English rock star Terry Reid, who once turned down offers to front Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, has passed away. He was 75.<\/p>\n
Reid\u2019s UK rep confirmed the shocking news in a statement to the Guardian<\/a> on Tuesday, August 5. <\/p>\n Although his cause of death has not been revealed, the beloved musician\u2019s passing follows a fight with cancer.<\/p>\n Terry Reid during a concert on June 24, 1973. Getty Images<\/p>\n Terry Reid at the Anaheim Convention Center on Jan. 25, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. Getty Images<\/p>\n The \u201cSeed of Memory\u201d singer had been forced to postpone an upcoming tour due to his worsening health battle, according to his official Instagram page.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cDue to medical issues arising from recent treatment for cancer, Terry has had to postpone his autumn 2025 UK, Irish and Norway,\u201d the announcement posted on July 2 began. \u201cTerry is especially upset about this as his 2024 tour was so successful and he had been looking forward to playing some new towns and venues, plus old faves, as well as his first-ever dates in Norway.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe wish Terry a speedy recovery back to good health and will provide details about rescheduled dates for 2026 in due course,\u201d it added.<\/p>\n Terry Reid in 1960. Alan Messer \/ Shutterstock<\/p>\n A GoFundMe page<\/a> set up on the rock star\u2019s behalf last month detailed Reid\u2019s cancer fight.<\/p>\n \u201cOver the past several months, Terry has been courageously battling cancer as well as numerous other serious health issues,\u201d it said. \u201cHis fight has been quiet and brave, but it has also come at a great personal cost.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been in and out of the hospital, enduring rounds of treatment and uncertainty \u2014 and, most recently, was forced to cancel his long-anticipated six-week tour,\u201d it continued. \u201cThe financial strain has become overwhelming, and the medical bills are mounting by the day.\u201d<\/p>\n The English rock singer and guitarist relaxing between shows on June 6, 1973. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cTerry would never ask for this himself \u2014 which is why we\u2019re asking for him,\u201d the message added.<\/p>\n Born and raised in Cambridgeshire, England, Reid first came to prominence as a teen when he joined Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers as the band\u2019s frontman.<\/p>\n Reid\u2019s reputation was further cemented in the mid-1960s when he supported the Rolling Stones<\/a> during their tour at age 16.<\/p>\n Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, John Bonham and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin on June 20, 1969. Getty Images<\/p>\n It was then that he was approached by Jimmy Page, who was still with the Yardbirds at the time, and asked to join the group that would ultimately become Led Zeppelin.<\/p>\n \u201cI was very friendly with\u00a0Keith Richards\u00a0of the Rolling Stones,\u201d Reid recalled during a 2024 interview with Classic Rock<\/a>. \u201cKeith asked me to support the Stones in the States, but then shortly afterward, Jimmy wanted me to join his new band. I was torn.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the end, I put the ball in Jimmy\u2019s court,\u201d he continued. \u201cI said: \u2018You\u2019d better speak to Keith and tell him I\u2019m not going.\u2019 But Jimmy bottled it. He said: \u2018I\u2019m not having him shoot me in the f\u2013king leg.\u2019 Even then, Keith had a reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n Terry Reid performs as part of Wesley Stace\u2019s Cabinet of Wonders variety show at the City Winery on June 22, 2018, in New York City. Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cSo I ended up going to America with the Stones,\u201d Reid added. \u201cI even played with them at Altamont.\u201d<\/p>\n After turning Page down on the offer to join Led Zeppelin, Reid recommended singer Robert Plant and drummer John Bonham instead. Both musicians ultimately joined, and Led Zeppelin was established in 1968.<\/p>\n