I'll tell you why I don't think this is LA in May of 1973, but do think it's New York in July 1973: John Paul Jones is missing his mustache from the early part of the 1973 US Tour. All you need to look at are the pictures from Kezar Stadium in San Francisco from June 2, 1973, and compare them to these shots. I don't think JPJ grew that mustache in 2-3 days. Also, check out other photos of Jonesy from Tampa (May 5) or New Orleans (May 14)...he has the mustache. As we know from the movie, he didn't have facial hair for the closing three nights in MSG that July. These photos have to be taken in New York.

Three Canadien dates (Toronto on Apr 1st, Montreal on Apr 3 & 4) were postponed on Mar 4th (the death of Karac Plant in July ruled out any chance of rescheduling). Thanks Steve. These Canadien dates are a mystery now, in a sense. If they were postponed on March 4, I wonder if they ever had plans to reschedule them? I mean, they started the third leg of the tour in Seattle on July 17, yet never rescheduled these Canadien dates. They certainly rescheduled other shows after postponing them: everything in your list plus dates like Tempe, Arizona (originally March 6, rescheduled to July 20) and San Diego (originally March 8, rescheduled to June 19). I wonder if there was a conflict/rift between Zep/Peter Grant/Canadien promoters? Seems like an awfully long time passed for the opportunity to reschedule these Canadien dates, before Robert's son's tragic death on July 26.

Hi Steve, Did Zep ever consider any warm up dates in Europe (or anywhere else for that matter) prior to the start of the 1977 US Tour? Even before Robert contracted laryngitis? They had been off the road for 2 years, and one would think that like the 75 US tour, where they hadn't played in 18 months yet warmed up in Europe (Amsterdam and Brussels), they would have done one or two shows before the start of the 77 tour. They did two warm up dates in Copenhagen in 79 before Knebworth, and even on the 72 US tour, they did Amsterdam and Brussels prior. Just surprised they wouldn't have done a show or two in Europe before heading to the US in 1977, given the almost 2 years gap between live performances. But, maybe they planned to, before Robert lost his voice?

Hi Steve, I don't think this has been covered before in this thread: I got to thinking about all the well documented bad Zeppelin live shows in America (Greensboro 75, Tempe 77 as examples), but I don't think I have ever seen anything written about what would be considered bad Zeppelin shows performed in England? What are your thoughts? Were there any considered to be bad live shows? I wouldn't think so, other than maybe the second Knebworth show, since Zep toured England when they were at the top of their game, and only had the two live shows in England post Earls Court 1975.

Hi Steve, I don't think this was covered before in this great thread: I'm curious about the details surrounding the 1971 European Spring "Tour". The parenthesis on "Tour" is due to the fact that the only documented shows were: May 3 - Copenhagen, Denmark May 10 - Liverpool, England (rescheduled date from March 16 "Back to the Clubs" tour dates in England) July 5 - Milan, Italy - imfamous riot show cut short I suppose we could add the two Montreaux, Switzerland dates in early August, but I think those were more warm up dates for the US tour later that month. This "tour" and timeframe is so compelling, based on the experimental phase the band were in on stage, as noted by the legendary Copenhagen show. It's chronicled that Jimmy was awaiting the birth of Scarlet during this time, and the band were working on mixing the fourth album, so that certainly influenced dates booked. But, do we really know if Peter Grant planned a mini tour (ala 1980 for example)? So, the mysteries of this "tour" are: What were the actual tour stops planned (cities, dates)? Did they in fact solidify dates, then cancel any of these dates? Were there any shows actually played outside of these three dates? Were the band just as experimental in trying out new, never played live songs at Liverpool and Milan (and other other possible shows confirmed), as they were in Copenhagen (although Milan was cut short, due to the rioting)?

Hi Steve, Two part question...my apologies if this has been covered in this thread previously: Did Zep ever do any soundchecks prior to any of their European tour dates in the summer of 1980? As a result if they did (which always seemed to be a source for writing new material for whatever album was next), did they have anything ready for the new album that Jimmy said he and Bonzo discussed (would be a heavier, rocky sounding album folllowing In Through The Out Door)? I think the riff to Midnight Moonlight off the Firm's debut album was originally conceived during this time frame, but am unaware of any other material written during this time (unless I remember Jimmy saying the riff for "Shake my Tree" off the Coverdale/Page album was also conceived during this time). Thanks.

Thank you for starting this thread Steve!!! My second favorite thread next to the Mysteries thread in the Main Forum!!! The picture I was wondering about is when you open ledzeppelin.com right now, get Good Times Bad Times on audio, get the wonderful images Sam has put together of early photos of each band member, and the telegram. At the end though, is a live concert photo. Is that possibly from the first date played at the Marquee in London in December 1968? I hadn't seen that photo before, until Sam posted it. Great early picture!!!

Thanks Badgeholder! What a bargain for $10.50! Also noted on your ticket it was scheduled to start at 12:30! Wonder if there were to be a few opening acts prior to Zepp coming on (i.e. Oakland Day on the Green '77: Judas Priest, Rick Derringer). Regardless, a rare "Good afternoon" concert!

When they arrived in Montreux they already knew they'd be right back on tour the following month as you indicated above. The dates for that North American tour were announced on July 7th, and roughly ten days rehearsal were scheduled to be held in France from August 10-20. Of course, all of the dates as well as the rehearsals were cancelled following the Plant's car crash in Rhodes on August 4. As a by the way, Jimmy had flown to Sicily on August 3rd. Hey Steve, Very interesting point you made above, referencing my question to you a couple weeks ago about Zep being asked to play Montreaux in the summer of 1975. Your partial answer above in laying out Zep's 1975 summer timeline had me thinking: have you ever seen pictures/copies of actual Zep concert tickets for the Fall 1975 tour? I never have, yet it reminds of the tickets that were printed in Chicago for the 1980 US tour that were never used for obvious reasons (and the tickets can be seen in Dave Lewis's book, "The Concert File"). Given your timeline above, you would think that tickets for the first announced US dates would have been printed and possibly distributed, since it was 6 weeks between the announcement of the Fall US Tour dates and the first scheduled date in Oakland, California. Were tickets ever printed, and have you seen pictures or actual copies of any tickets from these Fall 1975 US dates (Oakland, Tempe, Denver, Kansas City, etc...)?

Infosar as the Montreux Jazz Festival the timing was usually off as that event is normally held annually in June/July; in 73 they were on tour, '74 on break, '75 in tax exile status, '76 on break, '77 on tour, 78 on hiatus, '79 preparing for Copenhagen and Knebworth, '80 on tour. They did of course stay with Claude in '75, during which time they all attended the festival. JPJ performed with Etta James (July 11) and Maria Muhldar (July 20). Bonzo went with him to watch Count Basie in a jam session and they met drummer Mitch Miles (July 19).

I thought I read somewhere that the original statement was: "In between last time we came and this time we've managed to get an album out with a proper title...Shurrup (Shut Up) called Houses of The Holy", or something close to that. In production, they cut the "with a proper title...Shurrup". I've never heard the soundclip though.

Hi Steve, BBC Sessions: March 69 June 69 April 71 Montreux: March 70 Aug 71 Oct 72 Did either entity approach Peter Grant for Zep to once again record/play following their last live appearance at each location?

Hi Steve, Another anniversary question for you. Coming up on the 30th anniversary of the Melody Maker poll awards, where the mighty Zep collected 7 awards in 1979: Top Band Best Album (ITTOD) Top Guitarist Top Male Singer Top Producer Top Live Act Top Composer My question is, were there any other catgories that they were nominated for yet didn't win? Obvious are Top Drummer and Top Bass Player (unbelievable!). Really an amazing achievement regardless, having been out of the spotlight the two previous years.

Hi Steve, With another great 40th Led Zep anniversary approaching, the release of Led Zep 2, I am thinking about the band's stated distaste of Livin' Lovin' Maid. Because they have vocally expressed a number of times how they don't like the track, why do you think they decided to keep it on the finished album? It has always flowed nicely after Heartbreaker, but I guess I'm really wondering of other possible alternatives? Were there any tracks left in the can during the recording of Zep 2? I know it was such a vagabond album for them, constantly recording on the road, between performances, etc..., so there may not have been additional recordings beyond the tracks that make up the album. I think the only possible track recorded during that time frame was We're Gonna Groove (June 1969). Conceivably, I could see that opening side 2, and going straight into Heartbreaker. But perhaps the song's sound doesn't quite fit Zep 2. Given the band's dislike of Livin' Lovin' Maid, I find it a mystery that they kept it on Zep 2. And, outside of We're Gonna Groove, were there other tracks recorded during that period? I seem to recall the possibility of Sugar Mama, but nothing confirmed. What do you think?

Hi Steve, I just noticed something that I never really paid attention to before: 29 years ago today, Peter Grant announces the first run of dates for Led Zep The 80's Tour - Part 1. The dates and cities announced: Montreal - October 17 Landover, Maryland (Washington, DC) - October 19, 20 Philadelphia - October 22 Landover, Maryland (Washington DC) - October 23 Richfield, Ohio (Cleveland)- October 26, 27 Detroit - October 29, 30 Buffalo - November 1 Philadelphia - November 3, 4 Pittsburgh - November 6, 7 St. Paul, Minnesota (Minneapolis)- November 9 Chicago - November 10, 12, 13, 15 Now, we know Robert's condition was no more than 30 days in America, and band touring policy at that time was 2 days on, then one day off. Peter's initial plan was to cover the East and Midwest (hence Part 1), then return to America in Spring 1981 to cover the South and West. So here's my question/mystery: why wasn't New York included in these inital run of dates? I find this strange that their second home and one of their strongest US markets wasn't included in Part 1's itinerary. Most major cities of Peter's Part 1 strategy were covered (I suppose St. Louis and Indianapolis could have part of the East Coast/Midwest coverage), and certainly Peter made a nice effort to include the key cities that were aborted late in the 1977 US tour (Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia), but why not New York? Especially when they had two venue options in Madison Square Garden and Uniondale in Long Island. Feasibly, I thought that with this itinerary, they might have added New York right at the end of Chicago, as the last stop before flying back to England (although they could really only perform one or two dates if Robert was firm on the 30 day rule). I guess they could have visited New York on Part 2, but given Peter's strategy, it seems more fitting for them to add to Part 1. What are your thoughts?

Hi Steve, Nearing the 30th anniversary of the release of In Through the Out Door, one mystery I'm wondering about is the Stockholm recorded song that was labeled "Hook". Has that mystery ever been solved as to what exactly that song is? We know that besides the finished album, the other tracks recorded at ABBA's studio were Ozone Baby, Darlene and Wearing and Tearing (all of which appeared on Coda). Besides "Hook", could there have been other tracks recorded, that haven't seen the light of day yet?

Hey Steve, Thought of another mystery for you to solve: on the '77 US tour, the boys had only 13 dates left in America, when the tour was aborted due to the death of Robert's son. In everything I have read about this tour, I never saw any activity planned after the American tour finished. One would think that Swan Song would have announced other live dates, since the US tour was almost completed (Europe, UK, Japan, etc. Also, they did have the US stadium tour planned in August and September of 1975, before the car accident in Rhodes). If no dates, perhaps they were to record a new album? Were there any official plans announced for what was to follow the US dates in '77? Thanks. Also, were you able to dig out your 1970 Iceland concert review in the magazine you had stored? You mentioned in your previous post that perhaps that article had listed more songs played at that show than just Dazed (as we know from the DVD).

Alright, I have sat on the sidelines too long to not participate. Two mystery questions, totally unrelated: The concert in Iceland: June 22, 1970. Transitional show between Phoenix, Arizona in April that year and Bath six days after Iceland. Between the DVD footage, and the posted 1970 Plant interview in what appears to be his hotel room, as well as the Plant interview when he was there a couple of years ago, for the first time since his 1970 Zeppelin visit, do we have any indication what the 1970 set list was for this show, besides Dazed? The 1970 Interviewer asked Plant if they would perform any new songs, and he said maybe. Then, on the recent Plant trip and interview, he said he wrote the lyrics to Immigrant Song while in Iceland (meaning, the May 1970 Island Sessions didn't produce this number, I guess. Maybe they recorded it after Bath, before/after the German tour). Given that they opened with Groove in Phoenix, then opened with Immigrant at Bath, I wonder if they opened with Immigrant in Iceland, and if the set list leaned more towards the Bath set list than Phoenix set list? You recently posted a thread about Jimmy throwing Charlotte a birthday party on 9/20/80, and it got me thinking about Bonham's last days. Any documantation of what he did in August and September, after the European Tour and before his untimely departure? Go on Holiday in August somewhere? Did he go to Charlotte's Birthday party on 9/20 (were Plant and Jones invited)? Were there any photos taken at the 9/24 rehearsal? Last Bonham published photos taken? What Zep songs did they rehearse on 9/24 before calling it an early night? Thanks Steve! Really enjoy this thread and your excellent knowledge and insight!