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Robert Plant - Pre-Zep History


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Because s/he was asking about Robert's early band whose name is often cited as "Hobbstweedle" (though as part of the thread discusses, the spelling is inaccurate). The thread then evolved to discuss Robert's early career generally, then Blocoboy arrived with all this great info.

:slapface: oops, i was thinking that blocoboy was the original poster, and thought it was odd that he titled it wrongly. never mind, i need sleep.

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:slapface: oops, i was thinking that blocoboy was the original poster, and thought it was odd that he titled it wrongly. never mind, i need sleep.

I wanted to find some info about the Crawling King Snakes so I thought I'd check on the official Led Zep site and found this thread..I was suprised to find that their is little or no stuff about Rob3erts early career.

I don't know how much of the stuff I have has been seen before so If it is old hat just tell me.

Here's an interesting item from the Walsall Observer dated 25th November 1966.

Please excuse the quaility of the pic (I think it's well known though).The pic and article belong to each other.

bahamas006.jpg

The following article is worth a read.

walslisten001.jpg

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I wanted to find some info about the Crawling King Snakes so I thought I'd check on the official Led Zep site and found this thread..I was suprised to find that their is little or no stuff about Rob3erts early career.

I don't know how much of the stuff I have has been seen before so If it is old hat just tell me.

Here's an interesting item from the Walsall Observer dated 25th November 1966.

Please excuse the quaility of the pic (I think it's well known though).The pic and article belong to each other.

bahamas006.jpg

The following article is worth a read.

walslisten001.jpg

WOW, Blocoboy, thanks so much for the article. I find the last paragraph very interesting: the names of the band members, Robert is listed as Rob3ert Lee. I've never read that he used any other name other than his actual name, Plant. Great info!

Edited by lynn
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I wanted to find some info about the Crawling King Snakes so I thought I'd check on the official Led Zep site and found this thread..I was suprised to find that their is little or no stuff about Rob3erts early career.

The following article is worth a read.

...Thanks for the amazing historic pieces...I like what Robert said in the article...we are always searching for something....Robert, keep it going just like that, there is no stopping you!!!

a bit more on Sonny Boy Williamson

"On 1965 Sonny Boy Williamson played in Birmingham and Robert Plant stole an Harmonica ,to entry in "phisycal contact" with his idol."

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseact...logId=220528794

http://books.google.ca/books?id=1Mdf4BOnI9...num=4#PPA104,M1

Edited by PlanetPage
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Then years later he visited Sonny Boy's grave in Tutwiler, MS, not long before I drove past it. All these connections everywhere. :D

...that is very interesting sighting. Both Robert and Jimmy were very lucky to share music with him...he died shortly after that in 1965....RIP Sonny Boy Williams........

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I'd hazard a guess it was a homage to John Lee Hooker who I think wrote Crawling King Snake,but thats just a guess.

I was going to guess Arthur Lee, but again just a guess. Thanks for posting all of this great stuff.
'Crawlin' King Snake' credited written and first recorded performance 18-2-49 Detroit,John Lee Hooker.He had relocated from Memphis and earlier from Clarksdale,his birthplace (8-22-1917).
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I wanted to find some info about the Crawling King Snakes so I thought I'd check on the official Led Zep site and found this thread..I was suprised to find that their is little or no stuff about Rob3erts early career.

Just curious -- did you ever find any info on the Crawling King Snakes or any of the other bands that Plant supposedly played in:

- Andy Long and the Original Jaymen (Jury Men??)

- The Delta Blues Band

- Black Snake Moan

- Sounds Of Blue (with Chris Wood??)

- New Memphis Bluesbreakers

- The Tennessee Teens (supposedly the original name for Listen)

- The Banned

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Just curious -- did you ever find any info on the Crawling King Snakes or any of the other bands that Plant supposedly played in:

- Andy Long and the Original Jaymen (Jury Men??)

- The Delta Blues Band

- Black Snake Moan

- Sounds Of Blue (with Chris Wood??)

- New Memphis Bluesbreakers

- The Tennessee Teens (supposedly the original name for Listen)

- The Banned

I haven't looked to be honest..I was looking for some 'Nbetweens/Steve Brett and the Mavericks stuff and saw a late 1965 Kings Snake gig at one of Ma Regans venues..it intrigued me so I thought I'd have a look what was on t'internet which led me here.

I'll make a note of the groups listed..are their any of them that can be identified as definitely having Rob3ert play in them.

"You Better Run " has an interesting story and I have a couple of articles that compliment the one I posted earlier..my usual question..is their any interest or am I just repeating a previously covered topic.

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I haven't looked to be honest..I was looking for some 'Nbetweens/Steve Brett and the Mavericks stuff and saw a late 1965 Kings Snake gig at one of Ma Regans venues..it intrigued me so I thought I'd have a look what was on t'internet which led me here.

I'll make a note of the groups listed..are their any of them that can be identified as definitely having Rob3ert play in them.

"You Better Run " has an interesting story and I have a couple of articles that compliment the one I posted earlier..my usual question..is their any interest or am I just repeating a previously covered topic.

Much interest in the articles!!! Post away please :)

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I'll make a note of the groups listed..are their any of them that can be identified as definitely having Rob3ert play in them.

Black Snake Moan - Plant's first major band c. 1964/65. But I don't think they did very many formal gigs.

The Banned - Plant was with them sometime before joining the Crawling King Snakes c. 1965.

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This is what I show so far, pending incorporation of this thread's most recent posts:

1962

??? ?? 1962 Swanlicote, England Ice skating rink (venue name unconfirmed)

Plant's first public performance…fills in for a school friend who fell ill the night of the show

Source: Robert Plant interview published in 'The Times' on Jul 9 2002. See first

entry for 1963...perhaps Robert was kidding or his recollection is inaccurate?

1963

??? ?? 1963 Leicester, England

Plant fills in on lead for Andy Long & The Original Jurymen (Andy had laryngitis)

Source: The book 'A Thunder of Drums' cites this as his first public performance

Source: During a BBC Radio 2 interview in 2003, Plant said this was his first

local gig and that it was held at his school...'Power & Glory' by Chris Welch also

addresses this...in either case it would seem Leicester is incorrect

??? (May ?) ?? 1963 ???, England Established Owl

Plant opens for Gene Vincent

Source: Robert's comments at SXSW in March 2005

Plant continued to perform other dates in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with the New Memphis Bluesbreakers in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with the Brum Beats in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with the Sounds of Blue in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

1964

??? ?? 1964 Stourbridge, England Seven Stars Blues Club

Plant performs on harmonica with the Delta Blues Band

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Note: During a BBC Radio 2 interview in 2003, Plant said Delta Blues Band

traveled in a van owned by one of their fathers who was a window cleaner...

...'Power & Glory' by Chris Welch also addresses this)

Plant then performed a stint with his first band which he named Black Snake Moan after a Blind Lemon Jefferson track (he is occasionally the guitarist) (1964)

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with jazz-influenced The Banned (in 1964 or early '65)

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums', 'Power & Glory'

1965

Plant performs for some time with The Crawling King Snakes during which time John Bonham joins

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

1966

Plant joins three-piece, Tamla Motown influenced group The Tennessee Teens which prompts their name change to Listen

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums', 'Power & Glory'

??? ?? 1966 London, England Leicester Square Cavern

Source: 'Classic Rock' (June 2002)

April 2 1966 Walsall, England Walsall Town Hall

Listen billed with Walker's Walkers

Source: Advert published in 'Walsall Observer' (Apr 1 1966)

Autumn '66 Wolverhampton, England Civic Hall

Billed as Listen below Cream and Slade

Source: 'Feathers in the Wind' (Winter '84)

Oct 14, 1966 Birmingham, England Bent-Jade Club

Billed as Listen

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Oct 15, 1966 Birmingham, England Crofton Club

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Oct 20, 1966 Willenhall, England Willenhall Baths Assembly Hall

Listen billed with The In Betweens and The Factotums as support for The Cream

Source: Advert in 'Wolverhampton Express & Star (Oct 18 1966)

1967

Wolverhampton, England The Ship & Rainbow

The Band of Joy begin a Sunday night residency arranged thru Nita Anderson Presentations

Source: 'Power & Glory'

??? ?? 1967 Snow Hill, Birmingham, England The Penthouse

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: 'Power & Glory'

??? ?? 1967

Robert Plant and his Band of Joy, Terry Reid and Tim Rose perform on the same bill…Reid and Plant get on very well socially and Reid recommends him to Page a year later

Source: Plant comments during 'Innerview' radio interview w/Jim Ladd in 1982

??? ?? 1967 Ayr, Scotland Ayr Ice Rink

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Plant interview in Sunday Mail (Oct 23 2005)

??? ?? 1967 Kircaldy, Scotland YMCA

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Plant interview in Sunday Mail (Oct 23 2005)

Nov (?) 13 1967 Barnstaple, England Queens Hall

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 15 1967 Wolverhampton, England Blue Horizon Club

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 16 1967 Newcastle, England Crystal Ballroom

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 16 1967 Hanley, England Penny-Farthing Club

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 18 1967 Gainsborough, England Drill Hall

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 20 1967 Dudley, Birmingham, England Queen Mary Ballroom

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Dec 15 1967 Basingstoke, England Basingstoke Technical College - St. Joseph's Hall

Billed as Robert Plant and Band of Joy…Christmas Dance 8pm - 1am…billed between The Loot and The Kynd

Source: ticket stub

1968

Jan 26 1968 Covent Garden, London, England Middle Earth

Billed as Robert Plant's Band of Joy billed below Fairport Convention and along with Pegasus, The Flute Girl, Jeff Dexter

Source: 'The Lemon Tree (Dec 1994)

Feb 8 1968 London, England Marquee Club

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Edwin Starr, The J.J. Sound

Source: 'The Lemon Tree' (Dec 1994)

Feb 23 1968 London, England Marquee Club

Billed as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy

Source: 'Led Zeppelin -The Press Reports'

??? ?? 1968 London, England The Speakeasy

Billed as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy

Source: 'Power & Glory' & 'Guitar World' (May 2006)

Mar (?) ??-?? 1968

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy begin a tour of England as support for Tim Rose

Source: 'The Guardian' (June 5th 2002) (reader's letter)

Mar ?? 1968 Chester, England Quaintways

Billed as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy below Tim Rose

Source: 'Power & Glory'

Mar 8 1968 Hampstead, England Westfield College - Dining Hall / Bar

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Tim Rose; billed with Aynsley Dunbar, Retaliation featuring Victor Brox, Go-Go Dancers

Source: 'The Lemon Tree' (Dec 1994)

Mar 10 1968 Erdington, Birmingham, England Carlton Club

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Zoot Money

Source: 'The Lemon Tree' (Dec 1994)

??? ?? 1968 Buxton, England

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Terry Reid (who watches their set and phones Page the next day)

Source: Terry Reid interview in 'Record Collector' (July 1991)

Plant gigs at a flew club dates with Alexis Korner before the formation of Obs Tweedle

Source: 'A Thunder of Drums'

Jul 20 1968 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England

Page, Peter Grant, and bassist Chris Dreja meet Robert Plant at the door of the venue and watch his performance with Obs Tweedle

Source: Multiple recollections substantiated by advert for the gig

Source: Plant's comments during interview with Chris Tetley in early '80s

Plant's comments during SXSW in March 2005

Peter Grant's comments during conference in Toronto in 1994

Dreja's comments in 'Yardbirds - The Ultimate Rave-Up! 3rd edition

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This is what I show so far, pending incorporation of this thread's most recent posts:

1962

??? ?? 1962 Swanlicote, England Ice skating rink (venue name unconfirmed)

Plant's first public performance…fills in for a school friend who fell ill the night of the show

Source: Robert Plant interview published in 'The Times' on Jul 9 2002. See first

entry for 1963...perhaps Robert was kidding or his recollection is inaccurate?

1963

??? ?? 1963 Leicester, England

Plant fills in on lead for Andy Long & The Original Jurymen (Andy had laryngitis)

Source: The book 'A Thunder of Drums' cites this as his first public performance

Source: During a BBC Radio 2 interview in 2003, Plant said this was his first

local gig and that it was held at his school...'Power & Glory' by Chris Welch also

addresses this...in either case it would seem Leicester is incorrect

??? (May ?) ?? 1963 ???, England Established Owl

Plant opens for Gene Vincent

Source: Robert's comments at SXSW in March 2005

Plant continued to perform other dates in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with the New Memphis Bluesbreakers in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with the Brum Beats in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with the Sounds of Blue in 1963

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

1964

??? ?? 1964 Stourbridge, England Seven Stars Blues Club

Plant performs on harmonica with the Delta Blues Band

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Note: During a BBC Radio 2 interview in 2003, Plant said Delta Blues Band

traveled in a van owned by one of their fathers who was a window cleaner...

...'Power & Glory' by Chris Welch also addresses this)

Plant then performed a stint with his first band which he named Black Snake Moan after a Blind Lemon Jefferson track (he is occasionally the guitarist) (1964)

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

Plant then performed a stint with jazz-influenced The Banned (in 1964 or early '65)

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums', 'Power & Glory'

1965

Plant performs for some time with The Crawling King Snakes during which time John Bonham joins

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums'

1966

Plant joins three-piece, Tamla Motown influenced group The Tennessee Teens which prompts their name change to Listen

Source: Book 'John Bonham -A Thunder of Drums', 'Power & Glory'

??? ?? 1966 London, England Leicester Square Cavern

Source: 'Classic Rock' (June 2002)

April 2 1966 Walsall, England Walsall Town Hall

Listen billed with Walker's Walkers

Source: Advert published in 'Walsall Observer' (Apr 1 1966)

Autumn '66 Wolverhampton, England Civic Hall

Billed as Listen below Cream and Slade

Source: 'Feathers in the Wind' (Winter '84)

Oct 14, 1966 Birmingham, England Bent-Jade Club

Billed as Listen

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Oct 15, 1966 Birmingham, England Crofton Club

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Oct 20, 1966 Willenhall, England Willenhall Baths Assembly Hall

Listen billed with The In Betweens and The Factotums as support for The Cream

Source: Advert in 'Wolverhampton Express & Star (Oct 18 1966)

1967

Wolverhampton, England The Ship & Rainbow

The Band of Joy begin a Sunday night residency arranged thru Nita Anderson Presentations

Source: 'Power & Glory'

??? ?? 1967 Snow Hill, Birmingham, England The Penthouse

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: 'Power & Glory'

??? ?? 1967

Robert Plant and his Band of Joy, Terry Reid and Tim Rose perform on the same bill…Reid and Plant get on very well socially and Reid recommends him to Page a year later

Source: Plant comments during 'Innerview' radio interview w/Jim Ladd in 1982

??? ?? 1967 Ayr, Scotland Ayr Ice Rink

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Plant interview in Sunday Mail (Oct 23 2005)

??? ?? 1967 Kircaldy, Scotland YMCA

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Plant interview in Sunday Mail (Oct 23 2005)

Nov (?) 13 1967 Barnstaple, England Queens Hall

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 15 1967 Wolverhampton, England Blue Horizon Club

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 16 1967 Newcastle, England Crystal Ballroom

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 16 1967 Hanley, England Penny-Farthing Club

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 18 1967 Gainsborough, England Drill Hall

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Nov 20 1967 Dudley, Birmingham, England Queen Mary Ballroom

Billed as Robert Plant and his Band of Joy

Source: Tight But Loose (Apr 1992)

Dec 15 1967 Basingstoke, England Basingstoke Technical College - St. Joseph's Hall

Billed as Robert Plant and Band of Joy…Christmas Dance 8pm - 1am…billed between The Loot and The Kynd

Source: ticket stub

1968

Jan 26 1968 Covent Garden, London, England Middle Earth

Billed as Robert Plant's Band of Joy billed below Fairport Convention and along with Pegasus, The Flute Girl, Jeff Dexter

Source: 'The Lemon Tree (Dec 1994)

Feb 8 1968 London, England Marquee Club

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Edwin Starr, The J.J. Sound

Source: 'The Lemon Tree' (Dec 1994)

Feb 23 1968 London, England Marquee Club

Billed as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy

Source: 'Led Zeppelin -The Press Reports'

??? ?? 1968 London, England The Speakeasy

Billed as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy

Source: 'Power & Glory' & 'Guitar World' (May 2006)

Mar (?) ??-?? 1968

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy begin a tour of England as support for Tim Rose

Source: 'The Guardian' (June 5th 2002) (reader's letter)

Mar ?? 1968 Chester, England Quaintways

Billed as Robert Plant and the Band of Joy below Tim Rose

Source: 'Power & Glory'

Mar 8 1968 Hampstead, England Westfield College - Dining Hall / Bar

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Tim Rose; billed with Aynsley Dunbar, Retaliation featuring Victor Brox, Go-Go Dancers

Source: 'The Lemon Tree' (Dec 1994)

Mar 10 1968 Erdington, Birmingham, England Carlton Club

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Zoot Money

Source: 'The Lemon Tree' (Dec 1994)

??? ?? 1968 Buxton, England

Robert Plant and the Band of Joy billed below Terry Reid (who watches their set and phones Page the next day)

Source: Terry Reid interview in 'Record Collector' (July 1991)

Plant gigs at a flew club dates with Alexis Korner before the formation of Obs Tweedle

Source: 'A Thunder of Drums'

Jul 20 1968 Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, England

Page, Peter Grant, and bassist Chris Dreja meet Robert Plant at the door of the venue and watch his performance with Obs Tweedle

Source: Multiple recollections substantiated by advert for the gig

Source: Plant's comments during interview with Chris Tetley in early '80s

Plant's comments during SXSW in March 2005

Peter Grant's comments during conference in Toronto in 1994

Dreja's comments in 'Yardbirds - The Ultimate Rave-Up! 3rd edition

Swanlicote is a mystery..probably Swadlincote in Derbyshire.

The Willenhall Baths and "Autumn 66" gigs are the same thing..it doesn't help that Slade didn't exist for another 3 years..the confusion is probably because the 'Nbetweens became Slade.

A couple of the venues listed are a bit strange.."Bent Jade" and the "Established Owl"?

Is the Bromsgrove July 20 1969 gig before or after the Walsall Teacher training gig?

Edited by Blocoboy
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"You Better Run" was released by Listen and The 'Nbetweens within a week of each other..The 'Nbetweens version made No 1 in the local charts..the Listen release appears to have vanished without trace despite their appearance at WH Smiths in Walsall...The 'Nbetweens did their record promo at Cliff and Halifax (a Wolverhampton record shop) who produced the local chart..which might explain something.

This is from the Wolverhampton Express and Star 24th November 1966-

listen005.jpg

This from the December 1966 issue of Midland Beat

listen001.jpg

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