Led Zeppelin Flying High with New Concert Discs

Reuters (via Yahoo) ^ | 05/28/03 | Dean Goodman

[Drew68]

Led Zeppelin Flying High with New Concert Discs

Wed May 28, 2003

By Dean Goodman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In the words of one of their songs, Dancing Days are here again for fans of Led Zeppelin.

Defunct for almost 23 years, the pioneering English band behind such hard rock classics as "Stairway to Heaven" and "Kashmir (news - web sites)" has cleaned out its vaults to issue eight hours of previously unreleased live material on DVD and CD.

The "Led Zeppelin DVD" contains footage from four tours spanning 1970 to 1979; the CD "How The West Was Won" combines two Los Angeles shows from 1972 to replicate a single concert.

Remarkably, the band's leader and guitarist, Jimmy Page (news), who compiled the releases, says he remembers all the concerts as if they were yesterday.

"To actually go through it bit by bit and hear sections of it, you go, 'Yeah, yeah, that's really good' or 'I played really well there' or 'My God, that's embarrassing, that bit I played then,"' Page, 58, said in an interview.

Both the DVD and CD were released this week with Page, singer Robert Plant (news), 53, and keyboardist/bassist John Paul Jones (news), 56, embarking on a publicity blitz. Ironically, Led Zeppelin shunned such chores during its 12-year reign, preferring to let the music speak for itself.

But rumors that the trio would play together came to naught. The band has reunited only twice since breaking up after the 1980 alcohol-related death of drummer John Bonham (news). Page and Plant toured and recorded together in the 1990s, to Jones' initial chagrin. These days, the threesome's relationship is more business than social, Page says.

"MAGICAL ELEMENT"

"There were four very different personalities anyway in Led Zeppelin, very different personalities," Page said. "But when they bonded musically, the four elements joined together, took on a fifth element -- a thing which is totally intangible and it can't be charted, which was that magical element."

Led Zeppelin's members fused folk and blues influences to create a genre known as heavy metal. The group's catalog, highlighted by their untitled 1971 album and 1975's "Physical Graffiti" has sold about 200 million copies worldwide.

But their strength was arguably live performances. They toured incessantly, setting new standards for ticket sales. Songs from the albums were radically reworked on stage.

The new CD boasts a 25-minute version of "Dazed and Confused," while Bonham drums relentlessly during the 19-minute "Moby Dick." Spontaneity was the key, which is why the band decided to call it a day rather than try to feign improvisation with a new drummer.

"You had to be totally, totally involved. It's like a sacrifice you were there for," Page said.

The DVD features songs from London's Royal Albert Hall (1970) and Earl's Court (1975), New York's Madison Square Garden (1973) and England's Knebworth Festival (1979). And that's it as far as live footage is concerned, Page says.

"We didn't have a documentary crew going round with us all the time. What would we do it for? We weren't a television band," Page said.

"A BIT OF A LAUGH"

Similarly, the only other audio footage in the vaults was from a university gig, which was done "for a bit of a laugh." Page vows it will never see the light of day because the band made so many mistakes. (Page did use some computer tricks to fix a few wrong chords on the newly released material.)

These days, Page divides his time between a historic London townhouse and a mansion in nearby Windsor. His post-Zeppelin career has been patchy, with highlights including a tour with the Black Crowes and recording a rap version of "Kashmir" with rapper Sean Combs. He says he's working on something "quite surprising" but declined to go into detail.

[rebelyell]

Imho, "Ten Years Gone" is the most exquisite rock and roll song ever composed and performed. It is music at its finest.

[WRhine]

If Page had such a great memory, how come he always somehow managed to forget to give credit to the guys whose material he was stealing?

A little story here. Jeff Beck once said that he was shocked when Jimmy Page put his name on the song "Beck's Bolero" which Beck later included on his Truth album. According to Jeff, they were at Page's house and Jimmy was playing around with a few around chords with Jeff playing solo and out of blue the rough take of Beck's Bolero fell out. Jeff got Keith Moon to come in for drums and (I think) Ron Wood for bass and they recorded the song after only a couple of takes.

Page evidently handled the paper work of “Beck’s Bolero” and when Beck found out that Page put his name on the song he hit the ceiling. Beck maintained that the melody was his and if you listen to Beck's Bolero and what Beck passionately lays out on that legendary track it is pretty clear Beck was right in his assertion.

There is a very interesting symbiotic relationship with Beck and Page. They were close friends before they became famous. Page was originally asked by the Yardbirds to replace Eric Clapton. He refused the offer because of some studio work he was doing at the time but recommended Jeff Beck. Beck took the offer, made the Yardbirds into one of the exciting bands of the times, then a couple of years later Page decided he wanted in on the Yardbirds. Jeff leaves after a couple of months and The Yardbirds go nowhere. Beck forms a new band with Rod Stewart. That band gets critical acclaim as an innovative band but Beck later self-destructs after 2 albums. Page takes the blue prints from the Yardbirds and Beck's work with Rod Stewart and forms Led Zepplin.

Jimmy Page is truly a great architect of Rock but a little history suggests that Page took a few liberties with some of his peers when it came to borrowing ideas. If anything, it shows that Page was a far better marketer of ideas than his pal Beck.

I don’t think Beck forgot this. A few years ago Beck showed up at one of Jimmy Page’s parties and gave Page a CD of his latest album “Who Else”. Page listened to it and was awed by what Beck did. I could only imagine what Jeff was thinking.

[WRhine]

Townsend is one of the most talented musical minds of his generation (no pun intended), and that's saying a lot. The whole pop punk movement of the past 10 years owes a lot to the early Who albums, as well as the early Kinks.

Interesting observation. I never thought about The Who in this way but come to think of it, it makes sense. The Who in many of their songs had Stop, Pause, Resume Play characteristic that is the hallmark of Punk music. And you are absolutely right about Pete Townsend. He was always on the cutting edge of Rock and a heck of a guitar player to boot.

[Burr5]

Another mystery solved! Thanks for taking the time to straighten that out.

Although I doubt that watching Jimmy play Rain Song was too
unpleasant. :)

[kAcknor]

I didn't think there were that many Zep fans left!

kAcknor Sez:

It's enough that I'm happy to see a Cadillac commercial on TV!  LOL

...and no, I haven't scored my copies yet either.

"ta'mey Dun, bommey Dun." (Great deeds, great songs)

Have you checked the *bang_list today?

[Helms]

I picked up the 2 DVD set at our local Barnes and Noble, w/ Circuit City and Best Buy being sold out. Paid about an $8 premium but well worth it.

This is an astounding collection and show that LZ was ready for prime time early on. They were indeed unique and IMHO deserve a top slot in the Pantheon of Rock Legends. I gained new respect for Plant who I was impressed with as a 20 year old at Royal Albert Hall. These guys were, like Tull, a band w/ a unique personality, and produced transcendental and majestic music which only grows in respect w/ time.

Also seeing Whole Lotto Love and a few other songs, I realized how Dionysian they were and left the Stones little quarter in the super sexual 60's/ early 70's.

All of this should justify us as fans and to solidify their reputation as a TRex group every bit as good as the Beatles and Stones and Floyd.

I suspect that Page was responsible for this great effort in laying down the celluloid history and a brilliant marketing coup.

[Helms]

I can see how Page would recall these particular concerts, but left most other venues in a haze of drugs, esp. heroin.

Page Lives, Garcia Is Dead. I believe this says allot for LZ's optimize music.

[Mr. Mojo]

Excellent anecdote.

Yep, I hear a lot of Zeppelin's first album in the Beck/Stewart colloborations Truth and Beck-ola. They even share the cover blues number "You Shook Me". There's little doubt that Page learned a lot from those two recordings, and then put that knowledge to good use. But by Zep III (1970) Page had developed his own unique voice, both in songwriting and in guitar work, and then he was the one breaking new ground (much more so than Beck was, imo).

Beck's most innovative work was from 1965-68, spanning the period from his stay with the Yarbirds through the Jeff Beck Group albums (with Stewart) I mentioned above. That four year period, imo, was definitely among the most innovative for a rock guitarist in history --- Hendrix's work during the exact same period, Clapton's work with Cream, and Page's early 70's output also immediately come to mind.

Beck got into the jazz-fusion thing after that, and stayed there for way too long for my taste. Although his technical guitar work was (and is) always phenomenal, it appeared (to my ears) that he got caught in a rut from which he has never recovered. Insane envy over Page's overwhelming success didn't help, I'd imagine.

[wardaddy]

Well I sure wish Beck would just come out and do a bluesy sharp album again...oddly Rod Stewart would be great for the vocals.....not so odd actually.

I liked Zep for the whole package and the aura of it all. I sort of lost immediate interest after HOTH...although PG was not too shabby. I bet most middle aged Zep fans recall PG as the highwater mark....for me it was IV...not a bad song on it.

I was listening to Retro Lightning coming to work this morning. I heard Bubble Puppy from 1969.....Lord...remember that one...damn....I bet I had not heard that in 30 years....sort of a DOA sounding band....not terribly talented but the sound was common of that era.

[Mr. Mojo]

You're fortunate to have seen Zep in their concert peak (in '70). I only saw them once as well, but it was in 1977 when they were playing way too many 30 min+ songs and many in the audience were getting bored. They were still very tight on the shorter (and newer) songs, but seemed to have gotten stuck in trying to take their performance in The Song Remains the Same and lengthen it. Not wise.

I'll be picking up that DVD shortly.

All of this should justify us as fans and to solidify their reputation as a TRex group every bit as good as the Beatles and Stones and Floyd.

As I mentioned in an earlier post (which you for some odd reason labeled "PC"), I don't serparate the Beatles, Stones, Floyd, and Zep as far as either talent or innovation is concerned. ....They're all very different, but equally impressive. But when I was (much) younger I went through periods of each of those four (among others) being "my favorite band" at one time or another.

[Mr. Mojo]

Zep 4 (untitled) was the high point for me as well, followed by Zep 3, PG, HOTH, Presence, Zep 2, Zep 1, and the miserable ITTOD. They should've broken up after the '77 tour, imo.

[RWG]

I always thought Led Zeppelin was psychadelic, the bands that came afterwards were the metal freaks.

[Drew68]

Watching this made me realize that Bonzo had no peers.

As a guitar player, it has been Bonzo's playing that has enthralled me on that DVD more than Page's.

The man was simply awesome.

[wardaddy]

Very similar to my order.

IV, III, HOTH, II, I, PG.....

I really liked III....and as you know...many folks did not.

Of course the only Springsteen I like is Nebraska....just goes to show doesn't it?

I agree with whoever said that Bonhams drumming as as spectacular as Page's guitar. Plant's vocals and Jones' bass...all made it fit as good as it gets.

Remember...the critics hated LZ.

[Mr. Mojo]

The critics did indeed hate Zep early on, but they changed their tune after Zep 4 (with the huge hit "Stairway"). Zep 3 was not only pooh-poohed by the critics, but most hardcore Zep fans didn't even like it. I think it's one of the greatest albums in the history of the genre, and it's the one album of theirs I still never tire of listening to.

I had just started to play guitar when I saw them in '77, so I was all set to fix my attention almost exclusively on Page during the show. That lasted for about 3 to 4 songs, after which my attention was inexorably drawn to Bonham. A musician who exuded more power there never was, at least none that I've seen. Tone, power, technique, timing, ....gravitas (I hesitate to say) ....he had it all.

[wardaddy]

Yep...and Bonham was really just a down home English country boy...more at home in the midlands at a pub ...the Mudshark of mythology notwithstanding..lol

I saw them twice....once at the Cotton Bowl in 75 I think and the next year in Memphis at the Liberty Bowl...I think.

[Bernard]

I saw paige and Plant a few years ago in Milwaukee. My duaghter (15 ?? at the time) let me go along, because she didn't have a driver's license yet.

It was also the 90th birthday celebration for Harley Davidson, so there were a number of people in their 50's and 60's riding around the area.

When my daughter asked why there were so many old people there, I explained that it was Harley's 90th birthday. "And when you're 90, everybody who comes to your birthday party will be real old too."

[Mr. Mojo]

The mini-bios at the beginning of the film The Song Remains the Same are very revealing. Plant with his mystical-Arthurian stuff, Page on his Crowleyan-Magick trip, JPJ and his everyday-man husband/father thing, and Bonzo and his dragsters. .....and producer Peter Grant with his power-trip mafia fantasy.

[wardaddy]

Boy Grant was a trip wasn't he?

is he still breathing air?

[Drew68]

.....and producer Peter Grant with his power-trip mafia fantasy.

Ever read "Hammer of the Gods"? It is a very intertaining read. Peter Grant was a thug. The London East-Ender version of rap producer Suge Knight.