"New" Gonzaga University Concert

On December 30, 1968 Led Zeppelin played "an unscheduled appearance on an off night at Gonzaga University in Washington," (Reddon, Frank : Sonic Boom: The Impact of Led Zeppelin. Vol. 1: Break and Enter. 2008. Enzepplopedia Publishing Inc. p. 431). In his interview with Don Fitzpatrick, the promoter of the Gonzaga gig, Reddon mentions the bootleg recording of the show. Fitzpatrick replies:

I remember there were folks who brought reel-to-reel tape recorders into the Pavilion and asked  if they could plug into the gymnasiums electrical outlets. Back in those days, they didn't have the rules they have today about recording the concert or taking photographs (ibid. pg 165).

Frank cites this interview as being from January 1998, and Don Fitzpatrick passed away in April 2006. The dates are important. Led Zeppelin's performance at the Kennedy Pavilion at Gonzaga University was their 5th US appearance. Opening for Vanilla Fudge, Led Zeppelin was billed at Len Zefflin in the local Spokesman Review.

Recently, it has been reported, originally by the blog The Metal Den (TMD) that some two year old videos on YouTube were "unearthed." In fairness to TMD, they never says the videos are new, just that they unearthed them. However, the ambiguous language resulted in a rash of stories suggesting this was new music. It's one thing for Music for Perfect People to report verbatim what TMD reported, but it seems another thing entirely when a respectable music site like AntiMusic or a magazine such as NME does it. NME's reportage, considering their reputation in music journalism, may be the most egregious:

Rare clips of Led Zeppelin's earliest known live recordings have surfaced online.

Three audio clips have emerged on YouTube featuring live recordings from the band's first tour of America from their fifth US show at Gonzaga Uiversity in Washington on December 30, 1968.

Not just wrong, but completely without credit to TMD.

Put on YouTube on December 30, 2007, the three clips are audio only of three Led Zeppelin songs, How Many More Times, Dazed and Confused and I Can't Quit You Babe.

The band was reportedly in their cups when they arrived at the show, but they sound in fine form in the recording. The sound quality of the clips is not bad, considering some kid plugged in a tape recorder in the back of the room in 1968. Here they are below.

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.

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.