 During the 1970s , Led Zeppelin reached new heights of commercial and critical success that made them one of the most influential groups of the era , eclipsing their earlier achievements . The band 's image also changed as the members began to wear elaborate , flamboyant clothing . Led Zeppelin began travelling in a private jet airliner , a Boeing 720 ( nicknamed the Starship ) , rented out entire sections of hotels ( including the Continental Hyatt House in Los Angeles , known colloquially as the " Riot House " ) , and became the subject of frequently repeated stories of debauchery . One involved John Bonham riding a motorcycle through a rented floor of the Riot House , while another involved the destruction of a room in the Tokyo Hilton , leading to the group being banned from that establishment for life . Although Led Zeppelin developed a reputation for trashing their hotel suites and throwing television sets out of the windows , some suggest that these tales have been exaggerated . According to music journalist Chris Welch , " [ Led Zeppelin 's ] travels spawned many stories , but it was a myth that [ they ] were constantly engaged in acts of wanton destruction and lewd behaviour " . 
