http://www.outdoorlanternsonsale.com/led-lantern/
Who is the man holding the lantern in Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin) posters and what is his significance?
http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lglp0806 stairway-to-heaven-led-zeppelin-poster.jpg
bad link sorry here's the right one
http://www.popartuk.com/g/l/lglp0806+stairway-to-heaven-led-zeppelin-poster.jpg
It's a great image, isn't it? It originally was on the album Led Zeppelin IV. The album had no text at all on the LP record cover, just a picture of an old British-looking guy with whiskers and a bunch of sticks on his back.
The inside sleeve of the record had the image you're talking about. It showed a hooded, Druid-like figure holding a lantern, standing on rocks. The picture is a charcoal drawing by lead guitarist Jimmy Page's friend Barrington Colby. Colby evidently drew it at Page's request. The man with the lantern is sometimes said to be The Hermit, Number IX in the tarot card deck, who is usually represented as a bearded monk holding a lamp to light the way. Of the image, Page was quoted: "The idea represents the ascension to the beacon and the light of truth."
Keep in mind this was the 70s and Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings were huge. There were many references to LOTR in Zeppelin songs, including "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Misty Mountain Hop," "The Battle of Evermore," "Ramble On," and others. Some say that the old man is Gandalf, but that Page wouldn't admit it for fear of incurring copyright problems from lawyers.
Zeppelin's record executives went bananas when they heard the band insisted on no text at all on the album cover. But L.Z. IV is often regarded as their greatest album, and it has at various times been the best-selling. Page was (and is) very eccentric, but you can't argue with success. The old man with the lantern image is now on countless t-shirts, mugs, et cetera.
This is probably more info than you wanted, but I love the band!
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