I'd like to tell you I flexed my connections to get into this highly anticipated show, but that wasn't the case. It actually ended up costing a pretty penny. After seeing tickets on eBay for up to US$10,000 each, I went to work on everyone from record label execs and band managers to Hollywood producers, and high friends in places everywhere, calling out the ultimate favor. But everyone came back with the same response: "These are the most sought after tickets EVER, sorry but I can't help ya." Wonka's Golden Ticket was reincarnated.
The word was this was to be a one-off reunion performance solely for the support of Ertegun, the man who signed Zeppelin back in 1968, and his established causes for music education. Then the rumor mill started with notions of other European Zep dates as well as some in the U.S., at festivals like Tennessee's annual Bonnaroo event. But those were soon squelched as just hype generated by U.S. promoters. Ian Astbury, frontman of The Cult even made a comment during a recent performance that next year they would be opening a tour for a legendary band that started with an "L" and also had a "Z" in their name.
But closer inspection found Zep singer Robert Plant quoted as saying he "wasn't really interested in trying to relive the past." Plant is not a fan of the large arenas, and has recently been more focused on collaborations and more intimate projects in the blues-folk-bluegrass genre. Despite not touring for decades since the death of Zep's drummer John Bonham, who overdosed on a reported 30 measures of vodka (in one night), and god knows what else, guitarist Jimmy Page apparently has said he's up for future shows. After what I witnessed in London, it seems like a great idea. They absolutely WENT OFF!
The Backstory: When I was 13 years old, my mom (whose favorite band was Zep) put down a deposit for us at a record store named Licorice Pizza, in San Diego, for an upcoming Zep tour show. The band started working their way across the U.S., but unfortunately Bonham died before they reached the west coast, effectively ending their desire to continue as a band. I've been waiting to see Led Zep for the past three decades, learning a majority of their songs note-for-note on guitar, particularly the lead to Stairway to Heaven.
Zep had reportedly been rehearsing for the past six weeks for this gig. The original show date of November 26 was postponed as Jimmy Page broke his finger when he tripped over something in his garden, thus granting me a few extra weeks to rally for the rescheduled show date. I booked flights, a hotel in London, hijacked my girlfriend, and hit the road (still with no tickets) for a long weekend and a show that was sold-out beyond compare. Where there's a will, there's a way -- and I was hell-bent to make it happen.
Our concierge at the hotel in Piccadilly Circus was nervous to take on the task of finding us tickets, after advising it would be very, very expensive, if even possible. He soon advised us it would require £10,000 each - which with the current crap exchange rate was over $20G's USD. I wished him a lovely day and hung up the phone. Crook. eBay was still calling for US$7,000-$10,000 per ticket though, for VIP seats, and $2,500 and up for basic seats at the back of the arena.
We set out to get the word on the street, stopping in at a local record shop only to be severely discouraged by a crag-toothed, frustrated employee who advised us we would have ZERO chance of getting into the show without a credit card that matched the ticket #'s purchased through the lottery, as well as the matching wristbands, and that the event was really just for the close-knit music industry and would showcase all of Atlantic Records' acts with Zep only doing a 20-minute set -- hence testing the waters to see if they could function together well enough to set out on a complete tour. He added that he thought Zep was a lousy band in the first place, gone on booze and pills from the start. He suggested we would be arrested immediately if we even set foot on the event grounds without a ticket. I can only hope he reads this somehow to see how wrong he was, especially after Zep ROCKED for over two hours. Ha! The stage was a combo of darkness and psychedelia, lights mainly of purple and green and white mixed with live shots imposed on the giant backdrop as well as fantastically bizarre designs.
So we got back on eBay the night before the show, sorted through a bunch of overpriced, overhyped offers, and alas, we finally found our man--whom shall remain nameless, which is a shame considering what a lifesaver (and cool, vintage music man) that he is. He had in-roads to superb seats, and was holding two extra tickets that he wanted to go to deserving fans, whom he would also be sitting next to for the evening. He apparently liked the sound of my voice on the message I left him, and chose us over many willing to pay far more. Karma perhaps, or just luck...regardless we set off for the Tube station to get to the venue, and prayed it would all come together. It did. And after hugging our new "host" and his friends (one of whom was an avid skater), and strapping on our wristbands, we enjoyed a few rounds at the bar, and found our prime seats. We were expectedly surrounded by notable musicians, models, and actors. My gal and I had smiles too big for words, realizing the intensity of what we were about to experience.
The lineup for London's highly anticipated Zep gig at the 02 Arena also included some killer warm-up performances by Foreigner, Paul Rogers of Bad Co, and the Rhythm Kings featuring Rolling Stones' bassist Bill Wyman, who served as the house band for the pre-show. Reportedly, tea and sparkling water were requested by Zep members backstage, not vodka, or cocaine. Robert Plant was said to have ironed his own clothes before the gig, in an effort to get him into the mood, and what a mood he was in.
The set list went like this:
-Good Times Bad Times
-Ramble On
-Black Dog
-In My Time Of Dying
-For Your Life
-Trampled Under Foot
-Nobody's Fault But Mine
-No Quarter (That's right, NO QUARTER, LIVE!!)
-Since I've Been Loving You
Then, Plant asked the crowd, "How can we choose what songs to play after 10 albums?" Adding that at an event like this, some songs just "needed to be played" and went into:
-Dazed & Confused (Complete with laser light show during the cosmic middle/lead part, Page playing his guitar with a horse-hair bow, of course, adding to the mystique.)
-Stairway To Heaven
-Song Remains The Same
-Misty Mountain Hop
-Kashmir
(encores):
-Whole Lotta Love
-Rock n' Roll
And then they took a hearty, loving, well-deserved bow.
The potential "ageing rocker" assumptions were wrong. Despite not having played live for several decades, Robert Plant was amazing, truly. He had the same long, blondish hair, wore blue sharkskin trousers, a black, silky button down shirt, goatee, and brown shoes. He shook the tambourine, defiantly kicked over the mic stand once for good measure, and consistently hit the high notes as he swaggered around the stage, cool as ever. A legendary blues man doing what he does best.
Jimmy Page was incredible as ever on the guitar, and at times just so absorbed in the music that he appeared to leave his own body. Gone was the dragon-embroidered, black rock n'roll suit, replaced by a black trenchcoat over a tailored black, vested suit, dark shades, and nice shoes -- but it all was shed quick during the first few songs, down to his white dress shirt, and grey hair. He played various Les Paul guitars, and in true Page fashion busted out his famed Gibson Double-neck for Stairway. Smiling, feeling the music, and simply KILLING IT! Period.
John Paul-Jones was the catalyst, as ever, alternating between bass guitar and keyboards...short hair, and forever in the pocket with drummer Jason Bonham--who sported not much hair, but a true rock style with MASSIVE drum chops, keeping his father's tradition alive and rockin'. He was the golden child of the night and damn proud of it.
The stage was a combo of darkness and psychedelia, lights mainly of purple and green and white mixed with live shots imposed on the giant backdrop as well as fantastically bizarre designs. The crowd in general was comprised of old rockers, yups, and yips - thousands of men in their 40s and 50s with just the biggest smiles on their faces. And of course some new young groupies mixed with the diehard rock n' roll cougars, all looking for the Backstage door. The details got a bit blurry as the night rolled on, but the scenery included Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, The Edge from U2, Ben Harper, Marilyn Manson, members of Crowded House, Foo Fighters, Oasis, models like Kate Moss, and other Hollywood types--many of whom sat right in front of us. After a night of fist pumps, high-fives and good cheer with our new-found friends, we had to pass on the aftershow hospitality offer from our host as we had only a few hours to pack it up and catch a plane outta London. However, he did call to make sure we made it safely and invite us back again "anytime as we now have family in London." Coolest bloke.
I've got my hearing back -- and a memory of the greatest rock show I've ever witnessed. It was beyond my wildest expectations, and worth every bit of the effort and expense. The tribute was said to have raised over $L2.25 million ($US 4.5 million). Hopefully the success of this show will inspire the band to perform further so more fans around the world can experience the magic. Either way, I was stoked and honored to see Led Zeppelin tear it up in their beloved London hometown. My mom loved this band, and I imagine so will my kids one day.
--Steve Zeldin
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2007 is done, and with it came huge advances in materials, energy, architecture, transportation and more. But I though, before we take a look back, we'd take a look forward.
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