Terry Reid

Terry Reid is usually mentioned as the man who turned down a job offer from Jimmy Page -- as lead singer for Led Zeppelin. Though he didn't wind up a zillionaire rock star, Reid has long held a special place in the hearts of fans who know his talents. (Among them: Rick Nielsen, whose Cheap Trick covered Reid's "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace" on their 1977 debut.) At the very least, Reid's career has often found him in the right place at the right time, even if the subsequent exposure didn't lead to greater success. After a stint in his mid-teens with Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, Reid signed with English mogul Mickie Most, who produced his 1968 debut, Bang, Bang You're Terry Reid. The record captured the arresting late-'60s meld of hard rock and softer folk-informed styles that marked the early albums of Fleetwood Mac and, yes, Zeppelin. A second release, Move Over for Terry Reid, featured more of his original material than the debut had, and coincided with an opening slot on the Rolling Stones' historic 1969 American tour. But a rift with Most led to an enforced recording hiatus, resulting in an absence from the new-release bins until 1973, when Reid put out the more reflective River . (A reissue several years ago won praise from Mojo and other influential quarters.) Reid issued two more albums in the '70s: Seed of Memory for the then-powerhouse ABC label and Rogue Waves on Capitol. He continued adding to his discography sporadically over the next 20 years, with records appearing in 1985 and 1992 to little attention. Now based in Los Angeles, Reid has more recently focused on live appearances, with a much-heralded set at the 2005 Glastonbury Festival regarded as a highlight. Often down, but never out -- that's Terry Reid.