Unexpected musical partnerships that rocked the charts
Jimmy Page is an unusual human being. That’s probably the price you pay for being one of the best guitarists of all time. Did you know, for instance, that he once played a gig in full Nazi SS uniform?
In July 1969, following a performance at the Seattle Pop Festival, the band and a groupie sought refuge at the Edgewater Inn. What followed was an infamous incident with a shark.
The tale remains unchallenged, but it is frequently linked to a different group called Vanilla Fudge. The validity of this claim, however, has never been confirmed.
Eight years after the well-known shark incident at Seattle's Edgewater Inn, the band returned, promising to exhibit exemplary conduct. That night they threw five television sets out the window, resulting in a hotel bill amounting to US$2,500.
Led Zeppelin invented trashing hotel rooms, which has now become a tired cliché. During their heyday, the music industry was flourishing, allowing them to basically afford anything, and hotel room repairs on top.
It got so bad that Page was once chained to a toilet (with a groupie to keep him company) to stop him from breaking things and racking up a big bill.
Filmmaker Kenneth Anger was in the process of creating 'Lucifer Rising' (1972) when he crossed paths with guitarist Jimmy Page, who was usually under the influence of drugs.
Page and Anger had an agreement for Page to compose the film's music. However, disputes arose as Page failed to meet the deadline. Anger required 40 minutes of music but received only 20, prompting him to publicly criticize Page.
Speaking about the ordeal, Kenneth Anger stated, "He's a miser, which is a horrible thing. He wouldn't even pay for lunch. So I said: 'Isn't it preposterous that you're so cheap?' And that of course insulted him. He was on heroin all the time—I hate all those druggies because their eyes get glazed and what they say is meaningless because they don't follow through."
Page’s interests extended beyond just music. He developed a strong fixation on the British mystic and occult figure, Aleister Crowley. This preoccupation notably influenced Led Zeppelin’s artistic choices, including their selection of artwork and imagery.
In 1970, Page acquired a residence in the Scottish Highlands which had previously belonged to Crowley. It is widely believed that Crowley engaged in rituals and dark arts in this house. It's even said that one of the rites was disrupted and caused spiritual unrest.
Page stopped going to the house, referring to the "bad vibes" there. Page claimed to have encountered a ghostly presence in the house. Malcolm Dent, an acquaintance of Page's who was tasked with looking after the property, allegedly underwent similar encounters including doors shutting forcefully and rugs and carpets mysteriously piling up by themselves.
During a 1977 concert at Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum, there was a disturbance when fans without tickets rushed the gates and began throwing bottles and rocks to crash the show
In the same year, a thunderstorm interrupted a show in Tampa, Florida, resulting in rioting, arrests, and over 50 people sustaining injuries.
Page and Bonham, feeling bored at a hotel one night, came up with a daring scheme to introduce Page to female fans. Their plan involved presenting Page on a room service cart covered in whipped cream, with Bonham assuming the role of a bellhop.
Reports have claimed that Jimmy Page had an association with Satan worship. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Page disclosed, "I don't really want to go on about my personal beliefs or my involvement in magic."
In the early '70s, Page developed an interest in a young woman named Lori Maddox while in LA. During his stay at the renowned Hyatt House in Hollywood, he requested her presence in his room. She was 14 years old.
It is possible that their relationship was purely platonic. Nevertheless, it is uncommon for an adult man to seek friendship with a girl of such a young age. No legal actions were taken regarding any potential statutory r ape. She was also rumored to be dating David Bowie at the time, too.
In the 2000 movie 'Almost Famous' directed by Cameron Crowe, a rowdy rock and roller is seen riding a motorcycle down a hotel hallway. While it might seem excessive, this scene is actually based on a true story about Led Zeppelin.
During one of his stays at the famed Chateau Marmont hotel, John Bonham carried out one of the most famous events in rock 'n' roll history by boldly riding his motorcycle right through the lobby.
He died on the same day of rehearsals with guitarist Jimmy Page, while drinking quadruple vodkas. During his sleep that night, he became sick due to alcohol and accidentally choked on his own bile.
While on vacation in the Greek island Rhodes, Robert Plant's wife had a car accident where she lost control and collided with a tree. As a result, Plant suffered severe injuries, shattering his right leg and breaking his ankle and elbow. This marked the start of a series of unfortunate events that culminated in the tragic loss of their son.
Within one day of his son being diagnosed with a viral infection in his stomach, the son's condition deteriorated. He was quickly taken to the hospital by ambulance, but unfortunately, he passed away before reaching it.
Sources: (Ranker)
See also: Female rock stars who shaped the history of rock 'n' roll
In July 1977, Karac Pendragon Plant, the son of Plant, died at the age of five during Led Zeppelin's tour in the United States. This tragic event had a profound impact on the family.
John Bonham was an alcoholic. He died from drinking in 1980, at the age of 32. Living the way he did with the band probably wasn't helping his substance abuse issues.
In the mid-70s, a Zeppelin groupie named Pamela Des Barres claimed that he would wear a complete SS regalia uniform and visit drag clubs in it. Additionally, Pamela Des Barres stated that he would consume heroin in these clubs.
Led Zeppelin could be considered the first heavy rock band and is widely regarded as one of the greatest music groups in history. With nine monumental albums, unforgettable live shows, and record sales in the hundreds of millions worldwide, their influence and respect in the music community cannot be overstated. But there is more to their story. Having spent a considerable amount of time on the road wreaking havoc in hotel rooms, consuming unimaginable amounts of drugs, and engaging in even more reprehensible behavior, this group sets the bar for excess.
Curious? Click on to uncover some of the most outrageous stories about Led Zeppelin.
Aquarium of Genoa. Shark. Italy
The Inn was conveniently located near the water, allowing guests to fish straight from their rooms. And they did, catching a mud shark! After the room filled with groupies later in the evening, they performed adult acts on a young woman who was tied down, involving the shark.
Led Zeppelin unleashed: stories of rock 'n' roll excess
The outrageous, untamed, and sometimes heartbreaking adventures of rock legends
MUSIC Rock
Led Zeppelin could be considered the first heavy rock band and is widely regarded as one of the greatest music groups in history. With nine monumental albums, unforgettable live shows, and record sales in the hundreds of millions worldwide, their influence and respect in the music community cannot be overstated. But there is more to their story. Having spent a considerable amount of time on the road wreaking havoc in hotel rooms, consuming unimaginable amounts of drugs, and engaging in even more reprehensible behavior, this group sets the bar for excess.
Curious? Click on to uncover some of the most outrageous stories about Led Zeppelin.