A memoir of 25 years (1975-2000) spent working in the world of records & music in Seattle, with occasional side trips into writings on Led Zeppelin and other adventures from my musical life.
Good one, Hugh. I was in 8th grade at the time of that tour. A skinny little red head with a copy of Led Zeppelin IV, Houses of the Holy, and on my way to purchase Physical Graffiti. By high school I had my first bootleg cassettes of the band and a dual TEAC tape deck, dubbing tapes like a madman. One of my favorites from the Boston Tea Party in 1969 got an upgrade a few years back. I'm sure you sampled that one. If not, dig in: https://youtu.be/obyeYbXiMrA?si=6TLjUmxq2VwnUqGZ
Ah, your tape-trading roots are revealed! I'm a bit older but my first 'bootleg' cassette was a recording of Led Zep's 1971 BBBC show, taped from a broadcast on WNEW FM in 1972.
In the pre-CD era of trading shows, I accumulated enough 'max points' from buying blank Maxell XLII 90's that I qualified for the top item in their frequent buyer program - a Pioneer CD/tape blaster. You needed something ridiculous like 2500 max points - and I got there! By the late '80s I had two Nakamichi decks running almost non-stop.
The Boston Tea Party '69 show is indeed a corker - another fave of mine from Led Zep's early days is the Dallas Pop Festival 8/31/69 - a good quality soundboard and a face-melting performance.
Thanks Hugh, I saw the 1975 Mpls. show and it was a disaster ! one of the worst shows I saw back in the 70's. Jimmy's broken finger and could barely play and Roberts Voice sounded terrible. unfortunately, that show turned me off to the Band forever. never gave them another chance ? probably my Bad ? Thanks for the Story, Mike
Thanks for commenting. I can totally understand your reaction, I've heard recordings of some of those early '75 shows and they're pretty bad. I can understand them honoring the dates even with Page's injury, but I'll always wonder why they booked a tour starting on the east coast in February to begin with. It wasn't like they always toured around their album release dates - since PG came out in late February they could easily have waited a few more weeks to come to the U.S.
I have a Zep freak friend who maintains that 80% of the '75 tour sucked - I don't agree with him, but Robert certainly struggled with his voice a lot.
Anyway, I was lucky to be on the west coast that year!
This is awesome! I’ve listened to the bootlegs many times and always thought they were among the best of the 75 shows, so getting these up-close and personal insights and reflections is fascinating.
My fourth Zep live show took place in Vancouver , sandwiched between the two Seattle shows and it did not even begin to live up to expectations. The band played as if going through the motions and Plant was perturbed by the continual incessant pleas for Stairway to Heaven. When it was played he spoke instead of sang, as if saying 'fuck you' to the hooters on hand. I felt the drum solo was ten minutes too long but Kashmir was interplanetary and was worth the whole drive to BC. Those I know who attended all three say that this was the clunker and the two Seattle shows were incredible. Sorry about the negatory vibes but it was more addressed to the noisy minions than to the band itself who truly more than earned their deserved egendary status on that tour.
I saw the Friday 1975 show. Here is an admission: I barely liked Led Zeppelin until Physical Graffiti. For me, that album, not the early ones, defined the band. The show was incredible.
My date did not care for it much....why do I remember that so well?
The only other Led Zeppelin show I saw was the Kingdome.....
I was at that show and overwhelmed by the crowd and the noise and sound! It was admittedly one of the most amazing concerts I’ve seen to date. I’m so glad you have a much better memory of it than I. It’s great to relive it through your eyes.
Remind me if John Bonham did an extended drum solo and if you remember what song it was. In my fading memory, it felt like he went on for 45 minutes but I’m sure that’s incorrect.
Oh yeah, Bonham always got a long solo! It was in the song "Moby Dick" (studio version on Zep II), which on the 1977 tour was re-dubbed "Over The Top."
The drum solos got longer and longer as time went on - it may have felt like 45 minutes to you (understandable!) but it was really only 21, though at the Friday Seattle '75 show it clocked in closer to 28 minutes. I'm taking those lengths from the bootleg CD tracks so they're pretty accurate.
This is such a great read, man. I recently bonded with my younger cousin (he’s 47, but still seems like a “kid” to me) over Physical Graffiti while he was driving me to the airport in LA. It made me all the more convinced that PG is LZ’s finest achievement!
Good one, Hugh. I was in 8th grade at the time of that tour. A skinny little red head with a copy of Led Zeppelin IV, Houses of the Holy, and on my way to purchase Physical Graffiti. By high school I had my first bootleg cassettes of the band and a dual TEAC tape deck, dubbing tapes like a madman. One of my favorites from the Boston Tea Party in 1969 got an upgrade a few years back. I'm sure you sampled that one. If not, dig in: https://youtu.be/obyeYbXiMrA?si=6TLjUmxq2VwnUqGZ
"...high and fast. The only way to fly."
Ah, your tape-trading roots are revealed! I'm a bit older but my first 'bootleg' cassette was a recording of Led Zep's 1971 BBBC show, taped from a broadcast on WNEW FM in 1972.
In the pre-CD era of trading shows, I accumulated enough 'max points' from buying blank Maxell XLII 90's that I qualified for the top item in their frequent buyer program - a Pioneer CD/tape blaster. You needed something ridiculous like 2500 max points - and I got there! By the late '80s I had two Nakamichi decks running almost non-stop.
The Boston Tea Party '69 show is indeed a corker - another fave of mine from Led Zep's early days is the Dallas Pop Festival 8/31/69 - a good quality soundboard and a face-melting performance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGOIpKGTpwM
Thanks for reading & commenting Mangrove!
Thanks Hugh, I saw the 1975 Mpls. show and it was a disaster ! one of the worst shows I saw back in the 70's. Jimmy's broken finger and could barely play and Roberts Voice sounded terrible. unfortunately, that show turned me off to the Band forever. never gave them another chance ? probably my Bad ? Thanks for the Story, Mike
Thanks for commenting. I can totally understand your reaction, I've heard recordings of some of those early '75 shows and they're pretty bad. I can understand them honoring the dates even with Page's injury, but I'll always wonder why they booked a tour starting on the east coast in February to begin with. It wasn't like they always toured around their album release dates - since PG came out in late February they could easily have waited a few more weeks to come to the U.S.
I have a Zep freak friend who maintains that 80% of the '75 tour sucked - I don't agree with him, but Robert certainly struggled with his voice a lot.
Anyway, I was lucky to be on the west coast that year!
This is awesome! I’ve listened to the bootlegs many times and always thought they were among the best of the 75 shows, so getting these up-close and personal insights and reflections is fascinating.
My fourth Zep live show took place in Vancouver , sandwiched between the two Seattle shows and it did not even begin to live up to expectations. The band played as if going through the motions and Plant was perturbed by the continual incessant pleas for Stairway to Heaven. When it was played he spoke instead of sang, as if saying 'fuck you' to the hooters on hand. I felt the drum solo was ten minutes too long but Kashmir was interplanetary and was worth the whole drive to BC. Those I know who attended all three say that this was the clunker and the two Seattle shows were incredible. Sorry about the negatory vibes but it was more addressed to the noisy minions than to the band itself who truly more than earned their deserved egendary status on that tour.
I saw the Friday 1975 show. Here is an admission: I barely liked Led Zeppelin until Physical Graffiti. For me, that album, not the early ones, defined the band. The show was incredible.
My date did not care for it much....why do I remember that so well?
The only other Led Zeppelin show I saw was the Kingdome.....
I was at that show and overwhelmed by the crowd and the noise and sound! It was admittedly one of the most amazing concerts I’ve seen to date. I’m so glad you have a much better memory of it than I. It’s great to relive it through your eyes.
Remind me if John Bonham did an extended drum solo and if you remember what song it was. In my fading memory, it felt like he went on for 45 minutes but I’m sure that’s incorrect.
Oh yeah, Bonham always got a long solo! It was in the song "Moby Dick" (studio version on Zep II), which on the 1977 tour was re-dubbed "Over The Top."
The drum solos got longer and longer as time went on - it may have felt like 45 minutes to you (understandable!) but it was really only 21, though at the Friday Seattle '75 show it clocked in closer to 28 minutes. I'm taking those lengths from the bootleg CD tracks so they're pretty accurate.
Thanks for the confirmation that it was indeed incredibly long! I’m really grateful that I got to see it even if my memories are so foggy!
This is such a great read, man. I recently bonded with my younger cousin (he’s 47, but still seems like a “kid” to me) over Physical Graffiti while he was driving me to the airport in LA. It made me all the more convinced that PG is LZ’s finest achievement!
Thanks Dan!