and ballroom venues across the US to headlining at New York’s highly prestigious Carnegie Hall. From there, they never looked back.
Over the next decade, Led Zeppelin reigned supreme as the number one rock attraction in all corners of the world –right up until their forced disbandment after the tragic death of John Bonham in September 1980.
That enduring success was moulded during their first tumultuous year together. During 1969 they toured the US on no fewer than three separate occasions, alongside frequent dates in the UK and Europe.
This book gets right to the heart of the evolution of Led Zeppelin via a series of key interviews from those lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time to watch their development first hand. They include various promoters, DJs, journalists, musicians and fans who attended appearances in Scandinavia, Denver, Portland, the Fillmore East and West and elsewhere. These interviews also reveal much about the American music scene of the time and the counter culture ethics that surrounded it.
Additionally there’s some enlightening info on Jimmy Page’s days with The Yardbirds and the impact they had on the US touring circuit.
The multitude of memories and anecdotes presented in this book, vividly illustrates how hard the group worked to impress every audience they encountered.
Long before the lasers, the light shows and dragon suits, back in 1969, there were four newly bonded musicians delivering a unique brand of psychedelic blues-based rock.
Frank Reddon has diligently searched out the people who witnessed their phenomenal impact.
Read on to discover the true beginnings of the Led Zeppelin legacy…
Dave Lewis
September 2011
Dave Lewis is the editor of the long running Led Zeppelin magazine Tight But Loose and the author of several books on the band – the latest being Led Zeppelin Feather In The Wind – Over Europe 1980 (Tight But Loose Publishing). Visit www.tblweb.com or email [email protected] for further info.
To Mom and Dad,
on their stairway to Heaven
You were always there for us.
How we wish you were here for this!
Who knows?
You probably are…
Frank Reddon, Author
Lou Anne Reddon, Editor
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks to my family and friends who were with me at the start line and every step along the way, throughout the multi-year marathon this book has been. Although the crowd has thinned out over the years, we’re still all together in spirit at the finish line. Wherever it is…
Mom and Dad – Lou and I are so sorry you couldn’t have stayed with us long enough to see this in print. You would have loved the process and been proud of the results. We miss you so much. Thanks for everything you did and for who you were. The music of our lives.
A very special and heartfelt thank-you to Lynda Schier for her endless patience with my lack of computer skills and the countless hours she spent formatting, printing, scanning and just being there to help with whatever was needed. For years. You’re the best!
My sincere thanks to Professor Howard Spring at the School of Fine Art and Music, University of Guelph who suggested that I write a book about Led Zeppelin someday. I hope you like it!
A huge thank-you to all my interviewees, without whom this first volume would not have been possible. Your recollections, assistance and insights have been informative and most entertaining!
Since the publication of Sonic Boom, Lou Anne and I have had the privilege of making the acquaintance of so many devoted Led Zeppelin authors, researchers, collectors and fans. We are especially indebted to Dave Lewis, an accomplished author and chronicler of the band who continues to collaborate with Led Zeppelin’s surviving members. He kindly wrote the foreword to our e-book, J.J. Jackson Remembers Led Zeppelin: The Music and The Guys Who Made It. Again, he graciously agreed to write the foreword to this e-book version of Sonic Boom.
My thanks, in no particular order, to…
Tim Milenkoff for rescuing an original copy of Led Zeppelin from the dumpster; Johnny Roy for thinking of me at every garage sale and session on eBay; Chris Van Hezewyk and family for the laughter and support – keep on drummin’, Ee-sore!; Dave Steven and Mindy McInnes for the sanity/insanity breaks, pizza and help on Facebook; Bobby Wright for his support online and off; John Dolan, Gary Schryer, Ray Picard, Stephen Pesant, Danny Gauthier, David Sidebottom, Julian Sidebottom and the talented Ernie Ricci.
Our new Danish venner : Annie, Jerry and Oliver Ritz – mange tak for taking a chance on a couple of strangers and meeting with Lou Anne and me for an evening neither of us will ever forget;
Jørgen Angel – tusind tak for your amazing photos, friendship and incredible generosity. And for Lou’s ongoing education in the danske sproge (with her apologies for all the “Danglicisms”). Hilsen og tak til Karen Angel, too; Lars Abel and Karen-Annette Madsen for sharing so many pieces of history from the Gladsaxe Teen Club with special thanks to Karen-Annette for burning the midnight oil on our behalf; Jan Bonfils and Janne Brandter for their support and contributions.
Howard Mylett, Anita, Mum and Jacko – “Thank you” is just so damned inadequate. The Nuge sends his love; Simon Pallett for daring to open the trunk; the Led Zeppelin authors who blazed the trail before me and so graciously participated in my first book: Susan Fast, Robert Godwin, Howard Mylett and Luis Rey; Pat Seward. You promised to keep an eye out for my book. Here it is, Pat. Where are you? Please get in touch! And thanks for introducing me to the Chet Helms’ crowd; Andy Vores; Eric Sachs; Fred at Music Centur in Portland, Oregon; Zani Dani for the trust, love and friendship you’ve shown to Lou and me while sharing some of your fondest memories. They don’t make ’em like you in Canada! That goes double for you, Brian Knapp…
Sam Rapallo, whom I met very late in the game but am thrilled to have as a team mate.
Heidy Lawrance and Beth Crane, our book designer who loves Led Zeppelin as much as we do. It shows in the pages of this book. We can’t thank you enough for your time and passion for the subject! The printers at Friesens; Peter Bowerman www.wellfedsp.com for his guidance through the minefield of self-publishing, his invaluable website critiques and his well-chosen encouraging words; Paul Sanderson and Kim Lundrigen-Bettencourt for keeping us on the straight and narrow. And just for being so darned cool; Mike Veitch, who crunches chords as well as numbers.
My tennis buddies and fellow runners, for the diversions that kept me sane. Marty Climenhage, Brenda Young, Rick Mauro and Margie Martin - great friends for years too numerous to mention. Mom and Dad adopted you all, you know; Bob Stanik for being Foil Boy’s confidant, role model and mentor; Cathy Stanik for putting up with Bob – and me! Barbara Socha and Kris Elmgren
