The Life and Times of Peter Grant Quiz

Answer: 1935

Peter was born on April 5, 1935, in south London. He grew up with his mother Dorothy; he never met his father to anyone's knowledge.

Answer: Warren and Helen

Peter Grant, Led Zeppelin's manager, was a very good father to his children. When their mother left Peter for another man in 1976, Peter looked after the children himself, taking on the mantle of both father and mother.

Answer: Count Bruno Alassio of Milan

Why Peter chose this name is anyone's guess. Apparently Peter was quite successful, owing probably to his significant weight advantage.

Answer: Anthony Quinn

Peter had a lot of bit parts in the movie industry during the 50's and early 60's, namely 'Cleopatra'. He also played parts in a lot of British action dramas such as 'The Saint', starring Roger Moore.

Answer: Don Arden

Don Arden employed Peter to tour manage visiting American acts such as Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, and the Everly Brothers.
Arden was a ruthless businessman; he taught Peter a lot about the rock management business. Arden's daughter also went into rock management and became the manager and wife of a certain Ozzy Osbourne.

Answer: The Yardbirds

This was the beginnig of Peter's rise in fame and fortune. When Peter took over from Simon Napier-Bell, Simon told him to keep an eye on the guitarist: "He can be trouble", he said.
The guitarist in question? Mr Jimmy Page.

Answer: John Paul Jones

John had met Jimmy several times while both playing sessions in the mid sixties. He was getting bored with sessions, so his wife, Mo suggested he give Jimmy a ring after seeing his ad in a music paper requesting a bass player for the New Yardbirds he was forming.

Answer: They would have to miss Christmas day with their families

Led Zeppelin performed their first U.S. concert in Denver on December 26; this meant they had to fly out on the 24, missing Christmas Day. Everybody say "Ahh!"

Answer: Bad Company

Fronted by ex 'Free' singer Paul Rodgers, Bad Company was signed to Zeppelin's label 'Swan Song' and had massive success, especially in America.

Answer: They seriously beat up an employee of Bill Graham

The altercation was very serious at the time; the employee in question had slapped Peter's son Warren for playing around backstage, which understandably incensed Peter, who, along with the others, gave the man a serious beating. Charges were pressed by Bill Graham, but predictably they were let off with a small fine.

Answer: Knebworth,England 1979

Peter wasn't satisfied with the promoter's figure for the attendance;
he thought he was being short changed and he was right. NASA estimated that there were 210,000 at the first concert, as opposed to the promoter's 180,000 estimate.

Answer: Harley Davidson

The story goes that the helicopter arrived with the Harley hanging by a steel cable about 200 feet up; the cable snapped and the bike landed on the lawn, smashing into pieces. The helicopter pilot made the fatal mistake of landing; he was met by a rampaging Peter Grant, who tipped the chopper on its side, the still-whirling blades gouging chunks from the lawn and destroying the wooden fence. Now that's what every sixteen-year-old wants for their birthday.

Answer: Local Magistrate

Peter thought this hilarious considering his shady past. Understandably, he turned it down.

Answer: Frank Sinatra

Sinatra was a favourite of both Peter and Jimmy. Peter still owned a private box at the Albert Hall, where he boasted that he could still smoke cigars and get away with it.

Answer: 1995

Peter died on the November 21 from a heart attack, aged 60. At the funeral his close friend Alan Callan said "His greatness was that he was a man of many parts. He was adept at the ominous glance as he was at the dis-arming remark. He could engage you in the greatest conspiratorial friendship and you would know through thick and thin he would fight for you all the way, unless of course he thought you may appreciate the humour of a sudden change of plan".