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List Price: $15.95 | | Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
Salesrank: 188913
Released: January 8, 2002 |
| Our Price: $4.49 |
| Used Price: $4.50 |
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
No one knew Led Zeppelin like Richard Cole. The band's tour manager for more than a decade, Cole was there when they burst onto the music scene, achieved cult status, cut platinum records, and transformed popular music. Second only to the Beatles in sales for years, Led Zeppelin was rock's premier group. But unlike the boys from Liverpool, the excitement of this band"s music was matched by the fever pitch of their antics on and off the stage....
In hotel rooms and stadiums, in a customized private Boeing 707 jet and country estates, Richard Cole saw it all -- and here he tells it all in this close-up, down-and-dirty, no-holds-barred account that records the highs, the lows, and the occasional in-betweens. This revised edition brings fans up to date on the band members' lives and careers, which may be a little quieter now, but their songs remain the same.
Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored Reviews:
Halarious. 
2008-04-06 - Being a pretty big Zeppelin fan for the most part of my life, I picked this up at a bookstore. The stories of the band are halarious. Driving cars into lakes. Bonham using various accessories as a toilet. A bit after I read it I found out that Richard Cole isn't exactly a reliable source. According to the band, most of this book was made up (though it might be disputed, some of the stories weren't exactly flattering to the boys). I still enjoyed it, and would have to say it was a nice peice of fiction. :)
Must have for any Zeppelin fan 
2008-03-19 - Go backstage with this legendary band and live their exploits through the eyes of an insider - all the good/bad/ugliness associated with the individual members themselves. An amazing read to better understand four of the musicians who have shaped modern rock and influenced many throughout the past 40 years, as well as understanding the rock scene of that era and all the sex and drugs associated with it.
yuck 
2008-03-07 - Some of this book is true, some of it not true, some of it Cole knew not to be true and some he simply can't remember. When Robert Plant mentioned it to him, he looked sheepish and said "some of it is true, you know." Basically, it is too long ago for him to remember much of what is presented as fact, plus, he was heavily into drugs at the time.
The book is badly written anyway in my opinion and could have done with severe editing and the admission that it isn't really about Zeppelin but about all the bands he ever toured with written as one band to make it sell better. This is John Paul Jone's opinion too. That having been said, if you want to read a book with some similarity to what MIGHT have happened at some points in a rock band's career, and don't care too much that it's lurid and in bad taste or whether it's true either, well I still can't say buy this book because I hated it and the bits that I didn't mind reading were obscured by the stomach churning stuff that I did.
I think it also worth remarking that most of the worst behaviour written about, was actually from Cole himself, who did not portray himself in a good light, though I wonder if he realises that.
My advice is to read "led Zeppelin the definitive Biography" by Yorke, if you want a more palatable and truthful account of Zep's journey through the years.
No answers
2007-11-15 - I picked up this book used and do buy it used. The book was ok of a read but like so many that read this book, you want to shout out, "GROW UP" especially Bonzo. And so many questions weren't answered, the Zeppelin family wanted to sue the band for using the name, well they met with the old lady, what happened then?? What did Peter Grant do after Zeppelin and how did he feel about all the drug abuse, did he know did he care? They take these girls to another city with out their parents knowing, well you got them a room and then what happen to them. Wouldn't want to fly them back home would ya but you could take the plane to a bar 10 states away. Page doesn't go to Plants son funeral WHY? For God sake give us a clue Cole, what did you think was the deal? Your on drugs at the end and working for Zep how did you do it? He sells his Zep memoriabila, how much did you get? What do you have left now? What about the Elvis stuff where is that??
I love their music and the stories about Elvis are great but I think I traveled with these guys I would have gone nuts, especially Bonzo. I bet he is upstair in the big house cleaning up after Morrison, God is getting him back. Glad to hear Cole is straight may we all learn alittle about drug abuse and partying way too hard.
The Standard Text 
2007-11-05 - Having not read other Zep bios and tell-alls, I found this, by their ex-roadie, certainly interesting. Hard to believe it all happened so long ago, and these ex-gods are all now in their 60s. Sordid tales of teen groupies, drugs and, especially, booze. Bonham, who obviously died of booze, comes off the dumbest and most depraved. Page is painted as the band's brains, while Plant is said to have been arrogant and difficult and Jones the most normal. The author lived like one of the band during its heyday, seeing the world and enjoying the excesses. Pointedly reminds that the rock press, especially Rolling Stone, got Zep very wrong, having repeatedly panned what are now seen as classic albums. This doesn't seem to sugarcoat the band and sounds as honest as an insider could make it. Well worth the time if you like Zep's music.
