Great show last night....

Laurel Park's Not History But Has A Century Of It By: Rick Snider | 10/13/11 | Examiner Sports Columnist | Laurel Park has seen more revivals over the past century than a country preacher. Maybe there's another one coming. The thoroughbred track is celebrating its 100th anniversary Saturday, and in that century Secretariat, Seabiscuit and Led Zeppelin graced its oval. Kent Desormeaux rode a world record 598 winners in 1989, including one during which both his boots fell out of the irons in the stretch. Not bad for a track that started as a fair meeting and was the state's fourth-best venue -- maybe -- for many decades. Laurel drew 50,000 during the 1950s, when its international race attracted Russian horses during the Cold War. By the 1980s, the "faithful 5,000" were the only ones rattling around the aging facility. But track owner Frank De Francis turned Laurel into the "Maryland Miracle" shortly after his 1984 arrival. Behind giveaways and gimmicky bets, big TV screens attracting sports fans and simulcasts that allowed patrons to wager on races across the country every two minutes, Laurel became the lion of Mid-Atlantic racing. Bowie closed in the mid-1980s, ending the famed winter racing that attracted trainloads of New York and Philadelphia gamblers. Timonium shortened its "spa" summer meeting, and Pimlico essentially became the Preakness Stakes festival each spring. Meanwhile, Laurel chugged along like a nickel claimer trying to earn enough to pay for its oats. Too bad Maryland legislators were a decade late in approving slot machines. Neighboring states grew fat off their slot earnings as tracks. Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia choked Maryland racing into submission, luring away its top stables and riders. But those tracks will never have Maryland racing's history, which dates to 1743 and featured galloping through the cobblestone streets of Annapolis. George Washington's diaries mention his betting losses. Maryland raced while Kentucky was just an open prairie. Secretariat was among five Triple Crown winners that scored at Laurel, and immortals Kelso, Seabiscuit and Spectacular Bid also raced there. The first international race in the United States began there. The Maryland Million day for state-sired progeny -- meant to bolster the breeding industry -- became a national trend. Jockeys Chris McCarron, Sandy Hawley and Desormeaux started Hall of Fame careers in Maryland, while trainer King Leatherbury ranks third in career victories nationally. Even top musical acts played on the track apron, from Jethro Tull to Led Zeppelin. Sadly, Laurel's grandstand is largely empty again; bettors now wager on the Internet or from off-track parlors. The crowd no longer swarms to the paddock to watch trainers give final instructions to jockeys or see how horses warm up in the post parade. It's now mostly a numbers game -- minus the insider tips of the Nathan Detroits and Lemon Drop Kids in the stands. Still, there's nothing like rooting home a long shot, flashing the winning ticket to buddies while heading to cash in at the window. That's why Laurel remains, maybe for a century more. http://washingtonexa...-has-century-it

Press Conference - Tokyo, 9/30/72, Hilton Hotel. Info here: ledzeppelin.com/event/september-30-1972

Not sure if this has been covered before..... There's a Beatles book which chronicles all the rehearsal & studio tapes and I found this interesting reference to Zeppelin / John Bonham. -- January 22, 1969 -- Someone asks George if he already listened to the new record by Jimmy Page. "Jimmy Page", wasn't he the one who was in the Yardbirds?", he asks. The answer if affirmative, so George is told. The conversation continues: The largest group is talking at the table. The new band of Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, is briefly discussed. "John Paul Jones on bass, he is very young", someone says. And a kid called John Bonham on drums. He is unbelievable. Fantastic to hear this."

Classic Rock (UK) Aug. 2011

Kutiman's New Mash-Up Video for Black Dog

Thought someone might want to try to identify the girl.......

I remember seeing him perform Closer on the Tonight Show (I think it was) in the 80s. I'm pretty sure he did. (JPJ as well) There's a bootleg recording of it (audio).

JBLZE Article by noted author/journalist, Ritchie Yorke: http://www.jasonbonh...e_new_yorke.pdf [PDF]

Great work PlanetPage! Thank you.

Press Release | 5-24-2011 JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE CONCERT GARNERS MORE RAVE REVIEWS AS FIVE SHOWS REMAIN ON THE SECOND NORTH AMERICAN LEG INCLUDING THIS FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 27 AT THE GREEK THEATRE "Jason Bonham dropped the hammer of the gods on the Ogden Friday night. The son of John Bonham, the berserk-footed drummer of Led Zeppelin whose death in 1980 dethroned the greatest rock 'n' roll band of all time, directed a powerful, precise and yet personalized replica of Zeppelin that culled rabid response from the full house." --Jason Blevins, DENVER POST, (May 23, 2011) "This show was a gift to Zeppelin fans. It reminded us at once how incredible this music can be in the concert setting, and how significant the body of work Zeppelin created remains." --Jeff Miers, BUFFALO NEWS , May 10, 2011) JASON BONHAM's LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE concert has continued to garner more critical acclaim on the tour's in-progress second North American leg. Only a handful of dates remain for the show that has been hailed by Rolling Stone: "Led Zeppelin's magic was in effect …a rousing two-hour-plus set of classics from the Zep canon. The encore of 'Whole Lotta Love' coupled with 'Rock and Roll' earned a standing ovation" (Ritchie Yorke, October 10, 2010). The month-long spring trek will culminate this weekend including a not-to-be-missed show this coming Friday, May 27 in Los Angeles at the Greek Theatre. The show is a unique trifecta of a spectacular rock concert featuring the unforgettable blues-rock of Led Zeppelin, atmospheric video and light displays and the history that JASON BONHAM shares with the legendary rock n' roll band. It features BONHAM on drums, TONY CATANIA on guitar and theremin, STEPHEN LEBLANC on keyboards/pedal-steel guitars, MICHAEL DEVIN on bass and JAMES DYLAN on lead vocals. The group perform 20 iconic Led Zeppelin songs encompassing the band's albums including their 1969 debut Led Zeppelin ("Your Time Is Gonna Come," "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You," "Good Times Bad Times"), 1969's Led Zeppelin II ("Thank You," "Lemon Song" and "Moby Dick"); 1970's Led Zeppelin III ("Since I've Been Loving You" and "Celebration Day"); 1970's Led Zeppelin IV ("When The Levee Breaks," "Black Dog," and "Rock and Roll"); 1973's Houses Of The Holy ("The Ocean," "Over The Hills And Far Away"); 1975's Physical Graffiti ("Kashmir") and many more Led Zeppelin favorites. Here's more of what the press has been saying about JASON BONHAM's LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE: "People were freaking out from the beginning, as the band dove into a pair of sets that ended up leaving the gathered in a state of Zeppelin-esque befuddlement. The music is so completely awe-inspiring that any time one hears it done well, one reacts." --Jeff Miers, BUFFALO NEWS (Live review, May 10, 2011) "…'BRILLIANT' is a word that seems a bit underused in American culture. Ironic, since it is a word that adequately describes the sum of Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience. Jason, the son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, has painstakingly put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into the creation of this experience. It's obvious from the personal video segments, which included home movie footage from his family growing up. It was apparent from his heartfelt and at times humorous introductions to several songs. But mostly it was obvious from the music, which featured near-perfect--Dare we say, rapturous? Yes, we dare--reconstructions of songs that were undoubtedly originally experienced by most members of the audience over the course of thousands of revolutions of vinyl records. It took all of about 10 seconds of live music to drive this point home. After an introductory video segment, the show surged out of the gate with the iconic drum-solo opening of 'Rock and Roll,' a classic tune off the Led Zeppelin IV album. Once the full band kicked in, an almost palpable surge of adrenaline coursed through the crowd. There's just something about vintage rock 'n' roll that thrives in a live setting, with the amps dialed up and the fans dialed in. This was one of those shows. So if you love Led Zeppelin and are interested in seeing the music played perfectly live, then Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience is the next best thing, and not to be missed." --Doug Fox, DAILY HERALD (Provo/Salt Lake City, UT May 23) "Montreal must be the Led Zeppelin capital of the world. Or at least it was hard to draw another conclusion Thursday night after seeing what had to be the most deliriously appreciative audience to squeeze into the Metropolis in recent memory. They were there to catch a return appearance, after only six months, of Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience. …what sets JBLZE apart is musical: they are, when all is said and done, a superior Led Zeppelin cover band. Eschewing any physical resemblance to Led Zep — Dylan, with his shaved head, is the physical opposite of Plant, and the same goes for Bonham fils--the band must offer much in musical chops. And they have 'em. From the moment the group--Bonham, Dylan, keyboard player Stephen Leblanc, guitarist Tony Catania and bassist Dorian Heartsong--kicked into 'Rock and Roll,' the question of authenticity was beside the point. Perhaps best of all, they avoided the tribute-band cliche of trying to replicate studio takes. Bonham told us last October that he gives his band members Led Zeppelin bootlegs to listen to. The original Zeppelin took huge liberties with its songs on stage and JBLZE plays with that in mind. They sound like a live band, not a museum piece. So in the end, maybe it is Jason's story. And ours, of course." --Bernard Perusse, MONTREAL GAZETTE (May 13, 2011) "[JBLZE singer]…Dylan showed flashes of the bluesy, high-ranged howls and wails of the evocative Plant--especially during 'Babe I'm Gonna Leave You'--and the pounding, beast-like Bonham as bandleader led the band in spirited and almost note-perfect replicas of songs such as 'Thank You,' 'Rock and Roll,' 'Immigrant Song' and an appropriately groovy 'The Ocean.' During 'Dazed and Confused,' Catania [guitarist] even pulled out a bow to play the guitar, as Page was known to do. And the large crowd ate it up. …the most lasting images were from a rendition of 'Moby Dick,' when Bonham played the famed drum solo. The screen was halved, so on the left side you could see the younger Bonham bashing away; on the right side of the screen was his father, playing the same solo. At one point during the show, Bonham said it was an 'honor' for him to play his father's songs, and despite the usual skepticism associated with tribute shows, you believed him. No joke." --David Burger, SALT LAKE TRIBUNE (May 23, 2011) "Fans who closed their eyes and allowed their imaginations to run wild could momentarily trick themselves into believing that they'd been transported to a mid-'70s Led Zeppelin concert." --Bill Brownlee, KANSAS CITY STAR, (May 23, 2011) For more information, visit: www.jblze.com. JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EXPERIENCE tour dates: DATE CITY VENUE Tue 5/24 Fremont, CA The Saddle Rack Wed 5/25 Napa Valley, CA Uptown Theatre Thu 5/26 Sacramento, CA Crest Theatre Fri 5/27 Los Angeles, CA The Greek Theatre Sat 5/28 Las Vegas, NV Alliente Casino

Jaco Pastorius & Jimmy Page, May 1985. Lone Star Cafe, NYC

Total Guitar (UK) June 2011

Not directing this to anyone in particular, but could we please relax with all the fighting.

Boston Tea Party - May 1969. I posted all seven pics last week. (That's all the photographer has found so far) http://www.ledzeppelin.com/image-galleries/led-zeppelin/1968-1969

Tom Jones & Jimmy Page 1988

The Firm - New York (MSG) & NJ (Meadowlands) 1985 ad courtesy: Tony Franklin

This is supposed to be late 1978 around the time of recording ITTOD: [click to view]