TBL Archive…1977:

Led Zeppelin – The Destroyer 49 years Gone:

The first recordings I heard of the 1977 US tour was an echo laded audience tape from the April 28 Cleveland show. I had this arrive via one of my key collector contacts Russ Rees about a month after the gig. Despite the average sound, it was still a thrill to hear the likes of Ten Years Gone and Achilles Last Stand performed live. In 1980 a soundboard mixing desk tape emerged of their April 27 gig. This was altogether something else – the two cassettes I received were played endlessly. Then about a year later  came the holy grail – a vinyl box set release.

More Destroyer reflections …

As can be seen, I’ve collected a fair few versions of The Destroyer set over the years – you can never have too many!

Here’s some pics of the early 80s Led Zeppelin Destroyer set released on the DRGM Enterprises label which I own. This featured the April 27 1977 soundboard recording spread across four LPs. There were a couple of different pressings and one of them came packaged in a unique computer storage design case. – labelled ”Unique Permanent Zeppelin Storage Case”

I was in contact with the instigator of this release. He explained to me that there were a number of different coloured cases and inserts – he kindly gave me a couple of the differing front images he still had hanging around –  he also old me he sourced the tape from the US and then ordered up the cases in the UK. There were some leftover individual discs from the April 28 sets which he repackaged in customised sleeves – I purchased three  of those – note the date is mistakenly listed as 24/6/77.

He was also behind the Earls Court Vol 1 and II bootleg releases which appeared in 1976.

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The Return of The Destroyer Led Zeppelin Fan Gathering – 19 Years Gone:

Another anniversary and again hard to believe that it was all of 19 years ago this week that in collaboration with Julian Walker and Graeme Hutchinson, we staged a special Return of The Destroyer fan gathering at the Knights Templar pub in London. This was to celebrate the 30th anniversary of those memorable shows at the Richfield Coliseum on their 1977 US tour – later to be immortalised on The Destroyer box sets.

It was a great day out – I remember the late Howard Mylett attending along with a host of like minded enthusiasts and TBL supporters including Gary and Carol Foy.  Mark Harrison, Eddie Edwards, Graeme Hutchinson, Keith Creek, Gary Davies etc.

Robin Welleans supplied the video and TV screen – in fact I recall we had a bit of job with the outside glare as it was an unusually hot and sunny spring day. Fan Lisa Haynes Truscott relayed her memories of being in the crowd at the curtailed Tampa date on June 3 1977.  We also staged an auction that raised over £1,000 for the ABC charity.

The night before I also interviewed ex Free/Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke at his gig at the Esquires club in Bedford. Crazy days indeed.

Here’s the report of the day that appeared in TBL issue 18. Little did we know as we gathered on that rather hot day in London, that plans were already underway for Led Zeppelin to stage a spectacular comeback in honour of Ahmet Ertegun- indeed the next time I would see some of the names above would be in the confines of the 02 Arena on that night of nights on Monday December 10, 2007.

More 1977  US tour memories:

Led Zeppelin – The Destroyer 49 years Gone:

Here’s a further piece about The Destroyer bootleg release.

This is the thoughts of Eddie Edwards – long time TBL contributor and author of the brilliant Garden Tapes Zep Song Remains The Same dissection website – see http://www.thegardentapes.co.uk/

This was first published in TBL issue 19.

A whole lotta people in Pontiac – 49 years gone:

It was 48 years ago on April 30 1977 this week that Led Zeppelin performed before 76,229 at the Silverdome in Pontiac Michigan. At the time it set a new world record attendance for an indoor solo attraction concert. It was Led Zeppelin’s largest non – festival solo concert appearance of their career…a whole lotta people…

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More on the Good Times Bad Times promo film…

This update from Hiroshi…

There is a good possibility that the newly unearthed Good Times Bad Times promo video was broadcasted in Japan back in the day.

Over the past decades, I have come across a couple of recollections, one in the physical media (a Japanese music magazine published sometime in the late 80s) and the other on the Internet, by those who claimed that they had seen a video clip of GTBT on TV. I speculated they misremembered the more common Communication Breakdown promo video that was widely circulated. And I had been holding on to that idea — until I read the recent report of this remarkable find.

To make these people’s reflections more plausible, The Now Explosion was broadcasted in Japan, too, between 7 August, 1971 and 29 April, 1972, as a late night Saturday program (00:00-01:06, so early Sunday morning, technically speaking. The key station was Tokyo 12 CH). Around the time the show started, Led Zeppelin’s forthcoming concerts were the talk of the music fans in the country. It would have been hardly surprising that the video was broadcasted to fuel fans’ anticipation. Stay tuned!

As a teenager, I watched the show from time to time myself, though not every week. And I don’t remember Good Times Bad Times clip,unfortunately. But I don’t remember much of the contents for that matter. All I can recall now is Melanie’s Brand New Key…

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TBL Retro adverts and reviews – The way it was in April 1969… 

With thanks to Mike Tremaglio

Thursday April 30:

It’s a Happy Birthday to Mr Mick Bulow – long time friend and TBL supporter, avid Led Zep fan – a great support to us here  and all round top man – Mick Happy Birthday from Janet and I and have a fab day!

Thursday April 30:

It’s a Happy Birthday to Mr Alan G Parker – the esteemed music man and director of film documentaries such as Hello Quo and Sgt Pepper- It Was 50 years Ago and next month the forthcoming John Lennon Borrowed Time. Alan’s illuminating Facebook posts light up many a day here.

Here’s some pics with Alan together in our collective office also known as The Spice Of Life in London  – hope to see you in there again soon mate. Have a great day today and Happy Birthday from us here…

Thursday April 30:

It was 49 years ago today…

A whole lotta people in Pontiac – 49 years gone:

It was 49 years ago on April 30 1977 this week that Led Zeppelin performed before 76,229 at the Silverdome in Pontiac Michigan. At the time it set a new world record attendance for an indoor solo attraction concert. It was Led Zeppelin’s largest non – festival solo concert appearance of their career…a whole lotta people…