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.

[Drew68]

Well I, well I, well I just got into town today

Page totally ripped off Scotty Moore in that song. (Ripped off in a good way, of course!)

Dollars to donuts not another soul on this thread even knows who Scotty Moore is.

[Grando Calrissian]

Glad to hear it as well. 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.

[July 4th]

I went down to Best Buy this morning naively thinking I'd purchase the DVD. WRONG!!! Sold out since yesterday morning at 9:15 am.

I just put it on my Netflix rental list - it's not available. Currently, the movie has a "very long wait" time, which usually means they didn't buy enough copies for everyone who wanted it to get it.

On a side note, if you're still looking for a copy, I was at both Costco and Sam's Club today. They had plenty.

[sargunner]

I agree that LZ contributed greatly to the music scene at the time and their influence remains until today. But that only goes for their studio albums. In the three (I gave them three chances) opportunities I had to see them live, the group lacked any form of tightness, Page was an embarassment. There were probably any number of wannabes in the crowd which could have pulled off his riffs with greater dexterity than he could on those evenings. Plant was the only one who was consistent. He appeared to be working overtime trying to cover for the lackluster 'live' ability of the group. Sorry. Some groups are better off in studio where they have the benefit of a 'mulligan' Flame away

[jpl]

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.

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?

[Senator Pardek]

A typo is not the same as being wr...

[SamAdams76]

Hola Amigos, it's been a long time since I rapped at ya. But some jerkwad broke into my car and jacked all my 8 tracks, not to mention my mint Pioneer 4X4. The bastards got my Bachman-Turner Overdrive, my REO Speedwagon and even my Molly Hatchet. Did I ever tell you that Molly Hatchet rocks!

Anyhow, lotsa luck finding 8-tracks these days, so the Anchower-man had to break down and get one of them new-fangled CD players for his wheels. But first I had to sell my stash of pot to pay for the damn thing. I was pissed. But the timing actually couldn't be better because the new Zep live-discs just got released on CD! Talk about a band that ROCKS! Yeah, soon as I got those new discs, I got no better way to unwind these days than by puttin' on Led Zeppelin live on the CD player, kicking it into third, and hauling ass down the highway. That album rules! See, Led Zeppelin is made up with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, the late, great John Bonham and some guy named Jones, and those guys know how to rock and roll.

So, I'm so into this one song from the album called "Dazed and Confused", this is like a whole hour long and it rocks! It is such a rocking song that while out driving around last night, I break one of my cardinal rules by not paying attention to the side of the road. You know, the speed traps that the cops set up when they want to kill an hour or two on their shift so they can eat donuts and drink their coffee. So I fly by this cop doin' about 70 and sure enough, the lights come on and he's got me pulled over. I get my hair all nice and orderly and put on my tired look like I just been through Hell, which I had, so it wasn't so tough.

The cop comes up to my door and I unroll the window and put on my respectful act. "Is there something wrong, officer?," I say all concerned like. The cop's name on his badge is Officer Schwanz, which is funny 'cause he was such a dick. Anyway, he gives me one of those, "You were doin' 70 in a 55 mile per hour zone, son" raps and he was gonna have to ticket me. I was so pissed, but I never let it show. "Thank you sir" is all I say to him, but the moment he turned his back, I flipped him the bird. Cops! If I ever find out where that guy lives, he's gonna wake up some day with a dozen eggs on his front door!

Anyway, there are some other songs on this new Zeppelin album, but I haven't gotten to those yet. I bet they rock just as hard as that Dazed and Confused song. I'll check it out and report back to you later.

[Drew68]

Some groups are better off in studio where they have the benefit of a 'mulligan' Flame away

No flame neccessary (speaking for myself).

I've never seen Zeppelin live but I don't disagree with your statement. I've seen Page perform live several times on television and he is a sloppy live player.

But as you said, some bands are better in the studio than live and Page was a studio genius! That can never be taken from him! He coaxed sounds out of studios that had never been heard before (no hyperbole, I am sure) and redefined rock music in the process. For that, he is exceptional.

[radiohead]

i am ashamed to say that i do not remember where i was when i learned kennedy had been shot.

i can, however, remember every detail of hearing 'stairway to heaven' for the first time, while in a record store in ann arbor.

and in a perfect act of synchronicity - zeppelin is playing on a cadillac commercial as i'm typing this. kewl....

[JoeSchem]

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.

"It's all those years between then and now that I have trouble with," he adds.

[5Madman2]

"But Blackmore is truly the King of the Stratocaster."

I would pay to listen to Blackmore play a washtub bass.

[Missouri]

In the three (I gave them three chances) opportunities

I seen them twice (1975 and 1977) and I agree with you that they were very over-rated as a live act. I thought that the movie, "The Song Remains the Same" was terrible.

The best live band I every saw was ZZ Top.

[don-o]

The whole pop punk movement of the past 10 years

Be quiet.

The adults are talking here.

[BansheeBill]

Dollars to donuts not another soul on this thread even knows who Scotty Moore is

Considering he was Elvis's guitarist for about 15 years, I think there may well be a few people on this thread who know of him.

[don-o]

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?

I don't think such niceties as to giving credit was that important; if you are speaking of "stolen" riffs, songs, and whatnot.

What LZ and Cream (Clapton, Baker, and ?? - I fergit) did, was find their own groove of American roots music.

Clear that they were not originating, but as clear, they took it to the next level.

[Hank Rearden]

The place to buy DVDs, with the best prices I've ever found, if you don't need it rightdamnnow! is here. If you're willing to wait a week or so, you can even get them shipped free, and no sales tax. Their price on the LedZep DVD is $17.99 - how's that stack up against what you're seeing? Even Costco is more than these guys virtually every time.

I've bought 4 copies of Standing in the Shadows of Motown there recently (it's $12.22 for a phenomenal 2-disc set!), and many dozens of others over the last year or so. Great deals.

You're welcome. Aintcha glad you're a FReeper now?

[marajade]

http://www.dvdempire.com/Exec/v4_item.asp?olduserid=25221928260952&item_id=474266&userid=25221928260952&redir=1

Hurry... before they're gone again...

[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.

[Drew68]

Considering he was Elvis's guitarist for about 15 years, I think there may well be a few people on this thread who know of him.

DING! DING! DING! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!

Er, where can I mail those donuts, or dollars. Actually, I'd prefer mailing donuts.

[Drew68]

If you played guitar you would never said that.

Ahem,

I own a couple of Strats and a Tele. Still trying to get my hands on a reasonably priced Les Paul Standard.

I own I Fender Dual-Showman 100 watt head (all tube) that when coupled with my 2X12" cabinet (Jensens, of course) is sooo loud as to break windows.

As I said before, Ritchie Blackmore is the King of the Stratocaster.