Discovery Reveals Original Image Used for Led Zeppelin IV Album Cover

The man depicted on the cover of Led Zeppelin IV has been identified as a 19th-century thatcher named Lot Long from Mere in Wiltshire. Brian Edwards from the University of the West of England (UWE) made the discovery while researching for an unrelated project. He recognized the man with the sticks, often referred to as the "stick man," and confirmed it was Lot Long. Edwards, a longtime Led Zeppelin fan, described the revelation as quite surprising. The original photograph was found in a photograph album, now in possession of the Wiltshire Museum, which plans to include it in an exhibition next year. Led Zeppelin IV, released in 1971, has sold millions of copies worldwide and features the popular song "Stairway to Heaven." Contrary to previous belief that the album cover was a painting, it is actually a colorized photograph. The photographer, Ernest Farmer, was identified by Edwards from a clue in the album and further research. The album also contains views and architecture from south Wiltshire and Dorset. Edwards concluded that the man in the photograph was likely Lot Long, a thatcher who passed away in 1893. The exhibition at the Wiltshire Museum next year will showcase Ernest Farmer's work and explore the theme of rural and urban contrasts, which is also reflected in Led Zeppelin's iconic album cover.