It's not every day that fans get an opportunity to become a part of their favourite band, but one very wealthy person will soon own a minority share of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest acts.
Helen Grant, the daughter of the late Peter Grant, is selling her 10 per cent stake in Led Zeppelin, which she inherited following her father's death in 1995.
Peter Grant was the band's manager from their birth in 1968 right to their end in 1980, following the untimely death of drummer John Bonham. Described as "one of the shrewdest and most ruthless managers in rock history," Grant helped negotiate the band's deal with Atlantic Records and an unheard of 90 per cent of concert earnings during his time.
In an interview with the Guardian, daughter Helen said she originally thought her father was in the band. “I always thought my dad was the fifth member of Led Zeppelin, everybody said it. He put his artists on a pedestal – anything they wanted or needed, Dad would get on with it. He took care of everything. There would be no Led Zeppelin as we know it without him. He was the driving force.”
The sale follows a recent industry trend in which artists such as Bob Dylan, Neil Young, the Beach Boys, Paul Simon, and members of Fleetwood Mac have all sold their back catalogues for millions of dollars.
“It felt like the time was right for me to part ways," Grant says. "I’ve got five children, four stepchildren and seven grandchildren. It’s time to move on... I think there’s a lot of people out there who will hopefully be potentially interested. And then I have to work out who I feel would be the right person.”
Included in the business are sound recording and publishing rights, which generate royalties from streaming, radioplay and sync fees, as well as the band's lucrative trademarks and widescale merch line.