Page "Led Zeppelin" Paragraph 19

In the 1970s Led Zeppelin reached new heights of commercial and critical success that made them one of the most influential groups of the era, dwarfing their earlier achievements.

The band's image also changed as members began to wear elaborate, flamboyant clothing.

Led Zeppelin began travelling in a private jet airliner ( nicknamed The Starship ), rented out entire sections of hotels ( including the Continental Hyatt House in Los Angeles, known colloquially as the " Riot House "), and became the subject of frequently repeated stories of debauchery.

One involved John Bonham riding a motorcycle through a rented floor of the Riot House, while another involved the destruction of a room in the Tokyo Hilton, leading to the band being banned from that establishment for life.

Although Led Zeppelin developed a reputation for trashing their hotel suites and throwing television sets out of the windows, some suggest that these tales have been exaggerated.

Music journalist Chris Welch argues that " Zeppelin's travels spawned many stories, but it was a myth that were constantly engaged in acts of wanton destruction and lewd behaviour ".