Terry Reid, British Rocker Who Led Zeppelin Wanted to Be Their Singer, Dead at 75

British musician Terry Reid, who earned the nickname “Superlungs” for his powerful voice and once turned down the chance to be Led Zeppelin’s singer, has died at 75, his rep confirmed to The Guardian.

Reid had been receiving treatment for cancer, and in July, he was forced to cancel an upcoming run of shows amidst treatment. A crowdfunding appeal had been set up to assist with medical costs. “Terry’s spirit remains strong, and he’s deeply grateful for the outpouring of care he’s already received,” the page wrote at the time of posting eight days ago.

The tour was due to kick off on Sep. 11 in Wolverhampton, England, and conclude later that month in Trondheim, Norway. Joe Bonamassa paid tribute to Reid and wrote on social media that Reid was “one of the greatest to ever do it and a beautiful person and soul.”

The cult star’s history was intertwined with a number of fellow music greats. Reid was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on Nov. 13, 1949, and began touring and recording at an early age. When he was 13 years old he formed The Redbeats, and at age 15 he joined Peter Jay and The Jaywalkers as a guitarist. 

A year later in 1966, the group joined The Rolling Stones as the support act on a U.K. tour alongside Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds. Reid then found a career as a solo act and supported the Stones once again on their infamous 1969 tour. Aretha Franklin was smitten with his talent, and in 1968, reportedly stated, “There are only three things happening in England: the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Terry Reid.”

He also impressed Jimmy Page of The Yardbirds. When Page was forming Led Zeppelin in 1968, he sought Reid as a vocalist, but was turned down due to Reid’s existing commitment to tour with the Stones. Instead Reid suggested Robert Plant, then the singer in Band of Joy, for the duties, and also recommended John Bonham as the group’s drummer. “I was intent on doing my own thing,” Reid told The Guardian in 2024. “I contributed half the band – that’s enough on my part!” Deep Purple also attempted to land him as vocalist in 1969, which he also turned down.

Reid’s debut solo album Bang, Bang You’re Terry Reid was released in 1968. The LP featured a song he wrote at age 14 — “Without Expression” — which would later be covered by John Mellencamp, REO Speedwagon, The Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. In 1969, he joined Fleetwood Mac and Cream as a support act on tour and was a close friend of Jimi Hendrix during his time in London.

In 1973 he was signed by Atlantic boss Ahmet Ertegun and released River, a critical success, but he eventually left for ABC Records for his follow-up Seed of Memory (1976). In the 1980s, Reid undertook session work with Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley and Jackson Browne.

In 1991 he released the Trevor Horn-produced comeback LP The Driver; Reid released his final album, The Other Side of the River, in 2016. He was admired by Jack White, whose Raconteurs recorded Reid’s “Rich Kid Blues” for its 2008 album, Consolers of the Lonely. In 2020, a posthumous Chris Cornell compilation included a rendition of Reid’s 1976 song “To Be Treated Rite.”

Reid played his final live show in September 2024 at the Half Moon in London. He is survived by his wife, Annette.