Led Zeppelin

Zeppelin is my favorite band, so when I heard that this double dvd was coming out, I was understandably excited. I'll just cut to the chase here, and say that if you are any kind of Zeppelin fan, you must run out and buy this right away! It's absolutely spectacular! It blows 'The Song Remains The Same' completely out of the water. Why this material was never released before is beyond me. The footage presented here really shows Zep at the peak of their game, which I never really felt that 'Song' quite did. Jimmy Page is the best ever without a doubt, and these performances make Jimi Hendrix look like a chump! Be on the lookout for the live jam 'White Summer'... whew!

Viva Jimmy Page!

Viva Led Zeppelin!

11 out of 10

Led Zeppelin has been my favorite band since I was 12 years old. In the Christmas of 1991, I began this long obsession with the purchase Led Zeppelin II. From the opening riff of "Heartbreaker" to the tender chords on "Thank You," I was fueled with a new inner sanctity and knew my life was changed forever. Over the cold winter months of seventh grade, I indulged in the fourth album, hooked on the classic ballad "Stairway To Heaven." By my 13th birthday, I was well on my way to having their full collection. As a result, specific memories would follow:

1) listening to "The Rain Song" on a dreary Friday afternoon

2) convincing my dad to give me the money to buy "Physical Graffiti" at the mall in Kingston, MA

3) air guitaring to "Rock And Roll" with my friend Mitchell Daley

4) throwing in a tape of the live version of "Dazed and Confused" when I first got my license in the winter of 1996

5) In college, smiling through the haze of a Pab's Blue Ribbon as Dave Mayurnik headbanged to "Kashmir"

12 years later, I find myself in the deps of a hellish day job. However, Led Zeppelin's final album "Co/Da" remains in my office CD player. Today I listen to "We're Gonna Groove" and "Ozone Baby," tracks recorded in the bands prime but assembled only after the passing of John Bonham.

Gathering strength and happiness from their timeless music, their uncanny ability to touch my soul, and their commitment to the mastery of rock, I declare myself one of their greatest fans.

Filled with rare spots and archives, the LED ZEPPELIN DVD provides us with glimpses of the band hidden for over 30 years.

In addition, new lessons can be learned. Here is insight I experienced upon first viewing:

1) Jimmy Page was the mastermind. For example, watch him improv on the Knebworth performance of "Whole Lotta Love."

2) "Achilles Last Stand" is an anthem of unheralded wizadry and pure Zeppelin magic.

3) Plant looked much cooler in 1970 than he did in 1979

4) Bonzo was a machine of percussion.

5) Without John Paul Jones, the band might have gone off the deep end.

With that in mind, I await the day when I introduce my children to power of Led Zeppelin and teach them the many ways this band can alter daily life.

All the best. Ted

This film is simply incredible and is a must have for all Led Zeppelin Fans. I'm really sorry I missed this film when it came out in 2003. It's just a shame that it took nearly 25yrs. for such a collection of concert footage to be released. "The Song Remains The Same" from 1976 doesn't even compare to this live footage.

The raw power of this band is very evident from the very first minute of this film. Rocking right along, it doesn't matter what genre they're playing; heavy rocker, blues based or acoustic this band could do it all. Not really surprising though, ask any fan from those years when LZ ruled the rock world and they will tell you the same. Now the whole world can see for themselves why they ruled the rock world.

The only negative comment I have is the sound quality one Disc 1. The audio from the Royal Albert Hall set is just a little distorted. The audio quality on Disc 2 is much better.

This is a great no frills collection of some of the greatest performances of what many consider the greatest band of the 1970's. The first disc features a great performance from a 1970 show at the Royal Albert Hall. The second disc shows the band's evolution throughout the decade that they dominated. Of particular interest is the chapter featuring the 1973 Madison Square Garden show that was filmed for The Song Remains the Same featuring outtake performances including wonderful versions of their classics "Misty Mountain Hop" and "The Ocean". Also, you get to see several songs from what would be their final British concert at the 1979 Knebworth Festival. However, the whole two disc set is a treat for all Zeppelin fans.

Let's not psycho analyze the quality and artistry of this Led Zeppelin DVD set. Led Zeppelin was such an innovative group that many of their efforts and attitudes resulted in a large void today.

When Zeppelin ruled the world (yes, they were bigger than the Beatles), their confidence allowed them NOT to bow to pressure to put out singles, name albums (their forth has no title), and most importantly, not allow recording or photographing of concert footage. Peter Grant (manager) was notorious in his violence towards bootleggers.

Here we are over 30 years later begging for something, ANYTHING that will allow us to remember the power and drive of Led Zeppelin in its prime.

This Led Zeppelin DVD does just that.

Yes, the quality is waning in some shots. But who cares? We take what we can get from the vaults of Jimmy Page.

Here are some of my thoughts:

I can not believe all the 'heavy lifting' Bonzo did in the performances. While Plant merely sang and JPJ kept it simple, often times Jimmy Page and Bonzo would face each other and hammer the rhythm and guitar together. Bonzo had to be thoroughly exhausted after each and every show.

The acoustic sets were unbelievable! Led Zeppelin was 'unplugged' 15 years before MTV knew the meaning of the word!

Watch Jimmy Page up close. You'll quickly see that Slash, Joe Perry, and even Eddie Van Halen (and his 'hammer-on') were wannabes at one time. The way they copied Jimmy Page is uncanny!

Songs of note: Trampled Under Foot is especially cool. A good 10 minute jam! All of the Royal Albert Hall performance is worth the price of the DVD alone. The acoustic ballads including Going To California and That's The Way were wonderful. They were of excellent quality as well! To here Achilles' Last Stand live in 1979 was absolutely riff bashing!

Any die hard Zep fan will be very pleased.

What is sad and profound about the DVD is Robert Plant's last words in Knebenworth 1979: 'Thank you for a wonderful 11 years'

It was as if he knew it was their swan song.