I totally understand what you are saying MSG, and I give a pass to the younger fans. My comments were directed at those who should know better...I can't tell you how many times I've picked up a Zeppelin book only to see photo after photo mis-dated. And when one book has an error, the error reverberates because the next book picks it up and passes it along as fact. So now we have a whole bunch of Zeppelin books out there with screwed up facts...there are even people out there who claim to have seen Zeppelin in concert in 1974 and/or 1976.

I've only seen photos of Jimmy wearing the SS outfit from the Chicago 77 show and on the Starship. There's also photos of Jimmy on the Starship wearing lighter-brown jodphurs and a bomber jacket but no SS cap. And, sorry, but I've got to clarify something. People talk about the 73 cosmic pants or the 75 black dragon suit as if that was his standard outfit for those tours. WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Let's start with the 1973 US tour. For most of the tour, Jimmy's outfit rotated among these choices: 1) plain white suit with dress shirt or t-shirt underneath; 2) brocaded jacket with blue jeans(he wore the exact same thing in 1972 at the LA Forum...only difference was that in 1972 he wore white sneakers and in 1973 he had changed to his iconic slip on dress shoes); and 3) some type of zippered windbreaker jacket with the white suit pants or blue jeans. From all the evidence, it appears that he wore the "cosmic outfit"(not to be confused with the black dragon suit) only at the end of the tour in New York. And while he wore the pants at all three shows, it seems that he wore two different tops during the 3 nights in NY...the brocaded top and the spangly jacket with the silver lapels. This suggests that Jimmy, knowing that they were going to film the NY shows, wanted something a little more visually spectacular to wear, and whether it was his lady friend Coco in LA or some other person handy with needle and thread, the outfit apparently wasn't ready until New York. Oh, and the 1973 Euro tour seems to either feature the white suit or top with blue jeans combo mentioned above...definitely no cosmic outfit in Europe that year. Now as to the 1975 US tour, let me just cut to the chase right off the bat: the iconic black dragon suit did not make its appearance at all on this tour! For one night in LA, Jimmy wore the black dragon pants, and THAT WAS IT! For the top he wore the same brocaded top he wore in 1973(as seen in the movie TSRTS). All the other dates of the 1975 US tour primarily featured jeans and t-shirt combos; the 1973 cosmic outfit; the white suit pants with any manner of various colourful button-down shirts; a new black brocaded jacket that he paired with either the white pants or the cosmic pants. The ONLY 1975 shows that Jimmy wore the complete black dragon outfit were the Earl's Court gigs...which coincidentally were being multi-tracked and were being filmed(or at least video-taped), which again suggests that Jimmy felt something visually striking was needed for these homecoming shows. And when you compare how cool he looked at Earl's Court with the somewhat pedestrian look of the early 1975 shows, Chicago i.e., it seems Jimmy didn't really put a lot of forethought into what he was going to wear on tour. Even in 1977, where he mostly alternated between the white poppy suit and the black dragon suit, if you look carefully, the white suit started out pretty unadorned...especially the pants. It wasn't until about the midway point of the tour that the suit was completely embroidered. As for the black dragon suit, all you need to know about Jimmy's dramatic weight loss between the 1975 and 77 tours is the fact that he now needed to wear a belt with the pants to keep them from sliding off his hips...and he also now wore a black t-shirt underneath. Oh, and one last thing...that suit in the Victoria and Albert Museum? I have yet to see ANY photo where Jimmy is wearing that outfit. I am not saying it wasn't made for him, just that I doubt it was worn on stage.

Those appear close Evster, except they have some silver thing on the black strip that Jimmy's shoes don't have. And yes, I DO remember that nude photo of the Unknown Comic with just the paper bags over his two heads.

Oh c'mon people, not even a little giggle? Or maybe everyone has forgotten the Unknown Comic?

The new issue of Q is out and seeing Jimmy Page and the head line "The Last Days" on the cover I thought, finally, an in-depth article on the final tour, Euro 1980! Alas, after picking it up and finding the article, what we get is a look back at Knebworth; not bad, but not what was implied by the cover tag. The picture of Page on the cover is even from the Euro 80 tour, not Knebworth, implying that it would be about that last tour. Then, get this...I go online to post the cover here, and for some reason they have Kasabian on the cover; I guess Jimmy Page is on the cover of the US edition and Kasabian the UK/Euro editions. Q magazine link The new Record Collector magazine also has an anniversary article about the Knebworth shows...look for it at your newstand/Barnes & Nobles/Borders. Led Zeppelin at Knebworth

You ain't lying, ninelives! I used to say that the 1970 Bath Festival was my personal Holy Grail of Zeppelin, but lately I have come to desire to hear the Fairport/Zeppelin Troubadour jam more than anything...I would chop off my arm to hear it!

Can't believe no one has mentioned this yet considering the topic, so I will... Setember 4, 1970: Led Zeppelin is playing the LA Forum(technically it is in Inglewood, but everyone got used to saying the LA Forum), and Fairport Convention are doing a 4-night stand at the Troubadour, a small club on Santa Monica Blvd. and Doheny in West Hollywood. After Zeppelin finishes their concert, soon to be immortalized in the "Live on Blueberry Hill" bootleg, they head to the Troubadour(I imagine the limo driver heading up La Brea Ave., which leads from Inglewood to Hollywood, perhaps stopping for some chili dogs at Pink's along the way, then turning left on Santa Monica Blvd.) to watch the rest of the Fairport gig. After some between set discussion, Zeppelin join Fairport for a jam of rock oldies and trad folk...supposedly going on for as long as 3 hours! Since Fairport was recording the Troubadour shows for a live album("House Full"), the tapes were rolling for the jam, but NOTHING from this has seen the light of day, to my knowledge at least. Anyway, after the show, the everybody heads over to Barney's Beanery and Bonham gets into a drinking contest with Janis Joplin. No clue as to who won, haha.

The truth about Jimmy's black/white slip-on loafers, haha. It turns out at least two other people who wore those shoes...was Jimmy REALLY the "Unknown Comic" in his spare time? :D Here's a better look... The Unknown Comic on Norm Crosby's Comedy Show

I am going to this concert tomorrow(Wednesday 8.5) night at the Hollywood Bowl: Miles Davis/Gil Evans: Still Ahead

It is definitely not "Crossroads". And it is not "Rollin' and Tumblin'" either. The search continues. Now about that Lynyrd Skynyrd quote. As previously stated, Skynyrd and Zeppelin never shared a bill. I think what this poster is referring to is the 1976 Knebworth Festival where Lynyrd Skynyrd DID blow the Rolling Stones off the stage.

I posted this elsewhere but thought this might be a better place for it as Steve seems to be the master. As follows: I'm slightly embarrassed to have to be asking this, as I know I should know what this is but I just can't put my finger on it, soooooo.... I was listening to the "Dazed & Confused" from the May 14, 1973 New Orleans show, and just after the call and response part of the solo, the band breaks into this jam that sounds like a song I have heard before...but I am drawing a blank after racking my brain all day. To help out, I am specifically listening to Godfatherecords' "Drag Queen of New Orleans" boot, and the mystery jam lasts from approximately 21:00 to 21:35 of Dazed & Confused on Disc 2. It sounds killer and I don't remember ever hearing the band play this jam in any other Dazed & Confused, but something about the jam suggests another song. So if any of you out there have this show and can help identify the song this jam is based on, I'd greatly appreciate it.

I should change my name to Thread Killer as many threads that cease functioning once I post.

Thank you Knebby! I plan on doing what I always do on the 4th...WATCH WIMBLEDON!!! Strawberry wafffles and orange juice and coffee and Wimbledon...it comes on EARLY in the morning here in California...6am! Venus vs. Serena Saturday and Federer vs. Roddick Sunday...I'll be cheering for Federer over the Yank Roddick(sorry he beat Britain's best hope Andy Murray today Knebby). Then later on the 4th, we're going to see John Fogerty at the Hollywood Bowl w/the orchestra and firework show. Cheers! Ta!

The best Zeppelin concert? Well, of the ones I saw, these would be my top 5, and bear in mind that the difference between #5 and #1 is very slight...it was hard choosing the top 5. 1. June 25, 1972 @ LA Forum...My first Zeppelin concert...like a jumbo 747 crashing in my head...the bloody sounds those guys made...that cool drone that went on and on and on, changing colours and tones for a good 10 or 15 minutes before Immigrant Song stampeded the crowd...Percy's voice in full cry before the cracking of the 72 Japanese tour...four, count 'em 4!!!, encores...or were there 5, lol?...the crazy ass medley...Louie Louie!!!!...I could go on and on...my first Zep show and it was so perfect, I knew immediately I had to see them again in Long Beach two days later and begged and begged and begged...fortunately it worked. June 27 '72 @ Long Beach Arena was also great, but not as long, so the 72 LA Forum show gets the nod. 2. June 3, 1973 @ LA Forum...another Forum spectacular! Great versions of two of my fave live Zep songs, SIBLY and Thank You, which automatically moves it up the list above the May 31 and June 2 shows...not to mention that Jimmy was playing with a sprained finger which he kept dunking in ice water throughout the show...the cloud of pot and hash smoke which hung in the air...how great ALL the Houses of the Holy songs sounded live, especially NQ with the epic fog rolling over the stage from the dry-ice machine...the 73 shows were the last ones where the band was really tight and Page could solo fast and furiously on end...the 73 tour was also the last time Dazed and Confused didn't become a drag. 3. June 23, 1977 @ LA Forum...another great Forum show, another June show(are you sensing a trend, hahaha?)...it's the famous Badgeholders show..the Keith 'Looney' Moon show...but more importantly, it is the return after 5 long years of the "acoustic set"!...which does bring a warm vibe to the proceedings as Plant says...they finally ditched D & C although that means we get the noise solo(instead of say, In the Light, The Rover, Wanton Song, For Your Life, Royal Orleans, Tea for One, or any number of other songs they could have played during the 30-45 minutes that slowed the momentum of the show during the drum solo/guitar solo bit)...still what we do get is choice: Ten Years Gone!!!, Achilles!!, Nobody's Fault! and epic NQ's and Kashmir's...Percy's voice is back from the cracked and hoarse 73 and 75 days; not quite his Viking warrior days of 69-72 but still powerful. 4. March 12, 1975 @ Long Beach Arena...I was going back and forth over which show to rank #3, this one or the 6.23.77 Forum gig...it was so close as both shows have so much to recommend but in the end the acoustic sets of the 77 tour(and TYG and Presence material) gave the 6.23.77 show the slightest of edges...the thing about this 1975 show was how HEAVY the band sounded, even more than usual with the lack of an acoustic set...Bonzo's Vistalites really boomed out...perhaps because for the first time ever, Zeppelin used a drum riser for the 75 tour...unlike the earlier shows of the tour, those of us at the West Coast shows had had a chance to hear the Physical Grafitti songs before the concert, so many of us had already formed favourites and were hoping to hear them...amongst my friends and other people I asked those songs were usually Kashmir, Ten Year's Gone, The Rover, In My Time of Dying, Trampled Underfoot, Wanton Song, Houses of the Holy and Custard Pie...playing wise, Long Beach was better than the LA Forum gigs in 75...the band was more solid, consistent and less sluggish...just compare the D & C of this show with the terrible 3.27.75 one...in fact, I think that if Mike Millard hadn't had car trouble and been able to get to this show on time and, therefore, people could hear this entire concert in the spectacular sound that he recorded the last 3 songs, then 3.12.75 Long Beach would be ranked right up there with the "Listen to this Eddie" and "Badgeholder's" shows in Zeppelin collector's minds...maybe even above them...anyway, I loved how funky and hard they were for this tour...Kashmir, NQ and Trampled back-to-back-to-back was almost too much!...and oh my god the funky Crunge/James Brown/Theramin battles between Whole Lotta Love and Black Dog were OUTTASIGHT!!!...oh and one last but not least memory about this show: my first Zeppelin concert with my girlfriend and we made out during Rain Song!...hmmm, more I think about it, maybe this should be #3 after all, haha! 5. Number 5 is hard to call; it would be between either the May 31 or June 2, 1973 shows or the June 21, 1977...or even June 27, 1972...you know, I think I am going to declare a tie and say it is between the May 31 and June 2, 1973 shows...May 31 because it was Bonzo's birthday and June 2 because it was my only time seeing them outdoors, in the sunlight at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco and the atmosphere was just incredible with all the SF hippies and flower power girls and the doves...plus, there is just something magical about road-tripping to a concert; it lends an air of adventure to the whole endeavor...plus, as I said before 1973 was the last year where the band was consistently on fire, especially Jimmy...his sound was so unbelievable then! My apologies to the shows that didn't make the top 5: March 24, 25, 27 1975 and June 25, 26, 27 1977 all LA Forum...not that you didn't have moments("It'll Be Me" encore of 6.26.77! "NQ" of 3.27.75!!) but the other shows were just a tad more consistently spectacular...the creme de al creme! Other memories shared by all, or at least most, of the shows: ganja smoke filling the Forum(or whatever venue)...firecrackers, those DAMN FIRECRACKERS!...hippies bringing tambourines and whatnot to shows to play...camping out for tickets for days...the SHEER UNBELIEVABLE THRILL that surged through your entire being when at last the seemingly impossible was at hand and you handed over your $6, $8, or $10 and you held in your hand a Led Zeppelin concert ticket...it was like finding the golden ticket in a Wonka bar and if you had one, other kids at your school would look at you with envy. As for Led Zeppelin concerts I was sadly too young, or geographically-challenged to see, these are my Top 10 that I would want to see if I had a time-machine: 1. January 5, 1969 @ the Whisky A Go-Go, LA...oh hell, any 1968-69 show where they still played those great "As Long As I Have You/Fresh Garbage" medleys and "For Your Love" and "Dazed" was fast and furious and Jimmy still did the bow segment in "HMMT". 2. January 9, 1970 @ Royal Albert Hall 3. June 28, 1970 @ Bath Festival 4. Sept. 4, 1970 @ LA Forum 5. Sept. 19, 1970 evening show @ Madison Square Garden 6. August 21 or 22, 1971 @ LA Forum 7. Sept. 13 or 14, 1971 @ Berkeley Community Center 8. September 29, 1971 @ Osaka, Japan...but any of the 1971 Japanese shows will do. 9. March 24, 1973 @ Offenburg, Germany...but again, any other 1973 Euro shows will do, esp. Vienna...but it is this Offenburg, Germany show where Jimmy is so face-meltingly hot...so en fuego! 10. August 4, 1979 @ Knebworth...not what you might have expected, but I think I would want to go to this just for the spectacle of it all...and it's a lot better performance than the 11th...plus, I might bump into Knebby, hehe.

Bob Dylan is in my All-time Top 10. Can't wait for the new album...and will probably get two versions(see below) 1. Limited Edition CD/DVD $17.99 10 new songs including "Beyond Here Lies Nothing" Bonus CD of Bob Dylan's "Theme Time Radio Hour," ("Friends & Neighbors" episode) DVD of "Roy Silver - The Lost Interview" Together Through Life collectible poster & sticker 2. Vinyl $23.99 10 new songs including "Beyond Here Lies Nothing," "Life Is Hard" & "It's All Good" Pressed on 180 gram vinyl Also contains the entire album on CD

Hahaha, yeah we're out here, or at least I'm out here. Don't know if there are that many Jane's fans here as when I posted clips from their secret show I went to last November(their first with the original line-up in 17 years), there was zero response. Which is a shame, as Jane's is one of the few bands since the demise of Zeppelin in 1980 to even come close to sounding like they got what Zep was about(unlike all the stupid hair-metal bands of the 80's) and while sounding similar to Zeppelin still managed to put their own unique spin on the sound. You would think anyone liking Led Zeppelin would find much to enjoy in Jane's oeuvre. Most of the people I met at Jane's shows (saw them over 40 times between 1986-1991) were also Zepheads. And while there wasn't and never will be anything like a Zeppelin concert, when Jane's were "on" they could be scary close as hypnotic as a Zep concert. Forget the various "reunions" of the past 10 years...THIS, the true Jane's lineup of Perry, Dave, Stephen and, FINALLY!, Eric is the one to see!

Well, I voted yesterday...since I figure it is going to be crazy Tuesday, I decided to beat the rush and take advantage of California's early voting. Meanwhile, while the rest of you wait for Tuesday, someone sent me this and I'm passing it along...although you might have already seen this. Dear Red States... If you manage to steal the election again, we've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii, Oregon,Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California. To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama. We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. We get Tina Fey and Christiane Amanpour. You get Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of under-educated single moms. Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire. With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties. By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Texas and Arkansas. Peace out, Blue States

1. Elton John is far superior to Billy Joel, especially when talking about Elton's first six or so albums, everything from "Elton John" to "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". 2. I'll take ABBA over Billy Joel anyday, easily. 3. The fact that Billy Joel is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, renders said institution irrelevant...but then, it always has been. I don't need Jann Wenner to tell me who is/was important in rock and roll history, and neither should you.

Well, before the July 12 Supergrass show, thanks to a friend who is comping me tix, I will be seeing Chris Isaak at the Hollywood Bowl this friday July 11...haven't seen Isaak in about 10 years. He's a great "date" concert...your date will definitely be in the mood after the show! Chris Isaak at the Bowl

JULY 12: SUPERGRASS at the Hollywood Avalon(formerly the Palace...where Dean Martin's tv show was filmed and where he mocked the Rolling Stones when they appeared on his show in 1964). Out of all the Brit bands that flooded the world in the early-mid 90's; Oasis, Blur, Pulp, and a gazillion others, SUPERGRASS was , and is, my favourite...well, after Radiohead that is, but then I never lumped Radiohead in with the Oasis/Blur crowd to begin with. Sharp, short, snappy, witty tunes that rock and roll and make you want to bounce around the room...yet they also have songs that spread out and get trippy and sound good on headphones. So glad they haven't thrown in the towel, as they have never received the acclaim they're due, while Coldplay reap millions.

Yes, the Police WERE good and if goddamn Kiss can have a thread on here, then by all means the Police deserve one, too. Their albums were good, and a couple were even better than good, and their concerts were energetic and fun...first time I saw them was when they opened for the Cars in 1978 and boy, talk about your disparities: Cars just standing there bored stiff, while the Police bounced around the room and blew the Cars off the stage! But, and I mean BUT, this Police reunion tour has been one big drag...exhorbitant ticket prices, lifeless shows...not even close to what the Police once were. That said, get their albums for sure if you haven't already.

Ahhhh...now that Memorial Day has passed, the Summer concert season really gets in gear and the concert schedule gets a bit crowded and hard to pick one show over another. Just saw the Police/Elvis Costello show at the Hollywood Bowl this past Wednesday (Police slightly better than the Dodger Stadium show last summer, but still this Police reunion has to rank up there as one of the biggest letdowns ever...not nearly as exciting as the Zeppelin O2 reunion gig/as for Elvis, he's been slipping last few years and I just don't like him as much as I did from '77 to about '86). Last night(thursday May 29) brought R.E.M. to the Bowl, and again REM is a band that has seen better days...haven't really LOVED one of their albums since "Automatic for the People"...but new one seems better than last two from what I heard last night; but to me, REM just isn't the same without the four original members. Upcoming concerts I am going to see: Tonight May 30: Iron Maiden & Anthrax @ Irvine Meadows. Saturday May 31: Swervedriver @ Henry Fonday Theatre Sunday June 1: Cure @ Shrine Auditorium Monday June 2: Aimee Mann @ Largo(grand opening of the new Largo after the old one on Fairfax closed earlier this month.) Later this month of course is the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss shows June 23-24 @ the Greek. July brings Low @ Troubadour club and August it's Radiohead @ Hollywood Bowl. And tickets go on sale Saturday for Black Crowes Sept. 17 show @ the Greek. And I'm sure there will be other concerts this summer that I'll decide to hit at the last minute. Far in the future, I've already got my tix for both nights of My Bloody Valentine's stand @ Santa Monica Civic October 1 & 2...YEAH!!!!! ROCK ON PEOPLE!!!

My 15 most recent cd purchases: Portishead "Third" Goldfrapp "Seventh Tree"(special edition box) Explosions in the Sky "The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place" Steve Hillage "Live Herald" Dead Meadow "Old Growth" Box "Studio 1" Various Artists "Florida Funk:1968-1975" Acid Mothers Temple "Starless and Bible Black Sabbath" Acid Mothers Temple "Power House of the Holy" King Crimson "The Great Deceiver: Live 1973-1974 Vol. 1 & 2" Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings "100 Days, 100 Nights" Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings "Naturally" Low "Drums and Guns" She & Him "Volume One" Various Artists "Doom & Gloom: Early Songs of Angst & Disaster"

Like whatever Rod had to say in 1978 has any validity...guy had so much coke up his schnozz back then. Basically, though, SteveAJones and gollum6668 refute Rod's accusations very well. "You Shook Me" was a song that just about EVERY blues-rock band in England played back in the 60's...it was part of the standard rep, along with "Killing Floor". Lastly, I believe Led Zeppelin had recorded their first album by October 1968, which is BEFORE Jimmy would have seen the Jeff Beck Group's Miami gig in November of that year. Frankly, whenever I read quotes from Pete Townsend, Keith Richards, Rod Stewart, et al trying to diss Zep, alot of it comes across as sour grapes and jealousy...that Zeppelin became SO HUGE...and did it WITHOUT the help of the rock critics and media of the time. Unlike the Stones and Who who were always sucked up to by the media, esp. Rolling Stone magazine, which was Jann Wenner's way of hoping to get to sleep with Mick Jagger.