[Jhensy]

I saw them in June '77, Madison Square Garden. I was 16; they sold out 6 nights, practically everyone in my high school went. Tickets went on sale early in February by mail order; once the tickets came we waited the longest 5 months in history for the big night.

My pal John and I had tickets for the second-to-last night. It was finals week at school; we were so jealous of all the kids who went the first nights, coming to class wearing their commemorative black T-shirts, telling us how great it was.

The big night came, and of course we went to the Garden about 8 hours early just to hang out and get wasted. And we did get wasted. After an eternity, the show began (opening with "The Song Remains the Same", into a little of "The Rover" into "Sick Again").

During Bonham's solo, I started getting the spins, and ran to the bathroom where I puked my guts out horribly. I was in utter misery, in a stankin', vomit-filled MSG men's room stall, when I hear them start playing "Stairway To Heaven".

I gradually pull myself together, stumble back to my seat in time for Jimmy's solo (John: "Dude, where were you?!!"). But all I can remember is Plant throwing his tambourine into the crowd and about 20 people tearing themselves to pieces fighting over it.

They keep on playing, but I'm secretly begging for it to end, wishing I was home, in my comfy bed, vowing to NEVER, EVER DRINK AGAIN.

Ahh youth... wasted on the young.

[T. Jefferson]

I saw them in June '77, Madison Square Garden. I was 16; they sold out 6 nights.

I was there the first and the last night. 3 1/2 hour gig. I snuck in a tape recorder, it's pretty sad how bad they actually played, JP was a heroin addict and at 120 lbs. drank an entire liter of Jack during each night. Bonham was incredible, you could set a metronome to him, and the railings literally shook with each kick drum.

[Missouri]

I saw them in June '77

They were in St. Louis in April of 1977. I don't remember a whole lot about that show except that there was no encore (Heard there was death threats against the band)

hang out and get wasted. And we did get wasted.

Ahh youth... wasted on the young

About the rowdiest concert I was ever at was a Black Sabbath concert in which bottle rockets were being shot, bottles being thrown, and youths being so wasted that their friends had to drag them out when the show was over.

Looking back, well what can you say.

[Mr. Mojo]

I saw them in June '77, Madison Square Garden. I was 16;

I saw them a week after you did, on the left coast. ...I was 13. The highlights, imo, were Sick Again, Nobody's Fault But Mine, The Battle of Evermore, Kashmire, and Ten Years Gone.

[witnesstothefall]

After yours I might as well chime in. I like Zep more than anyone I've ever met (so far), so I'm biased.

Zep were party animals to a fault in the '70's and gave many a poor live showing, given. But it's also true they were capable of pulling it together and being tighter than any other band I've ever seen live (saying a lot). I think this is precisely why Jimmy put together DVD. Just watch the DVD, it proves my point. There are some incredible moments on stage. The Knebworth stuff will knock your socks off.

Further, the live work in the nineties for Unledded was superb. I never saw the foursome, but did see Jimmy during Outrider (Miami, with Bonham the Younger) and saw Page/Plant (Long Island) for the Walking to Clarksdale tour, both great shows.

Some of Jimmy's critics are unfair IMO. One has to keep in mind, the material Jimmy is courageous enough to attempt live is a helluva a lot more challenging than your average 3-chord rock song.

What famous guitarist was it that once complained that it was too hard to write rock songs anymore, because Jimmy Page had taken all the riffs!