Page and Dreja , with a tour of Scandinavia scheduled for late summer 1968 , saw the break-up as an opportunity to put a new lineup together with Page as producer and Grant as manager . Page initially described his vision for the new band as " a new sort of collage of sound " that would include mellotron keyboard while still featuring the guitar . Procol Harum 's B.J. Wilson , Paul Francis and session man Clem Cattini , who had guested on more than a few Yardbirds tracks under Most 's supervision , were considered as drummers . Young vocalist and composer Terry Reid was asked to replace Relf but declined because of a new recording contract with Most and recommended the then-unknown Robert Plant . Plant , in turn , recommended his childhood friend John Bonham as a drummer . Bassist/keyboardist/arranger John Paul Jones – who had worked with Page on countless sessions , including several with the Yardbirds – approached Page and offered his services ; Dreja bowed out to pursue a career as a rock photographer . Rehearsals began in mid-August 1968 ; in early September , Page 's revised Yardbirds embarked as the New Yardbirds on the Scandinavian tour , after which the band returned to the UK to produce the debut Led Zeppelin album
Scandinavian tour
Led Zeppelin Scandinavian Tour 1968
The Yardbirds