Opinions are like rear ends: Everyone's got one, and here's mine: Inconsistency of Robert Plant's lyric writing. His lyrics range from cosmic highs to generic school boy scribblings. Too many of the songs are written about him losing his woman and/or love. Not expecting him to be Bob Dylan, but he never really wrote anything meaningfully deep. "We just want it to be about the music, maaaan." Speaking of Percy, some of his lyrics were indecipherable anyway, especially later on. Lockjaw from too much coca? The Companion Discs. I understand a lot of the stuff was already out there illegally, but most of the songs sound 98% like the original release. Would liked to have hear more songs in their embryonic stages (see The Beatles "Anthology" discs). No audio releases of complete concerts, say from 1975 or even 1980. Who cares if they weren't perfect sounding? Not putting "The Rover" on the Houses of the Holy album instead of "D'yer Mak'er."

Interesting question! I would hazard a guess that Bonham did not know of Peart's playing, due to Rush's lack of popularity in England in the 1970s. Rush didn't get really famous in England (Bonham's home) until their 1980 album release, "Permanent Waves," (Spirt of Radio, Freewill) as the album charted in the U.K. charts to the #3 position. [Previously, I believe, only 1977's "A Farewell to Kings" charted in the U.K. to #22, probably because of the "Closer to the Heart" track.] Rush's 1981 "Moving Pictures" (Tom Sawyer, Limelight) help them to become even more famous, but by then, sadly Bonham had departed us. Was Bonham a fan of (what we now call) "classic rock" back in late 1970s, 1980? It was somewhat uncool to be during that period in England -- and maybe one of the reasons why Zeppelin steered "In Through the Out Door" to a more "pop," less hard rock sound overall. If John did hear Peart's playing, it may have been on the 1977 tour in the U.S.? I don't know. Like other posters here have commented, probably the only person who might know is his son, Jason.

Yes, I remember seeing this interview somewhere before and remember the "frying tonight" comment. Thanks for the upload. Not sure if it correlates to For Your Life, though.

One of my all-time favorite Zep tunes, but always wondered a few things about this song: 1) "Try it fryin' " refers to free-basing cocaine, correct? If so, Zep (in late 1975) possibly was on the forefront to know about this practice before it became common public knowledge of how to do that, I believe, in the later 1970s/early 1980s. Free-basing wasn't invented until 1970. [And, for you newbies, crack was not even invented yet]. And I only know this by what I read on The Internets -- 'cuz it never lies, correct? 2) Was this song referencing (in part) a death that occurred at Page's house while they were on tour in 1975? Or was this just a rumor (the death)? If so, not much more is know regarding the tragic circumstances, is there? Thanks.

I'm not British, but I took it to mean something making fun of Peter's girth/weight, as if he was on a diet, per se, and instead of just eating a salad -- he ended up eating an entire garden!

Yes, this has been my complaint for many a-year ... Plant should realize the musically historical significance of the Led Zeppelin catalog (being that it hovers very close to that of the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the rareified air of REALLY "classic rock") and set the record straight for once and all ... he says he's forgotten some of the lyrics, but if he sat down and took to the task seriously, I'm sure he could remember most --if not all-- of what he wrote. Otherwise, he's gonna end up with lunkheads like myself trying to guess at what he was singing ...

Robertt Plant around 1975 has said this song was about a rememberance of a woman whom he ended a relationship with (in 1964 or '65 as a sixteen-year-old making it 10 years?) who made him choose between her or his music, wondering if they could relate to each other anymore, and that she would probably be more concerned with her washing machine, and he, his latest sports car (or something like that) ... I'm gonna try to decipher his (many times) obtuse lyrics: Then, as it was, then again it will be and though the course may change sometimes rivers always reach the sea What will be, will be ... que sera, sera? Blind skies of fortune, each have separate ways He had to take the chance for fame & fortune; she took the safe/comfortable way out. On the wings of maybe, downing birds of prey Taking chances, but are 'birds' --English for 'chicks' slang for women-- of prey those who want to shoot him down? Kinda makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go but as the eagle leaves the nest, he's got so far to go Wishes he didn't have to leave her, but he had to take his chance at the life of a singer. Changes fill my time Baby, that's alright with me In the midst, I think of you and how it used to be Pretty straight-forward here; he found his fame & fortune, and is currently reminiscing about her. Did you ever really need somebody and really need 'em bad Did you ever really want somebody, the best love you ever had "First loves" can be pretty intense; is Plant saying she was the woman he loved most?? Or are these just some lyrics he had laying around in his notebook that he thought would fit in nice with the musical bridge? I really dont' know...(sorry, but the pun is totally unintended). Do you ever remember me, baby, did it feel so good 'cause it was just the first time, and you knew you would First love for the both of them? ... and is the 'you knew you would' part about (a) she would have to dump him eventually, or (b ) she knew she would fall in love? and/or have sex? I'm at a loss here ... Do the eyes not sparkle, senses growing keen Questioning if her life is utterly boring now. Taste the love along the way, see your feathers preen Whole lotta chicks for Percy, fixing up his looks before the concerts, or to 'pick up chicks.' Kinda makes me feel sometimes, didn't have to go We are eagles of one lair, the nest is in our soul Lair is a resting place for an animal; we all want the same things? A happy home? This seems a contradiction to what Percy's been saying in most of the song. Is he having second thoughts? Vixen in my dreams, with great surprise to me Never thought I'd see your face the way it used to be Hey, hey mama, said the way you move...; pretty straight-forward here. Oh, darlin', oh, darlin', oh, oh darlin', hey-yeah, oh darlin' I'm never gonna leave ya Wh-wh-what??? In fact, he DID leave her! Or is he trying to justify things in his mind that he has indeed found his resting place with his wife at the time? Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone Holding on to what? I know 'to hold on' means the same as 'to hang in there' against the odds, but is he pining for his first love, too? Seems to be. I'm never gonna leave ya Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone Ten years gone, holdin' on, yeah, yeah I said Ten years gone, holdin' on, ten years gone I said, I'm never, I'm never, I'm never, oh, woo, yeah, yeah

This is difficult, as I don't dislike many Zep tracks ... I: BLACK MOUNTAIN SIDE II: THANK YOU (I know I'm in the minority here, but if it helps, Living Loving Maid was a very close 2nd) III: THAT'S THE WAY (yep, I think Hats Off (to that Harper dude) is pretty cool) IV: GOING TO CALIFORNIA Houses: D'YER MAK'ER Graffiti: BOOGIE WITH STU (with Ten Years Gone a close 2nd) Presence: NOBODY'S FAULT BUT MINE Song Remains: RAIN SONG (live version sounds WAY too similar to studio release 'cept for Jonesy solo) THE OUT DOOR: FOOL IN THE RAIN (Hot Dog rocks) CODA: I CAN'T QUIT YOU BABY

I couldn't help but think Jimmy looks here like a scolding parent: "If I ever catch you kids again playing this gee-tar wa-a-a-y past your bedtime, I'm gonna take it away forever! Now GET TO SLEEP!!"

I like most of it. I think WE ALL were expecting something much more majestic, or timeless. Those days will never return, mainly because of Bonham's passing ... BEST SONGS: Most High, Upon a Golden Horse, Burning Up, House of Love, Walking Into Clarksdale OKAY SONGS: Blue Train (could have been shortened up), Shining In The Light, Please Read the Letter, Sons of Freedom WEAK SONGS: When the World Was Young, Heart in Your Hand, When I Was a Child But, that's like, just my opinion, maaaan.

I wouldn't say that rock 'n' roll has ever died, but certainly by 1978 rolled around (I know John Henry passed in 1980), it all seemed to have climaxed, as the creative peak that began in the mid-1950s with guys like Ike Turner & Little Richard, as well as the relatively unknown country singers AMPED to the tits on amphetamines doing fast versions of their music that would morph into what is known today as "rockabilly." Rock music would become more creative each and every year (with maybe the early 1960s being a dry period). Otherwise, rock music got better each year. Up until the end of 1977 did rock start to sputter and repeat itself. Even punk rock had its apex by then. Oh sure, there are still rock masterpieces still being created, but the past 30 years or so, they've seem few and far between. But that's just my opinion, man.

know or durr: BURNING DOWN ONE SIDE SLOW DANCER CALLING TO YOU TIE DYE ON THE HIGHWAY ENCHANTER honorable mention: Mystery Title, Network News, Takamba, Wreckless Love, Too Loud

Didn't Richard Cole (ugh) say that the members of the band in the early daze would refer to Jimmy as "the old lady," because he (not Robert) spent so much time in the mirror trying to get his hair 'just right'?

Hi LongDistanceWinner, My apologies; I was just trying to have a bit o' fun that evidently wasn't so evident! (I did write I was PLAYING the Ugly American; thought that was a hint). But I'm like that sometimes ... I probably have should just wrote that Robbie Williams is almost completely unknown over here, etc., Cliff Richard only had one charted song (I knew he was a legend across the pond), and Westlife I heard a girl mention to me once in the 1990s. It's just interesting how different the charts from one country to the next; how certain acts are HUGE in one place and unknown in another. I was just trying to point that out. I meant no offense ... All the best, dpat P.S.: The WTF bit was a take on how a certain ethnic group here in the States talks. That's what's a downer about writing: You don't hear the inflection in a person's voice to tell when he is serious or not. Of course, if I was a better writer we wouldn't have that problem...

From a view from the United States (I'll play The Ugly American): WTF is a Robbie Williams?!! Oasis has a so-so following over here; their biggest hit was "Wonderwall" or whatever it was called. All we hear is that the Gallagher brothers fight each other. Simply Red had a couple of hits (Holding Back the Years; If You Don't Blow Me Right Now) Only one hit (and a good 'un) for Cliff Richard: "(She's Just a) Evil Woman (with evil on her mind)" WTF is a Westlife?!! WTF is a Shadows? Weren't they a band from the 1950s? The band name sounds like they were surf rockers or something similar. If so, kudos to them.

Beavis & Butthead said while watching the OTHAFA promo vid for the first box set (the one w/the crop circles on the cover) that "the guys in Zeppelin had sex with chicks, probably more than twice." Heh heh. Heh heh!!

Yes, they do. I think Jeff had that hairstyle before Ronnie Wood. Even then, they might have got the style from Rod Stewart. Difficult to tell. Here's a link to Jeff & Ronnie playing Beck's hit at an ARMS concert, Ronnie isn't shown until about 5:00 into song.

You know you are getting a little jaded when the photogs have to bring strippers to keep you amused!! I never heard there were tensions for the photo shoot. If there were, my guesses are: --Bonzo mad as he did not know everyone else was going to show up as a fashionista. --Percy had to wear a tie (I don't think I've ever seen him wear one before or since). --Funny thing about Jimmy & His Hair, riding in a convertible to the shoot. What was it that Grant used to call him behind his back when Pagey used to primp his hair in the mirror?? --Jonesy was worried the strippers might be from New Orleans and/or were transvestites.

Most Layed Back: Tea For One Most Relaxing: Down By the Seaside

He took over for (probably) America's most famous TV host, Johnny Carson.

Jay Leno during the monologue beginning his Tonight Show (on Monday, Feb. 9th) evidently caught the Grammys and asked the audience (paraphrasing), "When did Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin turn into the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz?" They then showed on the screen a side by side comparion of the two (Percy and Cowardly Lion). I took a couple of tries myself at their comparison: http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=3379777 http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=3379572 Robert again was confronted with the inevitable question Sunday in the post-Grammy interview tent about his future involvement in any Zeppelin tour. "How old are you, man?" Plant responded. "Because you look older than me. You try to do 'Communication Breakdown' in these pants."

That's Bill Graham on the left ... BUT WHO IS THE DUDE ON THE RIGHT?? He is seen a lot backstage in The Song Remains the Same movie.