Celebration Day

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Mon Dec 17, 2012 11:59 pm

In 2007, "Led Zeppelin" performed a concert in London for some dumb reason. I put quotes there because there is no Led Zeppelin without John Bonham. HOWEVER, this is the first and only time that I'm aware that it was the three living members of the group, and JASON Bonham filling in on drums.

It takes until about the middle of "In My Time of Dying", about 20 minutes into the show, to realize that you're not watching a cute throwback with a bunch of doddering old idiots trying to remember how to play the songs that made them famous and got them laid forty years ago.

There's a moment in there where something snaps, and you realize...

...you are watching a Led Zeppelin concert. The one and only Zeppelin concert to exist on the planet in the last 33 years.

And it's magical. Page can't quite play like before? Plant can't quite sing like before (though at times he's indistinguishable from Plant circa 1977 -- which is probably why the songs from Physical Graffiti and Presence seem to work better than the earlier tunes). Jason is a fine drummer, but he'll never (nor will anyone ever) be Bonzo. But goddammit, it sure as shit sounds like a Zeppelin concert to me. (John Paul Jones is as flawless as ever. He gets no disclaimer.)

The only thing you find here that you didn't 35 years ago is that they're smiling at each other, and having a good time. The most touching part is how much the band has fun with Jason, and how obviously thrilled and touched Jason is to be allowed to sit in. Oh my god, even if your dad is Bonzo can you imagine that? "Hi, we'd like you to play with Led Fucking Zeppelin, any interest?" I'm peeing my goddamn pants just thinking about it.

Anyway, they're doddering old idiots, and they are still, without question, and by a margin that just seems to widen as the years pass, the greatest rock band of all time.

*****

AArdvark · Post by **AArdvark** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 4:08 am

I grabbed the audio of the London 0-2 show right after it showed up on teh intronet but the quality was typical Zeppelin bootleg* . I wasn't impressed. I also understand that they tuned down some of the songs so Plant could get closer to the range. Did that make any difference? One last question, which was better, this or Song Remains the Same?

THE
IN THEIR TIME OF DYING
AARDVARK

*Zeppelin is (or was) the #2 bootlegged band in the world behind the Beatles.

Ice Cream Jonsey · Post by **Ice Cream Jonsey** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:41 am

When I was in high school I hated these guys for some reason, but yes, I can admit now that they are the best.

(In high school I also hated Nirvana. Then in my 30s I sort of liked their stuff, but I am back to disliking them. That's a different thread. That I could start.)

Pinner, what brought this thread on?

pinback · Post by **pinback** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 10:17 am

Ice Cream Jonsey wrote:Pinner, what brought this thread on?

Well. They just released the CD/DVD of the show? And I bought it? And watched it? And sometimes on this BBS we review things that we have consumed!

Song Remains The Same is better because Bonzo.

Flack · Post by **Flack** » Tue Dec 18, 2012 12:57 pm

How did you all discover Led Zeppelin? Our local rock station used to do "Get the Led Out" for like two hours every Wednesday, but they only played the most common stuff. But then I met "that guy" in college who introduced me to Zeppelin, and Ministry, and a few other bands. Do you guys remember the people from your past that introduced you to specific bands and changed your musical soundscapes forever?