January 9, 1944 James Patrick Page born Heston in Middlesex, UK. January 3, 1946 John Paul Jones (Baldwin) born Sidcup in Kent, UK. May 31, 1948 John Henry Bonham born Redditch in Worcestershire, UK. August 20, 1948 Robert Anthony Plant born West Bromwich in Staffordshire, UK. January 1963 Jimmy Page plays his first record session, on Jet & Tony’s ‘Diamonds’. June 1966 Jimmy Page joins the Yardbirds, playing bass guitar. November 1966 Jimmy Page takes Jeff Beck’s place playing lead guitar with the Yardbirds. March 1967 John Bonham and Robert Plant begin playing together in the Band of Joy. August 1968 Jimmy Page asks Robert Plant to sing with the New Yardbirds. September 1968 The New Yardbirds rehearse with Jimmy Page on guitar, Robert Plant singing vocals, John Paul Jones on bass, and John Bonham on drums. September 14, 1968 The New Yardbirds debut show in Copenhagen, Denmark. October 1968 The debut album Led Zeppelin was recorded at Olympic Studios in Barnes, London. October 17, 1968 First appearance under the name Led Zeppelin, at Surrey University. November 1968 Led Zeppelin signs to Atlantic Records. December 26, 1968 First American show, in Denver, Colorado. January 17, 1969 Led Zeppelin released in America. March 25, 1969 Led Zeppelin filmed for Super Session movie in Staines, England. October 31, 1969 Led Zeppelin II released. October 23, 1970 Led Zeppelin III released. March 5, 1971 Led Zeppelin first performs “Stairway to Heaven” live, at Ulster Hall, Belfast, N. Ireland. November 12, 1971 Led Zeppelin IV released. November 20, 1972 100,000 tickets sold in one day for a UK tour. March 26, 1973 Houses of the Holy released. May 5, 1973 Led Zeppelin plays for 56,800 fans in Tampa Stadium, Florida. July 29, 1973 Led Zeppelin robbed of $203,000 at the Drake Hotel in New York City. May 10, 1974 Led Zeppelin launches the Swan Song logo. February 24, 1975 Physical Graffiti, a double album, is released. May 17, 1975 The first of five shows at London’s Earls Court arena. August 4, 1975 Robert Plant was seriously injured in a car crash in Rhodes. April 5, 1976 Presence released. October 20, 1976 World premier of the Led Zeppelin movie The Song Remains the Same. April 1, 1977 Led Zeppelin’s eleventh tour opens in Dallas, Texas. July 23, 1977 Led Zeppelin entourage was involved in a fight backstage at the Oakland Coliseum. July 26, 1977 Robert Plant’s son Karac dies at home in England. The US tour is cancelled. August 4, 1979 The first of two appearances in Knebworth, Herts, England. These would be their last shows in Britain. August 20, 1979 In Through the Out Door, Led Zeppelin’s last studio album, released. June 17, 1980 Led Zeppelin’s last European tour starts at Westfalen Halle, Dortmund, Germany. September 25, 1980 John Bonham was found dead at Jimmy Page’s home in Windsor, Berkshire. December 4, 1980 Led Zeppelin announces their break-up.
