CARNEGIE HALL, NY 10-17-69 - Never Before Seen Fan Photos! First use of Black Beauty Les Paul

[drowan]

Jimmy Page's own words below says it all!!!  1969 (50 years ago) was an incredible year for Zep and the Carnegie Hall concert on October 17, 1969 was an incredible night that year!!

 

Caption:  Photos (above and below) shot by Jerry Birdsall with a Nikon (Nikkormat -image of camera below) camera loaded with high speed B&W film with no flash from the 10th row on the floor right on the isle at the early show.  Photographer was 15 years old that day in 1969; 65 years old today (live and kickin') as of today's posting!!

 

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by drowan

[drowan]

While at the concert Carnegie Hall concert on the evening of October 17, 1969, my close friend, Jerry Birdsall, decided "mid-concert" to walk up the isle from our 10th row seats on the floor, plant his two elbows on the surface edge of the stage bracing the camera (completely unimpeded by security or even "shell-shocked" Carnegie Hall ushers) and shoot away at the band with his brand new 35 mm Nikon.  This is one of my favorite photos that Jerry shot of Jimmy Page (below) with his foot positioned on the wah-wah pedal, drawing his bow across his guitar generating haunting heavy metal guitar string moaning during the instrumental interlude of "Dazed and Confused".  To put it simply, the whole audience was absolutely "blown away" while this searing guitar-wailing enveloped the intimate setting of this high-ceilinged concert hall (with almost perfect acoustics).  The "performance version" of Dazed and Confused played in the hall that night (either by design or default - only Jimmy knows for sure) was so true and well executed to the original LZ I vinyl recording, that if you grab the original album song tonight, put on your headphones, crank up the volume big time and close your eyes while you listen...that is so close to what we heard that night sitting in the 10th row.  The only difference was we were also watching in disbelief and amazement!  It was an awesome, emotionally driving, multi-sensual, heart-pounding, mind-blowing experience - a total adrenaline high! This LZ I tune was only the fifth song into the set and the concert went on for another hour and a half non-stop as the one and only bill of the night!!!   P.S. Notice in this shot that by the fifth song into the set, Bonzo was already stripped down to the waste, so he could cool off a little while he pounded away with mind-boggling intensity on his drum set...you could feel the stunningly amplified rapid-fire percussion blasts literally pounding on your chest !!!!!!!! 

 

 

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by drowan

[drowan]

This retrospective rock music writer's (Hugh Jones) excerpt below about Chris Welch's "Melody Maker" newspaper almost-exclusive, first-hand review of LZ's 10/17/69 Carnegie Hall concert puts that huge, ground-breaking performance for the band in the context of Zep's meteoric rise as a heavy metal, mind-blowing force to be reckoned with as 1969 ends that decade and the US and the UK music scene enters the 1970's two and a half months later.  (Side note: Jimi Hendrix as of year-end 1969, will live only another nine months into 1970 when he finally dies choking on his vomit while asleep in bed in a corner of London in September of 1970.):

“10/25/69: Led Zeppelin At Carnegie Hall by Chris Welch. A superb, vividly rendered description of Welch's trip to America with Zep for the opening of their fourth U.S. tour at Carnegie Hall in New York. Notable in part because this concert (of which no recording exists) was a milestone in the band's career and yet it is seldom discussed-and according to Welch, "Summertime Blues" was played as an encore! Cover: unknown.”

Source: Hugh Jones, Proximity Led Zeppelin Collector’s Journal, Volume 9, No. 29, April 1998.

The B &W still photo (below) helps illustrate the phenomenal range of LZ's playing styles.  From the emotionally charged and chilling hard rock sound of "Dazed and Confused" (see the live clip on the preceding Forum page in this string), to the quiet calmness of "Black Mountain Side", perfectly captured in this intimate mid-song photo of Jimmy shot in Detroit on Saturday night, October 18 - the day after the Carnegie Hall Friday night concert!!! LZ's frenetic touring pace in 1969 also was so typical of the band's early days during 1969...Imagine wrapping up a New York City Friday night show that ends well after 2 AM and then quickly departing to Detroit for another killer Saturday night show!!  Adrenaline and exhilaration was essential to keeping the band energized  throughout this relentless pace of one night, single-gig shows, going city-to city almost daily.  The grand-scale road show infrastructure and logistics operations had yet to became the norm as arena rock, multiple night gigs in major cities started to dominate later tours.  One of the more amazing aspects of the Carnegie Hall one-night stand was that despite their incredible emerging success, the band substantially avoided debuting anymore than two songs from their yet to be released LZII album.  Of their entire playlist of 9 songs  (excluding encores) that first night of the Fourth North American Tour in NYC, only "Heartbreaker" and "Moby Dick" from LZII were showcased.  Hard to believe that the band and Grant chose to do that, given how good the songs on LZII turned out to be.  Five days later on 10/22/69, we all rushed out to the record stores, grabbed the new album, donned the headphones, and finally dropped the needle on that freshly pressed vinyl.  Same effect as five days earlier, it blew our mints times two!!!

Edited January 4, 2020 by drowan

[sam_webmaster]

Italian magazine - Ciao 2001. November 1969. Mentions their upcoming sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall.

'Zeppelin Hit New York'

[drowan]

Sam:  Thanks for this intriguing article with great accompanying B&W photos!  My favorite is the picture of the band shot from the side of the stage, showing "Zep guests and admirers" in  the background gawking at the band.  Can any of these stage-side guests be identified?  The image of them is pretty sharp, including one of them in a tie and jacket!  Based on the picture caption, I am assuming these photos were taken at the Lyceum Ballroom on 10/12/69 in London right before the band took off for the US with Carnegie Hall in NYC on 10/17/69 as their first stop?  Correct?  Fascinating coverage!  As always, thank you so much for this visual treat!!  

Edited January 9, 2020 by drowan

[drowan]

Sam:  Here is the promotional poster/handbill (below) for the Lyceum Ballroom concert in London referenced immediately above - see Italian music review of that LZ performance and the  accompanying spread of crisp B&W photos put into a collage.  Four days later from this 10/12/69 gig, Led Zeppelin headed to Heathrow Airport with Chris Welch to play at Carnegie Hall in NYC as the first stop of a long North American Tour:  19 shows over 14 nights in 12 cities.  The only city during that tour that Zep played in for consecutive nights (3 evenings) was San Francisco at the Winterland Ball Room which was the end of the tour.  Five of those 14 nights, including Carnegie Hall in NYC, involved playing two shows a night (NYC, Chicago, Springfield (MA), Toronto and Kansas City. 

Edited January 12, 2020 by drowan

[drowan]

1969:
Eleven months. That's all it took for Led Zeppelin to go from embryo to Carnegie Hall. No rock band had played that venue since the Rolling Stones, five years prior, when rock performances were banned after a riot at the Stones' show. But Led Zeppelin had shot into the stratosphere like a rocket and could not be denied.

"This performance makes me realize we can be bigger than The Beatles and the Stones," Peter Grant told Richard Cole shortly after.
~ Led Zeppelin: The Concert File, Dave Lewis 2005

[drowan]

Additional "pre-concert" perspective on the October 17, 1969 Led Zeppelin gig at Carnegie Hall from Robert Plant earlier that month: 

Source: Ritchie Yorke, Globe & Mail, 1969

[drowan]

On 7/28/2020 at 6:27 PM, drowan said:

 

From Pressreader (July 23, 2019):

Source:  Pressreader:  https://www.pressreader.com/uk/classic-rock/20190723/281505047798090

 

 

[Measuring the summers day]

Reading through all this information was very enjoyable. I’m envious you got to see them live. From what I can see on the photographs it must have been an incredible night. 

[drowan]

It was an even bigger thrill when I was invited to see Led Zeppelin play a rare concert at Carnegie Hall in New York on October 17, 1969. I found myself standing on the very stage where Gene Krupa had played Sing, Sing, Sing back in 1938. At Zeppelin’s afternoon sound check John looked out at the rows of empty plush seats in the famous hall and said "This is it lads. Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich have all played here. So I’d better be good tonight!" 

John made good his promise. Once the audience of screaming and whooping New York kids had piled into the building and the show got underway, John seemed to pulsate with energy. As he launched into a 30-minute whirlwind I stood in the wings, next to fellow visitor, Screaming Lord Sutch. His Lordship was speechless as John flew around the drums with astounding dexterity and brute strength. He delivered a high-speed single stroke snare roll that was surely his Carnegie Hall tribute to Buddy Rich. 

I never saw Bonham play quite as fast again. Then it was bare hands, beaters, gongs and cymbals for the tumultuous climax. John realised not everybody liked drum solos and to keep their attention he worked out a whole series of permutations, whether it was playing congas or hammering the gong. Yet Moby Dick was never just about noise and bluster. He would begin in a low-key, tentative fashion, toying with a pent up, eager audience, building a series of crescendos. 

After that triumphant event Bonzo spent the next five years of his life on the road with Zeppelin coping with endless US tours. 

Source:

From “Classic Rock”:  https://www.loudersound.com/features/old-school-jazz-and-lacerated-hands-the-secrets-of-led-zeppelins-moby-dick

"Old school jazz and lacerated hands: the secrets of Led Zeppelin's Moby Dick"

By Chris Welch (Classic Rock) June 11, 2020

[goldenretreiver157]

[Autumn Moon]

^^^ Thanks for this incredible photo- watching the concert from the photographers position must have been gorgeous.

[drowan]

I am so delighted that this Forum on the 1969 Carnegie Hall LZ concert finally produced another fan picture!!!  And in color!!  How cool is that!  Well done.

[drowan]

October 17, 2019 marked the 50th Anniversary of the 10/17/69 LZ Carnegie Hall concert!!!

Here are a few of the celebration's remarks below:

 

 

[drowan]

Though no bootleg tapes from the 10/17/69 LZ Carnegie Hall concert have surfaced yet, there are some excellent concert recordings from 1969 to give you an idea of the band's early performance energy.  Here is a excellent quality live concert video recording made of "Dazed and Confused" in London in 1969.  This song was part of the Carnegie Hall set and a close-up picture of Jimmy Page playing with his bow during that concert is presented below as well!  Enjoy!!!

Edited December 30, 2020 by drowan
Corrected grammar.

[drowan]

Here is another song from the LZ Carnegie Hall set - "Bring it on Home".  This live video recording was captured at Royal Albert Hall in London in 1970, just a few months after the 10/17/69 concert in New York.  Notice that Jimmy Page is playing his Black Beauty guitar in this high quality recording!!  Enjoy!

Edited December 30, 2020 by drowan
Carnegie Hall photo of Page playing Black Beauty added.

[drowan]

The latter part of this live video recording from London on January 9, 1970 captured less than two and a half months after the 10/17/69 LZ concert at Carnegie Hall features "Can't Quit You Babe" which was included as part of the Carnegie Hall set.  Jimmy Page is using the same guitar in this song that he used at Carnegie Hall that night (see B&W photo below) in October 1969.  This is another excellent quality recording!

Edited December 30, 2020 by drowan
Added Carnegie Hall photo from 10/17/69. Nice!

[drowan]

Here is an interesting video interview of John Bonham and Robert Plant in early 1970 recorded right after Led Zeppelin's second album release pushed the band to the number one spot on the Melody Maker charts in England.  The Beatles had been at the top of the charts for the prior eight years, so this was a major milestone for Zeppelin!  The interview closes out with an audio clip of "Bring in on Home" which was part of the 10/17/69 Carnegie Hall set.

 

[goldenretreiver157]

[drowan]

How cool that another photo has surfaced of the 10/17/69 Led Zeppelin Carnegie Hall concert!!  Does anyone know who shot the picture?

[drowan]

Check out the video in the 50th Anniversary celebration link brlow:

http://www.hennemusic.com/2019/10/led-zeppelin-launch-second-album-on.html

 

Edited January 8, 2021 by drowan
Added link.

[drowan]

Here is an excerpted review of the LZ album featuring the recordings from the 10/30/69 Buffalo concert that took place just 13 days after the Carnegie Hall concert on 10/17/69.  By this latter date, Led Zeppelin had officially released their second album which instantly went gold based on pre-sales.

Led Zeppelin – Soars On Buffalo 1969 (Graf Zeppelin LZSC-1030A/B)

relayer67 November 28, 2020 Graf Zeppelin label, Led Zeppelin Leave a comment 593 Views

 

Soars On Buffalo 1969 (Graf Zeppelin LZSC-1030A/B)

Kleinhans Music Hall, Buffalo, New York, USA – October 30, 1969

Disc 1 (53:49) Introduction, Good Times Bad Times / Communication Breakdown, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Heartbreaker, Dazed And Confused, White Summer incl. Black Mountain Side, What Is And What Should Never Be

Disc 2 (68:56) MC, Moby Dick, How Many More Times. Bonus Trax: Memorial Hall, Kansas City, Kansas, USA – November 5, 1969: Good Times Bad Times / Communication Breakdown, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Heartbreaker, Dazed And Confused, How Many More Times

Led Zeppelin’s fourth American tour began on October 17, 1969 with two concerts at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City. The 15 date tour would see Zeppelin returning to the larger markets like New York City, Boston, Seattle, Toronto, and Detroit before ending proper in San Francisco. The tour also featured the band hitting smaller markets, Springfield, MA, Syracuse, NY, Kitchener, Ontario as well as Buffalo, NY and Kansas City. The tour would coincide with the release of the second album, Led Zeppelin II on October 22 and the band would feature two songs from the record in their sets. The tour was also notable for the inclusion of a few bars of Good Times Bad Times as a prelude to Communication Breakdown, an extremely dynamic and heavy way to open the concerts.

Source: https://www.collectorsmusicreviews.com/led-zeppelin/led-zeppelin-soars-on-buffalo-1969-graf-zeppelin-lzsc-1030a-b/

 

Edited January 14, 2021 by drowan

[drowan]

Here's one more photo of LZ at the 10/17/69 Carnegie Hall concert:

Edited January 27, 2021 by drowan

[drowan]

LZ Fans:  Joe Curreri has generously permitted us to post his Carnegie Hall LZ concert photos taken from the 7th row!  What a find!  Fantastic...enjoy!