Well apparently Page(??) heard Robert's lyrics and thought they were directed at him, so that's why Robert is so buried in the mix for Carouselambra., or so many think. I understand the dislike many people have for the mix of Presence, but every Zep album has a much different mix than any other album, and to me that's just one more reason Zep was so great. One can argue that HOTH is too bright, the music almost matches the album cover. If you really want to bust balls you can go after Hats On For Harper, I mean it sounds like some 1930's-1940's field recording, or something. Well, no other Zep song sounds even remotely like that, they don't want to repeat themselves.

I understand how polarized fans could be about Presence.General "facts" could be less bass(y) than usual, and a somewhat strident midrange. One thing not mentioned or hardly mentioned is that most of the songs have amazing guitar architecture, a total guitar army which really hasn't been matched before or since. Yes, there are songs from previous albums which have amazing interlocking layers, but not the guitar orchestra here. I am a guitar player, so obviously my view is quite slanted. Even though I also love the songs. Obviously, Page going full blast into his guitar army is not enough for many fans, and that is understandable But Zep was always changing, although for example Zeplll was not received as well as Zepll, too much acoustic stuff for some.

Well, actually Jimmy had stage fright randomly or in chunks, it's not like he had it at every Zep show. But it's true, there's no rhyme or reason with this stuff. Like the Atlantic Records 88' anniversary, Jimmy got so wound up that he himself said it affected his playing, the on/off argument with Robert about whether or not to play "Stairway". Also interesting is that Jimmy seemed to be either laid back, or pretty nervous, not too much middle ground.

There is no logic to stage fright, regardless of talent, accomplishments, fan or critical praise etc..I also know this because I have experienced stage fright. In my case(s) it didn't happen so much in bands tI was in.open mikes. Actually, there is good logical reason for nerves in that scenario, as you maybe playing songs you don't know with players you don't know. Jimmy in fact, in Zep anyway, Jimmy not only mentioned live stage fright , but terrible studio nerves as well, saying "my bottle goes". I don't remember what Zep book/article contains these statements, as I have at least 25 to 30 Zep books. One thing I've noticed is the greater the music talent, usually the more difficult are most tasks which are easy for "normal" people.

No speculation, as far as Plant and Page squaring off. One other thing I heard that Jimmy started his onstage persona not just for showmanship, but to defuse his stage fright during the first few songs. Actually Jimmy said that, to jump around and play at the same time, eventually kills the nerves. And also Page was very worried at Live Aid that he would forget or screw up the chords in the songs. 2 out of the 3 songs were pretty easy, obviously. But if you're nervous enough, anything is up for grabs. Non-artists will never understand some of the afflictions or conditions which plague the mega-talented.

Well I would listen to Steve anyway, but a friend who knew Jason Bonham's guitarist said that for that 95'/96' unledded trek Jimmy and Robert were basically clawing at each other almost daily. Supposedly Jimmy was drinking heavily for at least the first leg of the US tour, possibly later as well. Also Plant said "I'd like to wake up in the morning and play tennis", whereas "Jimmy wanted to stay up all nite". I'm not sure how much of this was partying and how much was really bad stagefright. I understand Robert for sure, but alcohol or not Jimmy played most shows very well, IMHO better than the last TOE, and much more consistent.

I saw a NJ show very close to the "Slap Show" and on the radio in fact the slap was noted as a punch, who knows. I really think musically there was little or no argument live or in the studio, simply because all members were so close in ability. Although JPJ had counseled Jimmy a few times that 2 parts of a song played simultaneously wouldn't work. Still, it seemed a mild yet informative matter, no freaking out. But I do think that somewhere before 77' Robert was getting aggravated about Jimmy's Drug use and how it affected the live shows. What's funny/terrible ?? is that I can't believe that today any guitarist in a famous band playing like Jimmy did would be tolerated by the music press without serious criticism. Don't say, oh, the seventies, Johnny Winter, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and many others totally kept up despite serious drug/alcohol addictions.

This playing, I believe, is also on a album called "Guitar Boogie", 3 tracks featuring each player(I think).It's pretty worthwhile to get because there's a lot of excellent playing on it and it's far more inspired than let's say the Lord Sutch album or some of the other off the beaten track releases by these three Yardbirds.

The article I remember now that I think of it was really a bunch of guitarists commenting on Blackmore and Jimmy said a lot of his parts live were worked out ( Jimmy's) but Jimmy said Blackmore was truly improvising live. Just go on YouTube and you'll hear that Blackmore was very unpredictable from show to show. Sometimes he would solo in a more classical style, other times he could be very bluesy, or combine styles. Page is my man, but Blackmore could play wild solos and never really screw up.

Most of Zep lll, I had just gotten into Zep and I wanted mainly fast or cranking songs. I was 13, but by 15 I had appreciation of Zep's subtle and softer side. Now there isn't even one studio cut I actually dislike, although there are obvious favorites.

That solo was surely meant to be much a sound poem, not a "regular classic rock" guitar solo. The rehearsal version(s) gel a bit more.to the point. Above all, Jimmy is a sound sculptor, he is not to be roped in with other very competent but boxed in players in the 70's. I myself when I heard that "weird" solo, it sounded like Page suddenly fell of a 10,000 foot cliff. Which I'm sure he intended.

Actually the Tyler situation was in the Zep biography books by Barney Hoskins and Mick Wall. Don't think any of them hold a candle to previous Zep writers for falsehoods, the Tyler story is likely true. Remember, Aerosmith was cracking at the seams by then, forget even now.

Well O2 was very good, but the video-audio boot I got way before the Celebration Day release, they are different things. Plants voice got auto-tune in spots on Celebration Day, and the video and sonic engineering done to enhance the show isn't really what was experienced if you were at the show.. But then for quite a time many thought Practically every amazing Page solo on the TSRTS soundtrack was off the cuff, live without a net. Well, THE GARDEN TAPES will re-educate you. And considering Post O2, Robert had very good reasons not to launch a Zep tour. But at the same time, I have felt except for a guitarist or two(Steve A. mentioned Buddy Miller, maybe Justin Adams as well) 75% of the time since FON Robert has employed guitarists way below his talent level. Well, Rod Stewar did the same, as did many other vocalists once untethered of their prime band. And post O2, is it really true that Steven Tyler asked Page if he could bring in his" house" hitmaking team since Tyler heard no hooks in Page's material ? Page probably felt as if the carpet was pulledfrom under his feet, but I wouldn't be surprised if just a little later Page was rolling around laughing his head off at this hysterical and preposterous motion by Tyler. Jimmy is human too,a misstep here or there, but he is a artist with a capital A.

Well, absolutely , a one off. He never said anything about a tour. Of course he can do what he wants, and he does. Pretty much since FON Robert in most cases insists upon working with guitarists who are rather mediocre Yes men. And Jimmy insists upon insisting that a solo career will be forthcoming. I just pointed out that the rehearsals for the 07' show themselves struck a match. But, I must admit, Robert got very unfairly hammered because of the whole de-tuning thing, and lost in this insult was that Robert still blows away the vast majority of rock vocalists. Robert had to change his style/approach even during Zeppelin after the surgery, and I even can appreciate that "period" of downtime. I mean, after 07' some famous musicians chimed in rather brutally about Robert. Also open for discussion, had Jimmy played the show like the 88' Atlantic Records debacle, he would have been savaged and NOT have been into a tour just for the money. But that's of course why he really stepped up to the plate and did almost whatever necessary to ensure at least a decent outcome.

Huge thing missing.... IMO the rehearsal(s)were more interesting and creative than the main show. Page actually rattled off some amazing pitch shifted/oddly echoed solos. Someone did say Robert was half speaking the words, but even so that made it more interesting when he got hot and bothered. And, , as mentioned, Jones has lost nothing. Not a ironclad scenario for more shows, but Robert really seemed to have more excuses than good explanations for no more shows. I don't really buy the comparisons with the other older bands because although they may only have half the original members, I have seen shows, they play a lot, are well rehearsed( sometimes better than in their heyday !!), often play songs never played when they were much younger, and don't always use auto-tune, etc. But, Zep's music, it's true, on stage the players need laser focus.

Well this just shows how chaotic the "bootleg world" can be, interesting stuff I and many others had probably not known. Also even Zep had to use audience shot footage in the HTWWW at points. Without boots and all these smoke and mirrors scenarios, you'd lose a lot of fun and adventure, and probably some cash on unscrupulous operators.

Page was known to be a bit inconsistent even at excellent/great shows. First Eddie said Jimmy played like he had broken fingers. Although around the same time EVH did mention Zep l and Zep ll were great albums. Later on as I said Eddie did praise Page as a visionary if a bit erratic technically. Also, it's rock solid that no one except Millard ever heard the 6/21/77 show before the "official release" in 83'-84' ? Of course Millard is the man, but you're talking underground and bootleg stuff. I'm sure some bootleg fans don't even realize that in Zep's time the original sources for shows were small tape recorders, ?? small reel to reels ??, a few boards, and taping a vinyl boot !!!( possible EQ tweaks, fake stereo, noise reduction, blah, blah.). So when was "Destroyer"(the 27th, a weak show) officially released ? I saw it in a few record stores and flea markets, 4-disc vinyl set. Strider by the way made some excellent points, some of these shows were circulating not that much later than the shows themselves.

I just have to point something out in case it's not known. I have a few EVH interviews from the late 80's on, and Eddie doesn't quite take back his earlier statements. But he does say he would love to get inside Jimmy's brain to see how he came up with his brilliant compositions, and also says when Jimmy solos, he speaks. But then Eddie says Jimmy also doesn't always pull off or execute his ideas live, and to some degree I think Eddie has a point. Interestingly enough, although Eddie has incredible chops, if you listen to early live VH boots, Eddie often plays incredibly raw AND sometimes has to cut a solo short to get back to the song, just like Jimmy sometimes.

Maybe Jimmy for the 50th will remaster his authorized photo book. I think any object that exists can be remastered. So don't lose hope. Maybe posters and tour programs, and legit Zep t-shirts will be remastered. Ha Ha.

The key here is more Robert as far as any substantial time off, than anything else. Besides Jimmy's comments, I really think noone said much about the future, because Robert as well didn't want to do the 80' US Tour pt.1. And Robert had had it with Zep's somewhat gangsterish atmosphere and Jimmy's almost shocking decline in physical health and playing skill due at least in part to the addiction(s)' taking over. About 6,7 years into Robert's solo career, in various interviews he would mention in a veiled manner how late Zep was heavily compromised by the addictions and lack of practice which to him hurt the live shows.

What I find unfortunate is that it seems very apparent that Plant and Jones likely beyond those first box sets and remasters (early 90's) have given Jimmy a free hand in almost all future releases. I can't Imagine JPJ, steady and mellow as he is,accepting those almost criminal cuts in NQ . And Plant may have heard some of those lopsided changes to his voice in the movie/soundtrack, but I'm not sure Robert feels it's worthwhile to go wrestle with Jimmy . Zep has become a gigantic pyramid in music, but especially since that 2007 TSRTS release, Jimmy has cheapened the Zep Gold Standard, where every release really meant something and was very worthwhile.

The challenge here is with minor exceptions Jimmy and Bonzo are pretty much staying with a script, the usual improvisation would not advance the song, Of course this is the mark of master musicians. On the other hand, Plant has more leeway, but even his "ad-limbs" fit and add more depth to the song. And JPJ, with the keys, mellotron, and later synths, probably had the most freedom with changing the arrangement....although just a bit. My fave is the TSRTS 7/28 one, although I've never heard a bad version. Interesting that even the 80' Europe tour had damn good renditions of this song.

Well I think the touring, back then it wasn't so easy to find good vegetarian food except in the largest cities, and not sure Jimmy would ante up all the delivery costs and hassles involved. I do remember reading that Jimmy was stuck many times with room service, and usually that was hamburgers and fries. Jimmy was vain, but I can't really see him watching his weight, unless you mean avoiding underweight, which of course would affect his playing. Even the Heroin, don't know if the weight loss was 100% drug related. Perhaps a stupid explanation, but when Zep started in with all the accidents and "bad luck", there are a few mentions that Jimmy was pretty unnerved and psychologically affected pretty negatively by all the bad events and vibes surr ounding the band starting somewhere about 75'. .???

Well Steve A. would know best but Jimmy was shipped off to a "health farm" once or twice in the mid to late seventies with some member of management( I think Phil Carson). However it was to fatten Jimmy up, some fans still don't know that Jimmy had a very sensitive stomach even before Zep. Overall heavy touring seemed to really aggravate his stomach trouble. Also there is speculation that Jimmy totally changed his blood before going to play in the U.S. ARMS shows, not sure if his previous U.K drug convictions mandated this. Or if that made withdrawal symptoms easier from heroin. Formal rehab, don't think so.

What about Jimmy apparently getting totally pissed off because some of the Shepperton shots showed he had gotten a little potbelly ? Or is this a cooked up scenario, although Richard Cole ( to believe or not to believe!?!??) had often said Page was quite vain.