Stairway to Heaven (book)
Encyclopedia
Stairway To Heaven: Led Zeppelin Uncensored is a book written by Richard Cole
who was the tour manager for English rock
band Led Zeppelin
, from their first US tour in 1968 to 1979, when he was replaced by Phil Carlo. The book was co-written with Richard Trubo, a syndicated journalist
, and was first published in August 1992.
. He claims that he always wanted to be in the music business, and that at one point he began to play the drum
s but did not pursue this path. He recounts his experience as tour manager for The Who
and his venture into other aspects of the 1960s London scene, including the mod subculture
.
The book documents Cole's personal experiences as tour manager for one of the biggest bands of all time. It also shows how the constant pressure of touring and recording was beginning to take a toll on the band's members, even as early as 1969.
Cole reveals that he developed close and personal friendships with each of the band members, and recounts the devastating impact that the death of John Bonham
had on him. He also discusses the substance abuse
problems which he developed in the 1970s, and which ultimately led to him being fired by Led Zeppelin's manager, Peter Grant, after the Knebworth Festival in 1979
.
The book also describes his life immediately after Led Zeppelin's downfall. At the time of their collapse he was trying to shed his heroin addiction in Italy
when he was falsely accused of terrorism
for involvement in the 1980 Bologna railway station bombing
. Whilst imprisoned he underwent forced detox
from heroin. Sleepless nights, constant sweat, diarrhea
, and pain were some things he experienced while he was in the custody of the Italian police.
When released, Cole was no longer addicted to heroin but he had no money as he had spent it all on drugs prior to his incarceration, and he could no longer rely on a steady income from an involvement with Led Zeppelin. He said that for the first time since before he became a tour manager he had to work on the scaffolds.
stated:
However, despite the fact that he was also credited with "celebrat[ing] the band's innumerable musical accomplishments", Cole's book was criticised by members of Led Zeppelin, who accused him of fabrication and dishonesty. Guitarist Jimmy Page
once commented:
Bass player John Paul Jones
has expressed similar views about Cole's reliability, stating in a magazine interview that Cole's accounts are "a mish-mash of several stories put together, usually with the wrong endings and making us look miserable bastards rather than the funsters we were." Jones was so incensed at the depiction of John Bonham in Cole's book that he decided never to speak to him again. In another interview, Jones claimed when he asked Cole about why he'd exaggerated the group's behaviour for the book, Cole explained that "he'd been a drug addict who needed the money".
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:...
who was the tour manager for 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...
, from their first US tour in 1968 to 1979, when he was replaced by Phil Carlo. The book was co-written with Richard Trubo, a syndicated journalist
Syndicated columnist
This list of syndicated columnists comprises columnists whose recurring columns are published in multiple periodical publications .*Ghaith Abdul-Ahad*Yasmin Alibhai-Brown*Timothy Garton Ash*Lucius Beebe*Max Boot...
, and was first published in August 1992.
Synopsis
The beginning of the book describes Cole's background, and that of every member of the band. He also briefly describes the atmosphere of 1960s LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He claims that he always wanted to be in the music business, and that at one point he began to play the drum
Drum
The drum is a member of the percussion group of musical instruments, which is technically classified as the membranophones. Drums consist of at least one membrane, called a drumhead or drum skin, that is stretched over a shell and struck, either directly with the player's hands, or with a...
s but did not pursue this path. He recounts his experience as tour manager for The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
and his venture into other aspects of the 1960s London scene, including the mod subculture
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
.
The book documents Cole's personal experiences as tour manager for one of the biggest bands of all time. It also shows how the constant pressure of touring and recording was beginning to take a toll on the band's members, even as early as 1969.
Cole reveals that he developed close and personal friendships with each of the band members, and recounts the devastating impact that the death of John Bonham
John Bonham
John Henry Bonham was an English musician and songwriter, best known as the drummer of Led Zeppelin. Bonham was esteemed for his speed, power, fast right foot, distinctive sound, and "feel" for the groove...
had on him. He also discusses the substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
problems which he developed in the 1970s, and which ultimately led to him being fired by Led Zeppelin's manager, Peter Grant, after the Knebworth Festival in 1979
Knebworth Festival 1979
The Knebworth Festival 1979 consisted of two concerts performed by the English rock band Led Zeppelin and other artists at Knebworth House, Hertfordshire, England, in August 1979.-History:...
.
The book also describes his life immediately after Led Zeppelin's downfall. At the time of their collapse he was trying to shed his heroin addiction in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
when he was falsely accused of terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
for involvement in the 1980 Bologna railway station bombing
Bologna massacre
The Bologna massacre was a terrorist bombing of the Central Station at Bologna, Italy, on the morning of Saturday, 2 August 1980, which killed 85 people and wounded more than 200. The attack has been materially attributed to the neo-fascist terrorist organization Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari...
. Whilst imprisoned he underwent forced detox
Detox
Detoxification is the physiological or medicinal removal of toxic substances from a living organism, including, but not limited to, the human body and additionally can refer to the period of withdrawal during which an organism returns to homeostasis after long-term use of an addictive substance...
from heroin. Sleepless nights, constant sweat, diarrhea
Diarrhea
Diarrhea , also spelled diarrhoea, is the condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day. It is a common cause of death in developing countries and the second most common cause of infant deaths worldwide. The loss of fluids through diarrhea can cause dehydration and...
, and pain were some things he experienced while he was in the custody of the Italian police.
When released, Cole was no longer addicted to heroin but he had no money as he had spent it all on drugs prior to his incarceration, and he could no longer rely on a steady income from an involvement with Led Zeppelin. He said that for the first time since before he became a tour manager he had to work on the scaffolds.
Criticism
Many reviewers took note of the sensationalist and sordid 'tell-all' style of Cole's account. A review Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
stated:
Alcohol, cocaine and heroin abuse, shameless groupies and perverse pranks figure largely in the saga. Cole boasts of his and the band's phenomenal appetites for liquor, drugs and sex while denouncing those who say Led Zeppelin harmed the international legions of teenage girls who routinely sought rock-star notches in their bedposts.
However, despite the fact that he was also credited with "celebrat[ing] the band's innumerable musical accomplishments", Cole's book was criticised by members of Led Zeppelin, who accused him of fabrication and dishonesty. 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...
once commented:
There's a book written by our former road manager, Richard Cole that has made me completely ill. I'm so mad about it that I can't even bring myself to read the whole thing. The two bits that I have read are so ridiculously false, that I'm sure if I read the rest I'd be able to sue Cole and the publishers. But it would be so painful to read that it wouldn't be worth it.
Bass player John Paul Jones
John Paul Jones (musician)
John Paul Jones is an English multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer, arranger and record producer. Best known as the bassist, mandolinist, and keyboardist for English rock band Led Zeppelin, Jones has since developed a solo career and has gained even more respect as both a musician and a...
has expressed similar views about Cole's reliability, stating in a magazine interview that Cole's accounts are "a mish-mash of several stories put together, usually with the wrong endings and making us look miserable bastards rather than the funsters we were." Jones was so incensed at the depiction of John Bonham in Cole's book that he decided never to speak to him again. In another interview, Jones claimed when he asked Cole about why he'd exaggerated the group's behaviour for the book, Cole explained that "he'd been a drug addict who needed the money".