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.

[Mr. Mojo]

I gave it many chances, but the album just never did it for me ....and grew worse with age. Page's guitar work was sloppy, and Plant's vocals sound terrible -- way overproduced. ....And there was too much "pop" sythesizer for my taste.

Presence should've been their swan song. ....Just one man's opinion.

[cardinal4]

I wish I had back all the hours I wasted trying to figure out "The Rain Song" in standard tuning as a kid, until someone told me it was D-G-D-G-C-D.

LOL!! Bron-y-aur was a great acoustic Page song on Physical Grafitti. That song was open D tuning, as well. It took me about 10 years to get it right...

[cardinal4]

then she saw them in Philly when Phil Collins drummed for them

Live Aid, July 13th 1985. I have a great story about that show, but I cant tell it for another 50 years!! I can tell you this, out of all the concerts I have seen, ( well over 150,) that one is in the top 10.

[WRhine]

The CD features cameos from Jeff Beck, Johnny Rzeznik, Slash, Steve Vai and Jeff "Skunk" Baxter, amongst many others -- who knows who will drop by the show! Joe Satriani is on it too.

From what I've heard Beck won't be touring with the Yardbirds.

[WRhine]

Have you ever seen the Sam Peckinpah-directed movie Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid, starring Kris Kristofferson and James Coburn, with Bob Dylan in a small supporting role?

I don't think so but I'll definately have to see it now.

The musical information on this thread is incredible.

[LS]

In stark contrast, I saw "Kansas," "Styx," and "REO Speedwagon" in concert on Direct TV, and those guys can ALL sing their butts off. Steve Walsh in Kansas still has that phenomenal range as does Tommy Shaw, and all those bands cooked. I remember seeing Speedwagon in Ann Arbor MI at a club and they were great. Richrath is no longer with the band, but the new lead player fills in very well.

[TwilightDog]

My, oh my, freepers are deficient in Hendrix appreciation.
Hendrix's last concert was actually the Isle of Fehrman,
9/6/70(a fairly decent concert). It is a common misconception that the Isle of Wight was his last concert.
After the Isle of Wight 8/30/70 concert, he played in Sweden on 8/31/70. Then he played on 9/1/70 and 9/2/70 somewhere or other around there(don't have those two recordings yet). He played Berlin on 9/4/70 as his second to last concert.

Most of his best stuff-studio and concerts-yet remains commercially unavailable. I've got over a hundred and seventy CDRs of his material, most of which will never see
release. A good proportion of these are truly amazing.
The second set of the 7/30/70 Maui concert is better than any concert release his estate has ever put out as are
the Berkeley 5/30/70 shows....etc...

[Mr. Mojo]

Ah well, at least it's a common misconception. Thanks for the info. Sounds like you have quite an impressive Jimi collection there, amigo. Most of us are stuck with the same stuff that's been available for quite some time ....not that that's too big of a problem.

[wardaddy]

Don't miss Zachariah...the Electric Western while you're at it...lol

I've given up on a list...it's impossible and evolves constantly.

All this talk had me listening to Echoes from Floyd last night in bed smoking a La Gloria after my wife had nodded off. I had forgotten about that eerie ghostly old song with the whale sounds...damn, it gave me the heebie-jeebies. Syd unraveling.

I will take the plunge on 10 perfect albums:

LZ IV
Lynyrd Skynyrd's First
Nirvana Nevermind
Beatles Revolver
Stones Beggar's Banquet
Grateful Dead American Beauty
Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bollocks
The Cure Wish
Blind Faith, Blind Faith
David Bowie, Ziggy Stardust


I could go on and on. My favorite single from 1974 (senior year) was "Avenging Annie" by Andy Pratt which is quite obscure and was a reflection on spoiled hippies by an heir to the Pratt-Whitney fortune and was about all he ever did. The film on glam rock last year called Velvet Goldmine used it though it was not glam.

[Mr. Mojo]

Great albums, of course. But I must admit that I've never heard the Nirvana and Cure selections. Bullocks, with the Clash's first album close second, is undoutedly the best punk album ever made. Could be the rawest music and among the most powerful I've ever heard.

Was Barrett still with Floyd when Meddle was released? For some reason, I thought he had left the band a year or two earlier. Anyway, that album is the most underrated in PF's catalogue, imo. ....A bunch of great tunes.

[Drew68]

Richrath is no longer with the band, but the new lead player fills in very well.

I think I saw the same show on Direct TV (only without Kansas).

REO's new guitarist is pretty smokin'.

I always liked Richrath. Those old REO videos from the 1980s where they played live in McNichol's Arena in Denver highlighted Richrath's awesome guitar playing skills.

I saw "REO Speedwagon: Behind the Music" on VH1 recently and, sadly, Richrath has descended into full-blown alcoholism. He looked awful and pathetic --pining for his glory days and hoping to be reunited with his former bandmates.

Hope he cleans himself up. He was a great talent.

Richrath and Pat Benatar's hubby, Niel Geraldo (who's still rockin' BTW) were probably the two most underrated guitarists of the 1980s.

[WRhine]

Your list is a reminder that I have gaps in my knowledge of rock. I have never listened to (Grateful Dead) "American Beauty", (Sex Pistols) "Never Mind The Bollocks" and (The Cure) "Wish". At least to my memory. Looks like I have some serious record shopping to do.

[LS]

As a drummer in the early- mid-70s, my band played gigs with some groups like Poland (which had a great drummer, who ended up playing for one of the big SF acid-rock bands.) He became a heroin addict.

We also played with a band called "Joyce," whose lead singer founded "Mister MR." and had the hits, "Kyre Leason" and "Broken Wings." He had a great voice. My band's guitar player was in "Alice Cooper" and quit just as that band changed its name and its act because he didn't think female clothes would fly!

Too bad about Richrath.

[The Iguana]

Some pics from Zep's DVD launch party, courtesy of the NYPost:

John Paul Jones at the launch party for the new Led Zeppelin launch party & screening, held at Loew's 34th St. - Photo by: DMI

Jimmy Page at the launch party for the new Led Zeppelin launch party & screening, held at Loew's 34th St. - Photo by: DMI

Robert Plant at the launch party for the new Led Zeppelin launch party & screening, held at Loew's 34th St. - Photo by: DMI

Jimmy actually looks better than he has in years. Robert, on the other hand, looks like he's really aged.

[The Iguana]

Had Bonzo lived, I think they would have put out some interesting stuff during the 1980s.

Jimmy intimated as much at one point.

They were already planning a more hard rock effort for the next LP.

But I guess we're just indulging in what-ifs. Sad.

[wardaddy]

I think they might have still been letting him hang around the studio then....maybe....that would have been 71 and he was pretty toasted by then.

[wardaddy]

Page does look healthier than usual.

[wardaddy]

The Dead are an acquired taste....they became sort of wandering country in their heyday....1968-1976. I wouldn't fault you if you didn't like them.

I forgot about Roxy Music's Avalon....another "perfect" album....and the women do so love that one. It was made for the "sheets" and I would suggest any young horndog to be sure to have that CD somewhere.

The Cure?....they epitomize dark wave sort of like Depeche Mode only a bit better to me. I left a lot of wave stuff out ....Big Country, Bauhaus, Love and Rockets.....I also left out Jane's Addiction which hurts...as well as Husker Du and The Jesus and Mary Chain...lots of 80s stuff that while it was indeed intersting...it lacks big league legs. REM's Murmur as well....if for nothing but Radio Free Europe.

I left Jonathon Richman and Television and The Jam and early Costello (Mystery Dance..lol) out too for the same reasons.

We really ought to do a 100 list of albums or bands.

I thought about Steve Miller Band Anthology too....or AC/DC Back in Black.....or Tull/Benefit...see it's impossible.

Social Distortion's Somewhere between Heaven and Hell is "perfect" to me but probably not to most folks.

[Mr. Mojo]

Although I never acquired Dead Head status (like a buddy of mine who attend 100+ Dead shows), I've been to my fair share of their shows ....around 10. Liked them the minute I first heard them in the late 70's, mostly because of Garcia's very unique and soulful (and countryish) picking style.

By the time I started going to their shows (around '82), their fans - especially the females among them - were veering away from the hairy underarms/legs, unshowered look and towards something a little more mainstream. An excellent trend (from my point of view), especially if one planned on bringing one (or more) of them home from the show.

After about '86 I lost interest in the Dead completely, although Garcia's collaborations (and concerts) with Merle Saunders were still interesting.

We really ought to do a 100 list of albums or bands.

Just let me know, Hoss. I've got 25 of 'em already done.

[wardaddy]

LOL...I'll bet....glad to hear the chicks improved on the sanitation thing.