50 years ago this week, John Bonham, John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page and Robert Plant convened in Olympic Studios in London to begin recording their debut album as Led Zeppelin. To celebrate this historic golden anniversary, the band have unveiled three new digital-only releases today on all digital download and streaming platforms. Led Zeppelin x Led Zeppelin: https://lnk.to/LZxLZ An Intro to Led Zeppelin: https://lnk.to/IntroToLZ Rock & Roll (Sunset Sound Mix): https://lnk.to/LZxRnRFr #LZ50

Led Zeppelin are pleased to announce that Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones are collaborating with Reel Art Press to publish the official illustrated book celebrating 50 years since the formation of the group. Coming 2018. For updates please visit reelartpress.com

Here are some never-before-seen fan photos from Led Zeppelin's legendary Carnegie Hall (October 17, 1969) appearance. A group of 15 year-old fans captured their experience at the 8:30pm (early show) from the 10th row. They describe a lack of security, except for Carnegie Hall ushers and were free to venture up to the front of the stage for a few pics as well. Amazingly, these photos also reveal Jimmy Page's first photographed live use of his Black Beauty Les Paul during Led Zeppelin and confirms it was brought to North America for this fall 1969 tour. http://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/october-17-1969

The Song Remains the Same soundtrack - attempted review...

Jimmy Page and Joe Elliott to appear at Classic Rock Awards Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott latest stars revealed to be attending Classic Rock Roll Of Honour in Tokyo Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page and Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott are the latest stars to be added to the lineup for the 2016 Classic Rock Roll Of Honour. Page and Elliott are announced alongside Philippine superstars Sarah Geronimo and Bamboo and will join the previously announced artists Jeff Beck, Cheap Trick, Kirk Hammett of Metallica, Phil Collen of Def Leppard, Richie Sambora, Orianthi and Thai band Slot Machine. This year's Classic Rock Roll Of Honour is being held in Japan for the first time, with the ceremony taking place on November 11 at Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium in Tokyo – the spiritual home of sumo wrestling. TeamRock Chief Executive Billy Anderson says: "TeamRock are delighted to have Jimmy Page and Joe Elliott joining us for what will be an incredible celebration of rock music. Rock musicians don't come much more 'classic' than Jimmy Page and to have him and Jeff Beck – two masters of their trade – together at the Classic Rock Roll Of Honour in Tokyo will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. "And few bands have had the continued success that Def Leppard have enjoyed for so many years. Joe Elliott is an international rock icon and we are thrilled that he will be there with us in Japan. "When you consider the other artists lined up to appear, we can guarantee that the Ryogoku Kokugikan Stadium is set for a night that will live long in the memory of anyone lucky enough to be there." Jeff Beck will be given the highest honours on the night and he has announced that he will be assembling his own special band of musicians for the event. Beck’s band includes an all­-star cast featuring the brothers Dean and Robert DeLeo of Stone Temple Pilots on guitar and bass. He will also be joined by guitarist Tommy Henriksen, of US-based supergroup Hollywood Vampires, and Korn drummer Ray Luzier. Tickets for the event are available now, via Ticketbis. http://teamrock.com/news/2016-09-23/jimmy-page-and-joe-elliott-to-appear-at-classic-rock-awards

That's from the Teen-Clubs Copenhagen newsletter/programme, March 1969. http://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/march-15-1969 The photo was taken in Sept. '68. We do have a print of it in the band's archive, but no others from this exact session that I recall. There's also a few from this session, which is from generally the same time:

"Led Zeppelin Day" proclaimed today in Denver on 50th anniversary of band's first US concert Fifty years ago today, December 26, 1968, Led Zeppelin played its first ever concert in the U.S., opening a show for Vanilla Fudge at Colorado’s Denver Auditorium Arena. In honor of the milestone, the Mayor’s Office of the City and County of Denver has proclaimed today “Led Zeppelin Day.” To commemorate the show, a plaque and a sculpture depicting Led Zeppelin’s Denver performance has been created by a local artist. It’ll be presented to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame at a special event next year and will go on permanent display at the institution in Morrison, Colorado. The event may also feature an exhibit of Led Zeppelin memorabilia and guest appearances. As the Hall of Fame’s executive director, Chris Daniels, explains, Vanilla Fudge had to convince local promoter Barry Fey to include Led Zeppelin on the concert bill by offering to pay half of Zeppelin’s requested $1,500 fee out of their own proceeds from the show. “Thanks to the mayor for helping to promote the long history of music in Colorado and to the family of Barry Fey, who had the vision to bring a young British band to Colorado for their debut concert in the U.S.,” Daniels says in a statement. According to LedZeppelin.com, the songs that the band played at its first U.S. show were “Train Kept a Rollin’,” “I Can’t Quit You Baby,” “As Long as I Have You,” “Dazed and Confused,” “White Summer/Black Mountainside” and “How Many More Times.” Interestingly, the Denver concert also featured a set by Spirit, the band whose song “Taurus” Led Zeppelin has been accused of ripping off to create “Stairway to Heaven.” Copyright © 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. http://www.classichitsandoldies.com/v2/98516/

Also see this thread for related posts:

news report: Led Zeppelin played their first U.S. show in Denver Author: Mike Grady https://www.9news.com/article/entertainment/led-zeppelin-played-their-first-us-show-in-denver/73-c7a932b8-a914-43ea-a416-e260a278b2b9 Dec. 28, 1968: It was a historic night and a loud introduction of a band to a new country. Colorado is a beautiful place to play music. Whether it’s strumming a guitar while swinging in a hammock in the mountains or playing to a sold-out crowd at Red Rocks. It’s something many musicians have learned over the years, and something one group of rock-and-roll legends first learned half a century ago. “Led Zeppelin was added to a bill that was headlined by Vanilla Fudge and Spirit at the Auditorium Arena. It was a sold out show the day after Christmas in 1968,” G. Brown explained. Brown is the executive director of Colorado Music Experience and has been covering the music scene in town since he was 15. He can easily recall the story of Led Zeppelin’s first U.S. concert that night in Denver. “Led Zeppelin’s agent, the soon-to-be omnipotent Frank Barcelona, called Barry Fey - the local promoter - and asked him if he’d put them on the bill,” Brown said. “Fey said no because there was no need. The show was sold out. Barcelona drove a hard bargain asked if they could get paid 500 bucks. Fey said sure. Led Zeppelin - not even on the ticket - showed up, did an opening set that apparently wowed the crowd, and set them on their path to stardom.” It was early in the band’s career. Guitarist Jimmy Page had the most experience touring from his time playing in The Yardbirds. Other band members had to adjust a lot more to life on the road, including singer Robert Plant. “[He] was 20 years old,” Brown said. “He tells the story about how it was the end of the world for him to be away from England over Christmas. He also told me in later years that he definitely recalled that he couldn’t believe that the promoter could charge the backstage catering back to the band,” Brown said with a laugh. “That was his introduction to the fabulous concert biz.” The show is documented in Thomas MacCluskey’s review for the Rocky Mountain News. “The concert was ranked off by another heavy, the Led Zeppelin, a British group making its first U.S. tour,” MacCluskey wrote. A photo of Page sawing on his guitar with a violin bow appears in the band’s book: LED ZEPPELIN BY LED ZEPPELIN published by Real Art Press. “Reportedly, at the Denver show, they debuted things that would become their trademarks in concert,” Brown said. “Jimmy Page taking a bow to his guitar strings, and John Bonham playing an extended drum solo.” It was a historic night and a loud introduction of a band to a new country.

50 Years Ago today, Led Zeppelin played their first American concert in Denver. Here's a radio interview with promoter Barry Fey (from 2012): December 26, 2018 The Denver Auditorium Hosted The First Live Led Zeppelin Concert in the U.S. on December 26, 1968. To Honor This Occasion, Feyline and The Pineapple Agency Collaborate With City and County of Denver to Proclaim the Day "Led Zeppelin Day." DENVER (PRWEB) - Today is the 50th anniversary of the first live performance of English rock legends Led Zeppelin in the U.S., which occurred at the Denver Auditorium on December 26, 1968. To commemorate this date as one of the most important moments in rock and roll history, the City and County of Denver's Mayor Office has proclaimed December 26th Led Zeppelin Day, where a plaque will be presented to the Colorado Music Hall of Fame at an upcoming special event in 2019. Fans of the iconic band may not know the Denver Auditorium was the first venue to host Led Zeppelin in America. At the time, late concert promoter Barry Fey almost turned down the act. In order to convince Fey, headline act Vanilla Fudge paid half the cost to book Led Zeppelin, adding them to the lineup just 10 days prior to the show. Many in the crowd had no idea the group was added. Those who were there were reportedly so impressed they flooded the local FM rock station KLZ with calls requesting to hear the band. "Congratulations to Colorado music fans and the family of concert promoter Barry Fey (inducted in 2012) for the Mayor and City of Denver's proclamation designating December 26, 2018 as Led Zeppelin Day commemorating the band's legendary 1st U.S. appearance right here in Denver in 1968," said Chris Daniels, Executive Director of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame. "Thanks to the Mayor for helping to promote the long history of music in Colorado and to the family of Barry Fey, who had the vision to bring a young British band to Colorado for their debut concert in the U.S. They opened for Vanilla Fudge at the old Denver Auditorium. Back then tickets were just $5 and the band was paid a total of $1,500, half of which came from Vanilla Fudge's proceeds from the concert. The Colorado Music Hall of Fame presented by Comfort Dental will be proud and honored to display the plaque at our home at the Trading Post at Red Rocks."

Rare group portrait during rehearsals at Manticore Studios in London, January 1977 for the upcoming tour of America. Seen for the first time in the official 50th anniversary book ‘Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin’ published by ReelArtPress. Photo ©Pennie Smith.

Rare photos from the Whisky a-Go-Go, West Hollywood, CA, January 1969. Seen for the first time in the official 50th anniversary book 'Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin' published by ReelArtPress (Photos courtesy of Robert Plant)

By Feyyaz Ustaer | December 11, 2018 In a recent article published by Music Radar, Rush frontman and bassist Geddy Lee has shared his favorite bass guitarists. He also revealed his thoughts about Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones. Here’s the statement: “What a complete musician. He began as keyboard player before picking up the bass. Even before Led Zep, he was one of the most popular studio musicians in London at that time. You’re talking about the London sound! He played on all those Mickie Most records and was an arranger as well. His role in Zeppelin was a lot more profound that people credit him with. He could play keys, had an ear for arrangements and wrote great bass parts – just listen to what he does on What Is And What Should Never Be. Full props to John Paul Jones for contributing to my book. We had met before – he’s such a lovely and easy guy to talk to. He made it easy for me as an interviewer; I was on the other side of the table, which was a new gig for me! He has revealed the untold story about him and said: He has such amazing stories. I was looking for people that could light on the period of time and were also collectors. I didn’t just pick great bass players, because that’s a list that never ends. That day when I interviewed him – here in London about a year ago – he sat there fiddling around while we got ready. He played Heartbreaker and everyone in the room stopped talking and moving. It was all about one man on his ’62 Jazz Bass.” https://metalheadzone.com/rush-frontman-reveals-the-untold-story-about-led-zeppelin-bassist-john-paul-jones/

ROBERT PLANT Scandinavia 2019 TOUR DATES: https://www.robertplant.com/timetable Jun 13, 2019 Gröna Lund Stockholm, Stockholm County https://link.seated.com/0025f665-8743-4a15-852a-0c670dc83b4d Jun 15, 2019 Bergenfest Bergen, Hordaland https://link.seated.com/c64e6ab8-ebab-45d8-bb12-cbcdc0e93c12 Jun 17, 2019 The Big Challenge Festival Trondheim, Sor-Trondelag https://link.seated.com/3f4d1cb7-9c2f-4e7b-948a-b0d6107e942c Jun 19, 2019 Harstad Kulturus Harstad, Troms https://link.seated.com/8340f453-d7a2-410a-8d80-23e57bf861ef Jun 21, 2019 Bodohallen Bodø, Nordland https://link.seated.com/e10d2924-3103-4ba4-a197-ba7de894a6fd Jun 25, 2019 Driv Tromsø, Troms https://link.seated.com/e4b949d0-7379-43d6-8cee-c0c69400323d Jun 27, 2019 Svalbard Huset Longyearbyen, Svalbard https://link.seated.com/8048221d-8792-491d-a26d-a3118fb65b61 Jun 29, 2019 Svalbard Huset Longyearbyen, Svalbard https://link.seated.com/77babffd-d98e-4125-ab91-33f9d81662a8 Jul 2, 2019 Fredriksten Fortress Halden, Ostfold https://link.seated.com/0aa89ec5-d2c3-4dd6-860c-2d137899323e

Earliest known portrait session of the band from 1968. This contact sheet is seen for the first time in the official 50th anniversary book 'Led Zeppelin by Led Zeppelin' published by ReelArtPress. Photo courtesy of Pat Bonham.

Rush’s Geddy Lee Talks Massive New Bass Book, Meeting John Paul Jones Lee details the “treasure hunt” obsession that fueled his ‘Big Beautiful Book of Bass’ and how the project revitalized his creative process https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rush-geddy-lee-bass-book-interview-767961/ Excerpt: Q: A cool side perk of writing this book was that you got to interview so many iconic bassists. Obviously Led Zeppelin was a huge influence on early Rush, so it’s fitting that you spoke with John Paul Jones. Geddy: First of all, he’s an incredibly lovely guy. If you ever have the opportunity to sit down with one of your heroes, it’s never an easy situation — it’s always a bit nerve-racking, and you never know what to expect. When I started putting the book together, I realized, “This kind of book can be really dry. How do you bring these pieces of wood and plastic and metal to life? You show the people who played them.” That led me on two directions: stock photographs going back to the period that show the people that I listened to holding these instruments; through my memories and nostalgia we have a connection between that instrument, the time it was made, and the bands in England or the U.S. that were playing them. The other thing is talking to people who played them or collected them and can bring more insight than I can possibly bring in my seven-, eight-year experience collecting. I could have very happily done a book of nothing but talks with bass players. But it wasn’t just about just choosing the greatest bass players in the world — that’s an endless list, and there are a lot of guys I would have loved to sit down with for an hour or two; but if they didn’t have a strong connection to the theme of the collection, then I didn’t feel it was appropriate to call them up. John, for example, was perfect for me because a) he was such an influential player in my life; b) he plays what I consider the greatest period of Fender Jazz Bass, a ’62, on all those early Zep albums; and c) he’s a lovely guy. He’s the perfect combination of someone to interview. He took my request very seriously. I sent him a letter saying, “Here’s what Im doing. I would love to sit down with you for an hour and talk about your first or favorite instrument.” He showed up ant my place in the U.K., paid for his own taxi, brought two basses with him, came over for the afternoon. He originally used this bass that he no longer owned. He actually tracked one down and purchased it so he could show me what his original bass was like. That shows the level of seriousness of the person. We just had a great talk. What I really wanted to get out of people like him and Bill Wyman were their memories and motivation — what was it like in the early Sixties to go shopping for a bass? We’re talking about basses that are 50, 60 years old now, but there are a few guys around still who knew what was available to a young player in London in the late Fifties, early Sixties. What kind of basses did you dream of owning? How were these basses that are in the book acquired, and could you afford to acquire them? All these bassists began their lives on cheaper instruments, and they made do with what they could get and aspired to these better ones. It was really fascinating. (2010 photo)