Two Led Zeppelin Blogger’s are Walking Through Times Square...

Lemon Squeezing’s Steve, The Lemon, Sauer and I were walking through Times Square on Friday. We were heading towards downtown, going to Irving Plaza to see Get the Led Out, when we ran into Elmo. Little more will be said, except to note that one of us took an ass kicking, and Elmo is one smug red furry monster...

We took in a few Zep related sites, most notably 96-98 St. Mark’s Place, where we did pictures and had an organic, all natural iced tea at Physical GraffiTea.





When we got to Irving Plaza, Nech Tytla, the guru of FBO, was standing out front. His expected attendance was iffy due to some personal stuff, but he managed to get away for a few hours and we were glad to see him.



Backstage, I met Paul Hammond, who let me noodle on his Jimmy Page Signature Model Les Paul, a sweet guitar. When Jimmy Marchiano came in Paul introduced me. I had met Jimmy outside earlier in the afternoon, and we discussed Gold Top Les Paul’s as he and I both own one. “Yea, I know him,” Jimmy says. “He owns a ’79 Gold Top.” With a quick handshake and a smile, I knew I just met someone I liked.

We enjoyed the show from right up front (review to follow) and partied with what Steve described as a MILF. Myself, I later told my wife I met a Rachel: from Long Island, her light brown hair framed a pretty, roundish face. Definitely a Rachel, although until Friday it never occurred to me the Friends character was meant to be a type. Somedays I have so much to learn.

After, the first question Jimmy asked me was, "how did the Gold Top sound?"

“Pretty good,” I answered, but I really meant, 'F*#%ing amazing.'

The band played a solid set list, the only song missing that I was expecting was The Song Remains The Same, but I’ll take the addition of Night Flight to the set list as a trade off any time.



Highlights where watching Paul Hammond and his B-Bender on All My Love, due to which I missed most of the song, The Wanton Song, which is always a great live rocker, and the acoustic set. Kudo’s to singer Paul Sinclair’s girlfriend, Diana DeSantis, who nailed the Sandy Denny part in Battle of Evermore.

Any night in New York is a good night, but a hot New York night after getting an ass kicking from a guy in a puppet suit, Getting the Led Out and discussing the merits of JimmyPage.com over beers with a couple of guys who have met Jimmy Page, and have friends who are intimates. It simply doesn’t get better.

Happy Birthday Jason Bonham

Has it really been four years since Jason Bonham sat in his fathers stool, and kept the Led Zeppelin clock ticking?

Today is Jason Bonham's 45th birthday, a tribute to how old all of us are who remember him as a kid. And a birthday in Vienna with good bandmates, that can't be so bad.

Happy 45th birthday Jason Bonham, from one Zeppelin fan to another.

Jimmy Page at Shepherd's Bush

With just an hour to go until Jimmy Page was scheduled to launch his new website, JimmyPage.com, Page stepped out with The Black Crowes at Shepherd’s Bush O2.

Page came out for the last song and played the Elmore James classic, Shake Your Money Maker.

“The Crowes rocked tonight… Jimmy came on wearing roller skates!!” joked Peter Noble on his Facebook feed. “Amazing show.”

O2 Rehearsal MP3's Leaked

Leading up to the Dec 2007 Led Zeppelin reunion at the O2 arena in London, the members of Led Zeppelin met at the Shepperton studios, in the UK to rehearse. An MP3 version of four of the rehearsal songs has leaked online at The Big O Zine.

The four songs are Good Times, Bad Times, For Your Life, Since I've Been Loving You and Rock and Roll. On the Led Zeppelin newsgroup FBO, commentators have been mixed on the release. Some have commented on Jimmy Page's superior playing, John Paul Jones sounding strong. Others have noted that Robert Plant is not giving 100% (not uncommon for singers at rehearsal), and that Good Times, Bad Times and Rock and Roll are being played a key lower than originally recorded. For my money, all those comments are correct, but would add I don't like Jimmy Page's tone, especially on Good Times, Bad Times.

However, this is historically interesting and important archival material. Listen also for the harmony vocals on the chorus Good Times, Bad Times - Jason Bonham, perhaps?

The songs are currently only available on MP3, but are still well worth a listen for any Led Zeppelin fan.

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.

Limited Edition Robert Plant Print

St Pauls Gallery has made a print available of Robert Plant by former Wolverhampton Wanderer, Jody Craddock. The print by Craddock shows Plant on stage "using a monochrome colour path and soft atmospheric techniques."

The prints sells for £475 (US$775, €548, ¥63354) and can be ordered from St. Pauls Gallery.

Busy Weekend for John Paul Jones

John Paul Jones has been seen around town with his new BFF, Seasick Steve this weekend. On Saturday, Seasick Steve played the legendary Roundhouse as part of the iTunes festival.

Steve was joined on stage by Jones, Jack White and Alison Mosshart to play Write Me A Few Lines.



On Sunday, Jones and Seasick Steve turned up at Milton Keynes and joined the Foo Fighters onstage to play Steve's Back in the Doghouse.



Jones has joined Steve a number of times to play Back in the Doghouse, and other songs, lately, and Jones performed on the song on Seasick Steve's new album, You Can't Teach An Old Dog New Tricks.