TBL EARLS COURT 30th ANNIVERSARY SOUVENIR JOURNAL

I recently found seven remaining copies of the limited edition TBL Earls Court  8 page Journal published to mark the 30th anniversary. These are available on a first come first served basis. If you are interested in purchasing this, email in the first instance at davelewis.tbl1@ntlworld.com. The first seven emails received will have first option to purchase this rare limited TBL publication. UK price is £6.oo, Europe £7.oo, USA £8.00. All prices include postage and packing.

LED ZEPPELIN AT EARLS COURT 1975 – FACT FILE:

*The 40 tons of Showco PA airlifted from Dallas to Earls Court included 100 speaker cabinets linked to 40 microphones, 200 spotlights, four supertrooper spotlights, eight CSI spotlamps, all powered by generators capable of an output of 20,000 watts, enough to illuminate every neon sign in London’s west end.

*Background music played over the PA as the audiences filed in before the Earls Court shows included Steely Dan’s Katy Lied album and Supertramp’s Crime Of The Century.

*The security guards on duty to man the gangways and aisles were supplied by the Sturico Security company

*Official merchandise on sale included the official Earls Court T-shirt depicting the Earls Court ad (mine came off during ironing within a month!) and the excellent programme which  now commands a £50 collectors fee. Unofficial merchandise sold outside the arena included a variety of posters, scarfs and badges plus a now much sought after unofficial  programme.

*It was so cold in the empty arena at the soundcheck prior to the first date that Bonzo wore his overcoat throughout rehearsals. Electric fires were also installed in the caravan dressing rooms.

* Press and complimentary invites for the shows came in the form of a full colour Physical Rocket ticket marked First Class – these were also used to gain entry at the end of show party on May 25.

* Five prominent DJs were given the task of introducing the band on stage at each show.-lining up as follows: May 17 Bob Harris, May 18 Johnnie Walker, May 23 Kid Jensen, May 24 Nicky Horne, May 25 Alan Freeman. Each were given a special souvenir goblet in appreciation by Peter Grant.

* Songs ad-libbed by Plant between numbers over the five shows included Neil Young’s ‘Old Man’, Little Richards ‘Rip It Up’, Robert Johnson’s ‘Judgement Day’, and their own ‘Friends’ and ‘Livin’ Lovin’ Maid’. John Paul Jones also played some bars from the ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ before ‘Stairway To Heaven’ at the May 17 show.

* The following were all name checked by Plant during his between song patter over the course of the five shows: Chris Welch, Charles Shaar Murray, Roy Harper, Neil Young, Robert Johnson, Elvis Presley, Boz Scaggs, Scott McKenzie, Noddy Holder, Bob Dylan, Ian Campbell folk group, Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, Bob Marley & The Wailers, The Osmonds, Tim Rose, Greta Garbo, Richard Burton, Denis Healey, DJ Alan Freeman, footballer Jimmy McCalliog, football referee Jack Taylor, roadies Mick Hinton, Ray Thomas, pus Peter Grant, Carmen Plant, Jason Bonham, Bonzo’s dad, and the mysterious Reginald Pinner.

* According to press reports The Osmonds were guests at one of the Zeppelin shows and they returned the compliment by inviting John Bonham and familly to see their show at the same venue the next week.

LED ZEPPELIN AT EARLS COURT 1975

WHAT THE PAPERS SAID:

“The group were on their best behaviour with singer Robert Plant reporting on what they had been doing in the last two years since the last concerts with a graciousness approaching the Queen’s Christmas message. Perhaps they are more popular than The Beatles. Could any artist, contemporary or historical in any musical field, improve on their achievements of packing Earls Court five times with many more disappointed? When I first saw Led Zeppelin over five years ago they were a very good rock band. Now they must rate a paragraph in any social history of the twentieth century. They are no longer judged in mere musical terms but as an entertainment industry phenomenon.” – ANTHONY THORNCROFT/FINANCIAL TIMES

“If ever there was a concert that you could brag about seeing to all your friends it was the one Led Zeppelin performed at Earls Court last Sunday. It turned out to be a nocturnal delight and one that should be remembered for eons to come.” – JAN ILES/RECORD MIRROR

To be continued:  Tomorrow -Imagine the Earls Court box set….