Time was, that headline would have been pretty commonplace. But since Led Zeppelin haven't released a new studio album since 1982, it's quite something in 2011.
Led Zeppelin IV, originally released in 1971, is on this week's Billboard 200 chart at #166. What's up with that? Well, if you count backwards from 2,011 you'll realize that the album (the one whose title actually consisted of four symbols, each representing a member of the band) is celebrating its 40th anniversary, no doubt stimulating interest in the album that has also been referred to as Zoso (Jimmy Page's symbol) or The Runes or Four Symbols.
When it was originally released, the album (which contained thee of the band's best known songs: "Stairway to Heaven," "Black Dog" and "Rock and Roll") reached the top of virtually every album chart in the world. It consistently does well on Billboard's Catalog Albums chart, where it's #41 this week.
Album cover image courtesy Atlantic Records
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Led Zeppelin IV, originally released in 1971, is on this week's Billboard 200 chart at #166. What's up with that? Well, if you count backwards from 2,011 you'll realize that the album (the one whose title actually consisted of four symbols, each representing a member of the band) is celebrating its 40th anniversary, no doubt stimulating interest in the album that has also been referred to as Zoso (Jimmy Page's symbol) or The Runes or Four Symbols.
When it was originally released, the album (which contained thee of the band's best known songs: "Stairway to Heaven," "Black Dog" and "Rock and Roll") reached the top of virtually every album chart in the world. It consistently does well on Billboard's Catalog Albums chart, where it's #41 this week.
Album cover image courtesy Atlantic Records
About.com Classic Rock: Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter
Comments
Why am I not surprised? Led Zeppelin IV is a masterpiece of technical brilliance. Personally my two favorite songs on the album are “The Battle of Evermore” because of its mystical blend of Celtic influence fantasy (i.e. Tolkien) elements and “Misty Mountain Hop” which highlights phenomenal keyboards. I always lament the fact that John Bonham died so prematurely. Who knows if he lived, Led Zeppelin might still be recording as consistently as a super group like Queen or the Stones? Led Zeppelin set the bar very high indeed in the realm of classic rock.
I don’t wish to sound egotistical here but from experience, as we age we find the voice changes, and the power to hit those high notes diminishes together with the ability to sing rock without intervals between gigs.
Because it’s very physical many drummers just lose the stamina they once had, technique aside!
I think Robert Plant stated something similar when interviewed 2 or 3 years back regarding the revival of Led Zep!