Expert: Mike Caldwell - 7/1/2009

Question
Just how big was led zeppelin in 1969? Can you give an example of todays bands?

Answer
1969 was a very fast rising year.  Mind you, while the first album was released in the U.K. earlier, the debut album wasn't released in the U.S. until January of 1969.  By July, they were already headlining some shows, such as the Schaefer music festival in New York.  That summer tour of the U.S, including the album's airplay, brought Led Zeppelin to the level of a headline act.  By October, they were playing Carnegie Hall (the last rock act to play there was the Rolling Stones, if you get the idea...).  By the release of their second album in October, with the monstrous Whole Lotta Love and more touring, they were, in less than a year, a huge concert draw in America, and subsequently, Europe.  Their prominence in the rock world in 1969 was huge, but in an underground way, drawing huge fan turnout for their concerts.  
I really can't compare their prominence to today's bands, because nobody these days rises to that level so quickly, and Zep's popularity back then was through legendary performances and strong airplay from then "quirky" FM stations.  The music world, promotionally and commercially, is so different these days, it's hard to compare them to anyone - and perhaps it's best that way.