A great thing about Jimmy is that as previously stated his playing kept changing, usually for the better except IMO parts of 77' and most of 80'. No Quarter from 77' could be amazing, but in actuallity Jonesy juggles the blues bits a little and to my ears Jimmy is just not catching the change, ever. If it was true dissonance on his part, he would play some in key licks, no just always never catch Jonesy's change. TUF 80' is another matter, Jimmy does some very interesting stuff with his wah and echo, along with a lot of successful dissonance licks. The dissonance stuff IMO was always there, started with live D&C. Sometimes though in D&C live 71'-72' on, after the bow solo, Jimmy in parts sounds like he's playing thrash metal leads without distortion. And Bonzo is doing the thrash drum thing, at times !! I still prefer 73' overall, as the band had much time to jell. Early on there were great gigs too , but awkward spots, and some songs hadn't grown yet into their later legendary status.

Well to correct, Jimmy's dbl-neck was about 12-13 pds. The exact replicas were(250 made) very close. However many mass production models were easily 14-16 pds. The ridiculous number that I quoted rather foolishly must have been the guitar in one of those bulletproof 4' by 6' travel cases, though I should have realized that. HA HA HA, but still rather interesting how Page appeared so weak yet was able to so easily balance the dbl-neck with one hand. I'm pretty strong and that 12 pd LP I have, I can't easily do that.

What I should have mentioned is that the mass production models( not Page's custom made for him by Gibson) are weight relieved and are not the same guitar in other respects. Around 2007-8 ? they released a total replica of Page's ES-1275, only 100 made or a low number. The 34 pds number is indeed ridiculous, but the site was spot on for all else. Perhaps with the case, but I have a 71' Gibson LP that's 12 pds. That's heavy mahogany and pretty sure Page's double-neck is heavily mahogany. However I am really going to check this out. I do know for a fact the mass made models are much lighter than Page's. Now investigate......assume nothing.

I tend to agree with Europe( Germany in particular) 73'. Much states playing that year as well. 73' is when Jimmy would play solos that sometimes sounded like 2or 3 guitars talking back to each other. Actually kind of a blues technique, but far advanced. And Jimmy had excellent technique, how about those shredding solos jumping all over the neck, colliding with each other, before the " San Francisco" bits in D&C ?? There is great stuff all over the place, even bits of 80'. Some would say, well Jimmy kept growing as a player past 73', but the sloppiness started to drown the style expansion.

I find it hard to believe Jimmy and Robert were never friends. The accounts of the stays at Bron-Yr-Aur, and the pictures from the Headley Grange sessions look like rather happy affairs. However as time went on with the drugs and unease with the management's mafia like behavior, I really think Robert maybe thought Jimmy had no problem with all this madness. And Robert wanted more control, as well. As far as Jason he did very well in 07', but I've never heard him play close to any Zep boot where his father sounds like some ancient Roman battle is being simulated. I never would expect that, but it is what it is.

Well Bonzo never said anything, but actually when did he ever say much. I believe Jimmy's talk with Bonzo, despite some rather considerable fibbing by Jimmy in many matters. Everyone knows Jimmy because of drugs/alcohol etc.,, was a minor player in ITTOD. Still excellent guitar playing, some amazing solos, but little songwriting/composing. Jimmy served one master: heroin. Remaining in his blitz state, he would restore Zep to it's true hard rock legacy. HA HA HA. I suppose Jimmy also thought the Euro 80' trek was their most powerful tour ever.

Well all I can say is that Jimmy must have practiced a lot before the 98' tour. Going back to P/P 95'-96' , there were probably 25% great shows almost no flaws, 25% very good to excellent shows, the rest good but some erratic spots. Again, Jimmy MUST have seriously upped his practicing even from 95'-96'. I've never seen or heard anything from 98' that wasn't at least excellent. For me even going from 73' to 75' live Zep Jimmy had started tapering off a bit, so not sure bout' maintaining the consistency and excellence of 98' for years later. Hard to judge the Crowes thing because at some points there were 4 guitarists on stage, although Jimmy passed with flying colors recreating Zep studio style.

Yeah. The spectacular gold-plated musical legacy of Zeppelin stands shining with only very minor tarnish. For true touring 98' was a fine place to full stop, with Robert and Jimmy in very powerful form. Although I do not like much of Robert's output since Fate of Nations, I salute him for stopping ongoing Zep when he did. Not many have mentioned that there could never be any firm grasp as to whether Jimmy could continue playing like he did in 98', I'm sure Robert realized that as well as his weariness of a Zep nostalgia show, regardless of continued vitality.

Well there you go, excellent, versatile drummer. But there are still a few who may think you could get a "50%" Bonzo. No, not even 25%. Michael Lee was damn good, and Jason as well in 07'. It would be as drastic as having the rhythm section of the Jimi Hendrix Experience getting in some excellent guitarist after Jimi's death. The Experience also had some of the ESP thing Zep had, although they jammed practically twice as much as Zep live. But Zep, The Experience, after the "main ingredient(s)" gone, were like a 500 jigsaw puzzle piece picture missing 135 pieces, an impossible fix. Of course The Band of Gypsys' as well, etc.,.

Source: pg.433 " Led Zeppelin: When Giants Walked The Earth". Author Mick Wall. Other Zep books mention this as well, the Wall book puts the reunion more on quicksand, others say the tour was almost out of the gate, etc. Doubtful numerous books made this up.

Could be Mike Bordin, sorry bad with names. Many Zep books nowadays mention that Robert pulled out of a Zep World tour(not with Jason) literally at the last minutr in 90' or 91'. Much of the details of the tour supposedly were already done, Robert agreed at first. Probably would have gone very well, Jimmy was in excellent playing shape. In the end however it was IMO the right move, Robert didn't want the legacy tarnished. P/P in 95' couldn't really be called a reunion because no Jonesy and the vast reworkings of ? 10-12 Zep songs. Robert grew wary in 98' despite Page's spectacular return to amazing playing. Robert saw that the set list kept dropping WIC songs, and the show was becoming basically Zep without Jonesy or Bonzo. So he quit with some tour dates remaining. Don't blame him.

Some know this, some don't. When Zep was inches away from a worldwide tour in ( 91' ?) almost positive Plant wanted Scott Gorham from Faith No More as drummer. Plant actually said at one point of Jason( around that time) "He's not that good". Gorham was no Bonzo but was a first rate very versatile drummer. Not trying to knock Jason, but at that almost reunion tour , judging a bit from the Outrider tour with Jimmy, Jason occasionally played near his father's level, but overall maybe just above average at most. He also may have been a liability due to the drug/ alcohol problems he had. Possible spelling mistake, Gorham, or Gorman ??

Absolutely not. There is the strong friendship, and ESP playing live among members. Then IMO Bonzo being possibly the best rock musician ever, let alone best drummer.

Well to a certain extent most legendary musicians spend much time alone refining their skills, especially before they got famous. EVH, Hendrix, Page, etc., may have been monsters on stage, but were quite shy otherwise. Some people may think that rock guitarists are just like everyone else except they play guitar. But sure, anyone can be self absorbed.

And If I recall, that 85' Queen album( The "Game" ??) didn't do too well where I lived, neither "Hot Space". But the band was trying new things for sure. For some reason if I think of Zep with Bonzo, I just run into a huge featureless white space had they continued on. Total blank spot. And about Jimmy's fragile state, etc., there are many contradictions about continuing touring. Remember that even a totally straight Jimmy in the 60's had to quit touring with some pre-"Birds" group. I believe that before the drugs/alcohol Jimmy may have been overly sensitive, but also quite strong willed and disciplined. So even though I doubt he even weighed 120 pds in 80'( when I was 17 I was 5'11 and 125 pds, still not skeletal like Page) Jimmy was still very enthusiastic about playing live, and that dbl-neck---that's like 34 pds, yet Jimmy could throw it around no problem. But then in some 77'-80' gigs he barely moved--no sleep? Coke benders ? bonafide stomach trouble(confirmed) ??. Many contradictions.

What you said about the punks was very insightful. Funnily enough there's a Jimmy Page interview before Knebworth where he recalls reading letters from fans. The fans mentioned punk but said they got into Zep because of the musical content. Certainly bands like the Clash, The Damned, and Black Flag etc. had some good musicianship. Still, punk bands mostly were very repetitive and were not designed for more than a 30-45 minute set. A good thing in a way, but limited in other ways. I think some of the huge bands of the 70's adopted some of the new technology of the 80's, but totally changing their approach, hmmm.... . Queen definetly did it, but the Stones, Floyd IMO just tried to not repeat themselves. Actually a band like Asia(except for the keys player) totally went from prog epics to hummable top 40 hits, as to an extent did Yes. But many dropped the forced change back to the original vision(Santana,the Kinks(quite abruptly)etc.,.

If you want to split hairs on this, many groups including the Beatles in the mid to late 60's used mid eastern influences. Zep did it like noone else before or since, that's why many groups swinging for the fences in that "style"( yes, beyond any actual style) fail miserably.

Kashmir, absolutely. I wouldn't say much of the song is technically hard, however Zep did kind of invent this rock "substyle". JPJ was familiar with mid-eastern music, even playing wise, whereas the others could play something but were more fans of that style. So all around(composing and recording) this song was likely a monster project.

It's pretty obvious Robert's ego slowly started to balloon starting soon after Zep up to the great "Fate of Nations", and went atomic afterwards. There is a story that pror to the Shaken' n' Stirred album, Plant sent Robbie Blunt a guitar synth. Not only did Plant want Blunt to master it, he sent the bill to Blunt($2000). Now you know a bit why some of the sounds on the album are so cheesy. Even in 85'( even now, actually) guitar synths were toys for guitarists to play around with at home, and a good keyboard/synth could almost always sound better than a guitar synth, and do emulations of other instruments better. And concerning Jimmy. Not slogging other musicians like Robert, Jimmy retains a certain humbleness and reserve despite his superstar status. Jimmy has made some "musical" lapses of judgement, but probably looks askance at Robert's self righteous ease of insult of others. Please fix the doubling thing, if possible.

Why should Jimmy have had an issue with Coverdale in that interview, since he wasn't shackled into that project ?? I guess you could say Jimmy should have had an issue then with Paul Rodgers. Jimmy had much praise for Paul's voice, but said a few times he wanted to attempt some more adventurous musical terrain, which was done a little bit, but it was kind of implied that Paul wanted to stay in his comfort zone.

That's typical Robert. Dismissing former collaborators. And even feeling a bit embarrassed going back to Zep, when the band's operandi was to create a musical and visual juggernaut never seen before or since. As if musical exuberance in youth or very early middle age is unforgivable and silly.

All this going back and forth is very interesting. But also sad and ridiculous, considering all the potentially great collaborations and possibilities lost. Seems like no one talks to anyone else( although I thought Jimmy and Robert were spotted looking rather friendly numerous times outside the courthouse in the STH lawsuit). I think it is worthwhile to put the microscope more on Jimmy, because obviously with him you're damned if you do, and damned if you don't.If he actually spent a while crafting an hour worth of non Zep sounding excellent material, you may even see Plant back. And even not, there would be no shortage of great musicians breaking down his door. AAhh... sorry the acid kicked in halfway thru my Po!.&@st. PO#>ST.

Never were Plant and Jonesy buddies. During the ITTOD sessions, they were drinking pints of Pimm's, a normal musician activity but unlikely done among "mild" aquaintances. During Zep, Jones called on Page twice (documented) that certain sections of Kashmir and ALS wouldn't mesh with Page's various guitar parts(actually they worked). But correcting Plant, find me an example. Then in 86' with the short lived Zep rehearsal reunion, after the sessions Plant invited everyone to some tavern to drink, but Page(perhaps he was attempting to get soberr) never showed. I don't think Plant totally dislikes Jonesy, but certainly there is some strange energy there. It doesn't help that Plant himself sometimes says some rather contradictory things in the same interview.

Ha Ha. Many have complained about that powerful but somewhat shrill and obtrusive Alembic bass. File that in with that ?($5000) Yamaha keyboard which sounded like a Toy's R Us kid keyboard. Sorry about these double entries, I have tried everything to eliminate them. Perhaps there are saboteurs afoot, or I really am a computer moron.

Well certainly C. Jones and Michael Lee weren't seen as up to Zep's "real" rhythm section. However, have you ever actually seen P/P live in 98', or heard/seen audio/videos of their shows ?? Page was a little erratic but still usually good at least in 95'. 98', Page came out all guns blazing, quite a few critics and fans will attest he played fantastic, even as good as Zep. Plant wasn't weak by any standard, either. Not Zep but Lee and C.Jones weren't a farce by any means. Perhaps you've seen some of those shows or heard them. Many people just automatically assume it couldn't possibly be any good, without actually hearing the shows. Forget WIC... Live the songs were much more potent.