When Giants Walked the Earth

Last updated
When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin
WhenGiantsWalked.jpg
Author Mick Wall
LanguageEnglish
Subject Biography
Publisher Orion
Publication date
October 2008
Media typePrint (Paperback)
Pages520 pp
ISBN 0-7528-7547-7
OCLC 233788361

When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin is a book written by Mick Wall, published in 2008. It is a biography of the English rock band Led Zeppelin. [1]

Contents

The book tells the life stories of the band's members. The narrative of Led Zeppelin is told through a mixture of prose and interview excerpts. It was based partly on interviews which were conducted by Wall with all the surviving members of the band. [2]

Criticisms

Following the release of this publication, former Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page reportedly threatened to sue its author over the book's contents. [3] According to Page:

Wall’s just writing a book designed to cash in on something he didn’t have anything to do with. He wasn’t a creative force in Led Zep. I’m at something of a disadvantage because I haven’t chosen to read that book, but I hear it’s totally distorted from people who do know about Led Zeppelin. [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Led Zeppelin</span> English rock band (1968–1980)

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in London in 1968. The group comprised vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. With a heavy, guitar-driven sound, they are cited as one of the progenitors of hard rock and heavy metal, although their style drew from a variety of influences, including blues and folk music. Led Zeppelin have been credited as significantly impacting the nature of the music industry, particularly in the development of album-oriented rock (AOR) and stadium rock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Plant</span> English singer for Led Zeppelin (born 1948)

Robert Anthony Plant is an English singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band Led Zeppelin from its founding in 1968 until their breakup in 1980; since then he has had a successful solo career, sometimes collaborating with other artists such as Alison Krauss. Regarded by many as one of the greatest singers in rock music, he is known for his flamboyant persona and raw stage performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Page</span> English guitarist (born 1944)

James Patrick Page is an English musician and producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Prolific in creating guitar riffs, Page’s style involves various alternative guitar tunings and melodic solos, coupled with aggressive, distorted guitar tones. It is also characterized by his folk and eastern-influenced acoustic work. He is notable for occasionally playing his guitar with a cello bow to create a droning sound texture to the music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Bonham</span> English drummer (1948–1980)

John Henry Bonham was an English musician who was the drummer of the rock band Led Zeppelin. Noted for his speed, power, fast single-footed kick drumming, distinctive sound, and feel for groove, he is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential drummers in history.

<i>Coverdale–Page</i> 1993 studio album by David Coverdale and Jimmy Page

Coverdale–Page is a collaborative studio album by English singer David Coverdale and guitarist Jimmy Page. It was released on 15 March 1993 by EMI in Europe, 16 March by Geffen Records in North America and 18 March by Sony Music Entertainment in Japan. The album's production was handled by Coverdale, Page and Mike Fraser. Following the disbandment of Coverdale's band Whitesnake and a failed reunion attempt by Page's band Led Zeppelin, John Kalodner proposed the idea to Page of the musicians working together. After meeting each other, they began writing songs, which were then recorded over the course of 1991 and 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">When the Levee Breaks</span> 1929 single by Kansas Joe and Memphis Minnie

"When the Levee Breaks" is a country blues song written and first recorded by Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy in 1929. The lyrics reflect experiences during the upheaval caused by the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dazed and Confused (song)</span> 1967 song by Jake Holmes

"Dazed and Confused" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jake Holmes in 1967. Performed in a folk rock-style, he recorded it for his debut album "The Above Ground Sound" of Jake Holmes. Although some concluded that it was about a bad acid trip, Holmes insists the lyrics refer to the effects of a girl's indecision on ending a relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Grant (music manager)</span> English music manager (1935–95)

Peter Grant was an English music manager, best known as the manager of Led Zeppelin from their creation in 1968 to their breakup in 1980. With his intimidating size and weight, confrontational manner, knowledge and experience, Grant was able to procure strong and unprecedented deals for Led Zeppelin, and is widely credited with improving pay and conditions for all musicians in dealings with concert promoters. Grant has been described as "one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Shook Me</span> 1962 single by Muddy Waters

"You Shook Me" is a 1962 blues song recorded by Chicago blues artist Muddy Waters. Willie Dixon wrote the lyrics and Earl Hooker provided the instrumental backing; the song features Waters' vocal in unison with Hooker's slide-guitar melody. "You Shook Me" became one of Muddy Waters' most successful early-1960s singles and has been interpreted by several blues and rock artists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immigrant Song</span> 1970 song by Led Zeppelin

"Immigrant Song" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It is built upon a repeating riff and features lyrical references to Norse mythology, with singer Robert Plant's howling vocals mentioning war-making and Valhalla. The song was included on their 1970 album, Led Zeppelin III and released as a single. Several live recordings have also been issued on various Led Zeppelin albums. Other artists have recorded renditions of the song or performed it live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">D'yer Mak'er</span> 1973 single by Led Zeppelin

"D'yer Mak'er" ( "Jamaica") is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin, from their 1973 album Houses of the Holy. The title is a play on the words "did you make her?" being pronounced as "Jamaica" when spoken in an English accent.

"Tangerine" is a folk rock song by the English band Led Zeppelin. Recorded in 1970, it is included on the second, more acoustic-oriented side of Led Zeppelin III (1970). The plaintive ballad reflects on lost love and features strummed acoustic guitar rhythm with pedal steel guitar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1973</span> 1973 concert tour by Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin's 1973 North American Tour was the ninth concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour was divided into two legs, with performances commencing on 4 May and concluding on 29 July 1973. Rehearsals took place at Old Street Film Studios in London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Led Zeppelin Scandinavian Tour 1968</span> 1968 concert tour by Led Zeppelin

The English rock band Led Zeppelin staged a concert tour of Denmark and Sweden in September 1968. The shows marked the band's first concert tour, though they were billed under the name "the Yardbirds".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert</span> Benefit concert in memory of Ahmet Ertegun

The Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert was a benefit concert held in memory of music executive Ahmet Ertegün at the O2 Arena in London on 10 December 2007. The headline act was the English rock band Led Zeppelin, who performed their first full-length concert for almost three decades, since the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, in a one-off reunion. Bonham's son Jason Bonham played drums during the band's set, and also provided backing vocals on two songs.

Mick Wall is a British music journalist, author, and radio and TV presenter. He has been described as "the world's leading rock and metal writer".

<i>Hammer of the Gods</i> (book) 1985 book by Stephen Davis

Hammer of the Gods is a book written by music journalist Stephen Davis, published in 1985. It is an unauthorized biography of the English rock band Led Zeppelin. After its release it became a New York Times bestseller paperback, and is hyped by its publisher as being the best-known Led Zeppelin biography. It has been reprinted three times since its first publication and has been released under the alternative title Hammer of the Gods: The Led Zeppelin Saga. The title is derived from a line in "Immigrant Song", a track from the band's third album.

<i>Yardbirds 68</i> 2017 compilation album by the Yardbirds

Yardbirds '68 is a compilation album by English rock group the Yardbirds. Recorded in 1968 in New York City when the group was a quartet with guitarist Jimmy Page, it includes live performances and demos. Page produced the album, which was released in November 2017 on his own record label. It was released as a double CD and LP record.

Lori Mattix, sometimes known as Lori Maddox or Lori Lightning, is an American former child model and "baby" groupie of the 1970s. As of November 2015, she is a partner and buyer for the Glam Boutique in West Hollywood. She is perhaps best known for an interview with Thrillist in 2015 in which she made allegations of being involved in sexual relationships with David Bowie, Jimmy Page, and Mick Jagger; these are relationships which would have occurred while she was underage and while the musicians were in their twenties, although her connections to Bowie and Jagger are disputed.

References

  1. Rick Moody, "Led Zeppelin, Gods of Rock on the Celestial Staircase" New York Times , December 24, 2009.
  2. David Cheal, 'When Giants Walked the Earth: A Biography of Led Zeppelin by Mick Wall', Telegraph.co.uk, 27 October 2008.
  3. "Meticulously researched account of the world of Led Zeppelin". The Sunday Mercury. 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2022-12-17.
  4. Jackson, James (2010-01-08). "Jimmy Page on Led Zeppelin's good times, bad times and reunion rumours". The Times. Archived from the original on 2020-02-26. Retrieved 2022-12-17.