What always struck me about 80's solo Robert is it seemed 80's fashion and musical trends were more important to him than doing his own thing in a certain way. Back in Zep it seemed to me he, nor any other in the band, really cared about any trends, they were the ones making them in fact. When he came back in 83' and toured though, Robert is wearing the fashion of the day (Billy Squire was wearing an almost identical stage wardrobe at the time), sporting a mullet (???), and somewhat tailoring his music to musical trends at the time. Take Shaken & Stirred for example. I really hated that album when it first came out as to me the whole damn thing (except for Pink & Black) sounded like whatever Robert had on his own playlist at the time but redone with a Robert twist. The first time I heard Sixes & Sevens I thought Robert was listening to way too much U2 & Cure. IMO he did not really come into his own again musically until Manic Nirvana, which is also the first tour he quit having stupid stage outfits. Though I always did like his live presentation, weird clothes and all, and Shaken & Stirred has really grown on me as an album through the years. Like many here the 17 year old me wanted to see the Robert from Zeppelin, however the 47 year old me is glad he came into his own and did his own thing, bad dancing and jumpsuits as well.

That was the same gig I attended, at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, second time I saw Robert, first time being at the infamous April 10th 77' Chicago gig when I was 9 years old (went with older brother and much older cousin). I really liked that 85' tour, a real mix of tunes plus the 50's Honeydripper set after the main set. I remember the curtain on that insanely sloped stage going up after a short intermission and Robert in duck-tail hairdo and leather jacket with the three ladies in Poodle skirts singing backup. Great, great show in 85'.

At the time Plant wore the shirt in Oakland he had no idea his son was even sick much less in hospital. Plant did not find out about his sons condition until he arrived on New Orleans I believe. Just your typical 70's sexual innuendo phrase on a t-shirt, nothing more.

Yess indeed, Blunt is a great guitarist and very unique too. Plant had a great band behind him no doubt.

This was the only Robert Plant tour I have missed. We just moved from Chicago to Phoenix that summer so me missed him at the Rosemont Horizon gig. Since he did not stop in Phoenix and my parents would not let my brother take me to LA with him to see that show, I got screwed. The vids are great, looked like a hot tour with a great band behind him.

You know how those things go, Robert was probably pissed at Jimmy, called him a few names, got in his face and maybe pushed him. Next thing you know its reported that Robert punched Jimmy, then somebody says Robert beat the shit out of Jimmy. TBH I am surprised no one reported Robert pistol whipped Jimmy and then shat on him as well. These things tend to take on a life of their own.

To my knowledge he was pretty sober from at least 94' on, if not then he finally learned how to play pretty damn well stoned because his playing, especially from 98' - 2000 was IMO the best playing he had ever done, even eclipsing his best Zep years. He also played the O2 gig completely sober according to all accounts.

Yes, saw them live in the early 80's in Chicago, great live band. When they released the worst fucking ballad (song) of all time, I Can't Fight This Feeling, I almost shot myself in the dick. How in great Caesar's ghost can the band which produced Can't Tune a Piano... come up with such crap.

Agree Jimmie. The fist album of this sort is always pretty good, but after that ego takes over and self-indulgence goes one step beyond into self-parody and boredom.

Redding and Mitchell were excellent musicians in their own right, right up there with Jimi himself. Cox & Miles were better sidemen, they laid down a solid, very uncomplicated foundation for Jimi to do what he wanted. That was the difference. I like both era's, however I break it down like this: The first two albums had better, more accessible songs, more radio friendly. Electric Ladyland was an amazing concept album of sorts and was a Jimi showcase par excellence but the songs were much more eclectic and varied. It was his Bitches Brew IMO. Then you have Band of Gypsies which I love to listen to. As a live album it is not perfect, Jimi makes a ton of mistakes but the centerpiece, Machine Gun, is a jam which cannot be equalled, it is the gold standard of guitar jam live songs. Jimi was the zenith of guitar playing IMO, there are much better technical players, but like Jimmy Page, Jimi is an emotive player who bleeds every note from his veins. You could FEEL his playing.

Ha, so true. Sam...good work, I am sure all bugs will be worked out over the next few days. No worries mate! Now, I am off to San Diego for some much needed R&R on the beach. Peace my fellow Zep Heads.

Anything has to be better than episodes I-III & VI. FUCKING EWOKS!!!

Time to do the Batusi!

yes indeed he is, I love George, great human being. What I meant was he will "likely" be the last man standing, not that he was the only man standing. Walter Koenig is alive and well and still doing sic-fi. If you never saw the Babylon 5 series check it out. Koenig play a character called Al Bester, a Psy-Cop, and it is a wonderful, deep character. Much better than his role as Chekov.

Who woulda thought Shatner will most likely be the last man standing of the original ST crew. I figured his liver would have exploded decades ago.

Good for you, those smart phones are making everyone near sighted. I agree, a phone should be just a phone for the most part. I hate those little screens.

The solo in Hot Dog was constructed that way on purpose according to Page, he was supposedly going for a psycho-billy feel to the tune.

Listening to the RO ref mix, what a gas! That is most likely Bonham singing, regardless of what Jimmy says and Bonham is hilarious on this...they should have kept this version for the album, funny as hell.

10 Ribs almost sounds like an unfinished Joni Mitchell tune with Zep as band with a hint of Motown...very un-Zeppelin & interesting, I really love this tune. Funny, this song would have been great as is used in a movie, like the last scene of Say Anything or even Singles.

According to Robert himself, at the time, he claimed the music was too complex for his tastes and wanted to focus on his solo career. In other words, I was controlled by Page for 12 years, I sure as hell am not gonna be controlled by Page AND Squire.

Happy birthday buddy, may all your dreams come true.

I agree as well in regard to Burning Up, I really don't like it and it sounds out of place, a throw away tune. The rest of the album I love though and don't mind the mix. Great album IMO.

Is it just me ears or does Jimmy, at the 5 min mark, play the riff for what would later become Greg Kihn's Jeopardy???

I don't know about the Dano for a Page signature, he only used the damn thing for three songs: WS/BMS, IMTOD, & Kashmir. Plus, I preferred the tone of the LP for Kashmir as he used the LP for the song in 75' and 95'- 2007. WS/BMS sounded much, much better on the Gibson J-200 he borrowed from Big Jim Sullivan for the Julie Felix show. Then when he used the Gibson ES-350 the tone was just stunning, this guitar was made for this type of song. I thought Page used the Dano because Syd Barrett used one as well and Page was a big fan of Syd. I have played them and never liked them, don't know what Page saw in the guitar as it is just thin sounding to me. I go with the OP on this, either a Page signature Dragon Tele or signature Botswana Brown B-Bender.

Nice looking guitar Money, if I may ask, how much was the guitar in total?