Proving that a band is truly the sum of its parts, this music history traces the influences and experiences that would later converge to form Led Zeppelin. Every recording and live session made by the future band members is traced and woven into a rich and insightful web of influences that contains a complete family tree of their musical and professional colleagues as well as a massive discography and list of live performances. Staggering insight into the workings of this period's big wigs and foot soldiers accompany details on bands and records that were recently discovered to have featured Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, and John Paul Jones. Rare photographs of the bandmates in their preLed Zeppelin incarnations are included along with original interviews with their friends and colleagues.
Alan Clayson has written more than 30 books on various musicians, includingGeorge Harrison, Keith Moon, The Little Box of Beatles, The Walrus Was Ringo, and The Yardbirds. His work regularly appears in a variety of publications that includeThe Daily Mail, FHM, Mojo, and Record Collector.