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Led Zeppelin Flying High with New Concert Discs
Reuters (via Yahoo) ^ | 05/28/03 | Dean Goodman

Posted on 05/28/2003 1:00:57 PM PDT by 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.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: jimmypage; johnbonham; johnpauljones; ledzeppelin; natasteewsym; roacandroll; robertplant
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To: Senator Pardek
Doofus. Better to spend your time figuring out For The Love of God by Steve Vai.
441 posted on 06/02/2003 11:08:17 PM PDT by nunya bidness (It's not an assault weapon, it's a Homeland Defense Rifle.)
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To: wardaddy
No, Marty was gone, I think. His name was Mickey---he had a much higher voice than Balin. He sang on "We Built This City."
442 posted on 06/03/2003 4:11:46 AM PDT by LS
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To: stands2reason
That would be Asia.
443 posted on 06/03/2003 5:47:34 AM PDT by RightOnline
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To: wardaddy
(And they tried to warn me of my evil ways, But I couldn't hear what they had to say)

Fascinating tagline and it begs an explanation and or are you referring to your younger, Don Imus-like days. Some us on FR definitely defy a liberal stereotype of being uptight, no fun guys. Recall Neil Young of Mirrorball and the song "Hippie Dreams". Well we have survived and without buying the hippie dream.

Just thought I would ad Warren Zevon to the concert list and to close out by asking you all what if any really off the wall/ esoteric music you have run across. I used to read the best music reviewer (male, not Les Bangs) who wrote for Stereo Review and he in turn led me to the Outrageous: Tonio K.:

http://home.earthlink.net/~mrmando/tonio_k/

3. Life in the Foodchain, 1978. U.S. black vinyl LP: Full Moon/Epic JE 35545 U.S. green vinyl promo LP: Full Moon/Epic PE 35545 Canadian gold vinyl LP: Full Moon/Epic AL 35545 Japanese LP: Sony 25-3P-135 CD reissue (1995): Gadfly 208

Songs:

Life in the Foodchain

The Funky Western Civilization

Willie and the Pigman

The Ballad of the Night the Clocks All Quit

(and the Government Failed)

American Love Affair

How Come I Can't See You in My Mirror

Better Late Than Never

A Lover's Plea

H-A-T-R-E-D

LIFE IN THE FOODCHAIN (Tonio K.)

well your mother was there to protect you

your papa was there to provide

so how in the world did the excellent baby

wind up in this hotel so broken inside

you lie on your bed in the midnight darkly

listening to every sound

watching the shadows for anything moving

and hoping they don't come around

'cause it's dog eat dog

and it's cat and mouse

it's watch your step and cross yourself

and get back in the house

and it's do or die

it's push and shove

because everybody's hungry

and there isn't quite enough

that's right, we're talkin' about the good life

in the foodchain

love among the ruins

i guess that you've finally got to accept

that there's nothing you can do about it

it's kind of like carving the turkey

it's kind of like mowing the lawn:

everything gets to this certain dimension

winds up on a customer's plate and then gone

©1978 Intersong-U.S.A., Inc. and Worthless Music

444 posted on 06/03/2003 7:12:52 AM PDT by Helms (Dems Find Smoking Gun: 45-55 Loss in Senate, Bush Wins 2nd Term)
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To: Helms
The tagline is from Born to Lose by Social Distortion ....the album is called Somehwhere Between Heaven and Hell.

It's whiteboy punk rockabilly stuff.....Long Beach white trash sort of.
445 posted on 06/03/2003 8:03:06 AM PDT by wardaddy (And they tried to warn me of my evil ways, But I couldn't hear what they had to say)
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To: stands2reason
Danny Careyhasn't defined the instrument as Neil has. No one plays big concerts better.
446 posted on 06/03/2003 9:07:15 AM PDT by Benrand
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To: WRhine
OK-- here is my list of current great bands for anyone who loves classic rock:

Porcupine Tree—album : In absentia Sounds like Genesis meets Crosby Stills and Nash, meetsLed Zepplin.. Very melodic.. At times heavy, at times very beautiful. My current favorite. Try a google search.

October Project— now disfunct.. had 3 CD’s in the 90s on Columbia.

Dirty Vegas—disco beats but very cool melodies. One song was on the MAZDA car commericial , with The girl dancing in the front seat.

Spocks Beard

As for the real old stuff, I’m still very partial to Pink Floyd, Beatles, Genesis, Yes, Return to Forever,Weather Report, Gong, CSN&Y, Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Who, Led Zepplin, Steely Dan, and on and on….

447 posted on 06/03/2003 9:27:38 AM PDT by Chuzzlewit (music, music and more music)
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To: Chuzzlewit
Streaming Audio link to new Steely Dan album out next Tuesday...
448 posted on 06/03/2003 9:30:40 AM PDT by jimbo123
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To: Drew68
The following caught my eye in last Friday's Wall Street Journal. A John McWhorter article titled Street Theater, subtitle: "Gunfire kills another rapper. What an awful image for black America."
I am just old enough to remember when whites were making the sourest, nastiest pop music while blacks were making the sweetest and truest. White kids listened to hideous screaming while funk and soul were black America's soundtrack. As a kid in the 1970s I was conscious of that contrast and proud of it. The civil-rights protesters a decade before, who made the lives of "the hip-hop generation" possible, would have been appalled to hear the likes of Jay-Z, and we would be hard-pressed to claim that they would have been somehow missing something in that judgment. They accomplished a lot more, too, than any rapper's sideline donations to community efforts ever will.

449 posted on 06/03/2003 9:35:27 AM PDT by Revolting cat! (Subvert the conspiracy of inanimate objects!)
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To: Chuzzlewit
You sound like a real music fan...You dont just constrain yourself to what is POPULAR...
GONG OH Wow...What a sonic trip!
Have U heard Ozric Tentacles? Very Indie Band with a lot of Gong infuence..
450 posted on 06/03/2003 9:49:42 AM PDT by mylife (Opinions, $1.00 Todays Special: Half Baked, 50 cents)
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To: mylife
I just got "how the west was won" yesterday. I like it better than the old Studio Material. It rocks!
451 posted on 06/03/2003 9:51:14 AM PDT by mylife (Opinions, $1.00 Todays Special: Half Baked, 50 cents)
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To: mylife
Being an 21 year old male I can't stand modern music especially the top 40 crap they play all the time. There are a few bands I like from the 90's such as Collective Soul, Cake, Incubus, and Pearl Jam. I have really gotten into classic rock such as Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, the Doors, James Gang, and etc. I also like some of the quieter stuff like Neil Diamond, Simon and Garfunkel, and Neil Young. I also need to buy Beach Boy's Pet Sounds. I also enjoy the King Elvis Presley. I have also started listening to some progressive Jazz, Jaco Pastorious and Weather Report. If you want some good rap/hip-hop try LA Symphony which is undergound Christian rap pretty talented and don't sing about girls shaking their butts.
452 posted on 06/03/2003 10:26:30 AM PDT by Shralp17
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To: mylife
Yeah I have heard of Ozric Tentacles, but have not heard them yet... I'll have to check this out.
453 posted on 06/03/2003 10:30:04 AM PDT by Chuzzlewit (music, music and more music)
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To: Chuzzlewit
May I suggest ozrics "Live at the Pongmasters Ball 2002"
There may be audio bits on Amazon.

By the way Im from Ohio originally too
454 posted on 06/03/2003 10:33:55 AM PDT by mylife (Opinions, $1.00 Todays Special: Half Baked, 50 cents)
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To: dfwgator
"I guess they were able to draft one of the Foo Fighters in their band...not sure if he is still there."

Not just one of the Foo Fighters, but Dave Grohl, who actually drummed on some the tracks (first time he played drums since Nirvana).

Thanks for the background there on Dave Grohl.

455 posted on 06/03/2003 10:37:49 AM PDT by WRhine
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To: Shralp17
I burned out on hip hop in the 80s.
Now Progressive Jazz/Rock.....its still works for me! :^)
456 posted on 06/03/2003 10:42:14 AM PDT by mylife (Opinions, $1.00 Todays Special: Half Baked, 50 cents)
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To: Chuzzlewit
OK-- here is my list of current great bands for anyone who loves classic rock:

Porcupine Tree—album : In absentia Sounds like Genesis meets Crosby Stills and Nash, meetsLed Zepplin.. Very melodic.. At times heavy, at times very beautiful. My current favorite. Try a google search.

October Project— now disfunct.. had 3 CD’s in the 90s on Columbia.

Dirty Vegas—disco beats but very cool melodies. One song was on the MAZDA car commericial , with The girl dancing in the front seat.

Spocks Beard

Your description of those bands is very interesting. I remember something about an "In absentia" album but the band Porcupine Tree barely registers with me. I am again reminded of how little I know about the more currents bands in the last 8 years or so.

My list of "To Buy" albums continues to grow.

457 posted on 06/03/2003 11:01:12 AM PDT by WRhine
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To: WRhine
OK-- here is my list of current great bands for anyone who loves classic rock: Porcupine Tree—album : In absentia Sounds like Genesis meets Crosby Stills and Nash, meetsLed Zepplin.. Very melodic.. At times heavy, at times very beautiful. My current favorite. Try a google search. October Project— now disfunct.. had 3 CD’s in the 90s on Columbia. Dirty Vegas—disco beats but very cool melodies. One song was on the MAZDA car commericial , with The girl dancing in the front seat. Spocks Beard Your description of those bands is very interesting. I remember something about an "In absentia" album but the band Porcupine Tree barely registers with me. I am again reminded of how little I know about the more currents bands in the last 8 years or so. My list of "To Buy" albums continues to grow.

This material is all good Prog rock.
Thank god for the internet Coz the RIAA and record industry dont give a rats ass if we hear Good music or not they just pump out the same crap and hype what THEY THINK WILL SELL!! There is plenty of good music in the world it just seems nowadays you really have to search it out....the days of underground FM are gone. The underground is now on the internet, and the RIAA is trying to kill that!! If any of you like Pink Floyd you may wanna check out Camel at http://www.camelproductions.com/ These guys are Indies now thanks to the net.

458 posted on 06/03/2003 11:14:53 AM PDT by mylife (Opinions, $1.00 Todays Special: Half Baked, 50 cents)
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To: dfwgator
It was called "GTR", and they had a hit with "When the Heart Rules the Mind."

That's right! I remember now...

459 posted on 06/03/2003 12:41:02 PM PDT by stands2reason
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To: Benrand
I agree with you on the live thing. But I do hear a lot of growth from Danny over the past few albums...
460 posted on 06/03/2003 12:46:37 PM PDT by stands2reason
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