Led Zeppelin – The Only Way To Fly: The Untold Story of Their Explosive First Year

Led Zeppelin – The Only Way To Fly by Richard Morton Jack is an essential addition to any hardcore Zep fan’s collection, offering the chance to relive the band’s meteoric rise exactly as it unfolded. The product of years of exhaustive research and meticulous archival digging, this definitive volume delivers an unmatched, richly detailed portrait of the formative years of one of rock’s most influential and enduring bands. Far from a simple retelling, it’s an immersive journey that captures the electric energy, relentless ambition, and raw musical power that carried Led Zeppelin from their very first rehearsals to the brink of global domination.

With an introduction by Chris Welch – When it comes to chronicling the legends of rock, few voices command as much respect as Chris Welch. A veteran music journalist with decades of firsthand experience covering the world’s most iconic bands, Welch now unveils what could be the most definitive and meticulously researched account of Led Zeppelin’s formation and explosive rise ever published.

The birth of Led Zeppelin stands as one of the most iconic origin stories in rock music history. When legendary session musicians Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones united with the fiery young talents of Robert Plant and John Bonham—fresh from the Band of Joy—they created a powerhouse lineup bursting with skill, ambition, and raw, electrifying energy. From day one, Led Zeppelin showcased the chemistry, drive, and vision needed to revolutionize the music world and dominate the rock scene.

This pivotal period showcases Led Zeppelin at their rawest and most powerful, the essential engine room fueling the band’s unstoppable rise. It’s the moment where core energy, unfiltered passion, and relentless rhythm converge to keep the legendary rock machine firing on all cylinders. This foundational force forms the heartbeat of Led Zeppelin’s iconic sound, driving everything from thunderous drumbeats and hypnotic basslines to fiery guitar riffs, propelling the band toward lasting rock immortality.

Far beyond mere alignment, the stars shone brighter than ever for what would soon become the most influential and groundbreaking rock band of the late 1960s and beyond. While many think Led Zeppelin’s early years have been exhaustively documented, this book uncovers new insights, rare visuals, and unheard stories that even diehard fans will find captivating. More than a historical account, this stunning visual chronicle immerses readers in the sights, sounds, and electric atmosphere that fueled Led Zeppelin’s meteoric rise to legendary status.

Brimming with rare, previously unseen press clippings, meticulously crafted timelines, and firsthand, behind-the-scenes accounts, the book delivers an exacting, day-by-day narrative of the band’s earliest days. Readers will trace their journey from those first electrifying steps in August 1968, when Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones first came together, through the whirlwind tours, critical milestones, and recording sessions that led to the release of their landmark second album, Led Zeppelin II, in October 1969.

With every page, The Only Way To Fly invites fans to experience the excitement, tension, and transformation that turned four brilliant musicians into the defining force of hard rock and heavy blues.

Fans will discover an unparalleled treasure of material, including:

• Rare, never-before-seen archival photographs capturing the band’s raw energy and swagger.
• Press coverage from across the globe, reproduced in full for the first time.
• Fascinating insights into the members’ pre-Zeppelin careers—from Jimmy Page’s session days to Robert Plant’s early gigs.

Bulging with authentic memorabilia, rare ephemera, and authoritative commentary, this book is far more than a biography—it’s a time capsule of Led Zeppelin’s explosive entry into the rock ‘n’ roll stratosphere.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience Led Zeppelin’s rise as it happened, Richard Morton Jack has your ticket in hand. Buckle up—your pilot is ready to take you on a turbulent, electrifying ride with the greatest rock band in history.

You’re in expert hands with Richard Morton Jack, a seasoned authority in music history and rock scholarship. Jack is the esteemed editor behind acclaimed music reference books such as Galactic Ramble and Endless Trip, and the celebrated author of Psychedelia: 101 Iconic Underground Rock Albums 1966-70.

As the founder of Sunbeam Records, Jack has been instrumental in preserving music heritage, overseeing the reissue of over 100 classic rock, jazz, and folk albums. Beyond his work as an author and label founder, he also serves as the editor of Flashback, a respected magazine dedicated to the rich history of rock music.