“Heavy Metal would not exist without Led Zeppelin, and if it did, it would suck. Led Zeppelin were more than just a band—they were the perfect combination of the most intense elements: passion and mystery and expertise…The greatest rock band of all time.” –Dave Grohl, Rolling Stone
“Led Zeppelin, in my eyes, was the most unique and influential hard rock band of all time, bar none. Their chemistry of four extremely talented musicians is to this day unparalleled, as is the fantastic music they produced.” —Slash
Few bands can lay claim to as many legions of dedicated fans as Led Zeppelin. Forty years since the release of their first album and nearly thirty years since they disbanded, rumors fueled by wishful thinking still swirl about a reunion tour. Similarly, endless myths and legends continue to cloud our understanding of this band’s history on and off the stage.
Fortunately, New York Times bestselling biographer Charles R. Cross brings us LED ZEPPELIN: SHADOWS TALLER THAN OUR SOULS The Albums, Concerts, Memorabilia, and Biography of the Gods of Rock (It Books; On Sale: October 6, 2009; Hardcover; $50.00)—a fresh look at Led Zeppelin’s legendary musical contributions and their history as rock icons. This book utilizes a breathtaking, interactive format full of removable reproductions of ticket stubs, set lists, magazine covers, posters, and backstage passes. Cross takes readers back to every concert, every album release, and every media explosion. With stunning photographs and an audio CD of Jimmy Page’s greatest interview ever, LED ZEPPELIN: SHADOWS TALLER THAN OUR SOULS brings the larger-than-life legends into readers’ hands in very real, visceral sense.
Counter to the dominant media portrayal of their superstardom with ribald tales of wild offstage antics, Cross examines each of Zeppelin’s nine albums, arguing that the Gods of Rock sold millions because of the intricate musical depth that they brought to so many genres—not just the thudding, metal aspect of their sound. And while no Zeppelin biography would be complete without some of the tragedy and drama of their off-stage lives, this book focuses on intimacy, not sensationalism. Cross uncovers details that have never before been highlighted about the way Zeppelin’s music was crafted, how it was received at the time, and how the band operated outside the spotlight in their private universe.
Charles R. Cross is an ideal biographer for Led Zeppelin. He is the author of six other books, including 2001’s Heavier Than Heaven: The Biography of Kurt Cobain (Hyperion), which was called “one of the most moving and revealing books ever written about a rock star” by the Los Angeles Times. His other books include 2004’s bestselling Room Full of Mirrors: The Biography of Jimi Hendrix (Hyperion), and one previous volume on Led Zeppelin, Heaven and Hell (Harmony Books), which MTV called the “coolest book ever on Led Zeppelin.” That praise no doubt will now apply to LED ZEPPELIN: SHADOWS TALLER THAN OUR SOULS.
LED ZEPPELIN: SHADOWS TALLER THAN OUR SOULS The Albums, Concerts, Memorabilia, and Biography of the Gods of Rock (It Books; On Sale: October 6, 2009; Hardcover; $50.00) features a fully interactive format, including rare photographs, an audio CD of Jimmy Page discussing what he had in mind when forming the band, and removable reproductions of ticket stubs, set lists, magazine covers, posters, and backstage passes. With these amazing visuals, New York Times bestselling biographer Charles R. Cross transports his reader back to every concert, every album release, and every media explosion. LED ZEPPELIN: SHADOWS TALLER THAN OUR SOULS is more than just a book: it is a full-sensory experience that music fans will cherish for years to come.
In 1969, a group of inexperienced 18 year-old boys from England released their first album. Forty years later, that album is regarded as one of the most “groundbreaking albums in rock’n’roll history,” and that group—Led Zepplin—is ranked as the second bestselling band of all time. Now, in celebration of the 40th anniversary of that release and amid rumors of a possible reunion tour, comes LED ZEPPELIN: SHADOWS TALLER THAN OUR SOULS, a fresh, captivating picture of Zeppelin’s fabled narrative.
In this definitive collection, Cross reveals never-before highlighted details about the way Zeppelin’s music was crafted, how it was received, and how the band operated outside the spotlight. Cross rips away age-old stereotypes and myths, drawing upon personal correspondence, first-hand accounts, and new research. And he examines the band’s legendary musical contributions, album by album, focusing not on the metal aspect of their sound, but instead on their musical depth, which drew upon so many genres.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charles R. Cross (http://charlesrcross.com/) is the author of six other books, including 2001’s Heavier Than Heaven: The Biography of Kurt Cobain (Hyperion), which was called “one of the most moving and revealing books ever written about a rock star” by the Los Angeles Times. His other books include 2004’s bestselling Room Full of Mirrors: The Biography of Jimi Hendrix (Hyperion), and one previous volume on Led Zeppelin, Heaven and Hell (Harmony Books), which MTV called the “coolest book ever on Led Zeppelin.”
LED ZEPPELIN: SHADOWS TALLER THAN OUR SOULS
The Albums, Concerts, Memorabilia, and Biography of the Gods of Rock
By Charles R. Cross
It Books
On Sale: October 6, 2009
104 pages / $50.00
ISBN: 978-0-06180-914-9
