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7 Rockin' Fun Facts About Led Zeppelin You Didn't Know

illustration of led-zeppelin
Dive into the realm of rock legends as we explore some captivating, lesser-known tidbits about Led Zeppelin that will make you hum "Stairway to Heaven" with newfound appreciation.

1. Name Origins

Hearkening back to the days when conversations between rock legends were as legendary as their music, one could say Led Zeppelin's name was as "inflated" as their fortune and fame, stitched together from a zeppelin-sized leviathan of a metaphor, and a tongue-in-cheek jeer at their unlikely success: In reality, Led Zeppelin's name originated from a cheeky prediction by The Who's Keith Moon that the band would "go down like a lead balloon," prompting Page to request permission to use the name with a playful twist, swapping "balloon" for "zeppelin" and choosing the largest possible version of the metaphor, while the actual credit for the change remains disputed between Chris Dreja and John Entwistle.
Source => faroutmagazine.co.uk

2. Underage Relationship

Rock and roll was never known for being mild-mannered, but Led Zeppelin took it to a whole lotta, ahem, unlawful levels: Guitarist Jimmy Page infamously had a hidden and illegal relationship with 14-year-old Lori Maddox, keeping her sequestered in hotel rooms while visiting her amidst their concert tours.
Source => theartofexmouth.blogspot.com

3. Occult Connections

Picture Led Zeppelin as the Hogwarts School of Rock: a place where fiery guitars and mystical symbols collide for an enchanting musical experience! Now, cue the serious reveal: Though often accused of harboring hidden satanic messages within their songs, Led Zeppelin's connection to the occult was primarily fueled by Jimmy Page's fascination with Aleister Crowley's teachings, which influenced their lyrics, band name, album covers, and live performances, complete with the iconic "Zoso" symbol. However, the band denies any ties to Satanism itself.
Source => salon.com

4. Yardbirds History

Led Zepp were caught in a Whole Lotta Love Triangle: Jimmy Page, the esteemed axeman of Led Zeppelin, previously strummed sweet tunes in the Yardbirds. Not only did he replace Eric Clapton, but he went ahead and recruited Jeff Beck as a gift, raising the Yardbirds' fiery spirits with hits like "For Your Love" and "Heart Full of Soul" before bidding them adieu and forming the stairway-to-rock-heaven legends we know and adore today.
Source => boomermagazine.com

First-Time Performance

5. First-Time Performance

Talk about saving the best for last – or nearly four decades, in this case! Here's a little gem that surfaced from the depths of the Led Zeppelin playbook: During their performance at the O2 Arena in London, the band played "For Your Life" live for the first time ever, even though the song had been part of their 1976 album "Presence."
Source => reuters.com

6. Lucifer Rising Album

Before Stairway to Heaven, there was a detour through hell: Jimmy Page released a limited edition LP titled "Lucifer Rising (And Other Sound Tracks)" on his own label, jimmypage.com, in 2012, featuring music he composed for an underground film by Kenneth Anger, distinct from Anger's unreleased album of the same name.
Source => discogs.com

7. Dazed and Confused Controversy

Beware the folksy fury: Led Zeppelin found themselves in hot water with American folk singer Jake Holmes over the authorship of the legendary "Dazed and Confused." Holmes contended that he penned the tune for his 1967 debut album, even performing it during Yardbirds' shows when Jimmy Page was a member. After the Yardbirds' demise, Page nabbed the song for Led Zep's debut, only crediting himself as the songwriter. Like an exploding dirigible, the lawsuit rained down on Page, ultimately settling out of court and updating the credits to include the folksy Holmes' inspiration.
Source => faroutmagazine.co.uk

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