Sunday, January 27, 2008

Article on "The New Yardbirds"

The day we picked up our tickets to the Led Zeppelin reunion, my brother and I had dinner and drinks at an "American" restaurant at the 02 arena. We ended up sitting, and chatting, next to a couple from Denmark. He was The New Yardbirds tour manager during their first Scandinavian tour in 1968 and the second tour, as Led Zeppelin this time, in 1969.

Recently he sent me an article about that first tour from a website called Teenclubs:

http://www.teenclubs.dk/Led_Zeppelins_first_gig_UK_version.html

If you look down the right hand side bar, you will notice a small article on Jerry Ritz, our friend from the 02, and his wife Annie:

When 20,000 people gathered in London's 02 Arena on 10 December 2007 to witness Led Zeppelin's first concert since 1980 it is a qualified guess that only 5 of those 20,000 also were present at the very first concert in Gladsaxe. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones were there of course; but then there was also Jerry Ritz and his wife Annie.

Annie and Jerry were among the lucky few to win the right to buy tickets for the London concert. And nothing could be more appropriate. Back in 1968 Jerry was working for Bendix Music and was the tour manager for Led Zeppelin during their Scandinavian Tours in 1968 and 1969.

Jerry met Annie in Gladsaxe Teen Club in 1968 where she was one of the voluntary staff members. They have stayed together ever since and were married in 1972. It all started - like for Led Zeppelin - in Gladsaxe Teen Club!

Also on the page is a copy of the contract from the Gladsaxe Teen Club on Sept 7, 1968.

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