Becoming Led Zeppelin in Camden
Led Zeppelin in Camden: The Birth of Rock’s Greatest Legends
Camden. The land of sticky floors, sweaty gigs, and rock ‘n’ roll history. It’s where legends are made, and let’s be honest – if you haven’t played Camden, have you really made it?
Back in the late ‘60s, one band stormed through the borough and changed the face of music forever. That band? None other than Led bloody Zeppelin.
If you’ve been following our blog (and if not, what are you doing?), you’ll know we love digging into Camden’s legendary gigs – from David Bowie’s Roundhouse takeover in 1970 to Jimmy Page’s stomping grounds in the borough. But today, we’re talking about a gig that arguably helped birth the greatest band of all time (yeah, I said it – fight me in the comments).
Camden, 1968: A Band is Born
Picture it: November 9, 1968. The Roundhouse. A young, unrelenting four-piece takes the stage, armed with filthy guitar riffs, wailing vocals, and drum fills that sound like Thor himself is having a tantrum. This was one of Led Zeppelin’s first-ever UK gigs, and let me tell you – it wasn’t just another show. It was a moment.
This wasn’t the polished, larger-than-life Zeppelin of Stairway to Heaven and Kashmir. This was raw, wild, blues-drenched fury. The audience wasn’t just watching a band – they were witnessing Rock’n’Roll history. People who were there that night later said it felt like the beginning of something unstoppable. And they were right.
On November 9, 1968, Led Zeppelin played their first official London show at The Roundhouse, marking a pivotal moment in their history. This performance came after the band returned from their inaugural Scandinavian tour, having shed their previous name, The New Yardbirds. They had now emerged as one of the heaviest rock bands in the world.
The setlist was stacked with classics: Train Kept a Rollin’, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Dazed & Confused, and Communication Breakdown – all played with raw energy that would soon define Led Zeppelin’s signature sound.
Jimmy Page himself recalled that early London gig, saying, “We only played a couple of dates in London – The Roundhouse and Marquee. The Marquee was fantastic – just great. We were totally knocked out when we came out of there.”
And if you needed proof that rock royalty was already taking notice, blues legend John Lee Hooker was lurking backstage that night, watching history unfold. At one point, guitarist Rafael de Swarte from the support band Tyres recalled a bizarre moment – Page’s guitar went silent mid-song. Turns out, Hooker had somehow managed to tangle his foot in the lead. An accident? A subtle way of saying, “You kids are alright”? We may never know, but Zeppelin’s Camden legacy was already cemented.
Oh, and fun facts? This was also the first time Jimmy Page pulled out the violin bow on guitar trick with Led Zep,(the very first time was with The Yardbirds), creating hauntingly atmospheric sounds that would become a hallmark of Zeppelin’s live shows. The stuff of legend! And talking about fun facts – Interestingly, Robert Plant spent his wedding day on the morning of the gig, famously remarking that he spent his honeymoon at The Roundhouse.
The Dublin Castle Incident: Robert Plant’s Close Call
Now, Camden isn’t just about the gigs – it’s about the chaos in between them, too. And when you throw Led Zeppelin into the mix, you just know there are some stories worth telling. Enter: The Dublin Castle Incident.
Camden’s legendary pubs have seen their fair share of rock history, and The Dublin Castle is no exception. In one of the most memorable stories from this iconic venue, Robert Plant once turned up to watch a Led Zeppelin tribute band. The story, as recounted by Tony, a long-time regular at The Dublin Castle, is nothing short of surreal.
“Robert Plant turned up to see a Led Zeppelin tribute band, and the guy on the door didn’t know he was Robert Plant, even though there was a guy on stage looking identical, singing—‘cos you’d think everyone would know Led Zeppelin, right? But this one guy doing work for us briefly didn’t recognise him and he charged him! And Robert Plant paid! But then he walked in, and he couldn’t handle watching it—he ran out. I think it was too realistic,” Tony says, laughing.
Al, another regular and the pub’s unofficial guide, chimes in, “’Cos Robert Plant’s such a quiet man.” Tony agrees, adding, “Yeah, he is. He’s a nice guy. He used to come in here a lot, haven’t seen him for a while.”
This anecdote perfectly captures the humble and unassuming nature of Robert Plant, a rock legend who can still be found in the heart of Camden, blending in with the crowd, yet forever connected to the legacy of Led Zeppelin. Make sure to come to our gigs at Dublin Castle, who knows who you might meet 
And if you are playing some of our gigs, no pressure mate – but make sure to smash the covers, if you play any, just in case the original musicians decide to turn up.
Led Zeppelin’s “Reunion” in a Camden Chippy
Over the years, rumours of a Led Zeppelin reunion have sparked more debates than we can count. But in 2018, Robert Plant finally set the record straight. When asked if the legendary band would ever reunite for another tour, Plant’s response was pure Camden gold: “Led Zeppelin could only reunite in a Camden chip shop.”
You can picture it, can’t you? Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Plant, squeezed into the back of a greasy chippy, debating whether to go for mushy peas or curry sauce while some unsuspecting teenager asks them if they’re in a band.
Of course, Plant’s comment was a cheeky way of saying don’t hold your breath, but it’s the kind of response that reminds us why we love him. Even after all these years, he’s still got that mischievous, no-nonsense attitude that made Zeppelin so damn cool in the first place.
Another iconic Zeppelin moment took place just outside The World’s End, right at the little island by Camden Town Station. Here, Robert Plant and Jimmy Page reunited for an interview promoting their new project No Quarter—their ambitious reimagining of Led Zeppelin classics, fused with Celtic, Gaelic, and Middle Eastern influences. The album, which followed their MTV Unplugged session, was the first time Page and Plant had properly worked together since Zeppelin’s breakup.
Of course, in typical rock ‘n’ roll fashion, their old bandmate John Paul Jones found out about the project from the press rather than from them. Ouch. No wonder Zeppelin reunions always feel like forbidden magic – too powerful to happen often, and when they do, they might just shake the earth… Anyways, here’s the promotional interview – enjoy seeing Rob and Jimmy in the very crossing that all of us have crossed several times when being in Camden, kinda cool to see them hanging around there, right?
Becoming Led Zeppelin: A Documentary Worthy of the Gods
Now, if you really want to feel what those early days were like, you need to watch Becoming Led Zeppelin. This documentary doesn’t do the usual rock-doc thing where they air out all the drama. Nope – this is pure celebration. A deep dive into how four absolute legends came together and rewrote the rulebook. (Spoiler alert ahead – cover your eyes if you wanna go in fresh!)
It features never-before-heard interviews – including actual audio of John Bonham speaking. Yeah, you read that right. No one’s ever heard these before. I got goosebumps all over my body hearing his voice and how he speaks about Led Zep… oof.
Another of my favourite moments? Watching the lads light up like kids on Christmas morning when talking about their time in Zeppelin. These guys didn’t just make music; they lived it. And even though Zeppelin was only around for 12 years (I know, criminally short), they still managed to become the most influential rock band of all time. Best band ever, some might say. (I say.)
The Legacy Lives On
Alright, let’s get real. Camden and Led Zeppelin are cut from the same cloth – gritty, electrifying, and absolutely timeless. It’s been over 50 years since that Roundhouse gig, but the echoes of those nights still linger in every packed-out rock show, every young band setting foot on a Camden stage, and every punter who stumbles out of a gig with their ears still ringing.
We weren’t there in 1968 (trust me, I wish I was), but every time we throw a gig in Camden, we’re keeping that spirit alive. That’s the power of live music. That’s the spirit of Camden. And that’s why we do what we do.
Sources:
- Jimmy Page – The Wizard of Rock’n’Roll and Led Zeppelin in Camden
- Led Zeppelin Concert & Tour History | Concert Archives
- Becoming Led Zeppelin (2025) | Documentary, Music
- ‘Led Zeppelin could only reunite in a Camden chip shop’, lead singer Robert Plant says
- Dublin Castle: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Stories You Need to Know
- The Roundhouse. “History.” Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/about/history.
- Led Zeppelin Official. “Led Zeppelin Timeline.” Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.ledzeppelin.com/.
- Camden History Society. “Camden and the Birth of Rock and Roll.” Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.camdenhistorysociety.org.uk/.
- BraveWords. “Robert Plant on Led Zeppelin Reuniting for 50th Anniversary Performance: ‘Only in a Chip Shop in Camden Town!’” Accessed August 21, 2024. https://bravewords.com/news/robert-plant-on-led-zeppelin-reuniting-for-50th-anniversary-performance-only-in-a-chip-shop-in-camden-town-i-think-thats-about-as-close-as-we-will-get-to-it.
- The Independent. “Led Zeppelin Could Only Reunite in a Camden Chip Shop, Lead Singer Robert Plant Says.” Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/led-zeppelin-reunion-camden-chip-shop-robert-plant-performance-a8436121.html.
- Led Zeppelin Official. “Roundhouse, November 9, 1968.” Accessed August 21, 2024. https://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/roundhouse-november-9-1968.
- Loudersound. “The Roundhouse London.” Accessed August 21
- LZ078 : Robert Plant – Iconic Images Visit Creator: Terry O’Neill | Credit: Terry O’Neill / Iconic ImagesCopyright: © Iconic Images Limited
- Led Zeppelin, La Totale”: plongée dans l’alchimie d’un géant du rock
- Where is Robert Plant’s Ex-Wife, Maureen Wilson, Today?
- Led Zeppelin: Pictures show first concert, in 1968 – BBC News
- ROBERT PLANT AND JIMMY PAGE INTERVIEWED (1994)