Led Zeppelin's Last Flight - July 7, 1980

Thirty one years ago Jimmy Page stepped on stage at the Eissporthalle in Berlin dressed in a grey suit and black shirt with a black scarf draped around him. He stepped on his wah-wah peddle and played the train whistle intro to Train Kept a Rollin'.



Led Zeppelin played a 14 song, 144 minute set for the 6,000 German fans, the last show on their Over Europe 1980 tour. It turned out to be Led Zeppelin's last show.

The concert featured a 14 minute version of Stairway to Heaven, with Page playing one of the longest solos he ever played on that song. The band also did extended jams on Trampled Underfoot and Whole Lotta Love.



Set list - Led Zeppelin, July 7, 1980. Berlin, Germany

1. Train Kept a Rollin'


2. Nobody's Fault But Mine


3. Out on the Tiles Intro/Black Dog


4. In The Evening


5. The Rain Song


6. Hot Dog


7. All My Love


8. Trampled Underfoot


9. Since I've Been Loving You


10. White Summer-Black Mountain Side/Kashmir


11. Stairway to Heaven


12. Rock and Roll


13. Whole Lotta Love

Dave Lewis of Tight But Loose has just released a new book on the Led Zeppelin Over Europe, 1980 tour, called Feather in the Wind - Over Europe 1980. It is chock full of information and pictures. The book is a must read for Zeppelin fans, as it fills in the story of that last, vastly underreported tour.

Feather in the Wind - Over Europe 1980 can be ordered from the Tight But Loose website, and can't be recommended enough.

Led Zeppelin Over Europe

31 Years ago today, Led Zeppelin began what would be there last tour, Over Europe 1980.  Some people through the years have referred to it as a warm up tour , before embarking on America later in the year.

[caption id="attachment_1267" align="alignright" width="214" caption="Led Zeppelin Feather in the Wind - Over Europe 1980"][/caption]

That's not true, it was more a case of Led Zeppelin testing the waters, seeing what they still had. America in the fall would be decided at the end of the tour, not going in.

Tight But Loose editor/writer/publisher/head cook Dave Lewis has a new book on the 1980 tour, Feather in the Wind - Over Europe 1980. It is a comprehensive examination of the most under reported tour of Led Zeppelin's career. I'm currently enjoying the book, albeit too slowly during a busy patch. I expect to have a full review by next weekend. Meanwhile, click the link above to buy a copy of Feather in the Wind.

Here's what Dave had to say about Dortmund, Germany on June 17, 1980:

A vibrant opening night. The band sounded well rehearsed, delivering a fiery compact performance - the shortest of the tour.... The surprises include  the recall for Train Kept a Rollin'  as set opener (performed live by Zep for the first time since September 2nd, 1970) and Jimmy introducing Black Dog...

Hot Dog features a Page solo very similar to the album version and the premiere live performance of All My Love impresses....

Here's All My Love from Dortmund, Germany June 17, 1980: