"The Biggest Band in the World": 1971–75

Like its ancestors the Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin used a guitar style that drew heavily on the blues; its early repertoire included remakes of songs by Howlin' Wolf, Albert King, and Willie Dixon (who later won a sizable settlement from the band in a suit in which he alleged copyright infringement). But Jimmy Page blessed the group with a unique understanding of the guitar and the recording studio as electronic instruments, and of rock as sculptured sound; like Jimi Hendrix, Page had a reason for every bit of distortion, feedback, reverberation, and out-and-out noise that he incorporated. Few of the many acts that try to imitate Led Zeppelin can make the same claim. [Source: RollingStone]

1971Led Zeppelin started a two-week run at No.1 on the UK chart with the Four Symbols album, otherwise known as Led Zeppelin IV Featuring the 8-minute track Stairway To Heaven, the album stayed on the US chart for one week short of five years, selling over 23 million copies in the US alone.

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  1965  The Byrds started a three week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Turn! Turn! Turn!' the group's second No.1. A No.26 hit in the UK. Unlike their first chart topper, ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’, the entire band was allowed to play on the recording, instead of studio musicians. 

• 1971Sly and the Family Stone started a five-week run at No.1 on the US single chart with 'Family Affair', their third US No.1.

• 1971T Rex scored their first No.1 album with their 6th release 'Electric Warrior'. The album which became the biggest seller of the year in the UK contained two of T. Rex's most popular songs, 'Get It On' and 'Jeepster.'

• 1971Don McLean's ‘American Pie’ entered the US Hot 100. The eight and a half minute song would eventually sell over 3 million copies.

• 1982 The Jam were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Beat Surrender', the group's fourth UK No.1 and final single. They split in 1983, and leader Paul Weller formed the Style Council.

• 2005Pussycat Dolls were at No.1 on the UK singles chart with 'Stickwitu' The Californian girls second No.1.

1956 The so-called 'Million Dollar Quartet' impromptu jam session took place at Sun Studios in Memphis with Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins.