The rehearsal is a full production rehearsal, meaning you get the entire show, with complete setlist, lights and back-screen video.The bonus disc is worth watching for any Zep fan for a couple of reasons. First, it is a single camera shot so, unlike the actual concert DVD, you get to watch the show from the vantage point of the audience as it would have been witnessed on the night. To see what is happening on the back-screen, get Page's violin bow solo, complete with laser pyramid, is worth the watch. In case you didn't get the idea of how much work went into the one time show from the concert video, the rehearsal video makes it clear.
The second reason to watch the rehearsal video is the music itself. The band is relaxed and their playing superb. Page's soloing is a lot more aggressive, and they pull off some stunning versions of the songs, notably Since I've Been Loving You and For Your Life.
It's not the concert video, itself absolutely superb, but the video of the rehearsal at Shepperton Studio's four days before Led Zeppelin went live for their heralded reunion concert is worth making sure you've spent the extra few dollars when you pick up a copy of Celebration Day for the Zeppelin fan on your Christmas list.
is a fairly comprehensive Jimmy Page biography told mostly in Page's own words. Each chapter presents Page in interview form talking about a point in his career: studio, Yardbirds, forming Zeppelin &tc. Each chapter is introduced by Tolinski, and supplemented with an interview with a relevant figure from the era. i.e. Jeff Beck on the early days; John Paul Jones on forming Zeppelin; Paul Rogers on The Firm.
, and loving it it, at the movie theaters, I wasn't expecting any surprises watching it at home on 
. 
tells the story of Led Zeppelin via the voices of those that were there. 
. My buddy I drive with is napping in the passenger seat and as we get to work he says, “what are we listening to?”
for the Led Zeppelin stories. Miller has been a staple of the New York radio waves since the early 70's, founded the much copied radio format Get The Led Out and was for her entire career the go-to Led Zeppelin DJ in New York. Her book would have, one could be sure, lots of Stories of debauchery and mayhem from backstage at Madison Square Garden, no doubt.
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On their first album influences were obvious and threaded throughout the album. AC/DC, Bad Company, The Who and Iron Maiden where all out front. This time there is much less sounding like other bands, much more development of their own sound. Oh sure, the keyboard and guitar break in The Outsider is pure Yes, and the guitar lick in Faithless is so very close to Alice Cooper’s Devil’s Food. But they are the exception, and BCC2 sounds instead like Black Country Communion. In fact, the Yes style break in the albums first song, The Outsider, announce something is different in this album: keyboard player Derek Sherinian is going to be much more up front.
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During Thank You home movies were playing, likely the summer of 1980 vacation that Jason Bonham has mentioned in a few interviews. At one point, John Bonham is looking at the camera, filling the scene, for about ten seconds. During the songs quietest moment, Stephen LeBlanc quietly filling the air with organ and James Dylan plaintfully singing, “and so today my world it smiles, your hand in mine we walk the miles.” John Bonham looks down, Godlike from overhead, touches his thumb to his nose and wiggles his fingers mockingly.
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I woke up this morning with a part of a song stuck in my head. I had listened to Black Country Communion’s debut CD three times yesterday. Before the CD arrived in my mailbox Friday, I had heard two songs: One Last Soul was released as a single and The Great Divide was released as a video. It is the latter song I can’t shake today. Specifically, it is the part of the song when the band comes out of the chorus: they have built up to a great crescendo, Glenn Hughes voice straining, Marshalls at 11 and they transition to guitarist Joe Bonamassa coming in with a tasty little guitar lick, bringing the band back down a notch. It is such a sweet, melodic little line: one of those moments when the music seems to sigh.
Black Country Communion wears their influences on their sleeve, too often and too obviously to be accidental. Song of Yesterday, sounds like Bad Company (the song), with Glenn Hughes doing an admirable Paul Rogers. Black Country (again, the song) is all Iron Maiden, Sista Jane runs like an AC/DC song, until it is Won’t Get Fooled Again: Sherinian riding the keyboards, Bonham sounding more like Kenny Jones than Kieth Moon. There is a hint of The Doors, a bit of Heartbreaker, Jaime’s Cryin, even a touch of King Crimson. While Stand sounds too close to Deep Purple’s Space Truckin’, Down Again may be the best Deep Purple song Glenn Hughes ever recorded.
At the outset, I’d like to make a few things clear. I am no fan of what Robert Plant has done the last number of years. Moreover, I have not been impressed with the direction he has taken his music the last number of albums.
Upon listening to Them Crooked Vultures debut release, the comparisons are begging to be searched out, but the search bears little fruit.
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