Happy anniversary to the epoch-making LED ZEPPELIN debut Led Zeppelin!

Late March is the UK release date for the foundational Led Zeppelin debut. Coming after the success of the early British Invasion bands, Led Zeppelin set the standard for heavy rock. In particular, American audiences were very welcoming to Led Zeppelin and would soon propel them to stardom in the U.S. and then internationally.

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Atlantic Records

January 12, 1969 (USA)

March 28, 1969 UK (according to Godledblog)

March 31, 1969 UK (according to Wikipedia)

Robert Plant – Jimmy Page – John Paul Jones – John Bonham –

Good Times Bad Times. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You. You Shook Me. Dazed And Confused. Your Time Is Gonna Come. Black Mountain Side. Communication Breakdown. I Can't Quit You Baby. How Many More Times.

Led Zeppelin vs. Rolling Stone (1969)

Rolling Stone magazine is notorious for having gotten it all so wrong. John Mendelsohn gave the album a very negative review:

"‘Led Zeppelin’: Blues Combo Dead on Arrival. Jimmy Page is, admittedly, an extraordinarily proficient blues guitarist and explorer of his instrument’s electronic capabilities. Unfortunately, he is also a very limited producer and a writer of weak, unimaginative songs. The most representative cut is “How Many More Times.” Here, a jazzy introduction gives way to a driving, guitar-dominated background for Robert Plant’s strained and unconvincing shouting. Zeppelin has produced an album sadly reminiscent of the Jeff Beck Group’s Truth. To fill the void created by the demise of Cream, they will have to find some material worthy of their collective attention."

American rock fans strongly disagreed with Rolling Stone. They voted with their money and their feet. The album was a massive success, and fans quickly began to fill the venues. The rest is history.

Led Zeppelin - Good Times Bad Times (Official Audio)