I love them too but haven't thought of them in YEARS! Thanks for the reminder and the links.

Indeed he is. and Thanks Ally. My best to you and Mrs. Ally.

I love your posts. The distinguished, mature Jimmy Page accepting the OBE from the Queen of England whilel a whole generation of women (myself included) still smiles at the image of a younger "Pagey on his knees!!!"

You never know. Someday he might play in the Czech Republic.

Thanks, lzfan! I could go on and on but I don't want to derail the photo thread. I'm sure that you'll be inspired to, someday, have your own great adventures. Although that photo was taken after my time, so to speak, and Jimmy looks slightly thinner and is dressed differently, it still captures much of the spirit of what it was like. I was in college when that photo was taken and, by then, chasing Zep guys no longer appealed to me. Still, I think it is very cool that, after me, another wave of girls came along who were able to enjoy Jimmy's charms. As with you, for me, doing those things was absolutely part of the Zep experience. I'm glad you didn't miss it!

Great collection! I have several of the bootleg albums in your middle photo (right now they're in storage right now in my in-laws attic). I remember that the paper labels that were glued onto the sleeve looked like they had been photocopied and the vinyl was heavier than my non-bootleg LZ albums.

Your post brought back so many memories because we used to do the same things! It was a few years before you so I never saw Jimmy wearing the white suit. We'd get to the venues hours early so we could see the Zep guys when they arrived, find some sympathetic soul who would let us through so we could see them when they left the stage, and then race up to their hotel. My friend and I used to say that you haven't lived until you saw Jimmy leaving the stage in that condition.

I don't know where they went after the Dallas concert but if they rode on the roadies bus (or van) out to that ranch that might have been what Robert was alluding to. Other than what you've told me, I really don't know anything about the band's concert days in Texas. Thanks. I thought the plane trip was from SF to LA. The band was late getting started at the Forum and I thought that was the reason for the concert starting late - they were waiting for Jimmy and Peter Grant to arrive.

Thanks for confirming that. When I told her that I didn't think Bonzo ever returned to the U.S., I didn't connect it to the Oakland assaults. I just assumed that he was busy with his family back home in England.

A late afternoon thunderstorm after months of drought.

I have a question based upon a wager that I have with a friend: After the '77 tour, did John Bonham ever return to the U.S.? If so, what year(s) and what cities did he visit and why?

Rover, I don't have any specific details (e.g., airlines, flight numbers, rental car companies, etc.) and I am speaking strictly from memory (I don't have any articles to cite) but as far as I can recall, during the pre-73 tour years the band flew commercial airlines (e.g., American, TWA, etc.) from one U.S. city to another and, in the pre-limo, pre-police escort days, they got around in rental cars (e.g., Crown Victorias, LTDs, etc.). I think that, right before the Starship came into use, in the earlier weeks of the '73 tour, they traveled around in a Falcon jet. Again, these are only my recollections.

Thanks, brspled! I appreciate your sharing that because I never read that interview about why Robert wouldn't cut his hair and how he feels that deep in his heart he is an old hippie. I had no idea. btw, I like your description.

It's easy to forget that, when photos similar that were first released, they caused such a stir. I imagine that, in some circles, they still do. I agree with you but people who didn't care for (in some cases even despised) rockers and their fans didn't see it that way.

You see that too? I guess my assessment is right then because, when it comes to Robert, I think you know whereof you speak. Some people never got past the overt sexuality and the self-assurance so they missed that side of him. That's interesting because when I first saw Zep, they looked like hippies. Back then, we thought they were hippies (Jimmy even had a hippyish beard). That was several years before their "Hammer of the Gods" days. I love that story of how Janis took care of Robert.

You're right - his age doesn't matter - he still retains that feel of a "cool older brother." "Just wanting a little peace" - I like that because he also always seemed to have this kind of "flower child" vibe to him - I'm not surprised that he and Janis gravitated toward one another.

It is sad! I am really sorry to read that last post. He used to have his own blog on blogger.com before it was moved to the band's website.

Thank you for favoring us with the privilege of viewing the "Babs Archives".

I understand what you're saying, lzfan and, for us (when we were young girls), that was part of the appeal of the Zep guys. Even when Robert was telling us ("the ocean") to "cool it" and "be quiet" he did it like a cool older brother rather than like a parent or teacher. We often found ourselves giggling at him laughing - it was infectious. And, those glances:

Maybe not in the same neighborhood but definitely in the same tribe. My friends and I were "city kids" but when we attended Zep concerts we found that we had much more in common with the other Zep fans who attended those concerts along with us (and it didn't matter where they were from: small towns, rural towns, etc.) than we did with kids from our school who weren't Zep fans. Back then, it seemed that all Zep fans "spoke the same language". You could mention a certain Zep song and the feeling it evoked and we'd all know how it felt. I think that Zep proved that, back then, a great band didn't need a media circus to make them a legend.

My husband loved Pete's cynical little blogs. He just told me that he hasn't been on the site in awhile so he didn't realize they were gone. The Who are fantastic and we had some great times at so many of their concerts.

I can't speak for the fan base in Europe or the rest of the world but I do remember that, in the U.S., it seemed that,each year, the fan base grew exponentially. I first heard of LZ via word of mouth when their first album was released here. I remember the older siblings of my friends talking about the band in almost referential terms and coming back from the Fillmore concerts completely awestruck. It seemed that everyone I knew had the first two Zep albums. By the time the band returned to our city the next year, they filled MSG for two shows - and it just kept growing. It seemed that with each passing year, the band acquired more fans. There was always a frenzy, not only for tickets, but also when each new album was released and also when the band was in town. Especially in the early days, LZ did not get a lot of radio play or press coverage (that came later) but word of them spread from one fan to another.

What a priceless treasure!

You're welcome, Otto - and thanks for the information. One of my friends from a long time ago emailed me that photo and asked if I recognized or remembered it. I told her that I didn't but I would post it on the Led Zeppelin forum. When we talked about it, we thought either '74 or '75 - but after the U.S. tour. Thanks to both of you. You posted at the exact same time. Great minds thinking alike?