Terry Reid, who Led Zeppelin eyed as their lead singer, has died at 75

Terry Reid, the British singer-songwriter musician revered by the likes of Mick Jagger, Aretha Franklin and more, has died aged 75.

A rep for the Reid confirmed the news to The Guardian yesterday (August 5), with no cause of death given, although the publication noted he had been battling various health issues as well as cancer.

A recent GoFundMe page set up to help with Reid’s medical costs said he had been “in and out of the hospital, enduring rounds of treatment and uncertainty,” which subsequently forced him to cancel a six-week tour set for the autumn.

An update later shared on the page said that on Monday (August 4), Reid “transitioned peacefully surrounded by those who meant the most to him, his loving wife Annette and his adoring daughters Kelly and Holly.”

It added that he “met every challenge with remarkable courage and an unshakable optimism”, sharing that in his final days, he believed he would make a full recovery and had sat up to play his guitar only days ago.

Reid was considered the musician’s musician, with Aretha Franklin famously declaring in 1968: “There are only three things happening in England: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Terry Reid.”

His soulful voice also earned him the nickname “Superlungs”, as well as offers to front Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, but he declined both offers to pursue a solo career.

Reid performed from his early teens, first joining local Cambridgeshire group the Redbeats, and then Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers. By the time he was 16, he was supporting the Rolling Stones on tour along with Ike & Tina Turner and The Yardbirds, and caught the attention of their guitarist Jimmy Page.

Page asked Reid if he’d be willing to join a new band he was putting together, but Reid ultimately turned him down – instead recommending Band of Joy singer Robert Plant, as well as that band’s drummer, John Bonham.

Reflecting on turning down Led Zeppelin, Reid said he was intent on doing his own thing, telling The Guardian last year: “I contributed half the band – that’s enough on my part!”  Plant was among those paying tribute, taking to his official Instagram page to write: “He was all of everything … such charisma. His voice, his range. His songs, capturing that carefree era.”

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“Superlungs, indeed. He catapulted me into an intense new world he chose to decline. I listen now to his album The River and shed a tear for my brother in arm,” he added.

Reid also fielded offers from Ritchie Blackmore to be Deep Purple’s lead singer, something he described as “very flattering”, but remained dedicated to his solo ventures, releasing ‘Bang, Bang You’re Terry Reid’ in 1968.

The debut album featured a song he wrote at age 14, ‘Without Expression’, which went on to be covered by the likes of John Mellencamp, REO Speedwagon, The Hollies and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.

His immersion in the burgeoning psychedelic rock scene saw more support slots come in later years, and in 1969, he joined Fleetwood Mac and Cream on tour and became a close friend of Jimi Hendrix.

By 1973, he was signed by Atlantic boss Ahmet Ertegun and released cult critical success ‘River’, but eventually left for ABC Records to record follow-up ‘Seed of Memory’ (1976), after which he did session work with Bonnie Raitt, Don Henley and Jackson Browne.

In the early ’90s, he released the Trevor Horn-produced comeback record ‘The Driver’, and released his final album ‘The Other Side of the River’ in 2016.

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