Before Led Zeppelin, There Was Band Of Joy

Photo: Egghead06 at English Wikipedia [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Band Of Joy began in England in 1966. The band hosted a revolving door of musicians who became members and some performed with the band. Robert Plant and his future bandmate John Bonham are the most noted members. Other noted members of the band were Dave Pegg, who went on to work with Jethro Tull, Nick Drake, Fairport Convention, and hundreds of other musical artists.

The group Band Of Joy recorded a few demos in the 1960s that featured Robert Plant and John Bonham. The band did not release their first album until 1978, long after Robert Plant and John Bonham had left the group and had become the Rock Gods of Classic Rock History. A pair of the demos that Band Of Joy recorded with Robert Plant and John Bonham were officially released on the Robert Plant song compilation Sixty Six to Timbuktu. The Sixty Six in the title represented his earliest recording work released on the album from the Band of Joy demos.

In 2010, Robert Plant revitalized the name Band of Joy with a new group of musicians that had nothing to do with the original 1960s and 70s band.  They will knock you out if you have never heard the original Band Of Joy demos. Listening to a young Robert Plant sing those songs with his ferocious range and spell-binding blues-infused vocals and licks are pure heaven for Led Zeppelin fans. It was a moment in time that showcased the greatness that would soon unfold from the talents of Robert Plant and John Bonham for the few who were there.

Over time, many musicians performed in the group Band Of Joy. These included Robert Plant, Chris Brown, Lyndon Laney, Vernon Pereira, John Bonham, Paul Lockey, Kevyn Gammond, Dave Pegg, John Hill, John Kelsey, Mick Strode, Michael Chetwood, John Pasternak, Peter Robinson, Marco Giovino, Patty Griffin, Byron House, Buddy Miller and Darrell Scott.

Robert Plant:  Band Of Joy – “For What It’s Worth.” 1968

Robert Plant, John Bonham and the 1960’s Band Of Joy – “Hey Joe.”

Updated April 30, 2024

Before Led Zeppelin, There Was Band Of Joy article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2024

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