Led Zeppelin Books - Past, Present and FutureCompared to The Beatles or The Rolling Stones, there simply aren’t as many Led Zeppelin books available. Don’t get me wrong. There are many excellent books you should read. Half the challenge (and fun) is just finding them!
One thing you have to understand is how the music and broadcasting industries in the 1960s were very different from today’s digital world. No PCs, CDs or MP3s. FM radio was just catching on. Hard to imagine, isn’t it? Those industries changed largely because of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. While other groups continued to churn out hit singles, they pioneered the album concept that would revolutionize the format of FM radio and spur the spread of FM stations. How the Baby Boomers Changed EverythingUntil the 1960s, the few FM radio stations that existed were mainly devoted to playing classical music. But the audience for that was dwindling to the point of being unprofitable. FM stations had to start catering to a bigger demographic.
This cool, hip “underground” aspect is largely why there are so few Led Zeppelin books. The Beatles were media darlings, constantly in the papers and on TV. The socio-cultural phenomenon of Beatlemania was global mainstream news. The Rolling Stones, while seen as “the bad boys” compared to the mod Beatles, also promoted themselves heavily. Zeppelin’s manager, Peter Grant, decided early on to let the music and concert experience promote his band. Classic Rock. Classic Books.The pillars of the Led Zeppelin literature were written by people who saw the band perform live. Many of these Led Zeppelin books are now out of print, but are still actively traded and sought by collectors. Look for titles by Dave Lewis, Howard Mylett, Luis Rey, Robert Godwin, Chris Welch and Stephen Davis. Many of those authors continued their passion of documenting Led Zeppelin even after the group dissolved in 1980. Some of them have released updated versions of their books, such as The Concert File, by Dave Lewis and Simon Pallett. Others, like Chris Welch, have written brand-new books on specific aspects of the band’s history such as his excellent Peter Grant. The Man Who Led Zeppelin. Keith Shadwick provides some of the best -ever in-depth analysis of the group’s music. Books by Robert Godwin and Luis Rey have become Bibles for Led Zeppelin collectors. They document the bootleg culture, analyze live concert recordings and catalogue the repertoire of unofficial releases. Bob Walker’s Hot Wacks Press also published invaluable boot discographies. A New Generation of AuthorsThe contemporary Led Zeppelin book, In the Houses of the Holy by Canadian professor, Susan Fast, presents a scholarly approach to analyzing the band’s music. And, commemorating the band’s 40th anniversary, several new Led Zeppelin books have been published. Jon Bream’s Whole Lotta Led Zeppelin is a stunning retrospective of photos, memorabilia and concert history combined with contemporary all-star tributes to the band. Books by respected journalist Mick Wall and promoter Danny Goldberg were also published in 2008. I’m deeply honoured and grateful that my own debut book, Sonic Boom: The Impact of Led Zeppelin. Volume 1 – Break & Enter, has been so well received. As reviews become available, we’ll be posting them on this site. Please watch this website for updates on future publication dates!
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