) everyone, that I loved this band for their music. I love this band above all for the unique aura that has, from the beginning until now and for eternity, accompanied the deeds and the memory, besides the spirit of the group.

The Led Zeppelin, although being the greatest rock'n'roll band of their period, with sales, tours, and audience acclaim like no other... managed not to be mainstream, remaining a kind of cult... practically impossible... for everyone, but not for them. (The difference of being known by everyone like the Stones is very clear).

They have been called by detractors as presumptuous, narcissistic, arrogant, egocentric, and add whatever you like. But, why should I say that it's not true if I am liked more than others?! If I am the smartest, should I say I'm a fool?! If I'm better, should I say I'm poor?! ...

“The Stones took nine months to make a record... these guys, however, for their first album, took nine days, including mixing” Glyn Johns

If there are four humble and understated musicians, it's them... then if they were on top and had the world in their grasp, I certainly don't think it's a fault. And anyway, I would have been much more arrogant than them, that's for sure.

That is also another characteristic of theirs: you will see very few photos (obviously “stolen” those very few) of parties, rockstar “deplorable” behavior from damned and cursed rockstars. They did not need it, because they emanated it themselves, there was no need for these ridiculous stunts as everyone does. They were the emblem of rock in all senses of those years, without forcing, with innate naturalness.

But it's the group spirit that truly fills my heart.

And the Book fully represents this unique, not rare characteristic of theirs.

Always together, always all for one and one for all (even when fights or, worse, personal tragedies undermined their integrity). An unparalleled camaraderie. Infinite respect and lots of love, even now, for each other.

Four great men before musicians, that's why I admire them so much.

The other day a photo on a site, which I can't find anymore (to be clear, it certainly wasn't for “advertising” as other useless ones do) depicted Robert from behind, alone, in front of John's statue in his small town... a friend going to greet a friend, that's it, beautiful.

Because if it's true that the Led Zeppelin is Jimmy's creature, it's even more true that without one of the four (indeed the five) “everything couldn't have been the same.”

Because without John Henry, they quit, because in two years and after two albums they were the most idolized band, because they paved the way for everything and everyone (quoting my historical self), because they were praised like gods, because their concerts were awaited like the event of the year, because there was Peter who also revolutionized the way of being a manager (they should build him a monument those who came after!).

"Over the past fifty years, new fans have joined every single day, determined to follow these great musicians. The stories I have heard about how the music changed some people's lives have truly moved me. I remember how music marked my life even before adolescence, so being part of a band capable of revolutionizing the musical landscape and inspiring musicians of all ages today is truly an extraordinary achievement to me" Jimmy Page.

Ask Jimmy, Peter (rip), and that guy met at the crossroads how all this was possible.

As for me, how being this affected as possible, I don't know what to tell you. But the presence of an old, neurotic, arrogant, and boastful old man is obligatory everywhere, you know, ahahahahah.

And anyway the best definition of the Zepp's impact on the public is from the Noble DeMarga here on debasio (I wanted to insert it, but now I can't remember where it is).

Thank you.