Follow the Legend: Led Zeppelin, Albion-There and Back
Shannon MacBay and Karol Rhys-Gruffydd

Book Reviews, Edited by Joel McIver
Record Collector Magazine
No. 263, July 2001

    “Few bands outside the Beatles warrant an entire volume probing the landmarks that have influences their music. Luckily for American authors MacBay and Rhys-Gruffydd, Led Zeppelin fall comfortably into this elite category.
    From Page’s purchase of Aleister Crowley’s Scottish home, the stately mansions they inhabited to record their albums on location, the Welsh cottage in Snowdonia that was responsible for their definitive “getting it together in the country” period, through to Plant’s love of the Welsh mountains—such landmarks have constantly mirrored the personality of the band and visibly affected their music.
    The authors have accurately gauged the scope of this side of Zep’s history and spent months trawling the UK, researching the background to all the major Zeppelin landmarks. The end result is an illuminating travelogue which throws up many little-known facts about the band and its members. There are profiles of all four musicians’ childhood homes, while historical locations such as Boleskine House and Bron Yr Aur, as well as key venues such as Shepton Mallet in Bath, the Marquee in London, Earl’s Court and Knebworth are also investigated.
    The locations of the filming of the infamous fantasy sequences for The Song Remains the Same movie come under the spotlight. The depth of research is excellent and, for those diligent enthusiasts who want to visit these places themselves, there are even precise directions to each location and plenty of illustrations for those who can’t make the journey.
    It’s perhaps ironic that it has taken two Americans to profile the British roots of such a home-grown rock legend—but it all adds up to a refreshing new angle on a subject already well represented in print. Diligently researched and intelligently presented, Albion—There and Back can rightly take its place on the Zep bookshelf as an essential reference work.”

Follow the Legend: Led Zeppelin, Albion-There and Back
Shannon MacBay and Karol Rhys-Gruffydd

Reviewed by Dave Lewis, Editor
TIGHT BUT LOOSE Magazine
Issue #15, May 2001

    “I've lost count the number of times a visiting fan has asked me where Bron-Yr-Aur is. Now such enquiries can be directed to this extensive guide. American authors Shannon and Karol have found a refreshing new angle for a Zep book and one that was really crying out to be written. What they have done is to trawl the UK researching out the background facts to every major relevant Zeppelin landmark and come up with one of the most illuminating and enjoyable Zep books published in along while.
    Zeppelin's British geographical background said much about the personality of the band and in turn had a direct influence on their music. This 300 page travelogue guide puts all that into perspective and throws up countless little known facts in the process.
    There are profiles of all four members' childhood homes and background, recording studios such as Olympic, Morgan, Trident and Island, and the historical locations Headley Grange, Bron-Yr-Aur, Clearwell Castle, Stargroves, Raglan Castle and Boleskine House.
    The key concert venues such as Shepton Mallet, Royal Albert Hall, Wembley Empire Pool, Earls Court and Knebworth are also investigated. The depth of background research is absolutely first class and there are plenty of black and white and colour illustrations to back up the written material.
    What also impresses is the lesser known Zep locations that are covered such as Chislehurst Caves, Hammerwood Park, Gerrard Street and Santa Pod Raceway. Mind you they missed out the swimming pool in the shape of Jimmy's double neck guitar to be found in my back garden (not!).
    Diligently researched and intelligently presented, Albion-There and Back can take its place on the Zep bookshelf as one of THE essential reference works.”

    While conducting research for FOLLOW THE LEGEND: Led Zeppelin Volume One, Albion — There and Back, two of ADRI's authors, Karol Rhys-Gruffydd and Shannon MacBay, were interviewed by The Advertiser & Messenger, a newspaper serving the Midlands area of the United Kingdom.

The following article appeared in the April 5, 2000 edition:

  A STAIRWAY to heaven and a whole lotta information was the plan when two American women stopped off in Bromsgrove to research a book on Led Zeppelin.

  Shannon MacBay and Karol Rhys-Gruffydd, both from Washington DC, stayed at Bromsgrove Country Hotel, Worcester Road, while they travelled around Worcestershire to research the heavy metal band's early roots and the areas which inspired them.

  Two of the band members, Robert Plant and John Bonham, both have connections with the county.

  The pair, who will write and produce the book, to be called FOLLOW THE LEGEND: Led Zeppelin Volume One, Albion - There and Back, would like to hear from anyone who may have known the band when they were getting started.

  Shannon told the Advertiser/Messenger: "It's like a big puzzle and we are trying to put together as many pieces as possible." Anyone who has any information can contact the pair via email on info@adripublishers.com.

    Two of our ADRI authors, Karol Rhys-Gruffydd and Shannon MacBay, were interviewed on BBC Radio — Hereford and Worcester.

    They were featured on the afternoon show with Katie Smith and discussed their current project, Follow the Legend: Led Zeppelin Volume One, Albion — There and Back.

    BBC Radio had picked up the story after our authors were written up in two midlands newspapers, the Bromsgrove Advertiser and the Worcester Evening News.

    MacBay and Rhys-Gruffudd detailed their research efforts on Led Zeppelin, and discussed the theme of Follow the Legend: Led Zeppelin Volume One, Albion — There and Back. Listeners were invited to become an ADRI classic rock insider by contacting ADRI via email and share any personal encounters they may have had with Led Zeppelin.