Investigators planned to accrue 176 participants, to compare the response rate, overall response rate and survival of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) when randomized to two regimens (thalidomide+Dexamethasone versus Vincristine+Adriamycin+Dexamethasone). Investigators also planned to test if treatment with zoledronate immediately prior to chemotherapy results in an enhanced response to treatment (i.e. increase in complete response rates).