Scan barcode
titus_hjelm's review against another edition
4.0
This book is almost as legendary as the band itself. The black magic references are forced, to say the least, but in other ways it was a readable account of the band. The most striking thing was all the violence surrounding the musicians, Bonzo being one of the main perpetrators. The weakest part by far is the new post 1985 additions where the author puts down David Coverdale, for example. In all honesty, this 'second rate metal crooner' has surpassed Plant in every way as a singer, at least since 'Houses of the Holy'--imitator or not.
svenshah's review against another edition
5.0
Yeah, it's trashy, and unauthorized, but as a modern day fairy tale, legend, myth, the story never gets old. Whatever irony may have mixed with voyeurism, has been replaced by respect for the skill at which their own story was so well-framed that even an outside biographer could but solidify the tale.
denisemar76's review against another edition
5.0
Astoundingly well written for a rock bio. Details include not only the tour shenanigans and performance reviews, but their philosophies and artistic aspirations, roots in Mythology, connections to blues, and reception in the US and Europe. As a huge fan of Robert Plant and LZ, I’m wondering how i missed out on this book. Published in 1985, it’s been updated to about 2007. Davis is obviously a fan of the group but doesn’t hesitate to depict their flaws. A must read for anyone who loves rock music.
mlrio's review against another edition
3.0
If there's such a thing as pulp non-fiction, this is it. Davis's writing is lurid, self-indulgent, and ridiculous. But it's also undeniably fun to read (a particularly colorful description of the band and entourage as a kind of hard-rock Robin Hood gang--which casts the ever-provocative Robert Plant as Maid Marian--leaps to mind). One is of course left wondering how much of Davis's account is actually true, but without the mystery and the raised eyebrows and the vague accusations of pacts with the devil, it really wouldn't be Led Zeppelin.
charleseliot's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
3.5
Exhaustive, and a bit exhausting.
celeste_ilene's review against another edition
4.0
I could have read this over 20 years ago and didn’t because they were my gods. I avoided the reality because I knew there was a lot that was not good. All that being said it’s an engaging read that does the timeline well.
It was interesting to read about how they really knew they were done when it was done, and losing John Bonham sealed it.
Also, despite the bad behavior I still believe that the formation of the band was nothing short of destiny and magic because of the gift they gave to the world.
It was interesting to read about how they really knew they were done when it was done, and losing John Bonham sealed it.
Also, despite the bad behavior I still believe that the formation of the band was nothing short of destiny and magic because of the gift they gave to the world.
carriegunther's review against another edition
2.0
I'm still trying to slog through this one, but so far it is unbearably boring.
steveno's review against another edition
3.0
This book talks a lot less explicitly about Jimmy Page's heroin use (compared to Wall's Zepplin book).
Neither book talks about the music in great detail, which makes me wonder if Zepplin just worked very quickly and painlessly in the studio.
Neither book talks about the music in great detail, which makes me wonder if Zepplin just worked very quickly and painlessly in the studio.
greg_talbot's review against another edition
3.0
At a deserted crossroad on dark moonless night, Robert Johnson makes a deal with the devil himself. The gift of glory, fame, women, and Earthly eternity, are given to the young buck, all for the price of his soul. Stephen Davis chronicles the ascent and mythology of another trailblazer in modern music, Led Zeppelin, a British quartet that defined 1970s rock with lyrics of mythology, fantasy, and an unleashed sexual appetite. Like Robert Johnson, they made their deal...transmogrifying the blues into a new sound to awaken young people across America.
“Hammer of the Gods” is often described for it’s account of the feckless beats of the rockstar lifestyle. The drugs, the women, the shark story. It’s the classic rock story before the story existed. Four provincial lads found little respect in their homeland, but conquered America with epics like
"Whole Lotta Love", "Dazed and Confused", "Good Times Bad Times" and the transcendent
monster ballad "Stairway to Heaven". It’s the travelogue, the gossip page, the facts behind the songs, and the truth beyond the images.
Although it lionizes these men, it also brings a lenses of humanity and banality to their exist. The fights with the record labels over creative decisions. The savage critical response to issues like Robert Plant’s voice, and dull response of critics in England. And tellingly that all of the chaos and madness was happening to kids, describing how members of the band would sleep with the lights on for the first tours, due to homesickness.
For any Zeppelin fan, or classic rock fan, this book is a must. It’s a fairly straightforward approach toward the career of Plant, Jones, Page and Bonham. The stories can get pretty out there, and can be a lot of fun (the George Harrison cake story, p.2000). And it can be sobering too, seeing how quickly the largest rock band is dethroned by the anti-establishment punk rock bands from working class English neighborhoods.
At times I was remisciening on “Almost Famous”, or Mark Kozelek’s memorable “I Watched the Film the Song Remains the Same”, the way our artifacts today reference this now mythical time of excess and bombast. Zeppelin were unmatched for their early 70s for memorable hard hitting stadium rock. Songs and albums that would come together in weeks ran out of steam after the band was at its apogee with the release of “Physical Graffiti” . With Bonham’s death, and the death of Robert Plant’s son...the drive and desire to go on evaporated...and a band of the caliber, size and style disappeared. These mythological gods delivered us lightning bolts of fully realized mesmerizing albums, the full throttled “Zeppelin II”, or the hauntingly fragile “Zeppelin III”, or the expansive “Houses of the Holy”. Having delivered their message across the world and delivering the spirit of rock and roll, they disappeared from our lowly world into a higher plain of existence. Long may they be remembered, the great Led Zeppelin.