Who were the original members of Led Zeppelin?

The original members of Led Zeppelin were Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham.

The group formed in London in 1968 after guitarist Jimmy Page began assembling a new band from the remains of the Yardbirds. Singer Robert Plant joined after being recommended by musician Terry Reid, and Plant suggested his friend John Bonham as drummer. Bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, who already knew Page from their session-musician work, completed the lineup.

This four-person formation remained Led Zeppelin’s core lineup throughout the band’s most successful years. Plant supplied the distinctive vocals, Page handled guitar and production, Jones played bass and keyboards, and Bonham brought his highly influential drumming style. Together, they blended blues, folk, hard rock, and heavier sounds.

A frequent mistake is substituting Jason Bonham for John Bonham. Jason is John’s son and later performed with surviving members of Led Zeppelin at reunions, including the 2007 Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert. He was not an original member. Led Zeppelin ended in 1980 after John Bonham died, and the remaining members decided the band could not continue without him.