For over half a century, the figure gracing the cover of Led Zeppelin’s iconic album “Led Zeppelin IV” has remained an enigma. The stooped, grey-bearded man, clutching a bundle of hazel on his back, has become synonymous with the album’s enduring legacy.
However, the identity of this enigmatic figure has finally been revealed. Through painstaking research, Brian Edwards, a visiting research fellow at the University of the West of England, has identified the man as a late-Victorian thatcher from Wiltshire, England.
Edwards stumbled upon the original photograph, a black and white image captured by renowned photographer Ernest Howard Farmer while delving into the regional history of Wiltshire. The photograph, titled “A Wiltshire Thatcher,” was part of a larger collection titled “Reminiscences of a visit to Shaftesbury. Whitsuntide 1892. A present to Auntie from Ernest.”
Further investigation revealed the identity of the thatcher as Lot Long, a widower living in a small cottage in Shaftesbury Road, Mere, at the time the photograph was taken. Long, born in 1823, was a skilled thatcher who played a crucial role in maintaining the thatched roofs of Wiltshire’s rural homes.
The discovery of Long’s identity sheds new light on the symbolism behind Led Zeppelin’s cover art. The image, juxtaposed with a partially demolished suburban house, represents the contrast between rural traditions and the encroaching urbanization of the era.
The cover’s creation is attributed to Led Zeppelin lead singer Robert Plant, who stumbled upon a framed, colored version of the photograph in an antique shop near guitarist Jimmy Page’s house in Pangbourne, Berkshire. Plant reportedly recognized the image’s power and suggested its use for the album cover.
The revelation of the thatcher’s identity has been met with enthusiasm by Led Zeppelin fans and music enthusiasts alike. It adds a deeper layer of meaning to the iconic album cover, connecting it to the rich history and rural traditions of Wiltshire.