Lez Zeppelin | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York City,New York, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2004[2]–present |
| Labels | Pie, Emanation |
| Members | Steph Paynes[1] Hilary Blaze Dana Athens Joan Chew |
| Past members | Brooke Gengras Wendy Kidd Lisa Brigantino[1] Helen Destroy[1] Sarah McLellan[1] Kris Bradley Jessica Fagre Shannon Conley Megan Thomas Leesa Squyres Marlain Angelides |
| Website | lezzeppelin |
Lez Zeppelin is anall-femaletribute act, performing the work ofLed Zeppelin.[1]
In June 2005,Chuck Klosterman wrote an article forSpin that featured Lez Zeppelin as a leading protagonist in a trend of all-female hard rock "tribute" bands. He referred to the group as "the most powerful all-female band in rock history" and described the rise of bands like Lez Zeppelin as a "kind of multilayered cultural phenomenon."[3] Stories about the group appeared inThe Times, whose journalist called the band "the best new band I’ve seen all year, no question;"Reuters and CNN.com.,[4] which ran a front page feature that called the group so "electrifying" they are "driving club audiences to a frenzy."
In April 2007, after touring in the US and Europe the band released its first album,Lez Zeppelin, which was produced byEddie Kramer, former recording engineer on several Led Zeppelin albums. In the wake of this release, the band was invited to festivals including theDownload Festival in the UK;Rock am Ring and Rock im Park in Germany; and the Voodoo Festival in New Orleans.
The announcement in February 2008, thatLed Zeppelin would take the stage at theBonnaroo Festival, was an incorrect report by some news organizations since it wasLez Zeppelin which was due to perform.[5]
Throughout 2008, the group continued to tour in the U.S. and in the late fall made its first visit to Japan to promote the release of its debut record. In March 2009, Lez Zeppelin played a benefit concert inMumbai, India.[6] In 2010, the band headed back into the studio to record a second album and released their re-recording ofLed Zeppelin I.
The band continued to tour and had several line-up changes in the 2010s. In late 2019, the band released its EPThe Island of Skyros.
Former members
| Lez Zeppelin | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by Lez Zeppelin | |
| Released | 2007 |
| Recorded | 2007 |
| Genre | Hard rock, blues rock |
| Length | 38:30 |
| Label | Emanation |
| Producer | Eddie Kramer |
In late 2007, the band (then consisting of Steph Paynes, Sarah McLellan on vocals, Helen Destroy on drums and Lisa Brigantino on bass and keyboards) recorded its first album containing six Led Zeppelin selections (one song from each of the first six albums) and two originals. The album was recorded atElectric Lady Studios in New York City with producer/engineerEddie Kramer, best known for his work with Led Zeppelin andJimi Hendrix, and was mastered by George Marino, who digitally remastered all of the original Led Zeppelin recordings withJimmy Page. Released on Emanation Records, the album is distributed by Redeye Distribution,[8] and was also released and distributed in Japan by the Avex Music Group. Reviewing the release forAllMusic Guide, Alex Henderson wrote that the album is "worthwhile" and that the musicians "should not be dismissed as a mere novelty act"; the editorial team gave the release 3.5 out of five stars.[9]
| Lez Zeppelin I | |
|---|---|
| Studio album by Lez Zeppelin | |
| Released | 2010 |
| Recorded | 2010 |
| Genre | Hard rock, blues rock |
| Length | 38:30 |
| Label | Pie |
| Producer | Perry Margouleff, William Wittman |
In 2010, the group (consisting of Steph Paynes, Leesa Harrington-Squyres, Megan Thomas, and Shannon Conley) returned to the studio to record a second album with producers Perry Margouleff and William Wittman that serves as a replication of Led Zeppelin’s 1969 debut. The album was recorded at Pie Studios in Glen Cove, New York, using all of the same analog gear and recording techniques, as well as the same vintage equipment used by Led in 1968.[10] Released on Pie Records, the album is distributed byRedeye Distribution in the U.S. and was also released and distributed in Japan by theAvex Music Group.AllMusic Guide gave this album three out of five stars, with reviewerStephen Thomas Erlewine writing that the tone and musicianship are correct but "ultimately it’s not much more than excellent advertising for their live gigs".[11]
Track listing
In 2015, the band released the "Mystic Snowman" single, which is a Christmas-themed re-write of "Stairway to Heaven" with "Frosty the Snowman". The band followed it with their 2019 album recorded with a string section.[12]
