Actually, SAJ, now that I think about it, in Page's early 1975 interview with William S. Burroughs, he admits he's never been to that country (yet). Could it be that the 1973 Moroccan trip that yielded "Kashmir" was taken by Plant alone (or at least without Page) during a break on the 1973 US tour? I remain, sir, your obt. srvt.

Right on. You've the map that led me to that place.

Interviewed for an essay in the 1990 LZ box set, Robert Plant talks about the lyrical inspiration for "Kashmir" coming to him while traveling in Morocco. However, most accounts of the band's Moroccan adventures center on Page and Plant's journey to that country in June of 1975, several months after Physical Graffiti was released. Are there contemporary references (interviews, articles, etc.) to RP's Morocco visit in 1973 or '74 that would corroborate his story of "Driving to Kashmir" while motoring between Tan-Tan and Guelemine? I suspect there might be some sort of quote found in MM, NME, Sounds, or a similar publication, but I haven't been able to dig anything up. Anyone else?

I can't post pics, but I'm thinking of two adjacent shots in one of the Physical Graffiti inner sleeves: third row down, between a zeppelin and a bodybuilder, and underneath Liz Taylor as Cleopatra and that weird hands-on-groin illustration. The two photos look like private snaps of band associates - but who? Ron Nevison? Keith Harwood? (They're not Danny Goldberg - he told me.) For those who can refer to their PG vinyl, any guesses? When your conscience hits, you knock it back with pills...

I see one of mine there - where the blonde is looking away from the bar - but I don't see any where the letter hasn't caught fire and the jukebox girl is peering straight over toward the customer. I just sent an e-mail to the Thorgerson website asking what he remembers of the project. I realize these are small details, but perhaps the "six different covers" story is more accurately described as "six different points of view," where multiple shots were taken (and printed) from each POV of the various "characters." There will now be a pause while I make breakfast for my daughters. They are only two and six years old and it's a real fine way to start.

Steve, my copy is "F." This has the bartender's view on one side and the jukebox girl's on the other. However, on mine the Dear John letter hasn't started burning yet and the jukebox girl is looking straight ahead rather than off to her left; likewise, on the reverse the (incidentally gorgeous) blond girl is looking off to her right rather than toward the bar. If I had a scanner and knew how to use it I'd post the covers, but I assure you these are the poses. My copy was purchased in about 1985 and the watercolor effect on the inner sleeve didn't work, so perhaps I only got a later print run where some different proofs were used; presumably more than just six photos were taken for the original shoot. I'm thinking of contacting Storm Thorgerson directly through his website to ask what he remembers of this project. Thanks as usual for your insights. I took her love at seventeen, a little late these days, it seems...

Thanks for that Swandown - staring me right in the face here on the site. Can't imagine why RP was given such a credit at all, but maybe he was once seen picking up a bass out of curiousity. Next mysteries: what's the Madonna & Child picture on one of the inner jackets of Physical Graffiti (third row down, between the Pear's Shaving soap ad and the bondage gear)? And if ITTOD supposedly came in six different covers, how come my vinyl copy shows the models in marginally altered positions than I've ever seen reproduced (the Dear John letter hasn't caught fire, and the girls are looking in different directions)? As you can see, I'm going way deep with some of these. Happy New Year, all. There was a time that I stood tall, in the eyes of other men...

My link

Wait, I'll try again...

Here's a pic of the LZIII gatefold I've just found. The building could be just a randomly chosen spooky castle (I've left a message with "Zacron" himself via his website asking about it), but it would be interesting to know if it has any further significance to any member of the band. Check it out in the bottom left:

Stump the band time again: Can anyone identify the castle pictured on the lower left gatefold of LZIII? It has the number 4 and "Private" superimposed against it. It's not the Tower House (JP didn't buy that 'til 1974), and it's not any other William Burges building that I can see (e.g. Cardiff Castle or Castell Coch). I don't even think it's Vlad the Impaler's (Dracula's) in Romania. Any gothic architecture buffs / Zep fans out there want to weigh in?

I haven't seen the show but I know the licensing of the song may be affected by its having an extra composer's credit (Anne Bredon). I recall a Hendrix biopic where the producers obviously couldn't get permission to use any original Hendrix tunes, so they could only show him playing "Like a Rolling Stone," "Wild Thing," "All Along the Watchtower," and "The Star-Spangled Banner," all of which, of couse, were written by other people. I don't know a lot about publishing issues, but that would be my guess in this case.

That's the interview all right, Swandown, but did it ever really say "Occasional bass" under RP's name on LZI, or is he just misremembering something else?

Steve, there's a post-Zep interview with RP when he jokes about somehow getting an "occasional bass" credit on the back cover of LZI ("Jonesy could blame me when he fucked up" or something like that). I've never seen any issues of the album with this credit, and obviously Plant didn't, in fact, contribute bass parts. Any idea what he's talking about? I don't believe anyone but JPJ ever played bass for Zeppelin, or was cited as doing so.

I may be coming in late on this, but I'm confused about Phil Carlo / Phil Carson. Are they the same guy? I ask because a) "Phil Carlo" is said to have replaced Richard Cole as tour manager in 1980, Cole was sometimes nicknamed "Ricardo," and c) Atlantic official Phil Carson worked for the band and was briefly the manager of JP and RP post-1980. Could Phil Carlo just be a familiar title for Phil Carson? If not, whatever happened to Carlo?The similarity between the two names is confusing, as is their respective work for the band. What's the story?

Here's one I'm sure many people can answer. It's been long time since I've seen TSRTS (sounds like a good song lyric in there - better save that one), but is there not a brief shot in the film of RP walking offstage and blatantly puffing a joint that's been thrown from the fans? Or am I misremembering it?

Steve, I see a number of Internet references to JPJ changing his name from John Richard Baldwin. Is this just Web hearsay or has it been verified anywhere? Also, in discussing his parents' variety / musical act, Jones has referred to his musician father Joe Baldwin, but are there any billings or other info identifying Mrs. Baldwin, who was also part of the show? It seems JPJ has the most obscure family background of all the Zep members, intentionally or not. PS: Hey Evster, welcome to the heartland! I moved from Vancouver to northern Ontario a couple of years ago, the Canadian equivalent of relocating from SoCal to Wisconsin. Talk about OTHAFA!

Thanks Steve. Second and probably last question for a while, open to anyone who knows: I see a Stanley Blair was named as an injured concertgoer in Cincinnati during the 1977 LZ tour. Was this the same fan who was later reported to have died at this show? It seems like there was quite the melee at the event, so there were undoubtedbly several injured people - can anyone confirm the fatality? I should note that I'm not trying to dig up any dirt here; the death of a fan at this concert has been cited in at least two LZ bios that I know of, and of course numerous other acts (incl. AC/DC, Metallica, the Stones, and the Who, also in Cincinatti) have had more deaths at their own gigs.

Steve, I seem to remember reading in "The Press Reports" that some Zeppelin gigs were cancelled or rescheduled due to young Jason Bonham having a motorcross accident and his father returning to Britain to see that he was okay (Jason couldn't have been more than ten years old, which would have placed the episode in '73 or '75). Am I recalling this correctly? Anyone else come across this?

Maybe it's just me getting older, but most of Classic Rock station playlists have become really stale - only a shallow representation of a given artist's catalogue, usually their most well-known hits, is ever selected. For example: Zeppelin: Whole Lotta Love, Ramble On, Levee, Black Dog, Rock and Roll, a few others Pink Floyd: Time, Money, Comfortably Numb Beatles: A Day in the Life, Let It Be, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Come Together Stones: Gimme Shelter, Sympathy For the Devil, Jumpin' Jack Flash Who: Won't Get Fooled Again, Behind Blue Eyes Eagles: Hotel California, Life In the Fast Lane AC/DC: You Shook Me All Night Long, Highway to Hell Hendrix: All Along the Watchtower, Purple Haze Sabbath: Iron Man, Paranoid, War Pigs Deep Purple: Smoke on the Water, Highway Star T. Rex: Get It On (Bang a Gong) Skynyrd: Sweet Home Alabama, Free Bird Etc... I suppose it depends on the station, and not that these aren't all great songs, but when I am elected Emperor of the Universe these cuts will be forbidden on Classic Rock radio, to be replaced by: Zeppelin: Tea For One, The Rover, Bron-y-Aur, Trampled Underfoot Floyd: The Nile Song, Goodbye Blue Sky Beatles: Flying, Mother Nature's Son, Rain, Tomorrow Never Knows Stones: Little T&A, Dancing With Mr. D, Hot Stuff, All About You, Sweet Black Angel, Dandelion, Salt of the Earth Who: Pictures of Lily, Magic Bus Eagles: Lyin' Eyes AC/DC: Soul Stripper, Live Wire, Little Lover, You Ain't Got a Hold On Me, Bad Boy Boogie Hendrix: Angel, Drifting, Little Wing, Little Miss Lover Sabbath: Warning, Children of the Grave, Snowblind, Laguna Sunrise, Dirty Women, It's Alright Deep Purple: Lazy T. Rex: Jeepster, Telegram Sam, Raw Ramp, Metal Guru, The Soul of My Suit Skynyrd: The Needle and the Spoon, Swamp Music A man can dream, can't he? ThewaythatyoupushpushpushpushyouknowIcouldn'ttaketoomuchofthat....