SteveAJones
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Excerpt from Q 107 FM's (Toronto) 10th Anniversary Radio Broadcast (June 1987):
Guests: Ian & Billy from The Cult
DJ: Hello, are you there?
Robert Plant: Happy Birthday.
DJ: Who are you, sir? (jokingly)
Robert Plant: I'm David Coverdale. Oh no, I'm not. I'm Robert Plant. Hi, guys, how ya doin? (to Ian & Billy) I haven't seen you for ah, what was it now about six months?
Ian: Demos for the Electric album, when you were putting your band together.
Robert Plant: I've been reading your - what's that interview in that magazine with Joan Jett on the cover?
Ian: I don't know. Why, have we said anything horrible?
Robert Plant: No, you mentioned my name a couple of times. It was either me or Coverdale, I can't remember which.
Ian: Your not jealous are you?
Robert Plant: No. I'll tell you what, they say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit and imitation is a form of flattery, so I don't mind. It's great. It just means I'm in the middle of the studio now making my record and it seems like I gotta sound like me or him - I've gotta make up my mind (laughs).
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Unsolved Mystery for New Yorkers
Robert Plant Live at The Hard Rock Cafe
New York, New York
1985
Approximately two months ago, Led Zeppelin.com Forum member Heaven Knows contacted me concerning this gig she attended in 1985 prior to Led Zeppelin's reunion at Live Aid in July 1985. This gig does not appear in any book or website, and as such remains a bonafide mystery.
Since then, several prominent New York City radio djs from that era have been contacted, with at least one distinctly recalling this event did occur, but he could not provide a date more specific than "1985".
Based on performances, public appearances and media activity I have already confirmed for Robert Plant in 1985, I believe this Hard Rock Cafe gig almost certainly occured in May and most probably during the last week of the month (over the Memorial Day Weekend).
I would welcome a confirmation of the actual date via a ticket stub, promotional item, press review or news clipping, etc. Anyone who can provide one or also attended please PM me to discuss further.
UPDATE: Solved
The Sep/Oct 1985 issue of the very obscure Plant Seeds / Firm Fans International
newsletter reports Robert Plant appeared at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City
as a special guest for Paul Schaeffer's radio show on July 28th 1985. This was in
the final days of his 1985 North American tour. Paul Rodgers of The Firm appeared
on Schaeffer's radio show the following year (April 6th 1986) during their tour.
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Knebby's new skeleton avatar...
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When was Kate Winslet ever dubbed fat?
Around the same time she skipped the premiere of Enigma. Whilst in the dressing room Mick (Jagger) really took the piss out of her explanation for choosing not to attend.
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Not to admonish you again ( ), but I believe the band's name was spelled Obstweedle or Obs'Tweedle. They were originally known as The Answer.
Scott, there is no apostrophe, at least not according to Robert when he corrected a journalist during an interview in Toronto on July 4th 1998. Where did you see "originally known as The Answer" ? I don't recall hearing that before.
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Hadn't seen this one before, Cat.
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When I first saw Zep in concert, the fourth album had not yet been released and I don't believe that it had a working title although the band performed songs from it. Was the delay (I think it was released two months after the concert) due to the cover artwork or the band not reaching a decision about a title?
I presume you attended the September 3, 1971 concert at Madison Square Garden, in
which case it would have been another two months before the album was released. All
the songs were recorded by March 1971, so they were fully prepared to perform them on that tour. Atlantic's resistance to the album cover artwork did result in a delay, but
Jimmy already decided fairly early on he did not want to just title it 'Led Zeppelin IV'.
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Alright, now i'm thinking listening to led zep could be bad, like something from an indiana jones movie.
Well, all beliefs are self-referential so some discoveries may conflict with pre-conceived
notions. There is so much more to Led Zeppelin than meets the eye...or ear.
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Evvy baby, I thought you quit this forum
Evster will still fish here provided the algae & amoeba content of the pond remains low.
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Just noticed there's a star in the lantern flame, too.
...and a small chapel in the valley below...
So much more for others to discover on their own path at their own pace...
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I was of the understanding that Jimmy found the typeface in a book, rather than having it commissioned.
As for the picture, I don't think it need be a mystery. Perhaps Jimmy just liked it. Afterall, look at the third album. He hated that artwork.
"one of England's most prominent occult figures" As one of the most prominent, why does anybody not know his name?
Furthermore, have you seen any of Jimmy's artwork? It's abstract. Nothing like the Colby art. Not that I don't think him capable, I just have doubts.
And since we've decided the Hermit has horns, is he also standing on a dove?
Discuss.
Hello Evster,
You are essentially correct. Jimmy found the typeface in an old arts and crafts magazine called Studio (which began publishing in the late 1800s). He thought that the lettering was interesting and said he commissioned someone to work up a whole alphabet. There
is apparently a credit to "Graphreaks" for design coordination so it may well have been
them.
Good point on the third album artwork, although I think the subtle difference is he relied
upon someone else to execute his concept, whereas with Led Zeppelin IV he was more directly involved in the execution. A quick bit of Wiki-wisdom:
The concept of a volvelle, based on crop rotation charts, was initially Jimmy Page's idea. However, the result was a meeting of minds as Zacron had been working on rotating graphics from 1965. Zacron felt that by not including text on the front of the cover, the art would endure.
In an article featured in the December 2007 issue of Class Rock magazine, Zacron claimed that upon his completion of the artwork, Jimmy Page telephoned him while he was in New York to express his satisfaction with the results, saying "I think it is fantastic". However, in a 1998 interview Page himself gave to Guitar World magazine, he described the results as a disappointment:
"I thought it looked very teeny-bopperish. But we were on top of a deadline, so of course there was no way to make any radical changes to it. There were some silly bits - little chunks of corn and nonsense like that."
Back to Led Zeppelin IV, there is no consensus on which of the prominent English occult figures may be depicted on the cover, which is why one is not specifically named here. Besides, most occult connections are best left for others to explore on their own path at their own pace. I don't believe in spoon feeding people in this area of study.
Insofar as the hermit having horns and the presence of a dove, this is not something I
have "decided", rather it has been or can be interpreted in this manner. Clearly, it's a
work meant to be interpreted by us: "View in Half or Varying Light".
The authorship of the inner artwork was resolved previously in this thread. It was found
that (Barrington) Colbey's name may have inexplicably been mispelled "Colby" on the album cover, which made finding other examples of his work difficult. Apparently, he is
residing in Switzerland at this time.
Always a pleasure to correspond with you, Evan.
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That was before they decided it was OK to prostitute the music out in Caddy commercials.
That's a rather harsh characterization. As I've pointed out before, Cadillac's link to rock n' roll goes back six decades. Led Zeppelin performed Chuck Berry's 'Cadillac, No Money Down' during concert medleys. A Cadillac is referred to in the lyrics for 'Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just A Woman)'. Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers wrote the song 'Cadillac' while in The Firm. Robert was photographed in a Cadillac to promote the single for 'Big Log'. On
August 22nd 2002 he attended Cadillac's 100th Anniversary at the GM World HQ in Detroit and was thrilled by the experience. He walked in with his camcorder in his hand filming and he paused to record the promotional poster for the event for cryin' out loud!
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That is an unbelievably bad business decision. He must have wanted the break emotionally. No wonder he makes the most records post Zep.
Linklater was devestated when he ultimately received word no Led Zeppelin music would be approved for use in that film, 'Dazed And Confused'. The private screening with Jimmy
and Robert had gone so well, it seemed certain they would allow it. IMHO, that film is a
classic on it's own, but the incorporation of some Led Zeppelin music would have added
to it's authenticity.
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If you remember, Robert had made it an issue about sampling Jimmy's licks on his Tall Cool One song. He said that Atlantic could not sue him for using them, as it would be tough to prove that it wasn't Jimmy doing it in present day. When asked in a BBC interview about the fortune he must be making in royalties off of Zeps music Plant said, I sold them years ago. I don't have the interview, and honestly, do not know it to be fact. I am going by memory.
Well again, as I recall he sold his rights to royalties on the sales of Led Zeppelin's back catalog, not his rights to royalties on publishing as a songwriter.
I don't see why Atlantic Records would sue him for sampling Jimmy's guitar from Led Zeppelin recordings for use in Tall Cool One, as Atlantic Records holds the copyright for all the songs. I suppose there's the remote possibility his management failed to secure a licensing agreement with Atlantic Records to do so, but again I can see no motivation for them to sue an artist (Plant) who is on their label using samples from another artist (Zep) on their label. I believe Robert has quipped he could have sued himself for doing it.
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I think it was in rolling stone when he did the cover for Now and Zen album that he talked about it.
'The Rolling Stone Interview: Robert Plant', published in the March 24, 1988 issue. My
copy is out of reach for a couple more weeks but perhaps someone else can post his quotes on having sold his rights to royalties on Led Zeppelin's back catalog.
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And in my best Elvis voice...
Huuh Thank u, Steve...Huuih thank u very much.
In my best Tortelvis voice -
I'll post more details when I find them. I'd never heard he sold them to Jimmy before. So far as I know it was a deal with Atlantic Records which may have been tied into starting his own label (Es Paranza) and launching a solo career so it could have been 1981; my notes elude me at the moment.
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MrZoSo has made a claim in another thread that Robert Plant sold his songwriting royalties for Led Zeppelin's songs to Jimmy Page in 1983.
Can anyone confirm or deny this, or offer any more information?
Robert Plant did sell his rights to royalties from Led Zeppelin's back catalog circa 1983.
This was during the height of New Wave Pop & New Wave British Heavy Metal music.
I believe he sold them to the label (Atlantic Records).
There was a 20th Anniversary single for 'Stairway to Heaven' but Director Richard Linklater was told he could not use Led Zeppelin music in 'Dazed And Confused' despite having held a favorable private screening with Page/Plant. Some internet sites infer Jones & Page approved but Robert opposed and exerted 1/3 creative control. I
don't specifically remember but I seem to recall Linklater was simply told it was a
"band decision". They had yet to allow their music to be used in any films at that time.
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MikeZep61,
While hardly conclusive, I'll just mention in the official timeline a "Chris Meade" has left a comment pertaining to Manchester (11/16/68) and two comments have been made for
Sheffield (11/23/68), one of which references a ticket stub. The search for confirmation
continues!
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Jeff's a nice guy but professionally he's always been a bit too flaky and unreliable to pose serious competition to anyone. The nerve of Jimmy Page to form a band with a singer, a bass player and a drummer!
Jimmy (w/The Yardbirds) had played Thee Image Club in Miami April 8-10 1968. He already knew they were breaking up in two months and was already considering putting a new band together. The fact he attended the Jeff Beck Group's gig in Miami, if in fact he did, is just a coincidence. He and Jeff were friends and did share the same manager: Peter Grant.
Edit: A review of The Jeff Beck Group's tour itinerary shows they did not even perform
in Miami until November 15 & 16 1968. Jimmy Page's aforementioned gigs in Miami were
his only visit there during his stint with The Yardbirds. He was on tour in England at the time JBG played Miami in Nov, having performed in Manchester on November 16 1968. I
don't know who the bigger liar is, Rod ("Jimmy ripped us off") or Ronnie ("Peter Grant
asked me to be Led Zeppelin's guitarist"). Too funny!
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Update to post #533 concerning the mystery behind the existence of Barrington Colby
and if any of his other work has been identified:
"Snow Queen" by Barrington Coleby - (link below)
http://www.artistsuk.co.uk/acatalog/GENERA...LER_PRINTS.html
There is therefore the possiblity Barrington Colbey's name is mispelled "Colby" on the
album jacket for 'Led Zeppelin IV' (!) which accounts for why other examples of his work have been hard to locate. Additional searches on Barrington Coleby yield more results.
As a reminder, Barrington was last reportedly known to have moved from Norwich to Switzerland. The main mystery of if he really illustrated the inner album sleeve as Jimmy
has claimed is pretty much solved -- he did.
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'I'm having to develop a three-finger technique. But it's a drag. It happened when I was on a train in England - on my way to rehearsal.
Well, this remark in addition to no Dazed and Confused in Brussels or Rotterdam has led
me to update my Jimmy Page Chronology -- I've moved it to an as yet undertermined date sometime betweeen December 22nd 1974 and January 10th 1975.
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Great thread! So the '73 injury happened at the airport in Long Beach and it would seem it is possible but unconfirmed the '75 injury occured just prior to the Brussels and Rotterdam gigs. The three day break which followed those two gigs was probably just time off (with no rehearsing) as I believe the gear had already been packed and/or shipped to the US.
I've made a note the '73 injury may have been reported in the LA Times; I shall attempt to obtain a copy.
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The 73 injury happened at Long Beach Municipal Airport. He strained a tendon in his palm climbing a chain link fence that separated him from some fans.
Long Beach Municipal Airport? Hmm, I don't think I've heard this before. The only open question then is if it happened the day of or the day before the gig. Thanks, Evster!
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One thing I liked was that Page didn't sound like Page.
Agreed. On several cuts he sounds like Dick Dale doing a sixties spy film soundtrack.
), but I believe the band's name was spelled Obstweedle or Obs'Tweedle. They were originally known as The Answer.
Zeppelin Mysteries Hosted by Steve A. Jones
in Led Zeppelin Master Forum
Posted
As I recall, she said Robert actually performed as a special guest. I'm still researching Schaeffer's program to confirm what the format was and if it aired live. I'd love to get ahold of the mastertape, if it still exists. I'm hoping Heaven Knows will post her anecdote here lest I be compelled to sift thru a 1,000 emails to find her original input.