As one of the most iconic rock bands of their time, British rock masterminds Led Zeppelin have quite an intriguing history. The band is noted for their outstanding lyrics, tremendous musical medleys, and a unique approach to musical writing. However, when the band came up with their new symbol, they did so having put a huge amount of time and thinking into doing so. The result? One of the most iconic symbols that has been associated with a British music act ever.
When developing the logo, Jimmy Page asked the rest of the band to come up with something genuinely meaningful. They wanted a logo that had a purpose as opposed to just being aesthetically stylish. So, the four came up with little logos and symbols that represented who they are and what they think. What, though, did they come up with? And what was the thinking and significance of the images themselves?
Let’s take a quick look at the awesome symbols that LZ came up with, and what it means to each member of the band. What, then, are the symbols behind each Led Zeppelin member?
What do the Led Zeppelin symbols mean?
• Jimmy Page. As you might imagine, Jimmy Page went for something quite abstract. He combined the planet Saturn – makes since given he is a Capricorn – with the symbol of the element lead. Lead has a strong association with the planet Saturn, making it the ideal add-on for the Zoso symbol.
• John Bonham. Bonham decided to go for something a bit different. He selected a trio of Borromean rings that are supposed to represent the ‘holy trinity’ of mother, father, and child. It is arguably the most abstract and intriguing of the images provided; a very interesting image to look at.
• JP Jones. John Paul Jones was the bassist and keyboardist of the band, and he also chose the same symbol as the above – the Christian Trinity, if you will. His trio, though, represents the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – a sign of confidence and competence, apparently.
• Robert Plant. Given his name, it made sense that Plant would choose something organically minded. He picked the image of a feather, which is the feather of Ma’at, an Egyptian goddess who was seen as the personification of justice and fairness in Egyptian society.
As you can see, the four decided to choose something different and highly abstract for their little development. It was the kind of intriguing and thought provoking imagery that was associated with the band that made them such legends, though.
Their ability to see things from a different perspective and offer something with another layer of thought behind it was a key reason why Led Zeppelin became one of the most respected musical acts of all-time. Given their ability to find unique insights in the most mundane of images, these symbols really do represent more than just something that looks good on the cover of an album.