31st July 1971, Led Zeppelin II was on the UK album chart. The group's first No.1 abum went on to spend a total of 138 weeks on the chart. Led Zeppelin II is the band's first album to feature Page playing a 1959 Gibson Les Paul, the electric guitar he helped popularise.

20th May 1969, Led Zeppelin started three days of recording and mixing sessions at A&R Studios in New York City, which included the recording of Heartbreaker and various other parts for new tracks for the group's forthcoming second album. The band were under pressure to finish sessions for their second album so they could release it in time for the Autumn market. http://youtu.be/mYWxE-ShdXc

10th May 1969, Led Zeppelin made their first appearance on the UK album chart when the band's debut album charted at No. 6, going on to spend 71 weeks on the UK chart. It entered the US chart the following week at No. 10. Recorded in around 36 hours, the album is now considered one of the most important debuts in rock, creating an entirely new interpretation of the Rock And Roll genre, with groundbreaking musical styles and recording techniques.

16th April 1970, Whole Lotta Love was certified Gold in the US after selling over a million copies. The single had peaked at No. 4 on the US singles chart. In the UK Atlantic Records had expected to issue the edited version themselves, and pressed initial copies for release on 5th December 1969. However, band manager Peter Grant was adamant that the band maintain a 'no-singles' approach to marketing their recorded music in the UK, and he halted the release.

14th April 1973, Led Zeppelin started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK album chart with Houses Of The Holy, also a No.1 in the US. The children featured on the cover of the album climbing over the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland are brother and sister Stefan and Samantha Gates. Houses Of The Holy has now been certified 11 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 11 million copies.

31st March 1976, Led Zeppelin released Presence, their seventh studio album, on their own Swan Song Records in the UK. Presence has now been certified 3 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 3 million copies. http://youtu.be/W9K-Zv_pTfk

29th March 1975, Led Zeppelin saw all six of their albums in the US Top 100 chart in the same week, alongside their latest album Physical Graffiti at No.1. Physical Graffiti has now been certified 16 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 16 million copies.

28th March 1973, Led Zeppelin released Houses Of The Holy in the UK. The album title was a dedication by the band to their fans who appeared at venues they dubbed 'Houses of the Holy'. Houses Of The Holy has now been certified 11 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 11 million copies.

27th March 1975, Led Zeppelin played the last of three sold-out nights at The Forum, Los Angeles, California at the end of a North American tour. The set list included: Rock And Roll, Sick Again, Over The Hills And Far Away, In My Time Of Dying, The Song Remains The Same, The Rain Song, Kashmir, No Quarter. http://youtu.be/8n2c7ST-3fI

26th March 2006, Readers of Total Guitar magazine voted the guitar solo by Jimmy Page in Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' as the greatest guitar solo of all time. The 1971 track was voted ahead of tracks by Van Halen, Queen, Jimi Hendrix and The Eagles. On the 20th anniversary of the original release of the song, it was announced via US radio sources that the song had logged up an estimated 2,874,000 radio plays - back to back, that would run for 44 years solid. http://youtu.be/dmKeIlJq4gM

22nd March 1975, Led Zeppelin started a six-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Physical Graffiti, the group's fourth US No.1 album. On its first day of release in the US, the album shipped a million copies – no other album in the history of Atlantic records had generated so many sales. Physical Graffiti has now been certified 16 times Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for US sales in excess of 16 million copies. http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/pages/physical_graffiti

6th March 1971, Led Zeppelin appeared at the National Boxing Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, the group's first show in Dublin, where they played 'Stairway To Heaven' live for only the second time. A local review the following day said; 'Stairway to Heaven was one of the new numbers which starts off in a relaxed way and builds up into heavy rock. Page switched to a twin-necked guitar with six and twelve strings and featured some nice finger-style work in the introduction'. http://youtu.be/dmKeIlJq4gM

5th March 1971, Led Zeppelin started a 12-date 'Thank You' tour for British fans, appearing at the clubs from their early days and charging the same admission prices as in 1968. The first show was at The Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland where they played songs from their upcoming fourth album, including the first public performances of 'Black Dog', 'Stairway To Heaven', 'Going To California' and 'Rock And Roll'. http://youtu.be/6tlSx0jkuLM

On this day 24th February 1975, Led Zeppelin released their sixth album Physical Graffiti in the UK. Recording sessions had been disrupted when bassist and keyboard player John Paul Jones had proposed quitting the band, supposedly to become choirmaster at Winchester Cathedral, England, although in reality he just needed time to rest after Zeppelin's demanding tour schedule. More at http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/pages/physical_graffiti

On this day, 17 January 1969, Led Zeppelin I, the band's debut album, was released in the US, coinciding with the band's first headlining US concert tour. It was to peak at No.10 on the US chart, and at No.6 in the UK. The RIAA in the US has now certified it as having sold over 10 million copies in the US alone. To help publicise the band in America before their debut tour, the band's manager Peter Grant sent white label advance copies of the album to key FM radio stations. Zeppelin initially played as the support act for bands such as Iron Butterfly and Vanilla Fudge (both of which were also signed to Atlantic Records) and Country Joe & the Fish. However, as the tour progressed, it became apparent that Led Zeppelin was easily outshining the headline acts, continually blowing them off stage! More http://mrtrpt.com/1jz

Born on this day, 9 January, 1944, Jimmy Page, guitarist and producer, member of the Yardbirds and Led Zeppelin. The band's fourth album, released in 1971 and featuring the rock classic “Stairway To Heaven,” has sold over 37 million copies. Page has also worked with The Black Crowes, Roy Harper, The Firm, Coverdale Page, Puff Daddy, and has released solo recordings and soundtracks as well as recording and touring with his old mate Robert Plant. Jimmy Page is my guitar hero! More http://mrtrpt.com/1jd

On this day 6th Dec in 1969, Led Zeppelin made their debut on the US singles chart with “Whole Lotta Love.” It went on to reach #4 on the chart and was the first of six Top 40 singles for the group in the US. More at http://mrtrpt.com/1hf

2nd Dec 1971, Led Zeppelin released 'Black Dog' / 'Misty Mountain Hop' as a single in the US, which peaked at No. 15 on the chart. Zeppelin bass player John Paul Jones is credited with writing the main riff, while Robert Plant hits his highest note on any Led Zeppelin studio recording, around the 3'49" mark. http://youtu.be/6tlSx0jkuLM

24th Nov 1973, Led Zeppelin's D'yer Mak'er made its debut on the US singles chart. The track peaked at No. 20, spending eight weeks on the chart.

This Day in Music, November 8: Led Zeppelin IV On this day in 1971, Led Zeppelin released their fourth album. With no title printed on the album, and generally referred to as Four Symbols, The Fourth Album or Led Zeppelin IV, it has gone on to sell over 37 million copies worldwide. The 19th century rustic oil painting on the front of the album was purchased by Robert Plant from an antique shop in Reading, Berkshire, England. The 20th century urban tower block on the back of the full gatefold LP cover is Butterfield Court in Eves Hill, Dudley, England. http://mrtrpt.com/1el

4th Nov 2008, Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant was voted into 5th place in a 'Coolest Person' poll. French first lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy topped the poll carried out by Virgin Media, followed by singer Kate Bush, who came second. http://youtu.be/gXoHuEaPMG8

‎2nd Nov 2007, Led Zeppelin's eagerly awaited reunion concert in London was postponed for two weeks after guitarist Jimmy Page broke a finger. The tribute concert, in honour of Atlantic Records founder the late Ahmet Ertegun, scheduled for 26th November would now take place on 10th December. More than a million fans applied for the 20,000 tickets available, which cost £125 each. Profits from the show would go towards scholarships in Ertegun's name in the UK, USA and Turkey, the country of his birth.

October 31: On this day in 1970, Led Zeppelin started a four-week run at No.1 on the US album chart with Led Zeppelin III, the band's second US chart topper. 1969 had been a landmark year for Led Zeppelin, but exhausting: four US tours, five UK/European tours, two album releases and one huge single, "Whole Lotta Love," which was gold in the US and Number 1 in Germany... Led Zeppelin III http://mrtrpt.com/1dp

30th Oct 1969, Led Zeppelin appeared at Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York. The set list included 'Communication Breakdown', 'I Can't Quit You Baby', 'Heartbreaker', 'Dazed And Confused', 'White Summer/Black Mountainside', 'What Is And What Should Never Be', 'Moby Dick' and 'How Many More Times'. Tickets cost $4.50 - $5.50. A review from local paper The Buffalo News said: "They were in true simplistic terms, good, excellent professional, top-quality and nice to listen to!" http://youtu.be/wrvfMSYNqBg

27th Oct 1979, The entire Led Zeppelin album catalogue was listed in the US Top 200 album chart, the first time any artist had achieved this. The albums were: 'Led Zeppelin', 'Led Zeppelin II', 'Led Zeppelin III', 'Led Zeppelin IV', 'Houses of the Holy', 'Physical Graffiti', 'Presence' and 'In Through the Out Door'. During the past 10 years, Zeppelin's albums had spent over 400 weeks on the US chart.