Promoter of Knebworth Festival sells his '79 stash to Led Zeppelin

Freddy Bannister, who promoted the Knebworth Festival series that featured Led Zeppelin in 1979, has sold his rights to the Led Zeppelin Knebworth '79 merchandise to Mythgem Limited. This report came to LedZeppelinNews.com last month by way of Freddy's daughter, Wendy Bannister, a representative of his company.

Mythgem is a holding company owned by the surviving members of Led Zeppelin and the estate of John Bonham.

As a result of the transfer of rights, the Bannisters are no longer selling merchandise related to the 1979 Knebworth Festival. Their Web site at rockmusicmemorabilia.com, however, does continue to offer goods associated with other festivals Bannister promoted, as well as his memoir, "There Must Be a Better Way."

New official release of 1990 Knebworth set forthcoming

"Wearing and Tearing" is a song Led Zeppelin never played in concert. A really fast-paced stomper, it was something the band laid down during their final studio recording sessions but didn't even release on their album. It finally came out almost four years to the day it was recorded, issued on the posthumous outtakes album Coda.

What a bummer it was not part of the band's repertoire in 1979! Led Zeppelin played two shows in England that year, at the Knebworth Festival in front of tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands. They were homecoming shows, the band's first in England in four years, and a lot had changed in that time. Members of the press were rife with suggestions that the band was overhyped and irrelevant in a culture that now favored punk music.

"Wearing and Tearing" was essentially Led Zeppelin's response to punk music. They just didn't issue that formal response at the time. We know there was at some point an intention to release "Wearing and Tearing" as a promotional single distributed exclusively at the Knebworth Festival. That never happened. For reasons never fully explained, the song was left off the album and excluded from their live set.

In 1980, and for reasons that were better explained, the band dissolved. And over the next 10 years, collaborations among the surviving members were sparse. One of those onstage moments, however, was a triumphant set performed by Robert Plant with an encore appearance by Jimmy Page. The date was June 30, 1990, and the setting was a familiar one: Knebworth. And, as if it were some inside joke, Page and Plant combined forces to perform a hard-rocking live version of "Wearing and Tearing" for the first time ever.

In honor of the 20th anniversary of this concert -- which also included Paul McCartney, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Status Quo, Phil Collins, Cliff Richard with the Shadows, Genesis, Tears for Fears, Elton John, and Dire Straits -- the label Eagle Rock Entertainment is re-releasing moments from that Knebworth concert.

The double-CD set Live at Knebworth is slated to be released on March 23 (Update: There will also be an MP3 download version). Portions of this concert were originally available on the Polydor label in 1990. Proceeds from this 20th anniversary reissue, just like the 1990 concert itself, are to raise funds for the Brit School of Performing Arts and Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. The latter cause is the same charity that benefited from the Rockwell concert held in London last September, which included a three-song set from Plant, performing along with Justin Adams and Juldeh Camara.

Live at Knebworth includes two three songs from Plant's solo band, "Hurting Kind (I've Got My Eyes on You)," "Liars Dance" and "Tall Cool One," plus the encore rendition of "Wearing and Tearing" featuring Page. Images of both Page and Plant are pictured on the front cover of the album, although Page's name is curiously omitted in that place.

Dave Lewis engages John Paul Jones in second artful interview of the year

As previously mentioned here, Dave Lewis conducted an interview on Dec. 1 with John Paul Jones. This was their second published Q&A session of 2009; the other occurred in April and contained a vague hint of the band that had already been in the formative stages over the past couple of months. There was a lot Jones knew about Them Crooked Vultures at the time but wasn't saying.

Ever since the cloak of secrecy regarding that project has been unveiled, he's been speaking much more freely in interviews. However, the demeanor Jones puts forth in some interviews ranges from very comfortable to slightly agitated. For the second Jones/Lewis encounter this year, out now in Issue 25 of Tight But Loose, the star feels right at home. This speaks to the efforts made by Lewis, who knows the subject like few others do.

Thanks to the generosity of that interviewer, LedZeppelinNews.com can bring you a transcript of a portion of his conversation with Jones, which contains the following gem of a remark about Them Crooked Vultures:

"There is a second album planned. We are having such great fun onstage, nobody wants it to end yet."

--John Paul Jones, in TBL 25

The 12 days of Zeppelin: Gift ideas for the 2009 holiday shopping season

With the holiday shopping season squarely in mind, LedZeppelinNews.com has compiled 12 relatively new gift ideas for the Led Zeppelin fan who seemingly has everything. Beginning today and continuing over the next 12 days, a new post will highlight one of the gift ideas.

On the first day of Zeppelin, my true love gave to me:

"Then As It Was: Led Zeppelin at Knebworth 1979 -- 30 Years Gone," by Dave Lewis
Published August 2009 by Tight But Loose Publishing

Today's gift idea is a book published in August 2009, "Then As It Was: Led Zeppelin at Knebworth 1979 -- 30 Years Gone," by author Dave Lewis.

When the 30th anniversary of Knebworth started to approach, it was fitting that somebody should mark it with the publication of a book. How lucky are we that Dave Lewis had not only the presence of mind to attempt it but also the ability to complete the task fully as only he could. Dave's attendance at both Knebworth Festival dates in August 1979, together with his mastery in sharing the Led Zeppelin story in the ensuing years, qualify him as an appropriate candidate to chronicle the concert series.

While Dave was preparing the book, some of his own personal 30th anniversary milestones rolled around. His first contact with Led Zeppelin's inner circle was in 1978. He visited the Swan Song office on a number of occasions that year and embarked on some other research in search of details about the band's complete history. He and Geoff Barton, toward the end of that year, wrote a long retrospective on Led Zeppelin and had it published in four consecutive issues in the U.K. magazine Sounds.

"Then as It Was: Led Zeppelin at Knebworth 1979 -- 30 Years Gone" borrows some characteristics from Dave and Geoff's 1978 retrospective. Included in both is a discography section consisting of both official releases and bootleg releases. In the case of the new book, the discographies list releases related to the Knebworth era, such as international and white-label promotional releases of In Through the Out Door and singles like "All My Love" and "Fool in the Rain," in addition to the most comprehensive list ever assembled detailing the various audio and video recordings made of the Knebworth concerts, and bootleg and official releases of those recordings on LP, CD, DVD and other formats. The discographies prepared by Nick Anderson (the official releases) and Graeme Hutchinson (the bootlegs) exist purely to serve the hardcore collectors that will be interested in the book.

However, there are many other parts of the book that are sure to please even the most casual Led Zeppelin fan. Dave handles most of the storytelling himself, reprinting his original write-ups about the concerts along with latter-day insights reflecting on those dates without the "rose tinted view" Dave readily admits he had when documenting the shows at the time. Also affecting his point of view over time would be the context that Led Zeppelin's two shows in England that year would be the band's final U.K. appearances, something that was not expected at the time.

Ever the historian, Dave also put together several pages' worth of insight as to how these shows were planned in advance as great visual and sonic spectacles. Lots of work went into the preparation for the shows, and Dave spares no detail. This is of interest to anybody craving behind-the-scenes glimpses of a band and the people around them at work assembling a festival event that would be attended by hundreds of thousands. Tabulating those attendance figures themselves also prove to be a part of the story. In addition, a large part of the story is the variety of press Led Zeppelin was receiving at the time, before and after those shows. Basically, it wasn't always bad, but it certainly was rarely good, which may be a jarring discovery for younger fans who know nothing but a deep reverence for the group by their peers, their parents and the press.

In compiling this book, Dave also accepted dozens of new accounts from other Led Zeppelin fans who were in attendance at the concerts. Those who submitted their recollections make the event seem real to readers who weren't there for whatever reason. The book also includes several photographs that were previously unpublished and a section focusing on memorabilia from the Knebworth Festival (Disclosure: I helped to prepare this section).

Be sure to place your order soon for the holiday season, and if you act quickly you can take advantage of some special offers for the book. See ordering details at www.tblweb.com.

Knebworth, Bath festivals remembered in new box set

The promoter of the Knebworth Festival, Freddy Bannister, is offering a new limited-edition box set to honor the 30th anniversary of Knebworth and also the 40th anniversary of the first Bath Festival. This commemorative set includes:

• ticket, program and flyer reprints from the Bath festivals in 1969 and 1970 and the Knebworth Festival in 1979
• a set of 20 glossy 6x8" photographs taken at the Bath and Knebworth festivals
• three T-shirts (select three from among three Knebworth designs and two designs displaying the poster art from the Bath festivals)
• two poster reprints (select two from among the 1969 and 1970 Bath festivals as well as the 1979 Knebworth Festival)
• a copy of Freddy Bannister's 2003 book, "There Must Be a Better Way: The Story of the Bath and Knebworth Rock Festivals 1969-1979"
  
• a DVD containing 100 photographs of Led Zeppelin at Knebworth, plus an interview of Robert Plant and John Paul Jones conducted by J.J. Jackson
• a 60-minute DVD called "The Spirit of Knebworth" that overviews the seven Knebworth festivals held between 1974 and 1979
• a signature of the promoter, Freddy Bannister
  

The boxed set is limited to 200 and is reasonably priced at £64.95 plus shipping costs. Visit www.rockmusicmem.com for ordering information.

Dave Lewis offers holistic, balanced view on Knebworth in upcoming book

"The lights bathed the band in clear vision and the audience went crazy," writes Stuart Whitehead about seeing Led Zeppelin during their last U.K. concert series, the Knebworth Festival 30 years ago this summer. "When things settled down you could sense a newfound confidence. They knew at this point they were still the biggest and best band in the world, and here were a hundred thousand fans agreeing, and at the same [time] giving punk and the U.K. music press an almighty one-fingered salute."

Whitehead is one of over 30 festival attendees whose firsthand accounts are carried as the centerpiece of the forthcoming book compiled by Tight But Loose fanzine writer Dave Lewis. "Then as It Was: Led Zeppelin at Knebworth -- 30 Years Gone" is soon to be released as a 270-page hardcover book in a limited edition, with a launch party taking place near the festival site next month. Lewis has announced ordering information for the book and provided a preview of some of the contents.

He reproduces his original review of the gigs published in Tight But Loose plus the transcript of an interview recorded by future MTV veejay J.J. Jackson, who was then an on-air radio personality for KLOS in Los Angeles, with Robert Plant and John Paul Jones after Knebworth. Along with the firsthand accounts, the new content in this book includes, the author says, "an engrossing view of the whole Knebworth episode from the perspective of an American fan, Larry Bergmann."

Lewis explains, "Zep was still a massive deal over there in the late 1970s -- there was no punk rock explosion to harm them and 'In Through the Out Door was a massive seller and No. 1 for weeks. It was cited as being something of a savior to the flagging U.S. music industry at the time. So it's good to gain a view of how it all appeared from across the water."

But of course, for Americans, most of the book is from the point of view of those on the other side of the Atlantic, including the introductory material. Jimmy Page's photographer of choice, Ross Halfin, contributed the foreword, which details what it was like shooting the Aug. 11 show. Former Melody Maker editor Chris Charlesworth has also lent his words to the project, penning what Lewis describes as "a very perceptive opening preface overview."

As a journalist, Charlesworth enjoyed close access to Led Zeppelin and published his interviews with the various band members in the '70s, but he held off for nearly three decades in reporting the full stories of everything he experienced and witnessed in the band's midst. He has written with a new level of unbridled frankness since the turn of the century when recounting, for instance, Zep manager Peter Grant's dealings with some limo drivers in Greensboro, N.C., and an eventful flight aboard the Starship from Chicago to Los Angeles in 1975. Charlesworth no doubt brings the same welcome candor in his preface to "Then as It Was," a lot of which centers on the press coverage afforded Led Zeppelin in their home country at the end of their four-year absence from the British concert stage.

"This was a period of big upheaval," says Lewis. "Punk rock had arrived, and out of it grew the new wave. This movement was set to render dinosaur bands such as Zeppelin redundant. So what you have is the situation of Zeppelin attempting to reconnect with their audience again, in the face of much derision from the press and media. How they coped with that is an interesting story in itself."

Lewis acknowledges the band's awareness of the pressure on them to present a worthy show. "I think they found it hard to ignore, particularly Robert Plant," he says. "In the book I summarize both the press reaction to the Knebworth shows and the 'In Through the Out Door' album. They did suffer some highly critical reaction -- Plant himself made comment to that onstage during their second appearance. They were very sensitive to it all.

"Taken as a whole though, there were some very balanced views. To quote Phil Sutcliffe in his review in Sounds at the time, 'How would you feel if you saw a dinosaur coming down the street? Surprise, fear, fascination, awe. All of these things. It's by no means all bad to be a living fossil.'

"The fact is, Zeppelin was still a very powerful musical force, and I think journalists seemed to have a job admitting that without losing face. In his foreword in the book, Ross Halfin makes a good point that the press didn't really dislike Zep that much -- not in the same way they derided, say, ELP or Yes."

Lewis doesn't gloss over the controversies the Knebworth Festival portends. As to the disputed number of attendees present, the quality of the performances particularly on week two, the less than stellar supporting lineup assembled for both weeks, or even the suitability of a two-show stint on such a large platform, Lewis addresses it all.

And he does so in a much more objective manner than he did writing for his fanzine at the time. As for his original review, published in full in the book, Lewis admits, "There's no denying it's a rose tinted view, but maybe that's not too surprising. Back then I was 22 years old and my whole world revolved around Led Zeppelin. I lived and breathed it, so Knebworth was in its infancy, and obviously I wanted to offer extensive coverage in the next issue."

Thirty years of retrospect have allowed Lewis to take a more reasoned reflect on the circumstances of the time. He now believes the Knebworth setting made Zeppelin "quite remote from their audience." By comparison, he points out that the Who in 1979 combined smaller shows at the Rainbow Theatre and the Hammersmith Odeon with a larger performance at Wembley Stadium. The Who, Lewis opines, "seemed more in touch with the musical climate of the time."

Despite any flaws in either the conception or the undertaking of the concert series, Lewis says that overall, "Knebworth was a triumph, and it put Zep right back in the spotlight." This is evidenced in some of the photographs from the shows, including ones taken both weeks by Alan Perry, which are used extensively in the book. In all, the book includes over 100 black-and-white illustrations and 16 color pages.

The shows certainly have also inspired collectors of both bootlegs and memorabilia alike, as some appendices in the book attest. One, a detailed Zep Knebworth bootleg appendix, is the work of contributor Graeme Hutchinson, who Lewis says "logs over 80 different vinyl, CD and DVD unofficial releases." In another appendix, U.K. collector Nick Anderson "offers a comprehensive and fully illustrated worldwide 'In Through the Out Door' discography" that "includes details of the differing promo pressings that came out and the singles that were issued from the album." An appendix on Knebworth Festival memorabilia draws mostly from the Brian Knapp collection, including a handwritten set list, various backstage passes, the shirt off of Page's back, the violin bow he used, a prototype bow he discarded in rehearsal, and fiberoptic cables that were used in conjunction with the laser sequence, to name a few items.

Lewis says he hopes the book will appeal to new fans and old. "On a nostalgic level, it's an affectionate reminder of the way things were in that field all of 30 years ago," he says. "For Zep fans that have come on board since, or were elsewhere at the time, it provides the opportunity to find out what it was all about." He says it "all adds up to what I hope is an engaging read that chronicles the final days of Led Zeppelin and the simpler times of the last great festival gatherings of the 1970s.

The first run is strictly limited, and each book will be individually signed and numbered by the author. Books will be available to those registering ahead of time at www.tblweb.com to attend the Aug. 8 gathering at the Lytton Arms. Books may also be ordered online via PayPal (see www.tblweb.com for details) or from the Wymer UK book site.

Lewis is scheduled to appear on the Nicky Horne Show on Planet Rock Radio on Sunday, July 19, after 8 p.m. GMT (4 p.m. Eastern).

August fan gathering, book to reflect on Led Zep's '79 Knebworth concerts

Recent months have celebrated the 40th anniversaries of Led Zeppelin's first album and onstage debut, but author Dave Lewis over in England recognizes another milestone anniversary taking place in 2009. This August will mark 30 years since Led Zeppelin's final appearances in its home country, at the Knebworth Festival in 1979.

 
The monumental occasion of Led Zeppelin's homecoming performances on Aug. 4 and 11, 1979, proved sentimental for the group and its fans at the time. Given the unexpected nature of these shows being Led Zeppelin's last ones in England, memories of the concerts have improved with time. And since the May 2003 release of the band's official 2-DVD set in 2003, these shows are now more than ever viewed as two of the most memorable events in the band's latter days.

Before that anniversary rolls around, Dave Lewis is organizing a get-together for Zep fans at the Lytton Arms, a pub about a 10-minute walk from the location of those concerts. "Then as It Was: A 30th Anniversary Knebworth Celebration Day" is to take place on Aug. 8, the Saturday between the two dates on which Led Zeppelin played its famous shows at Knebworth in 1979. For only £10 admission, attendees will be treated to a buffet meal, view memorabilia displays and participate in a charity auction.

The event will also serve as the launch party for a new limited-edition hardcover book Lewis has been compiling, called "Then As It Was: Led Zeppelin at Knebworth 1979 -- 30 Years Gone." Lewis will be on hand to sign books and also hold a question-and-answer session with the audience. Footage from the Knebworth shows are to be played throughout the day. Click here for more information on the Aug. 8 event in England.

The limited-edition book will include the written accounts of fans who witnessed the shows firsthand and some material that has previously appeared in Lewis's superb fanzine, "Tight but Loose." There is also going to be a 16-page section in the book for color photographs, which should have a number of shots from the Knebworth concerts -- as well as shots taken this weekend by Led Zeppelin memorabilia collector Brian Knapp of some Knebworth-related items in his possession. Included among these are some truly unique items from the shows! More on these in the coming weeks.

Also, Knapp happens to be selling one of his rare Knebworth items on eBay right now: a full, unused ticket to the Aug. 4 show. Since he's an avid collector with many items for sale on eBay, he brags that his ticket is one from the Aug. 4 show with red lettering, which makes it more scarce than ones from the Aug. 11 show with green lettering. And he boasts that his ticket comes with the perforated "agent retainer" portion that would have been removed upon entry to the shows -- and also with a letter of authenticity from Knebworth promoter Freddy Bannister from when Knapp acquired the ticket in 2004.

As you may recall, British Zep fan Annie Hollinshead spearheaded "Memories in Music '68-'08" last year, a Led Zeppelin memorabilia display at Knebworth Field House raising money for charity. Plans for a repeat of the event this year have been postponed until further notice.

Led Zeppelin memorabilia on display, at auction and for public consumption

Parallel to the business of selling music is the longstanding and lucrative business of merchandising a band's name in myriad ways. Led Zeppelin's history is rich with savvy marketing gimmicks such as The Object, a mysterious promotional figurine whose original manufacture supporting Presence's release in 1976 was limited to 1,000 until cheap knock-offs hit the market for a quick buck, and the series of six album covers for the group's last studio set.

Several extensive magazine articles and Web sites are dedicated to tally the quantity and second-hand price range of rare foreign pressings of Led Zeppelin's music and of items that were pulled from shelves for one reason or another.

Collectors should be aware that their universe is about to expand. A new officially sanctioned Led Zeppelin collectible is being made available to the public, but this ultra-rare pressing of the soundtrack to The Song Remains the Same on white vinyl will be about 200 times harder to get than tickets to the band's one-off reunion concert were last year.

Talk about a limited pressing! There are to be only 200 of these white vinyl sets produced, and only half are being immediately offered up for public consumption. They are to be randomly given to customers of Led Zeppelin's official Web site who purchase the no-less-enticing black vinyl pressings of the soundtrack album. This four-LP soundtrack pressing on 180-gram vinyl is to be available July 29. It is to contain the same expanded track listing as was on last November's re-release of the 1976 set on CD. The remixing, mastering, artwork and liner notes will also resemble last year's edition. A set could be yours for only $54.99 if you pre-order soon, and if you're lucky, you will receive the extremely limited white vinyl edition.

Also coming soon to a four-LP vinyl set, for the same price, is last year's Mothership anthology. This audiophile-quality vinyl release is scheduled for Aug. 26. Further information on both new vinyl releases from Led Zeppelin is available here.

Auctioneers are also testing the staying power of Led Zeppelin's name when it comes to the resale of unique items once owned by the band members. A drum kit pounded on by John Bonham in his later days is soon to be sold at auction, possibly fetching an amount comparable to the sum recently paid out for a bass guitar and equipment John Paul Jones used in Led Zeppelin's earliest days.

The acoustic bass and accompanying bass stack sold for $27,115 at a Christie's auction in London on July 10, demonstrating the value of the group's moniker.

Bonham's Ludwig Vistalite drum kit, thought to be the only kit of his not possessed by his estate, is to be auctioned Sept. 4 in London. The drums left Bonham's possession when he gave them as a gift to Chris Welch, who later went on to co-author the biography "John Bonham: A Thunder of Drums." Letters of authenticity signed by Welch and Todd Trent of Ludwig's artists relations are listed as part of the lot.

Speaking of Led Zeppelin memorabilia, a fan of the group named Annie Hollinshead has labored intently over the past year to fulfill her vision of having collectors donate some of their memorabilia for a large display to be held at the historically significant Knebworth Field House, commemorating the formation of the band 40 years ago next month. The exhibit, which intends to raise money for the Jimmy Page-supported ABC Trust charity, is set to run daily between Aug. 1 and Sept. 3. For more information, visit http://memoriesinmusic.com.

One away from forty: An appeal to memorabilia collectors

This year marks the 39th anniversary of the formation of Led Zeppelin with today being the 39th anniversary of the two first-ever Page-Plant-Jones-Bonham concerts – which means next year's 40th anniversary celebrations ought to be bigger.

Annie Hollinshead is a contact of mine in England who has an idea for a fitting tribute. She would like to see an archive assembled of collectors' fine Led Zeppelin memorabilia and perhaps store it at Knebworth House, a particularly appropriate choice given the band's stellar 1979 performances on a stage at the Knebworth field.

"The exhibit will run for several weeks in the summer at Knebworth, and possibly later in the year in London," says Annie. "ABC Trust [the charity benefiting Brazilian street kids and for which Jimmy Page is a benefactor] is working on combining it with a photographic exhibition for Zeppelin, also for charity."

She is sharing the idea with several supportive folks and is attempting to contact the management for each band member and trustees of John Bonham's estate. For now, Annie says, "I need to spread the word to collectors. Even if they only have one item it would be much appreciated if we could borrow it. ... I told Knebworth and the ABC up front that if I couldn't get enough items we would just have to cancel it, but they think with Knebworth as a venue and the backing of the band and the charities, it will be successful."

Annie stipulates that all photographs shared for the cause must be approved by their original photographers and that no bootlegs will be included.

"I will be very pleased to speak with anyone who is interested in loaning us their memorabilia," says Annie, who can be reached at:

Annie Hollinshead
24 Rusts Lane,
Alconbury,
Huntingdon
UK PE28 4DN
Tel (+44) (0) 1480 896030
E-mail: ayhollinshead [at] hotmail [dot] com

Readers overwhelmingly positive on new Led Zeppelin DVD, live album

This news originally appeared in an edition of the newsletter "On This Day In Led Zeppelin History."

Led Zeppelin's live album How the West Was Won and chronological live visual set DVD, now out in most of the world, will be released June 11 in Japan and Friday in Australia and New Zealand.

Man, I can't wait. I'm getting home Friday night with my DVD in my hot little hand, locking the gate, bolting the door, putting the phone in the toilet and sitting in front of the tele for the weekend. "Wayyyyyyy down inside!" I hope the neighbours don't wanna sleep this weekend.

Andrew
Christchurch, New Zealand

In the meantime, Lemon Squeezings presents comments from some readers who are infatuated with their new toys. Thanks to all who wrote in.

I was the first one in the Virgin Megastore on 45th & Broadway at 9 a.m. on May 27, and I paid the great price of $22.99 for the DVDs and $20.99 for the CDs. OH BABY BABY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Richard
New York, N.Y.

I arrived home at 3:30 p.m. (Don't mention speed limits, will you?) toput the DVD on first; the thing that strikes me immediately is the flood of memories from actually being at the concerts first time around. I remember I was working at the Hardrock Concert Theatre in Manchester when Zeppelin performed two consecutive nights there, Dec. 7-8, 1972. I was lucky enough to meet Robert Plant for the first time then, a thoroughly nice guy. Next, the thing that (literally) hit me is the phenomenal power and intricacy of the drumming of John Bonham; he must be the only drummer who really did have arms like Popeye and sticks like telegraph poles. Unbelievable.

Mark
Liverpool, England

I bought the DVD and CD from HMV shop in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. I was there at 10 a.m. when it opened. I rushed back home and spent the next six hours or so in heaven.

Ashley
Crewe, England

I picked up the CD this morning at a music store in Grand Central Station, the only one I could find open at 7:30 a.m. on my way to work. Even on my Compaq M700 laptop, they sound unreal. I can't wait to listen on a real system tonight, but the laptop will do for now as I will be listening over and over all day.

Dave
New York, N.Y.

You should've seen me picking them up at Borders. I met a saleswoman who loves LZ too, and we were practically jumping up and down!

Lisa
St. Louis, Mo.

I picked up the DVDs and CDs about five hours ago and am about to check out the DVD before I go to sleep. What'll you bet that I'll be up watching until 10:30 a.m.?

Mark
Long Beach, Calif.

They should've included a concert poster of the L.A. Forum 1972 in the How the West Was Won CD package. In my opinion, they should've really went all out for it in this release.

Joe
Margate City, N.J.

I would have loved a CD booklet, but at least the DVD booklet is good. You know Zeppelin and album covers...

Lynn
West Palm Beach, Fla.

The entire CD set has given a breath of fresh air to all who can breathe again after this great revival of a great era, great music and a great band.

John "They Call Me The Hunter"
Cincinnati, Ohio

The rendition of "Dazed and Confused" at the beginning of Disc Two on
How the West Was Won is by far the best ever. It is crazy how well they change
the beats in a song and then fall right back into it. It is totally apparent
that they are all very talented musicians and the best band ever to grace our
world's stages.

Amity
Memphis, Tenn.

I first heard Led Zeppelin when I was about 13 at a local disco. They blew me away then, and they're still doing it to me. They encapsulate the mystery and magic of my teenage years and are still my favourite band. No one else comes close.

Unfortunately, I never saw them live (if only I'd been born in '55 instead of '65!). The live performances featured on the CD are enough to make me weep at having missed them (as was Dave Lewis's recollections of Earl's Court in the May 24 edition). What will I be like when I watch the DVD?

Marie
Dundee, Scotland

I've just returned from the DVD screening in New York and am recovering from the sonic attack my body just witnessed. The DVD kills! Jimmy, Robert and John Paul were all in attendance, and each made a very brief speech, thanking everyone for coming out and for their support. A fan yelled, "You guys rock!" Robert replied, "We don't use that expression back home." Additionally, Plant then went on to dedicate the night's screening to the group's fourth member and my personal favorite (guess which instrument I play!), John Bonham.

Mark
New York, N.Y.

The Los Angeles theatrical premiere was f***ing awesome. Forgive the bad language, but it was that good! People were cheering after every song as if it were a real concert. There were a lot of cool people there, and I had a great time. Seeing Bonzo play was sublime; he was an animal! Robert was amazing and amazingly hot. Jimmy was out of this world, and John Paul Jones was fantastic.

I have been a fan for four years. I fell in love with Led Zeppelin without seeing them. The first time I saw them was watching The Song Remains the Same and bootleg stuff on the Internet. But this DVD is Led Zeppelin live, it is them. I am only 17, but I know that you can't make music like that anymore.

Stephanie
Los Angeles, Calif.

I traveled 30 miles north to gather with a couple of buddies just to see the Led Zeppelin DVD on a huge, high-definition screen with a complete surround sound system. Both of my buddies experienced Zeppelin live in their earlier days: One of them attended the Fillmore East in 1969, and the other one saw Zep in Pittsburgh in 1970. The latter one remembers being very impressed with the opening song; it was "We're Gonna Groove," as he finally learned 12 years later when it was released on Coda. The Royal Albert Hall show starts with precisely this song, and, according to him, it is exactly as he remembers it.

Footage of that concert gave me the opportunity to see John Paul Jones from a different angle; he is actually rocking and dancing to the rhythm of "Dazed and Confused" during the middle section and during "How Many More Times."

Sergio
San Diego, Calif.

I was amazed when Jimmy played "White Summer," and Bonzo's "Moby Dick" was killer. The "What is and Should Never Be" performance was totally rocking and had to be my favorite of the show.

Amity
Memphis, Tenn.

Jimmy really knows his way around a guitar. Watching him play like that during "White Summer" is intimidating.

Jan
Washington, D.C.

I especially enjoyed watching a young Bonzo thrash away to "Moby Dick." This is priceless. His talent was surreal.

Dennis
Jupiter, Fla.

"How Many More Times": just simply unbelievable. I was honestly standing and cheering in my own living room by myself. "White Summer" too -- I do believe that is why Jimmy is the best. Simply unmatched. That was just a few of the many highlights.

Jeremy
Canada

Don't you just love that version of "The Ocean" from Madison Square Garden 1973! That bit just KNOCKS ME OUT! So cool!!!

Joe
Margate City, N.J.

I was wondering why that version of "The Ocean" didn't make the movie cut of The Song Remains the Same. What an incredible version of that song!

Jeremy
Canada

As far as I am concerned, there will never again be any need whatsoever to play The Song Remains the Same or its soundtrack; they are so inferior now compared to these new releases.

Dennis
Jupiter, Fla.

How cool is the Earl's Court 1975 footage?!!!

Jane
Greenwich, Conn.

Knebworth: much maligned, but a favorite of mine. I found the bootleg video a good 10 years ago. Watching the bootleg was like needing corrective lenses for 10 years. Watching the DVD is like suddenly having 20-20 vision. The "Rock and Roll" encore from August 4 comes on like a five-alarm fire. Where's Fireman Joe when you need him? The band is roaring away during "Nobody's Fault but Mine." Even young rovers have to appreciate the musicianship and enthusiasm demonstrated here. You can see John Paul Jones gettin' down. During "Sick Again," Jimmy may be dueling with demons, but he can still do his daffy duckwalk! Plant knows he is still the Tall Cool Abe of rock 'n' roll.

"Achilles Last Stand": Now with fantastic clarity, we can see how Plant is emotionally embroiled with the song, how his life has changed since those vacation plans were made. "In the Evening" proves that Zeppelin was alive and well in 1979. It's timeless music that influenced the flannel-wearing, 240 Z drivers in Seattle and keeps young groupies interested even today, as the band members are nearing the big 6-0.

As we make the journey to "Kashmir" via Bonzo's famous beats, we feel much like a man I know named Dave, who has seemingly been everywhere and back. Robert looks truly happy at the end of "Whole Lotta Love." It's as if he finally found the girl with "flowers in her hair."

You can truly hear the "ocean" roar at Knebworth. Somewhere at this very moment, Luis Rey must be re-writing a passage in his book, and the "ocean" wants a copy.

Todd
Evansville, Wis.

I was so agitated by the people who were allowed to watch them perform for those extra 1969 clips from Denmark and France. They were obviously not enjoying themselves. I can't believe they would get just anyone when there were people that did want to hear Zeppelin play. One boy even had his fingers in his ears, and people were talking to each other on the French clip. The one with all the teens sitting around was sad. I don't think I have ever seen so many teenagers in one place so utterly bored -- except maybe in math class.

Kim
Alabama, U.S.A.

I haven't seen or heard anything yet as mine are on order from Amazon.com. I'll have to wait till Tuesday -- yeah, right!! As soon as I get paid on Friday, I'm headed to Target! I can't wait the whole weekend!

Chris
Tucson, Ariz.

My boyfriend Ray said what he remembers best about seeing them in 1977 -- in addition to Page's incredible performance -- was Bonham's "thunder." And that's precisely what comes into crystal clarity, especially in the DVD.

Jane
Greenwich, Conn.

Thank you, Jimmy Page. You did a fantastic job!

Kim
Alabama, U.S.A.

I always believed Zeppelin was the greatest band ever, and this DVD totally backs it up. Jimmy totally wails on the guitar, Bonzo drums like a madman, Jonesy's many talents are portrayed, and Robert's empowering voice and sexual image make my whole body quiver. Not to mention the chemistry between the band is just unbelievable. You can see their confidence and can tell that they love what they are doing.

Amity
Memphis, Tenn.

If you don't yet have these two new releases, then head without delay
directly to your nearest retailer.

Steve "The Lemon"
Washington, D.C.

Sources hail their advance glimpses of Led Zeppelin DVD

This news originally appeared in an edition of the newsletter "On This Day In Led Zeppelin History."

Led Zeppelin's upcoming 2-DVD set is receiving plenty of attention. I'd like to call your attention in particular to this April 14 article at RollingStone.com with interview quotes from all three surviving members of Led Zeppelin.

In the meantime, I'd like to thank readers for sharing information about their previews of the DVD! Descriptions and summaries have come in from two sources: Dave Lewis, author of the long-running fanzine Tight But Loose, and Gary Moore, host of "Whole Lotta Led" weekdays at 4 p.m. on Los Angeles' 95.5 KLOS.

From Dave Lewis:

My new issue of the Tight But Loose magazine is out now (issue 16). If you read Steve's excellent daily updates, then I'm sure you'll find much to enjoy in the new TBL. It's another mini book packed with features rare visuals, etc. Cost is £8 U.K. sterling. Visit www.tblweb.com for full subscription and ordering details.

About the forthcoming DVD: Forty days to go! Having been lucky enough to have seen a preview, let me tell you it exceeds all expectations. The integrity and sheer detail that Jimmy Page and director Dick Carruthers have brought to the project is just stunning.

For me, personally, this has been a long wait. I was lucky enough to see firsthand the extent of the Zep visual archive as far back as 1981 when I was invited to view the Earls Court, Seattle and Knebworth video masters at the London Swan Song office.

Now, finally, we are all going to see and hear in absolute full splendour the sheer magic of Led Zeppelin live. Excited? We certainly should be! And the waiting is nearly over...

Dave Lewis
April 16, 2003

From Gary Moore:

I got a sampler in over the weekend featuring three cuts on the upcoming DVD. They are as follows:

1.) What is and What Should Never Be / Royal Albert Hall, January 1970 (even though it says 1969, it's the '70 show). A very nice, tight performance of this song with everyone in great form. You notice two things right off. First, it's still a darkly shot show, but there's some welcome lightening of the show. Second, the sound quality is fantastic, especially in Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound. In fact, the sound quality on all the tracks is stellar -- absolutely tremendous.

2.) In My Time of Dying / Earl's Court, May 1975. If the rest of the show is this good, toss out all of your eighth-generation bootlegs because they'll pale in comparison. No contest. This may be the best overall live performance I've seen or heard of the song. There are some slight filtering special effects on a few moments, but overall it's a mesmerizing performance. You see the band's confidence like never before with this upgrading: Jimmy in complete musical domination, Robert selling the message with unbridled fury, John Paul and Bonzo's thrifty, seamless rhythm. Such a high point in their career!

3.) Rock and Roll / Knebworth, August 1979. Beaten down the press, the punkish times and their own personal trials, this is a revitalizing concert showing that they still had it, they never lost it, and they were so set for the 1980s and beyond. Again, terrific sound and video transfer onto DVD.

If the Zeppelin DVD won't persuade Ledheads to get 5.1 sound for their living rooms (and prices are way down now), then it's hopeless. Because this WILL be the next best thing to seeing Led Zeppelin in concert, I guaran-damn-tee you. In fact, for those of us who did see them live, it's almost better because of the proximity and crystal-clear sound.

In short, what I've seen is a joy to watch -- but bittersweet at the same time. You give thanks for what they gave us but feel sadness over how much farther they might've taken us.

Gary Moore
April 14, 2003

Well, what more is there to say than -- Led Zeppelin rocks!

Live Led Zeppelin DVDs, CDs to be released May 27: official announcement

This news originally appeared in an edition of the newsletter "On This Day In Led Zeppelin History."

A note from Steve "The Lemon" to the PR person responsible for writing the following official Led Zeppelin press release:

Please identify yourself so I can have what you're having.

OFFICIAL LED ZEPPELIN PRESS RELEASE

Led Zeppelin Live At Last On DVD And CD: Legendary performances due May 27 with rare and unreleased material

Mar 07 2003

THE mother lode of Led Zeppelin live recordings has at long last arrived! Slated for a simultaneous May 27th release are LED ZEPPELIN DVD, a two-disc set, and HOW THE WEST WAS WON, a three-CD set. Long sought-after by Zeppelin devotees and collectors, this marks the first-ever official release of these rare and legendary performances, which span the group's entire career. Much-rumored and eagerly anticipated, the DVD and CD sets each contain entirely different material, so there is no overlap between the two releases. As a gesture to the band's millions of fans, both sets are specially priced - the 2-DVD set at 29.98 list, and the 3-CD set at 26.98 list.

Clocking in at nearly five and a half hours, 'LED ZEPPELIN DVD' has been culled from just a handful of performances which were ever filmed during the band's extraordinary lifetime. As guitarist Jimmy Page explains, 'We were never really part of the pop scene. It was never what Led Zeppelin was supposed to be about. Our thing was playing live. In that sense, Zeppelin was very much an underground band. The fact that it became as successful as it did was something that was almost out of our control. We actually shunned commercialism, which is why so little official footage of the band has ever been seen before.'

Featured are performances from: London's Royal Albert Hall in January 1970, just one year after the release of their debut album; their triumphant five-night run at London's Earl's Court in May 1975; and their record-breaking shows at England's Knebworth Festival in August 1979, just one year before the death of drummer John Bonham led to the band's dissolution. Also included are songs from New York's Madison Square Garden in July 1973 [that] were not included in 'THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME' concert film, the only previously released live Zeppelin footage. Other highlights of the DVD include: extremely rare television appearances, among them a performance for Danish television in March 1969; promotional clips; TV interviews; behind-the scenes material; and even a bit of fan-shot 'bootleg' footage.

Visually and sonically stunning, 'LED ZEPPELIN DVD' has been painstakingly restored, remixed, and remastered in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS, and PCM Two-Channel Stereo - under the personal supervision of Jimmy Page and director Dick Carruthers.

Recorded in California, 'HOW THE WEST WAS WON' is a brilliant audio complement to the DVD. The material on the three CDs has been culled from two of the most legendary and incendiary live performances by Led Zeppelin, at the Los Angeles Forum and Long Beach Arena on June 25th and 27th, 1972. Melded together and sequenced to replicate a single concert from beginning to end, it captures the band at the height of their formidable powers. Among the highlights are a 25-plus minute version of 'Dazed And Confused' and a 23-minute medley based around 'Whole Lotta Love.' Alongside such classics as 'Stairway To Heaven' and 'Rock And Roll,' these shows find the band introducing songs from their forthcoming 'HOUSES OF THE HOLY' album, which would not be released for another nine months.

* * * * *

2003 marks the 35th anniversary of the first fateful rehearsal which brought together the talents of guitarist Jimmy Page, vocalist Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham in the summer of 1968. Universally recognized as one of the most innovative, powerful, and influential groups in rock history, Led Zeppelin has sold some 200 million albums worldwide. This is all the more impressive considering that the band only existed [sic] for a comparatively short 12-year period. In the decade between 1969 and 1979, the British quartet released eight studio albums and a live soundtrack ([A] posthumous set of previously unreleased studio material followed in '82).

While their work in the studio was brilliant, Led Zeppelin's work onstage was transforming. In concert, the band displayed a power and charisma unparalleled in modern music. Never content [in simply replaying] their recordings, Zeppelin used the stage as a creative platform in its own right - introducing material live before it was recorded, and always expanding, improvising, and pushing into uncharted territory. Their legendary, epic live sets - often lasting more than three hours - were shamanistic experiences [that] traversed exceptional musical territory, sonic journeys which were truly cathartic experiences for the band and audience alike.

Word of Led Zeppelin DVD project release expected soon

This news originally appeared in an edition of the newsletter "On This Day In Led Zeppelin History."

Last year's project to revisit and celebrate the live work of Led Zeppelin was undertaken with Jimmy Page at the helm. His leadership in this monumental task was no surprise. It's been known for years that the Led Zeppelin guitarist has possessed a vault containing hours of unreleased footage of the group in action. Aside from this, Page has numerous times expressed his hopes for a chronological live album. He's made such comments repeatedly over a quarter of a century.

The DVD set resulting from his efforts in 2002 of wading through live tapes and editing footage may be just what he considers Led Zeppelin's ultimate collection.

Word has leaked, apparently from the inside, about the visual contents of the set, expected to run on two or three DVDs. Footage from some of Led Zeppelin's best known concerts will be featured, alongside previously unseen interview footage. The discs' audio will be enhanced with Dolby Digital 5.1 channel surround sound. Concert material under consideration for the set includes Led Zeppelin's March 1969 set filmed for Danish television; the concert at London's Royal Albert Hall on Jan. 9, 1970; previously unreleased footage from the New York 1973 concerts included with the film The Song Remains the Same; excerpts from the Earl's Court appearances on May 24-25, 1975; and excerpts from the two dates at the Knebworth festival in August 1979.

Other clips listed for possible inclusion are shots from backstage and offstage, interviews and press conferences. Also prepared for inclusion is a tribute to late drummer John Bonham, in the form of a full rendition of the drum solo "Moby Dick," from the aforementioned London concert in 1970.

Despite security at the London security that has been likened to that of Fort Knox, some leaks about progress on the DVD set have resulted courtesy of Kevin Shirley, a studio engineer who was involved in the mixing process for the DVD set last year. In journal entries at his production company's CavemanProductions.com Web site throughout October, Shirley revealed some of the only known information about the DVD project.

He declared the project "a wrap" on Oct. 24, 2002, only a few days after commenting on the live footage he'd seen of Led Zeppelin: "I've always been a huge fan, but after this, I'm convinced of the geniuses involved and believe there was never a band with such a chemistry in rock. Miles and Coltrane in jazz maybe, Barenboim and Du Pre in classical, but in rock it must be the all four of them!"

Robert Plant said he had a VHS copy of some proposed footage with him when he chatted in 2002 via telephone with reporter Mark Brown for Ice magazine. "It's looking good," Plant said in Ice's December issue. "Some great footage, very exciting visuals."

John Paul Jones said in 2002 after seeing the footage, "I am still reminded what an incredible band it was -- excuse the modesty." In a message posted around Dec. 20 to his Web site, www.johnpauljones.com, the former Led Zeppelin keyboardist and bassist hinted, "It all looks and sounds very exciting and should be coming out soon."

Still, no official word is available on the DVD set's expected release date. The date will be set by marketing heads at Atlantic Records. A Feb. 2 news posting at Led Zeppelin Club Italia, translated into English, states that the date could be in late March or in April.

In addition, the club's Web site, www.ledzeppelinclub.it, mentioned that a double-CD live set compiling two Led Zeppelin concerts from the summer of 1972 has also been prepared for release with the DVD set.

Reunion tour?

Do the imminent release of Led Zeppelin's live anthology and the cooperation among the band's surviving members shed any more credibility toward the rumors circulating that a summer tour has been planned for former bandmates Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones? You be the judge of that. Management and the artists themselves when approached have denied everything thus far.

In the past, "On This Day In Led Zeppelin History" has been very vocal in presenting the history of reunion rumors, none of which came to fruition. Review the Aug. 28 and Oct. 14 editions in 2002 for examples. However, it is some kind of a logical fallacy to suggest that just because something has never happened before, it will never happen in the future.

Kevin Shirley suggested last year that Led Zeppelin fans should be prepared with "a DVD player and a real 5.1 system." Perhaps the same fans should also start saving up some extra money just in case any official announcements regarding a summer 2003 reunion tour are made anytime soon.