*| Between 1968 and 1980, Led Zeppelin played over 500 gigs, to roughly four million ae people, establishing themselves as the Fy) greatest live rock'n'roll band on the planet. To mark their 50th anniversary, Dave Lewis and Mike Tremaglio bring the hammer Of ¥ the gods) down on the 50 greatest Zeppelin Mi @ gigs, from their earliest club appearances 1 through their speedy elevation to Madison Square Garden and onto the massive gatherings at Knebworth. Prepare to have f your lemon well and truly squeezed.__ ae ify years ago this month, on September 1968, the four-man line-up Zeppelin perfor gig atthe Teen Club in Gladsaxe, Denmark, a suburb of Copenhagen. The audience had gathered at what at would soon become Led ed their fistever was actually a school gymnasium for crt they though would be featuring The Yardbirds; however, Jimmy Page was petiod. While still being billed as "Yardbinds fans would soon realise chat chs new line-up was vasly different from their precursors, The original Yardbirds had enjoyed asting ofhi singles io che mid-60s and three of the most noted UK guitarists had passed PaO ay eee ced Sere eee Teena ee eae eee a a ore John Paul Jones, di Reeth eee a tos ra eet eet front Zeppelin ike a merman on the pro ete eae rary of a ship; and, of through cheie ranks and Jims died up in their home country, but later) Erie Clapton, Jeff Beck Page. The hits had long since they had established themselves in the US on the back of the psychedelic boom, Despite noable success on the emerging rock ballroom circuit and airplay on the FM radio stations, three of the Yardbirds members = Keith Ref, Chris Dreja and Jim McCarty — Page and manager Peter Grane with the rights to the Yardbirds name and a series of scheduled called time on thee tenure. This in Scandinavia . This new Yardbieds line-up were Flflling those outstandin cour dates before returning to London to record a new album, With ase Tse bulk atound the final Yardbirds US cour rc a) Deana ourse, Page himself playing eutar with an air of infinite capability only exceeded by Hendki eee ee a er eed FU ee ees un a ce! ete Cae dan een ey oads ae 3 being smelted inthe Tolkien-esque make-believe apart, Zeppelin Soe Sea eer ec te a) aa ee et ee ne They encouraged I Poot eee ers fea they had the material Cte rae gend-makin ey ea the c ews ee ee a ced Preoea eres eas an rere ten itn eee te straints of mortals. ‘spectacle. They could play peter ey eee ent rs f a and echo that travels alongside the ambient extremes of Fi el ff pte eretrer eet ie Sete perenne Cee £82 Rovard Collector well, Page & Piant Peerage aero Tere ern) Sect rt Pret ion ey Yet they were ee eRe Ts) ey withthe addition of old blues chestnuts 1.Can'e Quit You Baby and You Shook Me plus new self-penned material suchas ‘Communication Breakdown, they went down surprisingly well The seeds of major success ahead were already being sown. Realising they were, as Page pati they returned to the UK and decided on ‘working unde false pretenses a name-change. From late-October 1968 on, hey would bie knoven as Led Zeppelin. Under the maverick management of Peter Grant, hey recorded their ise album at London's (Olympic Studios, chen quickly secured ‘major deal with Adantic and, on Boxing Day 1968, travelled to America for thei frst US tour This was when the story tally began; the ‘Vanilla Fudge support slot, story of where Led Zeppelin tally forged their legacy — performing live onstage, night after nighe. Billed as: Yardbirds Support Acts: Fourways and Bodies. So the story begins. The venue for cher debut performance was actually a gymnasium at Skole (School) in a Copenhagen suburb which was converted into a rock club ‘on Saturday nights This was the Fist of «wo shows they played that day ~ later, they traveled to nearby Brondby for an appearance atthe Brondby Pop Club (a third show for thar day in K ‘Onstage that day in Gladsaxe were chee e was allegedly cancelled) new reeruits: John Paul Jones (bas), who, lke Page, was a seasoned sesion musician; Robert Plant (vocals and John Bonham (dems) — the latter two had carved a reputation performing in thei native Midlands area. ‘Standing by the side ofthe stage it was dbvious that there was a chemistry,” said ‘manager Peter Grant, Plant recalled. “We were very green ~ it was a tentative stare but wwe knew we had somethin The stage act forthe debut tour was based loosely on the set The Yardbirds had been performing on thee final US cour, Train Kept A Rollin’ was the opener and Dazed And Confused che centrepiece, with Page using the violin bow co ply guitar. 1 Can'e Quit You Baby and You Shook Me wer al delivered in the arrangements that would later appear on theie fie album, Ealy self penned numbers included Communication Breakdown and How Many More Times the later buile around Howlin’ Wolfs How Many More Yearsand Albert King's The Hunter The act was fleshed out with a varery of covers - something that would remain a feature of ther sets for many years to come, Elmer Gantry’s Flames and Garnet Mirams’ As Long As Have You were erly staples at this point They aso came up with a dynamic atrangement forthe folk standard Babe Tn Gonna Leave You. Page had played che Joan Baez version to Plant on thei intial meeting. T want to do a version of this but witha cern dynamic edge,” he told his new singer "Among the 1,200-1 400 youngsters who ‘witnesed rock'n'roll history was a 17-year-old student, Jorgen Angel, the photograp the dubs in-house magazine, Teen Cub Nye (ev). ‘Thankfully, Angel, took plengy of outstanding photos ofthe new band with is ‘mothers camera Angel recalled the histori concert for Jade VG of Rave magazine: was pretty dissppoineed because The Vardbirds were supposed to play that night. Ir was sometime in the evening that I heard aband called The Now Yardbirds would perform. I thought ‘maybe that has nothing ro do with The Yardbirds. Maybe there's just one person left from them, which eurned out to be right ~ it was only Jimmy Page ftom The Yardbirds who played tha night. And the others [had never seen or heard of. But when they went onstage it was something very special and. differenc and spectacular. They were fll of energy and they were different. Thad no idea they were going ro be big.” As Page sid at the time, “We all agreed there was no poine in “Tt was a fresh beginning for us all” — Jimmy Page retaining the New Yardbirds tag, so when we sgt back from Scandinavia we decided to change the name. Ie was a fiesh beginning, Billed as: “The Yardbirds Support ats "New York Public Library, Juneo Partners ‘and Downtown Faction, Te band! firs-ever UK gig performance was atthe Mayfair Ballroom in Neweastle, The Evening Chronicle local newspaper listed the gig as The Yardbirds featuring Jimmy Paige [si] = Back Ar Last From The USA!" Terty Reid's Fantasia were originally on the bill but were replaced by New Yorks Public Library. Ironically, Jimmy Page's oe to join the band earlier in the year vas Reid who had turned down Billed as: “Led Zeppelin”. Support Act: The Gass The very is gig performed by the band as ‘Led Zeppelin® was atthe University OF Surrey on 25 October 1968. Theres some debate as to whether oF not this concer was performed atthe University OF Surrey while it ‘was stl located in Landon, or after itd ‘moved to Guildford. The move from Barrera, Londan, to the Guildford campus was not completed by the close of 1968. In fact, concerts wet sill being held a the Great Hall on Batersea Park Road i 1969 (afew s being Trai, David Bowie and Junior's Eyes). Bobby Tench, leader of support act, The Gass, has confirmed that this show ‘was played in London, Billed as: “Yardbirds now known as Led Zeppelin’ Abo on thi all-night concer bill were John Lee Hooker, Deviants, John James, Tyres and J Jeff Dexter. Admission fee was 16 (@80p in new money) for members and 26s (@£1.30) for guests. Ther performance fee was £150, The dae was also noteworthy for Robert Plant ashe marred his gilftend Maureen ear in the day. He reportedly almost mise the gig as his ca had broken down on the way tothe Roundhouse Billed as “Led Zeppelin (nce’The Yardbirds) ‘Support act: Bakerloo Blues Line. Ticket prices: membor'tckess ld (35p) available in advance rom 3 December, non- ‘members 10s (50p) on the evening ‘What the papers said: Tony Wilson fled their first-ever UK lve review for Melody Maker: “Led Zepplin (sic, the regrouped Yardbirds, made their Marquee debut last are now very much a heavy ‘music group, with singer Robert Phint leading and ably holding his own against Drummer Bonham is forceful, perhaps too much so and a poswerul backing tio. rally there appears to be a need for Led Zepplin ro cu down on volume a bic, Record Collector 83___ SEE, 26 December 1968 ~ Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado, USA. Led Zeppelin’ firse ever US concert was a very low-key affair ~ they weren't even listed in any of the advertisements. A Denver Post ad featured Spirit asthe headline ace while the Mouncain Press underground newspaper ad featured a co-illing of Vanilla Fudge and Spirit. The concert was performed “in-the- round” on a revolving stage. What the papers said: “Rock’ Concert Is Real Groovy,” read the headline in the Rocky Mountain News that provided eheit firs Stateside review. Thomas MacClaskey reported: as cranked off by another heavy, che Led Zeppelin, Blues The concert orientated (although nota blues band), hyped electri, the fll routine in mainstream rock. 10 January 1969 — Fillmore West, San Francisco, California, USA. Bill Graham’s Fillmore venues were crucial for Zep in reaching the US underground audiences and this carly appearance supporting Country Joe & The Fish did ‘much o enhance ther reputation I also created considerable awareness of their soon ta be released debut album. Alongside selections from the album, they also included cover of Garnet Mims’ As Long As | Have You, performed asa medley that would incorporate the ike of Spirit's Fresh Garbage. The old Yardbieds fvoutite For Your Love was performed asa rare extra encore in the second of thei foue-nighe stand at che Fillmore West, Later in the month, they would crss- cross the country and in a similar fashion devastate audiences at Bill Graham's Fillmore Eastin New York City. 26 January 1969 — Boston Tea Party, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Another four-night run ata “psychedelic ballroom”, leading to one oftheie longest ever shows ~ reportedly a four-and-a-halEhour ‘marathon on the final night atthe legendary Boston Tea Party John Paul Jones commenced later: “As far as 'm concerned, the key Led Zeppelin gig the one that put everything into focus ~ was ‘one that we played on out ise US tour a the Boston Tea Party. There were kids actually bashing their heads against the stage — I've never sen that ata gig before or since, and when we finally let the stage we'd played for four and a half hours, 17 March 1969 — Danmarks Radio/ TV-Byen, Studio 5, Gladsaxe, Denmark. Though Zep declined most TV offers during their arc, they did agree to record this afernoon appearance for the Danish TV network. The group performed on a small stage surrounded by a police audience, Filmed in black and white and produced by admondk Jensen for the Danmarks Radio network, ic was fis aired locally on 19 May 1969. Some 20 years late, ic was dusted down by the BBC and clips were used for £84 Record Collect eee ery Fee rer Ty Paseo erent) thei Arena: Heavy Metal documentary and then in fll fora one-off broadeast on January 1990, Ie was officially released on the Led Zeppelin DVD set in 2003. 26 April 1969 — Winterland, San Francisco, California, USA, ‘Supports: Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity, Colwell-Wingield Blues Band. (On their second US tour, Zep were clevated to headliners. Such was the demand from the public to see them, instead of performing al four nights atthe Fillmore West as they had done in January they played two shows (Friday and Saturday) at the much larger Wincerland Ballroom, On the second night at “There were kids bashing their heads” — John Paul Jones Winterland, the band turned in another «pic performance, Ie also marked the recorded debut of both Page's theremin solo (during Dazed And Confused) and the rendering of Whole Lotea Love in concert. The next night, they played thei lst show atthe Fillmore West, and the soundboard. derived bootleg is certainly fan favourite 27 June 1969 — Top Gear BBC radio appearance, Playhouse Theatre, London, England, While Zep were frequent visitors tothe BBC studios in 1969, this marked the Fist ‘ime they had played before alive studio audience. It was a pilot show titled One Night Stand and part of John Peel's Top Gear programme, This format would develop into the long-running BBC Radio | Jn Concert series. The idea stemmed from a conversation Page had with Radio 1 producer Jeff Griffin requesting more airtime to allow them to expand and improvise. This performance was eventually aired on 10 August 1969. A much-bootlegged show, it was officially released in 1997 on BBC Sessions (excluding Dazed And Confused and Whice Summer/Black Mountain Side) and again on the Complete BBC Sessions set in 2016 (with those songs added) 28 June 1969 — The Bath Festival OF Blues, Recreation Ground, Bath, England. Ten Tears After, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zeppelin and John Mayall were the main attractions, Also on the bill: The Nice, Chicken Shack, Blodwyn Pig, Taste and The Liverpool Scene. John Pee compéred. Zeppelin appeared in the eat ening, performing to a crovd of 12,000, ~ their biggest UK audience to date. ‘What the papers said: Chris Welch of Melody Maker reported: “Nobody had coerced the youth of England into becoming Zep freaks, buc there they were, cheering Page, Jones, Bonham and lant, as the drums thundered and che gicars roared,One of number of US festival gigs Zep performed during summer 1969, chough they did curn down Woodstock. This hour long, high-energy performance lacer emerged on a much-revered soundboard bootleg tape. ‘What the papers said: Dallas Morning News: "Unlike the proverbial balloon, Led Zeppelin flew high late Sunday night. Communication Breakdown was one of the fine numbers chey offered. They tended, however, o drag their heavy interludes out in their lengthy but superb segmene of che festival... But even this could not dull the crowd's appreciation.” A one-off date in Pats with no support act The gig was recorded by French Europe 1 radio and was first aired on 2 November 1969. Thirey-cight years late, it would finally re-emerge and be broadcast on 7 December 2007 ~ three days before the ©2 reunion show. [n 2014, Page mixed the capes for official release as a companion disc o the Led Zeppelin I reissue, Highlights included the Good Times Bad Times/Communication Breakdown medley briefly used asa set ‘opener and Page's White Surmmer/ Black ‘Mountain Side showpi (One of the key Zeppelin appearances and very much a tutning point in thee standing in the UK. On the night of Jimmy's 26th birchday, they played to thee fll pocendal co a Fantastic audience and press reception. Originally intended fora TV documentary on the band, the footage remained offically unreleased unl the 2003 Lad Zeppelin DVD release ‘What the papers said: Nick Logan, music ttc forthe Now Musical Expres, was wildly ‘enthusiastic about the show in his review “Zeppelin Put The Excitement Back Into Pop”. He remarked thatthe band had been “exercising contro aver the sell-out crowd from 8:15 when they tok the stage until 10:30 when they left it.” ‘This pig was originally scheduled vo be performed atthe Tiolis Koncert in ‘Copenhagen on 9 October 1969. Not only were the dare and venue changed, but for one night only, dhe band’s name was aso changed ~ 1 "The Nobs” (a reference to their promoter Fiend ~ see next enty) ‘New Musical Expres reporced a the time thar Eva von Zeppelin, reaive ofthe Zeppelin aitship designer, threatened legal action ifthe band performed as "Led Zeppelin” in Denmark, She had exclaimed that “a group of shrieking monkeys is not going to use a privileged family name ‘without permission,” The band conceded to avoid legal action and performed with tongue firmly in check as “The Nobs.” Another impressive carly 1970 performance, This was the beginning ‘of Zeppelin’ association with the Montreux Jaze Festival venue and close fiiendship with promocer Claude obs. Clade founded the Montreux Jhon Festival in 1967 (for the record Led Zeppelin never performed dung the acral Festiva, The orginal venue was famously bbume tothe ground on 4 December 1971, during a Frank Zappa concert ~ the sory of which was later Jmmorelised in the Deep Purple song Smoke On The Water. As result when the band returned to Montreux on 28 and 29 October 1972, they played at Le Pavillon. Zep performed the fis of 16 appearances at The Forum near Los Angele before a sold-out crowd of 18,000, ‘What the papers suid: Los Angele Times music critic Robert Hilburn, who hammered the band with eriticism throughous the 7s, ripped the concerto shreds in his 30 March piece: “Led Zeppelin, the darling ofthe heavy race ‘enthusiasts, i embarrassingly insufficient.” He did grudgingly admit chat "Zeppelin eeated more frenzy at the Forum than any other group I've seen since the Rollin performance lst year” This show was par ofa cultural exchange extravaganza organised by the British {government and promoted by international booking agent, Jasper Parrot. Led Zeppelin were theofficial epresentatives ofthe UK pop industry. The venue was later to host the famous World Chess Championship in 1972 berwveen Bobby Fischer and Boris Spasky Rare black and white footage oftheir arval in Iedland and performing Dazed And Confused was discovered and cleaned up for use in the official Led Zeppelin DVD. While the 1969 Bath Festival before 12,000 fans was a key success forthe band, che 1970 Bath Festival was on a whole new level Record Collector 85entirely. In ust one year, Led Zeppein's explosion in popularity made thems the stax axctacton and main draw of the festival, where they perormed to a massive crowd of 150,000 fans. There was much anticipation leading up co this milestone appearance. Led Zeppelin Thad been a permanent fixture fon the UK album chart since its release the previous October. Pre-orders for the work: progeess third album were already mounting. Peter Grant made sure they appeared just, as the sun went down, pulling the plug on the previous act, Flock, inthe process, The set ‘opener was the newly- penned Immigrant Song, which bore lle resemblance to the LP track as Robert had ad-ibbed many ofthe Iyeis. For the next two hours and 20 ‘minutes, the band put in one ofthe greatest performances of thei career Forty minutes into their billtopping set, immy Page exchanged his Gibson Les Paul fora Martin acoustic guitar and John Paul Jones switched ro mandolin. As Page strummed the ist chords, Plant revealed “This is called The Boy Next Door, for want of better tik.” Led Zeppelin were playing acoustically onstage forthe fest time in the UK. The song would appear with a beter title as That's The Way ~ one of the centrepiece recordings on heir landmark third album, ‘The significance of thie Bath Festival acoustic performance could noc be overstated, ‘This was a band who had ofien bludgeoned theit listeners into submission with the full- 1 rock assault ofthe likes of Whole Lorta Love, Dazed And Confused and How Many Mote Times. Indeed, performances of those songs atthe Bath Festival did much to cement their growing reputation as the most popular band in the world. Clearly, though, as indicated by that acoustic rendering of That's The Way, Led Zeppelin were going to be much more chan just ambassadors for Marshall amplifiers, “We are not a rabble- rousing group,” Page informed journalist Chis Weleh earlier that year ‘The concert was flmed on Grant’s insistence by Petcr Whitehead for possible use = however it was deemed too dark, Recently, here has been alk of restoring ic fora possible furure release. "What the papers said: Chris Charlesworth and Chris Welch in Melody ‘Maker: "Led Zeppelin stormed to huge success a the Bath Festival. As about 150,000, fans rose to give them an ovation, lead singer 4 September 1970 ~The Forum, Inglewood, California, USA. Another triumph at the Forum, An expansive setlist tha alongside previews forthe soon- torberreleased Led Zeppein IT featured Communication Breakdown medley that included versions of Buffalo Springfields For Whar i's Worth and The Beatles I Saw Her Seanding There. The Whole Lora Love medley included versions of Buddy Holly's Think Ie Over and Leiber & Stoller’s Some Other Guy. An encore ofthe Fats Domino hit Blucherey Hill provided the ile forthe famous bootleg ofthe show ~ Live On Blueberry Hill 19 September 1970 (8pm show) — ‘Madison Square Garden, New York City, NY, USA. ‘The second of evo performances at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The band would ultimately pay 2 total of 15 shows at the Garden. During the show, Plane acknowledged the previous day's pasing of Jimi Hendrix making reference to Hendrix bassist Noe! Reding, who wast this Zep performance: “Yesterday a rather ‘uncomfortable thing happened for evenbody and a great los came about for the whole of ‘the musi world, And we would like to think that you, a well a us, are very sorry cat Jimi Hendsx went.” The performance of Whole Lou Love had a medley ill with rarities 5 March 1971 — Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Led Zeppelin’s fst and only trip Ireland ‘where they played in Belfast and Dublin. Thelr appearance in the ile was a weleome respite from the Irish troubles ofthe time. This gigs also significant for being the fire to feature a lve performance of Stairway To Heaven, ‘What che papers said: Melody Maker's (Chris Walch attended the ist two gigs ofthe tour and filed a report tiled “Ireland Unites Under Zeppelin’: “A new kind of rot hit Ireland last weekend, A riot of fun, ughter and excitement, when Led Zeppelin paid their firs visi tothe eroubled is.” 1 April 1971 — BBC Paris Studio, Lower Regent Street, London, England. final return to the BBC Stios and another live performance. “The show was orginally scheduled for 25 March 1971 but had co be poseponed us the following week due to Plane suffering a bout of laryngitis. They previewed three songs (Black Dog, Stairway To Heaven and Going To California) from cher fourth album which wouldn’c be released for another seven months. Stairway To Heaven would subsequently go on to enjoy millions more plays on radio stations across the planet. Another much-bootlegged performance that finaly saw the light of day offically on the 1997 BBC Sesions release. 3 May 1971 — KB Hallen, Copenhagen, Denmark Something of unique performance as the set lis featured the rarey-playd-lve Gallows Pole fiom Led Zeppelin II snd Four Stich, son to be released on their fourth album, The final encote ofthe night was another fourth album preview, Rock And Roll, introduced by Plane a 1's Been A Long Time, “Whac the papers std: George Sorensen of New Musical Expres, tinder the tile, “Led Zeppelin Even Better Now’: “Neal 4,000 Danish fans wore lft with almost spi eardrums in Copenhagen KB. Halles, when Led Zeppelin played 135, minutes of hey, loud rack 71 ~ but cverybody enjoyed the sesion and kept calling for mor! 14 September 1971 - Community ‘Theatre, Berkeley, California, USA. captivating performance, thankfully recorded by enterprising fans and later isued as the double-album boodeg, Gaing To California, on the Trade Mark OF Quality label, Another much-loved and essential carly Vinyl sue thar lines up alongside Live On Blucberry Hilla a biliandly authentic cxample oftheir live prowess ofthis er 23 September 1971 ~ Budolan Hall, Toyo, Japan. Thar chre-cy, Bve-concert vst Japan prodvced some oftheir nos scinlating performances ~ not co mention expansive e- Tiss. The highlight of hie is ever show in Japan was the Whole Lota Love medley. The band drew caution to che wind and produced one ofthe longest renivions eve, en complete versions of Tobaceo Road, Good Times Bad Times and even ow Many More Times once medley in its own right > Rolart Plant eld chem: ‘We've boon away 2 loein America and we thought it might bea bie dodgy coming back. Is great ro be home! They played or over three hours ~ bes, sock and rll and pure Zeppelin Jinmy Page ina yokel hat wo suit the Somerset scene, screamed into stack on guitar. John Patil Tones came into his own om organ as well as bass and John Bonham exploded his drums ina sensational solo. And the crowd went wild demanding encore after encore. ota of ve yes eR! 23 (AR) SMA on ow ors0 aOR 30 Me enesraTone LyF fey £86 Record CollectorOF SKIP SPENCE xD SERIOUS ABOUT MUSIC nl GLEN MATLOCK ACE OF BASS RECORD COLLE WITH GORILLAZ PAUL McCARTNEY ‘ NEW ALBUM REVIEWED ow CHERRY RED POSTPUNK LABEL 40th BIRTHDAY SPECIAL Ge ere Te Ta OUTS IR ANAT TCU ea MRS RRS CESS“This was no ‘gig’. It was an event for all” Ecueeayee Porc ered One ofthe band’s most acclaimed shows. There's bizarre interlude when Joho. Bonham appears ro go missing during their acoustic set. He finally returns and takes to the tom-toms forthe first-ever live rendition of Friends from the third album. Plant fllows that with afew bars of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes. Whole Lore Presley's I Gotta Know, Twi And Sho Love included Elvis nd Fortune ‘Tele, A suitably chaotie performance toend a truly oustanding tour, The show was recorded fora posible official release but has yet tose the light of day Support acts: Bronco, Stone The Crows (Bronco's line-up included Robbie Blune, who ‘would later ream up with Plant for his eaty 808 slo albu). Their two Wembley Empire Pool concerts were the centrepioce of their autumn tour and were five-hour events, the live acts interspersed with varery circus acts including a plate spinning attempt by Olley Grey and performing pigs! ‘What the papers said: under the Melody Maker headline “Zapped by Zeppelin”, Roy Hollingworth wrote: “This was an English ‘band playing ike crazy and enjoying every minute chy stood there onstage. They played non-stop fr the bes part of three hous. Enormous. They played about everything they've ever writen, Nothing, just nothing no job, this was no ‘gi Tewasan event fr all.” 88 was spared. This But) oe heir sx-date tour of Australia and New aland was a huge success. This open-aie concert at che Showground was one of the ‘most high-profile gigs. lack and white footage from the show was aited at the time ‘Australian Broadcast Corporation's Get Ta Know programme. Clips from this footage would later surface on 2003's official Led Zeppelin DVD, alongside colour film of the band performing in Sydney synched eo the audio of Immigrant Song (from Long Beach Arena on 27 June, 1972). One ofthe surprises ofthis show was the inclusion of an instrumental 50-second version of The Rover ~ i would rot be released on LP until eheee yeas later (other than as a shore intro to Sick Again in 1977, ic was never performed live). teD" ZEPPELIN ™ An outstanding show, Another marathon fctifoe announced SAT20 NOV. all bra fon ft Sth nov an Hen performance with a number of previews of material from the then in-peogress Howes OF The Holy llr. The Ocean, Over The Hills And Fat Away, and Dancing Days were al previewed, with the larcer being performed twice (once in the main stand again a ‘encore. There was also a one-of five performance of Black Country Woman — the studio version of which would eventually surface three yeas later on Physical Graf Though press coverage was minimal on this tour (The Rolling Stones’ US tour a che time tookall the glory, they reached another creative peak. Luckily, Page had eis show and theit Long Beach appea properly recorded fora potential live album, ce two days later Te would be another 31 years before the recordings would finally surface oficaly on the How The Were Was Won set, but the wait ‘was worth it. There are some outstanding performances, not leat a Dazed And Confiased that included snippets of The Crange (ater to surface on Howes Of The Ho) and Walter's Walk which would eventually be released on the 1982 set Cad) ‘The second of the ewo profesionlly-econded shows for How The West Was Won, and yet another oustanding performance. Photos taken at both concerts cealy show that John Bonham’s drums were double-miked ~ typical far the band when they were profesionally recording a show. >TINS eee 22 January 1973 ~ Southampton University, Old Refectory, Southampton, England, Alow-key university date and another cha Page decided to have professionally recorded. A ve loose and relaxed performance including a rare-fr. the-time outing of How Many More Times. A bootleg recording ofthis gig surfaced after i had been considered for possible release when How The West Was Won ‘was being compiled in 2002. While ic was decided to use the Inglewood and Long Beach shows from June 1972 instead, par of the Southampron show actually made its way ‘onto that release the mellorron pare was dropped into Stairway To Heaven, Evidently, Page must have decided that Jones’ Mellotron, used forthe fist time on the 1972 Japan tour, added a special vibe to the song, 16 March 1973 ~ Stadthalle, Vienna, Austria During ther shore European tous in the spring of 19: instrumentally they were on a real high, ‘of which this performance in Vienna is Zep were on fie a prime example ‘What the papers said: Dave Hopkinson cof Melody Maker weote: “Robert Plant strode around with chese bared and hair flailing, ‘while Jimmy Page crashed out well-amplified chords. John Bonham hammered the skins forall he was worth, and John Paul Jones provided some superb orchestral effects on the Mellotron, 5 May 1973 ~ Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida, USA. (On theis 1973 US cour Zep immediately demonstrated theit incredible drawing power. The opening date on 4 May 1973 at the Atlanta Stadium drew some 49,236 fans Tour manager Richatd Cole recalled "Nobody could have envisaged how big it haa all become by then. We did stadiums ‘when it was unheard of and war you have to remember is that there was no one else on the bill ~ie was 50,000 oF more just to see Led Zeppelin The band didn't have to wait long to top their Atlanta attendance igure. The next night in Tampa they drew a record 56,443, fans ($297,632 gross receipts), passing The Beatles’ attendance reeord fora single atst appearance set at Shea Stadium in New York fon 15 August 1965 (attendance: 55,600) Soon afer the Tampa show an Associated Pres article writen by journalist Mary Campbell was published in newspapers throughout che United States. Robert Plane discussed the Tampa concert with Campbell 90 Record Collect dink it was the biggest esi ve had I pretend ~ I kid myself ‘nervous ina situation like that. [ery to Tm not very bounce around jus ike notmal, But, if you doa proportionate thing, it would be lke half of England!s population. Ir was fantastic AA three-and-a 1alfminute news report was broadcast on local TV station, Channel 13, The feature showed the band getting off their planes and into limos, footage ofthe crowd, and short clips of che band performing onstage (with Misty Mountain Hop from the fourth LP being played instead of the actual live audio), Pare ofthis Feature was used as the intro to their 2007 reunion concert atthe London O: ‘What the papers said: The Watcher underground newspaper (Winter Pat, Florida) carried a review of the record: breaking show tiled “The Apex of Rock and Roll Attendance ~ Led Zeppelin Fills Tampa Stadium.” Michael Crites wrote: "Led Zeppelin performed a predominantly high- energy concert with only a taste of their progressive soul and glam rock experiments of recent days, and their acoustic runes, Oem a eer nears CELEBRATION DAYS ‘THE OFFICIAL LIVE ALBUMS Though they had recorded various shows professionally dating back to London's Royal Albert Hall in 1970, the fist official Led Zeppelin lve release didn't arve till 1976: the soundtrack to their film, The Song Remains The Same, the result of ‘three days’ fiming and recording at New York's Madison Square Garden in July 1973. Page did ‘often talk of compiling a definitive chronological ive set but that project never saw the light of day It was to be another 20-plus years before the next official Zep ive recordings ~ their 1969 and 1971 in. ‘concert presentations atthe BBC - were ected for inclusion on the 1997 set BBC Sessions (with additional material provided on the remastered 2016 Complete BBC Sessions release). In 2003, Page mixed down multi-track tapes of their June 1972 appearances at the LA Forum and Long Beach Arena for the How The West Was Won set. This was remastered again fra fist-time release on vinyl and Blu-ray audio earter this year. In 2007, to tie in with the London 02 reunion, an ‘extended version of The Song Remains The Same soundtrack emerged. Tis reissue by Page and Kevin Shirley added six extra songs from the 1973 Madison Square Garden gigs (with several songs significant remixed ftom the orignal 1976 LP). This was issued on a highly collectable limited edition four-LP set on white vinyl, copies of which can command £500-. ‘A urther lve remnant surfaced as the companion disc to the 2014 reissue of Led Zeppelin ~ pat ofthe complete catalogue overhaul produced by Page and engineered by John Davis and released over a two-year period. This time, Page mined a 1969 French radio broadcast oftheir 10 October 1969 show in Paris forthe Live At Olympia 1969 singe album. ‘There has been tak of another lve album to mark ther 5Oth anniversary, “| can't gve the ‘game away," Page said in an interview earlier this year, ‘but there's a recording that's another ‘multi-track that we'll release. I's so different to all the other things that are out ther, It's another view compared to How The West Was Won or The Song Remains The Same. I'm looking forward to people hearing that. (On 7 September, a newly remastered package of The Song Remains The Same ‘soundtrack is due out on Swan SongiAtlantic withthe full album in Hi-Res 5.1 ‘Surround Sound on Blu-ray.John Bonhams 25th birthday. Before Heartbreaker Robert Phat duly acknowledged that fact witha rendition of Happy Birthday Dear Bonzo, Press Re headline for Charles Shaar Mustay’s review in New Musical Express Zeppelin were good, but it had been three tion: "Zeppin’ Ou” was the ‘Now T always knew years since I'd last seen them and no way was I prepared for this. The pure, clean power of Zeppein’s perfor ance and sound is even saordinary than it might otherwise They just play the music, loud and proud, The fist night of the final dhree US gigs at Madison Square Garden that would produce the original 1976 sounderack to The Song Remains The Same movie. Tickes were sold by mail order only with a maximum purchase of six tickers per lere. The three shows, promoted by Concerts East, were reported to gross an aggregate $390,000 ata $7.50 top ticker pric Zs storming show on the opening Garden, In face, virally all of Dazed And ppelin rose to the occasion with a atthe Confused and Whole Lotta Love were used ‘on the 1976 LD (with significant porions of Rock And Roll, No Quarter, and Sti Heaven also being employed) Duting the 29 July gig it was discovered that $203,000 had been stolen from the band!’ safe deposit box atthe Drake Hotel yTo where they were staying, Discussing the chad reached the point where we really couldn't robbery Jimmy Page commented aa ET RAY Pm eta ‘thrill I've had” peu c The opening shows of their 1975 US tour ‘were blighted by an injury to Page’s and Plane suffering a cold. They were b and performed another outstanding gig the Jncat the Nassau Coliseum ginning to get back co form on this nighe following 1 Notably, Communication Breakdown featured a guest appearance by Ronnie Wood then on tour with The Faces but about ro join The Rolling Srones for cheir summer US tour [Another marathon performance and cee ‘entire 1975 US tout. The sion of Dazed And Confised was one of the best of the minutes. Ie incladed snatches of Bu Springfield’s For What I's Worth and Joni Mitchells Woodstock. The version of No Quarter with John Paul Jones solo aso clocked ‘What the papers said: Senziel, South Seattle Community College Bombards Seale": “Despite rowdy hysterical Zeppelin fans throwing bottles and breaking windows, it was one of the greatest stage shows seen herein a long ime The five-show run at London's Earls Court, nphant return to their homeland Rather than stage a full UK tout, Peter Grane hired the 17,000- “When Led Zep play rock'n'roll, I can understand why people call them the greatest” — NME, 1979 PRR sa R lad UKielelgt=t Peper Ng ANDTHE ASBURY JUKES, aap me Ss tah ee gcdal 7" FAIRPORT CONVE! 94 Record CollectTINS eee has moved me as much this year as tele tumultuous, cushingly compressed version of ‘Trampled Underfoot... Led Zeppelin at Knebworth was a eiumph.” 30 June 1980 — Festhalle, Frankfurt Am Main, A low summer of 1980 saw them radically cut down, ‘on the lights, effecs, and sedis content. I proved to be something ofa rejuvenation, This night in Frankfurt was one of the best of the tour. Atlantie Records exce Phil Carson. joined them on bass for an e Barrett Strang clase, Money, while Elvis Frankfurt Special was a part of the Whole Lota Love medley Germany. cy L-date tree around Europe inthe core of the 7 July 1980 — Eissporthalle, Basia, Gana Thefinalshow of | Diet the our and, as oe tured xt the ial show dar Led Zeppelin would ever perform with John Bonham. Ir included | ‘seo remarkable performances clocked in at 14 minutes, and Whole Lotta Love, extended to 17 minutes Bonham’ passing 80 cays later bought the curtain down on 12 years of unsurpassed live performances. 10 December 2007 —' London, England, This was the reunion in honout of Ahmet Entegun. After the disappointments of Live Aid and the Adlantic 40th Anniversary show at Madison Square Garden, they nailed it In November 2006, during an aceepeance speech for Zeppelin’ induction to the UK Music Hall OF Fame, Jimmy Page dedicated the award to Atlantic co-founder Ercegun, and noted that he'd been taken ill recently following a backstage fall at a Scones concert. Sadly, he never recovered and passed away on 14 December 2006, In early 2007, plans were made for a tribute show for Ercegun. Initially, the idea ‘was fr a two-night concere with Cream, but, very quickly, ie was decided chat Zeppelin ‘would perform a fll show. Bringing in Jason Bonham to once agin fill hs dad's old sat, they began rehearsals a Black Island Studios in Acton, London, on 10 June. The concert was duly announced in September. The response staggered the music world. Within hours of the ticket ballot opening, a reported 20 million clicked ‘on the site to try and obtain tickets, There ‘was a minor scare when Page injuted his Finger and che concert was rescheduled from 26 November to 10 December. The expectation as the 17,000 converged ‘on the O> Arena that Monday was tangible 96 Record Collect MEMORABILIA LANE.. ‘The live posters, flyers, ticket stubs and T-shirts Concert posters continue to be a popular area of rock memorabilia collecting — prices {or excellent condition items often reach four ‘igures. Bill Graham’s legendary San Francisco Fillmore ballrooms produced some ‘memorable posters and Zeppeln’s stints at the Filmore West (9-11 January 1969), and the Winterland baliroom (25-26 Apil and 6-8 November 1969) are all represented with sought-after posters, originals of which can command a £500 price tag. ‘Aso highly desirable Is the colourful poster produced for the Electric Magic Wembley Empire Pool show in November 1971. The original 1975 Earls Court poster = produced by promoter, y=, Epeeum | Mel Bush s another ag, prized item — expect to pay up to £1,000 apiece for those. The 1979 Knebworth shows were served with two poster designs, though there are plenty of replica reprints around. The final Zep tour in Europe 1980 has a pair of distinctive designs, with originals commanding £300-plus. | Handbills can also change hands for a tidy sur, €@ prime example being the handbil for their ‘appearance atthe London Lyceum on 12 October 11969. Ticket stubs of key Zep concerts are also in-demand — early appearances in the US and UK are ‘alvays on the radar of collectors inthis fld, as are ‘any cancelled shows. The four-day planned run atthe Chicago Stadium in November 1980, cancelled after John Bonhams passing, isa prime example. Original vintage T-shins is another area that Collectors focus on, with an original 1972 Concerts West US tour T-shirt being recently sold for £750. hist thousands of fans attended their Earls Court ‘and Knebworth shows, good condition orignal shits from these shows are hard to find ~ Earls Court ‘orignal go for up to £250 while Knebworth are ‘around £75, It was the latter concerts that proved a big pay-day for one enterprising seler. In 2011, a rare promotional T-shirt wom at Knebworth by the video ‘camera crew as a backstage pass was sold for an ‘eye-watering £10,000 to an Australian collector. ‘sh from their low-key final tour in Europe in 1980 {are another in-demand garment ~ two T-shirt designs ‘exist and a sweatshirt can reach up to £120 in ‘excellent condition. LED ZEPPELIN The lucky balloc winners were drawn from was a magnificencswansong. 50 countries. Fellow musos attending included Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Brian May and Jef Beck. Following Atlantic artists past and present, such as Keith Emerson, Paul Rodgers and Foreigner, the three surviving members took tothe sa and roared into Good Times Bad Times ~ fan apt opener, having been the first track on their debuc but rarely played lve in the Zep cera. Over the next wo hours, they proceeded to exceed all expectations with a stunning performance, Despite the efforts of Page to keep the show rolling, the Or gig looks to have been the final sighting of Led Zep onstage. Ifso, it ‘What the papers said: Alexis Periis in The Guardian commenced: "I's dificule ro believe this is a band who have barely played together forthe best part of three decades, They sounded awesomely tight, bizare, beguiling and better than ever.” @ Thanks to Chris Maley, Clif Hilliard, Paul Sheppard and Nick Anderson. Evenings ‘With Led Zeppelin ~ The Complete Concert Chronicle, by Dave Lewis and Mike Tremaglio, it published by Omnibus Press on September 27. Ifyou want to resemble Robert Plane in all hs priapic glory, se our Nurses Do Ie Better! T-shirdoubs offer on page 122.