Knebby Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Steve, Dave Lewis' Celebration II mentions a "Billy Francis from Rod Stewart's organization" enlisted to oversee the 1980 European tour with Phil Carlo. Any more reports of his involvement in the Zeppelin organization? Where did he come from, and where did he go? Billy Francis was Sting's right-hand man last I knew. He's a close friend of Rex King. His brother Michael had a long association with Zeppelin, which you'll find documented in his book "Star Man", published in the UK in 2003 by Simon & Schuster ISBN 0-7432-3904-0 and 0-7432-3905- it's quite an interesting read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeC Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Thanks for the tips, people. Whoever he is, Francis' connection sounds pretty peripheral. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knebby Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I don't know if I'd use that word myself. Michael was very close to the band, turning down the European Tour 1980 only because his wife was expecting a child right in the middle of it. Billy is known well by all the members. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazedjeffy Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 Steve, I have a picture of John Paul Jones playing lap steel in a radio station studio and it's labelled as being from June 2002 in NYC. Do you know the specific day it occurred? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 Steve, I have a picture of John Paul Jones playing lap steel in a radio station studio and it's labelled as being from June 2002 in NYC. Do you know the specific day it occurred? I show he guested on a number of US radio programs in Feb 2002, to include Q 104 Fm Radio at 10am on February 25, 2002. I don't show he was in the states that June but doubt my JPJ chronological index is all-inclusive so I will continue to look into this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazedjeffy Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 I show he guested on a number of US radio programs in Feb 2002, to include Q 104 Fm Radio at 10am on February 25, 2002. I don't show he was in the states that June but doubt my JPJ chronological index is all-inclusive so I will continue to look into this. Look no further. Q104 banner is in the upper right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Robert Plant and The Band of Joy: Harm's Swift Way Video from the 2nd show of the inaugural tour for Robert Plant and the new Band Of Joy (15 July 2010, Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.A.) with Patty Griffin, vocals and acoustic guitar, Buddy Miller, guitar, vocals, Darrell Scott, mandolin, banjo, acoustic and electric guitars, pedal steel, lap steel guitar, vocals, Byron House, Bass and Vocals, Marco Giovino, drums and percussion, vocals. STORY behind how Robert Plant may have gotten the tape of Harm's Swift Way and first heard this song to cover. It is on the music.townes-van-zandt osdir.com forum. Check it out. Pretty interesting. Basic story is Jeanene Van Zandt and Townes' daughter Katie presented his last demo recordings to Robert and told him "Harm's Swift Way" was the last song Townes wrote. Robert checked it out and decided to perform it with Band Of Joy in 2010. LINK TO THE FULL TEXT OF THE TOWNES VAN ZANDT ROBERT PLANT FORUM STORY: http://osdir.com/ml/music.townes-van-... A quote from the story: "Robert said that he would sign the stuff I brought, and I told them about Townes' last song Harm's Swift Way I put in there, and how Townes never got to record it except for this work tape. That perked their interest.... I wish I could be a fly on the wall when any of these guys sits down and listens to Townes' last song. It's not just the last song he happened to write, it is the epitome of a genius troubadour's last statement." LATER Robert Plant was asked about Harm's Swift Way in the newspaper. Plant told the Arkansas Times this quote: "[ The song ] kind of drifted around. His -- I'm not going to say 'reading' because that's really where we know we've gone right up our own sphincter -- his music was dramatic at times, sometimes lost and sometimes hugely found, and this was, maybe, according to one aficionado, the last thing he ever wrote. It's not a very happy tune in its original form. And basically it's not happy'ed up now, but at least it's got a driving beat and sounds like it just dropped off 'Sweetheart Of The Rodeo.'" LYRICS of the song!! HARMS SWIFT WAY THERE IS A HOME OUT OF HARMS SWIFT WAY I SET MYSELF TO FIND I SWORE TO MY LOVE I WOULD BRING HER THERE THEN I LEFT MY LOVE BEHIND THE DESERT WAS LONG THE MOUNTAIN HIGH THE ROAD RAN STEEP AND WINDING THE PROMISES SO EASILY MADE UNBEARABLE, YET BINDING OH ME, OH MY WHO'S GONNA COUNT MY TIME TIME WILL GO, IT NEVER STAYS MEMORY LOCKED IN HER PASSING TRY, OH TRY TO CLING TO HER UNTIL SHE BECOMES EVERLASTING THE WORLD'S STILL BLUE MY WORD'S STILL TRUE I FEEL I'M TURNING HOLLOW SHE DOES AS SHE PLEASE IF EVER SHE LEAVES I'LL STRANGLE UPON THE SORROW OH ME, OH MY WHO'S GONNA MARK MY TIME THE ROAD IS PAST, TOMORROW THE SKY BETWEEN SOMETIMES IS BLINDING SOMEDAY SOON WHEN I TURN TO CLOUD I WILL FLY ON HER WINGS SOMEHOW WRAPPED IN THE ROAD AND FILLED WITH ABOVE THE GROUND SEEMS TO FADE AWAY HOLD TO THE EARTH LIKE A NEW BORN CHILD PRAY SHE RETURNS SOMEDAY OH ME, OH MY WHO'S GONNA MARK MY TIME © TOWNES VAN ZANDT SONGS Inaugural Tour Dates Introducing Robert Plant - Band Of Joy July - the Southern USA 13 Memphis, TN - The Orpheum Theater Information available in May 15 Little Rock, AR - Robinson Center Music Hall (THIS SHOW FEATURED!) 16 Tulsa, OK - Brady Theater 18 Albuquerque, NM - Sandia Casino Amphitheater 20 Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater 21 Tucson, AZ - Anselmo Valencia Amphitheater 23 Dallas, TX Meyerson Symphony Hall 24 Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion 26 Austin, TX - Stubbs Waller Creek Amphitheater 28 Mobile, AL - The Saenger Theatre 30 Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall 31 Miami, FL - Bayfront Park Amphitheater "That's my story. I was Townes' wife and Katie Belle in the story is Townes' daughter". Jeanene Van Zandt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deborah J Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Thanks Steve and Jeff^^^ I love this thread!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecongo Posted February 10, 2011 Share Posted February 10, 2011 Was just listening to The Only One from Outrider, great track and I thin a good indicator of what Zep would've sounded like in the 80's, but I digress. I've often thought about the meaning of the lyrics, as if Robert is telling him something. Has this song's meaning ever been explained by Robert or Jimmy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 10, 2011 Author Share Posted February 10, 2011 Was just listening to The Only One from Outrider, great track and I thin a good indicator of what Zep would've sounded like in the 80's, but I digress. I've often thought about the meaning of the lyrics, as if Robert is telling him something. Has this song's meaning ever been explained by Robert or Jimmy? Yes, Robert has explained the lyrics can be taken more or less literally - that it would be the only one (song) he would contribute to the Outrider album. Bear in mind the song was already complete when it was presented to him for lyrics and he wrote the lyrics in return for Jimmy having previously contributed to his Now & Zen album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperDave Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Yes, Robert has explained the lyrics can be taken more or less literally - that it would be the only one (song) he would contribute to the Outrider album. Bear in mind the song was already complete when it was presented to him for lyrics and he wrote the lyrics in return for Jimmy having previously contributed to his Now & Zen album. I think I heard this from Robert in an interview a while back. Thanks Steve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And You Know How It Is? Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 Steve, I don't believe this one's been asked in this thread before: during Zeps 6th US Tour, in the summer of 1970, many tour dates were rescheduled, due to Jonesy's Dad's ill health in early August (and Jonesy flying back to be with him, which lead to the first week of shows being cancelled and/or rescheduled). Then when his Dad passed later in the month, during the Cleveland date (which resulted in that show starting earlier in the day, with Jonesy flying out after the main set, while an unnamed girl played bass with the rest of Zep during the encores), and subsequently the Milwaukee date being moved to the last day of the month, the rescheduled itinerary created a lot of back and forth flying across the States: Milwaukee on 8/31, then to the West Coast (includes famous Blueberry Hill LA Forum show September 4), then off to Hawaii for a date September 6, then back to Boston for a rescheduled date on September 9. Okay, here's the mystery question: in everything I've read, had most of the tour dates not been rescheduled, and things went as planned, their New York City Madison Square Garden debuts (two shows on September 19), were still scheduled two weeks after the last US tour date in Hawaii on September 6. Why was the New York date scheduled separately, two weeks after what should have been the last date in Hawaii, on September 6? Was MSG not available during their East Coast swing in mid August (when they played Connecticut and Virginia)? Or why not schedule MSG around the rescheduled Boston date September 9? I show they had the Melody Maker awards to attend in London on September 16, so you'd think after all that flying, that they would have tried to make New York on their way back from Hawaii, stoppping to play in New York, before going back to England. It just seems strange that Zep would schedule New York two weeks after their last date in Hawaii, fly home across the Pond, attend Melody Maker, then fly back and forth across the pond just play those two MSG dates on the same day! Did they do some final mixes on Zep 3 in New York, to go with that MSG date? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Steve, I don't believe this one's been asked in this thread before: during Zeps 6th US Tour, in the summer of 1970, many tour dates were rescheduled, due to Jonesy's Dad's ill health in early August (and Jonesy flying back to be with him, which lead to the first week of shows being cancelled and/or rescheduled). Then when his Dad passed later in the month, during the Cleveland date (which resulted in that show starting earlier in the day, with Jonesy flying out after the main set, while an unnamed girl played bass with the rest of Zep during the encores), and subsequently the Milwaukee date being moved to the last day of the month, the rescheduled itinerary created a lot of back and forth flying across the States: Milwaukee on 8/31, then to the West Coast (includes famous Blueberry Hill LA Forum show September 4), then off to Hawaii for a date September 6, then back to Boston for a rescheduled date on September 9. Okay, here's the mystery question: in everything I've read, had most of the tour dates not been rescheduled, and things went as planned, their New York City Madison Square Garden debuts (two shows on September 19), were still scheduled two weeks after the last US tour date in Hawaii on September 6. Why was the New York date scheduled separately, two weeks after what should have been the last date in Hawaii, on September 6? Was MSG not available during their East Coast swing in mid August (when they played Connecticut and Virginia)? Or why not schedule MSG around the rescheduled Boston date September 9? I show they had the Melody Maker awards to attend in London on September 16, so you'd think after all that flying, that they would have tried to make New York on their way back from Hawaii, stoppping to play in New York, before going back to England. It just seems strange that Zep would schedule New York two weeks after their last date in Hawaii, fly home across the Pond, attend Melody Maker, then fly back and forth across the pond just play those two MSG dates on the same day! Did they do some final mixes on Zep 3 in New York, to go with that MSG date? That's a damn good question I haven't thought of or been asked before. I shall have to look into it further. At the moment all I show is a press conference held at 11am the day of the MSG concert - no other activity in New York. MSG date was almost certainly scheduled prior to the results of the Melody Maker awards being announced; even if Grant had anticipated the event in advance the trans-Atlantic flights to get there and back were probably an unforeseen result of them having still been in the states to perform postponed dates instead of being at home. Regarding the Cleveland date on August 26th, the showtime was moved up from 8:30pm to 5:30pm to allow JPJ to catch a flight to London while the unnamed girl filled in for him on the encores. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluecongo Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 The lyrics if taken are somewhat insulting and desultory taken in that context. Was Robert not pleased about something regarding his "Only One"? Yes, Robert has explained the lyrics can be taken more or less literally - that it would be the only one (song) he would contribute to the Outrider album. Bear in mind the song was already complete when it was presented to him for lyrics and he wrote the lyrics in return for Jimmy having previously contributed to his Now & Zen album. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 (edited) The lyrics if taken are somewhat insulting and desultory taken in that context. Was Robert not pleased about something regarding his "Only One"? Well, I never got that impression. It always seemed to me it was what it was - The Only One - without any desire to be superceded by a return of that other band. It's almost eerie how well this songs fits Robert's thoughts about their one-off reunion show at the 02 Arena nearly 20 years later, though that's another chapter in their story altogether. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e81PXqtSecs Edited February 11, 2011 by SteveAJones Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators sam_webmaster Posted February 11, 2011 Administrators Share Posted February 11, 2011 Steve, I don't believe this one's been asked in this thread before: during Zeps 6th US Tour, in the summer of 1970, many tour dates were rescheduled, due to Jonesy's Dad's ill health in early August (and Jonesy flying back to be with him, which lead to the first week of shows being cancelled and/or rescheduled). Then when his Dad passed later in the month, during the Cleveland date (which resulted in that show starting earlier in the day, with Jonesy flying out after the main set, while an unnamed girl played bass with the rest of Zep during the encores), and subsequently the Milwaukee date being moved to the last day of the month, the rescheduled itinerary created a lot of back and forth flying across the States: Milwaukee on 8/31, then to the West Coast (includes famous Blueberry Hill LA Forum show September 4), then off to Hawaii for a date September 6, then back to Boston for a rescheduled date on September 9. Okay, here's the mystery question: in everything I've read, had most of the tour dates not been rescheduled, and things went as planned, their New York City Madison Square Garden debuts (two shows on September 19), were still scheduled two weeks after the last US tour date in Hawaii on September 6. Why was the New York date scheduled separately, two weeks after what should have been the last date in Hawaii, on September 6? Was MSG not available during their East Coast swing in mid August (when they played Connecticut and Virginia)? Or why not schedule MSG around the rescheduled Boston date September 9? I show they had the Melody Maker awards to attend in London on September 16, so you'd think after all that flying, that they would have tried to make New York on their way back from Hawaii, stoppping to play in New York, before going back to England. It just seems strange that Zep would schedule New York two weeks after their last date in Hawaii, fly home across the Pond, attend Melody Maker, then fly back and forth across the pond just play those two MSG dates on the same day! Did they do some final mixes on Zep 3 in New York, to go with that MSG date? Two shows at MSG were originally scheduled for June 27th. When they rescheduled, it's likely the next available Saturday date that worked for Zep was 9/19, as they planned two shows on the same day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 11, 2011 Author Share Posted February 11, 2011 Two shows at MSG were originally scheduled for June 27th. When they rescheduled, it's likely the next available Saturday date that worked for Zep was 9/19, as they planned two shows on the same day. That pamphlet is the first confirmation I've seen of summer shows at MSG and it suggests they were arranged as early as April 1970. They might have elected to perform at the Bath Festival instead (June 28th) and when rescheduled used the rationale you have suggested. I wonder if there are other June 1970 US dates which were also rescheduled...as a result of the Bath Festival? Many thanks, Sam! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And You Know How It Is? Posted February 11, 2011 Share Posted February 11, 2011 That pamphlet is the first confirmation I've seen of summer shows at MSG and it suggests they were arranged as early as April 1970. They might have elected to perform at the Bath Festival instead (June 28th) and when rescheduled used the rationale you have suggested. I wonder if there are other June 1970 US dates which were also rescheduled...as a result of the Bath Festival? Many thanks, Sam! Thank you Sam and Steve! And, in a small sense, to your point about possibly scheduling these shows in April, it sort of answers another mini mystery: why didn't Zep play New York during their Spring 5th Tour of the the States in 1970? Perhaps MSG wasn't available during the March-April dates, so while on that 5th tour, they might have booked the special Garden date for 2 shows in June (until Bath came up). Would have been interesting to speculate that if Bath never occured, would the 6th US tour been moved up to June? I also thought I read Zep were offered a couple of dates in Boston and the Yale Bowl, but turned them down to perform Bath (which Peter felt was the right move for the Band)! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidZoso Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 I recently went to the site Royal Orleans and saw that some of the roadies and crew from Led Zep post over there - I didn't sign up but I have a question for the SteveAJones mystery thread- why was Achilles Last Stand dropped at the Vienna 6-26-80 and Berlin 7-7-80 shows? It was played at every other show beginning on the US 1977 tour till the European 1980 tour but those 2 dates. Except at the Chicago 9, 1977 show because Jimmy became ill and the Tampa 6-3-77 show because it was canceled due to the rain and thunderstorm. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 I recently went to the site Royal Orleans and saw that some of the roadies and crew from Led Zep post over there - I didn't sign up but I have a question for the SteveAJones mystery thread- why was Achilles Last Stand dropped at the Vienna 6-26-80 and Berlin 7-7-80 shows? It was played at every other show beginning on the US 1977 tour till the European 1980 tour but those 2 dates. Except at the Chicago 9, 1977 show because Jimmy became ill and the Tampa 6-3-77 show because it was canceled due to the rain and thunderstorm. Any ideas? No specific reason has been cited as far as I know so we can only speculate at this point: band fatigue, show running late, they just didn't feel like doing it, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidZoso Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 No specific reason has been cited as far as I know so we can only speculate at this point: band fatigue, show running late, they just didn't feel like doing it, etc. That is just not a damn good answer Stevie-O j/k well maybe we just won't ever know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 That is just not a damn good answer Stevie-O j/k well maybe we just won't ever know. Sometimes there simply is no explanation. If I had to guess I'd say those shows were running late & they wanted to be sure to end before the trains stopped running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidZoso Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 Sometimes there simply is no explanation. If I had to guess I'd say those shows were running late & they wanted to be sure to end before the trains stopped running. I can agree with that- I will say they really extended the Trampled Underfoot, Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta LOve at that last show in Berlin though so time doesn't seem to be at the upmost thought lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveAJones Posted February 12, 2011 Author Share Posted February 12, 2011 I can agree with that- I will say they really extended the Trampled Underfoot, Stairway to Heaven and Whole Lotta Love at that last show in Berlin though so time doesn't seem to be at the upmost thought lol. If they had performed Achilles Last Stand mid-concert as usual AND extended all those songs they would have gone over their standard-length show and people would have missed their trains, among other things. Perhaps dropping ALS permitted them to extend those numbers towards the end of the show knowing they had time to do so. Obviously they were in a jamming mood with that being the last night of the tour and no other dates on the horizon. It's interesting Jimmy said at the hotel afterward he was displeased with his performance. Sam_webmaster, the official timeline entry for Vienna '80 shows they did perform Achilles Last Stand that night so either it or David is incorrect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidZoso Posted February 12, 2011 Share Posted February 12, 2011 If they had performed Achilles Last Stand mid-concert as usual AND extended all those songs they would have gone over their standard-length show and people would have missed their trains, among other things. Perhaps dropping ALS permitted them to extend those numbers towards the end of the show knowing they had time to do so. Obviously they were in a jamming mood with that being the last night of the tour and no other dates on the horizon. It's interesting Jimmy said at the hotel afterward he was displeased with his performance. Sam_webmaster, the official timeline entry for Vienna '80 shows they did perform Achilles Last Stand that night so either it or David is incorrect. I have just listened to the complete Vienna audience source-no sb has surfaced and there is no cut-it wasn't performed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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