Respectfully, Nutrocker, I don't think the chickens-coming-home-to-roost explanation works here. If Canada was't sending forces to the Middle East, these "self-radicalized" jihadists would no doubt find some other reason to launch their attacks - Canadian support for Israel; Canadian social and economic ties to the US; Canadian acceptance of gay rights; Canadian acceptance of women's equality... What else shouldn't we do to antagonize isolated, violent Muslim fanatics? Even if you personally disagree with the Canadian mission against ISIL, it was debated and approved by democratically elected Canadian legislators. How much of our current political system would you give up to feel confident that no outsider might be moved against it? And while I'm no big fan of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, I'd hardly characterize him as neo-con fundamentalist Christian. Certainly in the US he'd be considered a moderate Democrat. If he imposed mandatory church attendance for all citizens, bans on abortion and gay marriage, and brought back public executions, I might see your point, but the conservative/theocrat/redneck/right-wing epithet is thrown around a little too easily these days. By the way, I'm here in the nation's capital, and my workplace experienced a brief lockdown yesterday.

Steve, maybe it will convince you to stay around if I told you that my good personal friends JIMMY PAGE and ROBERT PLANT told me WHEN I TALKED WITH THEM TODAY that they always look forward to your very informative posts? I refer, of course, to Jimmy Page, mountain bike enthusiast and long-distance trucker from Blind River Ontario (no relation to the famous rock star), and Robert Plant, retired high school janitor and recreational fisherman from New Westminster BC (no relation to the famous rock star). Hi Jim and Rob! Seriously, do what you must, but remember your contributions are valued here, and I've also acknowledged you for posterity in one of my books. With peace and trust, you'll win the day.

[Eh, God, I can see it now. If Plant, Page or Jones ever showed up on this forum and openly identified themselves...well THAT, would be a nauseating event. Forum membership would include a drool bucket and a towel to wipe the shit off your nose. Everyone would be so...phony.] Never mind that. What would really freak me out would be if John Bonham showed up on this forum and openly identified himself. I'd have to PM Aleister Crowley to share my thoughts.

Not to hijack the thread, but the answer to this and many other questions can be found in my recent Led Zeppelin FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Greatest Hard Rock Band of All Time. I hope Steve A. Jones won't mind me muscling in on his territory, especially as I've acknowledged drawing on his fine LZ scholarship in the book. Now, back to the mysteries.

Thanks for posting, Kenog. Just to say that the interview got a little garbled: "Black Country Woman" was not recorded at the LZIV sessions, so I don't mean to convey misinformation. Hopefully Led Zeppelin FAQ will offer lots of hard facts and imaginative insights for hardcores and newbies alike. It's in stores now, so enjoy!

I did write Page's unauthorized bio, Magus Musician Man a few years ago, but I didn't write about The Doors. My publisher is producing a whole series of FAQ books, including one on Neil Young, although that hasn't come out yet. http://www.halleonard.com/search/search.do?subsiteid=1&keywords=faq

Just to let everyone know that today is the official release date of my Led Zeppelin FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Greatest Hard Rock Band of All Time (readers in the UK will have to wait another month). The book has a nice Foreword by Danny Goldberg; in-depth analyses of the plagiarism, back-masking, and Satanism rumors; detailed overviews of the album covers; recollections from Joe Petagno (who illustrated the Swan Song logo); lots of other insights and even a few (I hope) exclusives. I've also acknowledged the info and discussions to be found here at lz.com. LZ FAQ should be in stores this week. Hope readers can get a chance to check it out. Comments and critiques will be welcomed. Anyway, enjoy.

Yeah, I knew about Aubrey "Po" Powell's nickname. Perhaps he's an unlikely candidate as the HOTH gatefold man because he's Rather On The Fat Line Of Life. According to the Stefan Gates radio clip, there was initially a whole family of people set to pose at Giant's Causeway (two adults and the two kids). Gates says they were sprayed with paint to achieve a luminous effect (which didn't work anyway, and the photos were tinted afterwards), and that the guy doing the spraying was the same guy who did it for the James Bond movie Goldfinger. Considering the familiarity of the cover image, it's surprising more people haven't asked about the identity of the one grownup among the two children.

Possibly makeup artist Tom Smith, who applied the paint to the kids (this after listening to Stefan Gates' BBC doc). And I'm Really Out To Fucking Lunch, Oh Lord, over that acronym of yours, Steve. That's a mystery right there.

We've heard lots about the Gates siblings Simon and Samantha and their involvement with the HOTH cover shoot. But has anyone ever identified the adult man in the album's gatefold? Could it be Hipgnosis's Aubrey Powell himself, or a professional model? I've been scouring high and low, but nobody's come forward. Thoughts or facts, anyone?

Thanks for the tips, people. Whoever he is, Francis' connection sounds pretty peripheral.

Steve, Dave Lewis' Celebration II mentions a "Billy Francis from Rod Stewart's organization" enlisted to oversee the 1980 European tour with Phil Carlo. Any more reports of his involvement in the Zeppelin organization? Where did he come from, and where did he go?

For anyone interested, the Lisa Robinson quote was from her November 2003 Vanity Fair article, "Stairway to Excess" (I also referred to it in my MMM unauthorized bio). She said Page and Wood both looked "totally out of it." The New Barbarians (featuring Ron W and Keith R) were featured at one Knebworth show, so it's reasonable to assume Krissie was there too. It's also been reported that Krissie was around during the '75 US tour, so presumably her connection with Page extended past the notorious "wife-swapping" party at Ron's place. Ron Wood, for his part, makes no mention of this in his recent autobiography. Does any of this matter in the grand scheme of things? Probably not. I'm not really that interested in Page's private life, but, as a public figure of long standing, I think his relationships and unhealthy personal behavior, insofar as they're witnessed and documented by reputable journalists in a more or less open setting (e.g. backstage at a big concert), are fair game for discussion and speculation, at least here on this board. We can now return to dissecting the toggle settings and pickup configuration on the Number 1 Les Paul.

In the oft-seen picture of Jimmy Page and blonde female friend arriving at Knebworth via helicopter in '79, the woman is usually identified as Charlotte Martin - but there's a quote from American rock writer Lisa Robinson, saying that at the same event she saw Page with Krissie Wood backstage. I've often wondered about this. Any thoughts that the helicopter companion was indeed Ms. Wood?

Are you sure the Allmans had it first, Steve? I looked up this pic of the Starship that was taken in 1974. Same plane, different logo. I was under the impression that Zeppelin were Sherman & Sylvester's first customers. Allmans' Starship

About the Author As a reporter on UK music weekly Melody Maker, Chris Welch went on the road with Led Zeppelin during the early 1970s. Chris has since worked on a variety of music magazines and has written more than 20 books on rock music. He also contributes to UK newspapers. His finest hour was 'Playing conga drums, live on stage in Germany with Led Zep during "Whole Lotta Love"". ..."

Not sure if this is the best thread to discuss - but the promos for Stephen Davis's upcoming "The Lost Chronicles of the '75 LZ Tour" (or a title to that effect) promise to identify the female inspiration behind "What Is and What Should Never Be" and "Black Country Woman." Pure gossipy speculation, but going on the evidence we already have, does anyone think the woman in question was the sister of RP's (then) wife Maureen? BCW does mention I know your sister will, and the relevant quote from Hammer of the Gods, for which Davis presumably drew on the same sources, quotes Richard Cole, We said, 'You're fucking mad.' ...He was playing with both of them. That's in one of the songs as well. It's on the second album. Until the new Davis book comes out at the end of this month, does anyone want (or not want) to take a guess that the real-life subject of both songs was indeed the singer's long-term affair with his partner's sibling? Or is this just too tawdry to speculate on?

Thanks for clearing that small mystery up. Time to get out of the Bath.

Apologies if this is common knowledge, but who was Plant's roadie (later road manager) who drummed for the surviving members after Tony Thompson's injury at the aborted Bath rehearsals in January 1986? Must have been quite a thrill to step into those shoes on those drum pedals.

Getting back to the Plant-Jones falling out, I seem to remember a relatively recent (post-Zep) quote from JPJ that ran something like "Robert never knew what to make of me and still doesn't." Does that sound familiar to anyone? Where have I heard or read that? While I understand that they've repaired their bonds recently, it does sound like an accurate characterization of their Zeppelin-era relationship. Or am I completely delusional again? Did JPJ ever say such a thing?

Exactly. I return again to George Harrison's comment after reading Beatle-freak Geoffrey Guiliano's book: "This guy knows more about me than I do!" I'm going with Plant making a Moroccan visit sans Page in late 1973, after the US tour, being inspired to write "Driving to Kashmir" during or after that trip, and then returning avec Page in '75 after Earl's Court as the LZ tax exile commenced. Do either Page or Plant remember the sequence of events accurately? Who knows? Does it matter? In a world wracked by war, famine, injustice and disease, why am I struggling to confirm the whereabouts of two (likely stoned) rock stars thirty-five years ago? I challenge anyone to clear up that Zeppelin mystery!