Hammer of the Gods (book)
Encyclopedia
Hammer of the Gods is a book written by music journalist Stephen Davis
, published in 1985. It is a biography
of the English rock
band Led Zeppelin
. After its release it became a New York Times bestseller
, and is probably the best known Led Zeppelin biography in existence. It has been updated several times over the years 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
.
Davis traveled with Led Zeppelin for two weeks during the band's 1975 U.S. Tour
while he was an editor at Rolling Stone
magazine.
Guitarist Jimmy Page
has stated:
According to the band's vocalist Robert Plant
:
One of the author's primary sources of information was Richard Cole
, the band's tour manager. As Plant explained:
Cole subsequently published his own biography of the band, entitled Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored.
Davis has responded to these criticisms in interviews, maintaining that Hammer of the Gods "was a book that outed members of Led Zeppelin as heroin addicts and as people that brutalized other people."
http://musicbooksreviews.com/hammer-of-the-gods-the-led-zeppelin-saga
Stephen Davis (music journalist)
Stephen Davis is an American music journalist and historian.Davis was born in New York City and attended Boston University. He began his career writing for the Boston Phoenix in 1970...
, published in 1985. It is a biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
of the English rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
. After its release it became a New York Times bestseller
Bestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
, and is probably the best known Led Zeppelin biography in existence. It has been updated several times over the years 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
Immigrant Song
"Immigrant Song" is a song by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was released as a single from their third album, Led Zeppelin III, in 1970.-Overview:...
", a track from the band's third album
Led Zeppelin III
Led Zeppelin III is the third studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded between January and July 1970 and released on 5 October 1970 by Atlantic Records. Composed largely at a remote cottage in Wales known as Bron-Yr-Aur, this work represented a maturing of the band's...
.
Davis traveled with Led Zeppelin for two weeks during the band's 1975 U.S. Tour
Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1975
Led Zeppelin's 1975 North American Tour was the tenth concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour was divided into two legs, with performances commencing on January 18 and concluding on March 27, 1975...
while he was an editor at Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
magazine.
Criticism
The book has been the subject of much criticism. All three surviving members of the band have cast doubts on its accuracy, with one article summarising their collective view of the book as a "catalogue of error and distortion."Guitarist Jimmy Page
Jimmy Page
James Patrick "Jimmy" Page, OBE is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and record producer. He began his career as a studio session guitarist in London and was subsequently a member of The Yardbirds from 1966 to 1968, after which he founded the English rock band Led Zeppelin.Jimmy Page...
has stated:
According to the band's vocalist Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
:
One of the author's primary sources of information was Richard Cole
Richard Cole
Richard Cole was heavily involved in the rock music business from the mid-1960s to 2003, and is most famous for being the tour manager of English rock band Led Zeppelin from 1968 to 1980.-Early career:...
, the band's tour manager. As Plant explained:
Cole subsequently published his own biography of the band, entitled Stairway to Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored.
Davis has responded to these criticisms in interviews, maintaining that Hammer of the Gods "was a book that outed members of Led Zeppelin as heroin addicts and as people that brutalized other people."
Further reading
Entry on Amazon.comhttp://musicbooksreviews.com/hammer-of-the-gods-the-led-zeppelin-saga