Terry Reid, singer who turned down Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, dies at 75

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Known for his flamboyant style, the British rock vocalist Terry Reid, who declined offers to lead both Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, has sadly passed away at the age of 75.

According to a statement made to The Guardian by representatives of Reid, it has been confirmed that he passed away. Prior to his demise, he was undergoing treatment for cancer, and a GoFundMe campaign was established to gather donations.

Originating from Cambridgeshire, England, Terry Reid was renowned for his exceptionally powerful and expressive voice spanning a vast spectrum. This earned him the moniker “Superlungs.” He was highly sought after among the rock legends of that era, with even the legendary Aretha Franklin acknowledging in 1968 that besides the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, there was only one more thing happening in England: Terry Reid.

Initially, Reid gained local recognition as part of the teen rock band, the Redbeats. Subsequently, he joined Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers. Following a show at London’s Marquee club, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones watched Reid’s performance with the Jaywalkers, leading to the Rolling Stones inviting them on their support tour. Sharing the stage during this tour were Ike & Tina Turner, as well as the Yardbirds, which was then the primary endeavor of guitarist Jimmy Page.

After forging a friendship with Jimi Hendrix, Reid decided to leave his band Jaywalkers to perform solo. The Rolling Stones invited him to join them on their U.S. tour, but he had prior commitments and turned down an offer to lead a new group. Instead, Reid suggested Robert Plant, the vocalist, and John Bonham, the drummer, from his former band Band of Joy. Together, they went on to form Led Zeppelin.

Reid shared with The Guardian that many individuals invited him to be a part of their musical groups, but he was determined to pursue his own projects. In essence, he provided half of the band’s composition, which, as far as he was concerned, was already a significant contribution.

In a different turn of events, aside from almost leading Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page’s former colleague, Reid, also declined an offer to become the lead vocalist for Deep Purple. This opportunity presented itself after Rod Evans departed the band in 1969. Instead, Ian Gillan stepped up to take on the role.

As a passionate music enthusiast, I’d like to share a fascinating journey: In my early days as a solo artist, I inked a contract with the renowned talent manager, Mickie Most. My first album, “Bang Bang, You’re Terry Reid,” unveiled in 1968, bore a track titled “Without Expression.” This song, penned by me at the tender age of 14, resonated strongly with musicians of that era. Notable artists like John Mellencamp, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and REO Speedwagon all gave it a go, covering this timeless piece.

He accompanied bands such as Cream, Fleetwood Mac, Jethro Tull during their tours, and even had a chance to perform before the Rolling Stones at the iconic Altamont festival, but unfortunately couldn’t make it on that specific date. Despite being close to stardom, he didn’t achieve the chart success one might expect. However, his masterfully crafted albums, like the 1973 release “River,” are still cherished as cult classics in the ’70s rock collection. In the ’80s, he shifted towards session work with artists like Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley, and Jackson Browne. Reid developed friendships with Brazilian musicians Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso after they relocated to the UK due to Brazil’s military coup. He was part of the first Isle of Wight festival and opened the Pyramid stage at the 1971 Glastonbury festival, sharing the stage with David Bowie on that occasion.

In his later life, Reid resided in an area near Palm Springs, California. His musical fame was resurrected during the era of crate-digging DJs like DJ Shadow, as well as ’90s and 2000s rock musicians who admired his vocal abilities. Artists such as Chris Cornell, Marianne Faithfull, and Jack White’s band, the Raconteurs, covered his songs. It was also said that he recorded unpublished tracks with Dr. Dre, and according to Reid, “Dr. Dre became enthralled by my album ‘Seed of Memory,’ inviting me into his studio where we collaborated on reworking it alongside his rappers, an extraordinary experience.

Reid is survived by his wife, Annette, and daughters Kelly and Holly.

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2025-09-09 22:31