Here's a fun one. It's well-known that Jim Morrison's father was an Admiral in the USN, it's less well-known that Frank Zappa's father worked in the Army's chemical warfare division. The counterculture had CIA connections, as has Hollywood for a very long time. https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/top-news/1960s-anti-warpsychedelic-hippie-movement-created-military-intel/

I love this song, by far the best thing on the remasters, which were overall underwhelming. I suppose it does indicate that there were hints of the direction they would take for ITTOD, even before the post-77 collapse.

As far as audience shows (3-10 is audience, BTW), how can you leave 3-12 off your list?

It's called a joke, are you familiar with the concept? Your sense of self-importance is WAY too high.

No one's having bat soup?

As long as we're on the subject:

100% agree re. Tommy Bolin.

Probably because Page was in no shape to go through various shows, edit/splice songs, etc. Outtakes were already lying around, so basically low-hanging fruit.

My guess (assuming Plant didn't leave anyway) is some combination of Plant's solo work and the Firm. Basically, following the trends of 80's New Wave with elements of 70's hard rock, which is sort of what ITTOD was, they probably would have continued in that direction.

Something to keep in mind: https://projectunspeakable.com/conspiracy-theory-invention-of-cia/

An obvious choice:

We're a dying breed, sad to say.

Haha, yes indeed. Also funny on the 20th, before IMTOD, Plant says it's the first song they're going to play from the new album, then says "No, wait, it's the third." (Actually the second one of the night.)

Really loving these two Vancouver shows. Even Black Dog is above average on the 19th. Another funny Plantation is his quip about getting a blow job from Peter Grant (not sure I want that imagery in my head, however...)

Also, the original lineup in Rainbow were some former bandmates of Dio from Elf. They were really just session musicians until Blackmore could get the guys he wanted. It was his band, after all. There's no question he's a very difficult guy, but the fact is, DP exists and tours now because of the music Blackmore wrote. No Ritchie, no DP, it's that simple.

Sure, but my understanding is that Dio did not like the commercial direction Blackmore wanted to go in, and was man enough to explain this to him, and that they left on good terms. As far as I know, Dio always said he had no issues w/Blackmore. BTW, re. Bonnet's hair, Blackmore had some justification to be annoyed, Bonnet looked like a New Wave singer, not a rock singer. Reminds me of that dude who followed Fast Eddie in Motorhead, looked like he belonged in Loverboy. Fact is, you have to look the part, talent aside.

This is a bit more like it:

I'm a huge Blackmore fan, but Tommy Bolin was a superb guitarist as well, and when the Mark IV lineup was on, they could rock with anyone. Mark IV deserves its due.

TU and OTHAFW are killer from both nights, but both are a tad better on the 20th. But while NQ is superb on both nights, there's definitely more improvisation on the 20th. I also love the version of IMTOD on the 20th, Page mixes it up a lot more than on other nights (but Plant's pussy-licking lyric on the 19th is always worth a laugh).

The 18th is a very good show, yes, Page is playing really well, esp. NQ. I agree with you re. DC from the 24th (probably the 2nd best version of the year, after 3-21), but I would also take Tangerine, TU, and STH from the 24th over the versions from the 18th. Maybe I'm biased by the soundboard, but I've always loved those particular versions, they sort of color my opinion of the 24th overall. (OTHAFW from the 25th is also killer.) I'd agree that the 18th and 23rd are the most improvisational of the EC shows and probably overall the two best of that run. (NQ from the 17th is a really cool, unique version, a predecessor of the '77 versions.) But I still think the West Coast shows from March had more energy than EC, and there were enough great February shows to keep any EC show out of the top 10 IMO.

III is still one of my favorite Zep albums, right behind PG, but I agree, Hey Hey What Can I Do is a great song, it should have been on the album.

Both Vancouver shows are top-notch, but the 20th is better.

+1, always loved that version of Running Wild, esp. the guitar solo at the end.