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Daily Record
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Led Zeppelin fans surprised to discover origins behind band name
Long before Led Zeppelin became music legends, they were simply a band on the hunt for the perfect name. And fans have been shocked to discover the roots of the group's iconic title. The journey towards the band's name began with guitarist Jimmy Page. Back in 1966, Jimmy stepped into a group called The Yardbirds as a replacement for bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, but it wasn't long before he took the role of lead guitarist. After many changes to the group's line-up, Jimmy was the last man standing when The Yardbirds disbanded in 1968. Obliged to play out the remaining gigs, he decided to get a new band together. Jimmy first brought in vocalist Robert Plant, who then recommended drummer John Bonham. Bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones was the last to get on board, after learning of the opportunity from his wife, who'd spotted it in the newspaper, reports the Mirror US. They hit the road in Scandinavia as The New Yardbirds, oblivious to the trouble this name would drop them into. Chris Dreja, an ex-Yardbirds member, sent a cease-and-desist their way, insisting the old name was only meant for the concluding tour dates of the original band. A new moniker for the band was required, and they needed it quick. And their now legendary name would come from a conversation occurred years prior. Jimmy had once mused about starting a supergroup with Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle. Jimmy recalls during those chats, Keith quipped such a band would "go down like a lead balloon". In a chat with the Academy of Achievement back in 2017, Jimmy said: "It was a name that Keith Moon had mentioned back then. He was talking, 'Wouldn't it be fun to have a band called Led Zeppelin?' And I asked him if we could use the name because I was gonna be in this band Led Zeppelin with Keith Moon, so was Jeff Beck." As he was brainstorming names for his new band in 1968, Jimmy remembered that previous suggestion. However, rather than going with 'lead balloon', they aimed for something more imposing. The spelling of 'lead' was tweaked to avoid mispronunciation by American fans as 'leed', and 'balloon' was switched out for 'zeppelin'. Before making their debut as Led Zeppelin, the group took a cautious step. During the recording sessions of their inaugural album in late 1968, tapes were labelled 'New Yardbirds' to maintain secrecy about the group's new name. Jimmy said: "Even on the first recordings, it said 'New Yardbirds' on the box because I didn't want anybody to know what the name of the band was until we really officially unveiled it." By the end of 1968, the band emerged into the music world as Led Zeppelin. Just months later, their first self-titled album hit the record stores, and Led Zeppelin's ground-breaking merge of blues, rock and state-of-the-art production took 1969 by storm. But the true story remains a bit of a mystery. Some have said John Entwistle coined the term "lead balloon" rather than Keith Moon, while others reckon it was Chris Dreja's legal warning that really sparked the change. Yet, it's Jimmy Page's account that often hits the headlines, as he unwaveringly attributes the inspiration to Keith Moon – a story the legendary guitarist supports to this day.
Irish Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Led Zeppelin got their name from a rock legend from another iconic band
Before they became rock icons and cemented their status in music history, Led Zeppelin were just four musicians searching for a band name. The story begins with Jimmy Page. Back in 1966, he stepped into The Yardbirds as a replacement for bassist Paul Samwell-Smith, swiftly transitioning to lead guitar duties. However, after some turbulent line-up changes Jimmy found himself the sole remaining member as The Yardbirds disbanded by 1968. Obliged to perform some remaining gigs, he quickly got to work putting together a fresh group. He first brought on board vocalist Robert Plant, who then recommended drummer John Bonham. John Paul Jones, adept at bass and keys, completed the quartet after learning about the project from his wife, who'd spotted an ad in a newspaper, reports the Mirror US. They briefly toured Scandinavia using the moniker 'The New Yardbirds' to meet previous obligations - however, the usage of that title was short-lived. Former Yardbirds mate Chris Dreja apparently served up a cease-and-desist notice, saying the original name was sanctioned solely for finishing up the tour dates. A swiftly needed alternative name would come from an unlikely anecdote. Jimmy had once considered forming a 'supergroup' with Jeff Beck, Keith Moon, and John Entwistle. During discussions, Jimmy remembered, legendary drummer Keith joked such a band would "go down like a lead balloon". In a chat with the Academy of Achievement in 2017, Jimmy said: "It was a name that Keith Moon had mentioned back then. He was talking, 'Wouldn't it be fun to have a band called Led Zeppelin?' And I asked him if we could use the name because I was gonna be in this band Led Zeppelin with Keith Moon, so was Jeff Beck." When the time came to christen his new band in 1968, Jimmy recalled the earlier conversation. Dropping the 'a' from 'lead' to avoid mispronunciation by American fans as 'leed', and swapping 'balloon' for 'zeppelin', Led Zeppelin was born. Before fully committing to their legendary identity, Led Zeppelin took a discreet intermediate step. As they laid down tracks for their debut album in late 1968, they covertly labelled the tapes 'New Yardbirds' to conceal their actual name for a little while longer. Jimmy said: "Even on the first recordings, it said 'New Yardbirds' on the box because I didn't want anybody to know what the name of the band was until we really officially unveiled it." By the end of 1968, they emerged triumphantly as Led Zeppelin. Just months later, their seminal first album hit record store shelves, with the 1969 record astonishing listeners with its fusion of blues, hard rock, and cutting-edge production techniques. Clearly, the tale of how the iconic name came about has its variations. There are some who insist it was John Entwistle, not Keith Moon, who made the "lead balloon" remark, while another camp credits Chris Dreja's legal warning as the true impetus for the switch. Nevertheless, Jimmy Page has always attributed the inspiration for the band's name to Keith Moon — and that's the account the legendary guitarist firmly upholds.
