From: tiverson@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu (Thor Iverson) Newsgroups: alt.rock-n-roll.classic,alt.rock-n-roll Subject: Led Zeppelin FAQL (was Re: Led Zeppelin) Message-ID: <1993Feb10.040612.5552@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu> Date: 10 Feb 93 04:06:12 GMT Organization: Northeastern University, Boston, MA. 02115, USA Lines: 1247 It's become apparent that this is needed, so... ************************************************************************** WELCOME TO THE LED ZEPPELIN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS LIST--v3.2 2-9-93 ************************************************************************** A few notes: -- This is a FAQL, _not_ an obscure Zeppelin trivia file. -- Information will be added to or deleted from this file as it becomes necessary. -- Contact Thor Iverson at tiverson@lynx.dac.northeastern.edu with comments, additions, corrections, etc. -- Sincere thanks to Kevin Rauch, Maurice Maes, Steve Portigal, Mike Bacigalupi, Chris Milazzo, Matt Hill, Jody Hay, Bryan Durall, Tim Ames, Jim Browne, Jeff Lester, Steve Kilpatrick, and all others who've helped. If you sent me suggestions and I haven't acknowledged you (that is, I erased your email) let me know! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents of this file: 1-Abbreviations 2-Administrative info about the list 3-Who was in Led Zeppelin? 4-When and where was Zeppelin formed? 5-How and when did John Bonham die? 6-What are Zeppelin's songs/albums? 7-Should I buy the boxed set? How about _Remasters_? 8-So what _is_ the fourth album called, anyway? 9-What's the deal with those symbols? 10-What the heck is that thing on the cover of _Presence_? 11-What's up with the album version of _ITTOD_? 12-What's Zeppelin's best song/album? 13-What about (song title) (and who's Roy Harper)? 14-Are there many references to J.R.R. Tolkien's work in Zeppelin songs? 15-Didn't Zeppelin copy (song title) from (blues artist)? 16-Why aren't there more unreleased Zeppelin songs? 17-How does the band feel about bootlegs? 18-So how do I get these bootlegs? 19-Which bootlegs should I start with? 20-How about videos? 21-Are there any books about Zeppelin? 22-Are there any magazines about Zeppelin? 23-How do I get lyrics, tabs, GIF's, etc. of Led Zeppelin? 24-How do I get Zeppelin collectbles (the legal kind)? 25-What have the guys done since the band broke up? 26-I heard Led Zeppelin's getting back together!!! 27-What's this new Page/Coverdale album all about? 28-How about Plant's new album? 29-What's this I hear about a new boxed set? 30-Hey! Did you know that (band name) was on Swan Song? 31-_The Song Retains The Name_--what is it? 32-Who is Dread Zeppelin and what does the band think of them? 33-Did Page invent bowing? 34-What's this "theramin" that Page uses? 35-Is that Jimmy Page I hear on TV? 36-Is Jimmy Page a Satanist? 37-What about the messages in "Stairway To Heaven"? --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1-Common abbreviations found in this file and the Zeppelin mailing list: FAQL = Frequently Asked Questions List HHWCID = Hey Hey What Can I Do HOTG = Hammer Of The Gods HOTH = Houses Of The Holy IMHO = In My Humble Opinion IMTOD = In My Time Of Dying ITTOD = In Through The Out Door JPJ = John Paul Jones LZ = Led Zeppelin STH = Stairway To Heaven TSRTS = The Song Remains The Same --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2-Administrative info To subscribe, send a message to listserv@cornell.edu of: SUBSCRIBE zeppelin-l Your Name To communicate with the list, send to Zeppelin-l@cornell.edu. Users may choose from among certain options regarding how listserv will interact with them. To change these options, you must send a command in electronic mail to listserv@cornell.edu (NOT to Zeppelin-l@cornell.edu), saying: SET zeppelin-l MAIL option where 'option' can be one of: NOACK -- Do not send me my own postings back ACK -- Send me my own postings back DIGEST -- Send me a periodic digest of postings or POSTPONE -- Do not send me *anything* until I change back to one of the other three. The default for all lists is NOACK. To leave the list at any time, send the command UNSUB Zeppelin-l to listserv@cornell.edu. If you have any questions about Zeppelin, contact Matt Hill, the list owner, at mlh1@cornell.edu If you have any questions about listserv, contact the listserv manager, at listmgr@cornell.edu --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3-Who was in Led Zeppelin? James Patrick Page (b. 9 January 1944 in Heston, Middlesex) "Pagey" John Baldwin (John Paul Jones) (b. 3 January 1946 in Sidcup, Kent) "Jonesy" John Henry Bonham (b. 31 May 1948 in Redditch, Worcestershire) "Bonzo" Robert Anthony Plant (b. 20 August 1948 West Bromwich, Staffordshire) "Percy" Zeppelin's manager was Peter Grant. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4-When and where was Led Zeppelin formed? A brief chronology: Jimmy Page joins The Yardbirds in June of 1966, first playing bass, then dual lead guitar with Jeff Beck, then replacing Beck in November of the same year. In December, John Paul Jones does string arrangements for The Yardbirds' album _Little Games_. In 1967, Robert Plant and John Bonham come together in The Band Of Joy. In March of the same year, Jeff Beck releases a solo single entitled "Hi Ho Silver Lining," which is backed with a Page composition entitled "Beck's Bolero". This song is recorded by Page, Beck, Nicky Hopkins, John Paul Jones, and Keith Moon. At this session Moon and John Entwistle, who are tired of The Who, discuss forming a band with Page and Beck. It is here that Moon announces that they should call the group Lead Zeppelin, because, "...it'll go over like a ***in' lead balloon!" The "a" was later removed from "Lead" so that Americans would pronounce it correctly. In April of 1968, Page, Jones, and Bonham play on Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man," and Jones asks to be part of any new group Page is considering forming. The Band Of Joy breaks up in May. On 22 June 1968, it is announced that Keith Relf and Jim McCarty are leaving The Yardbirds. In August, Page, Yardbirds' bassist Chris Dreja, and Peter Grant travel to Birmingham to see Plant in a group called Hobbstweedle. Plant is offered the vocalist job in Page's new band in August after visiting Page's home. In the same month, Dreja drops out and is replaced by Jones. Plant then recommends Bonham for drums, and a tireless campaign convinces Bonham to turn down more lucrative offers from the likes of Tim Rose and Joe Cocker. In September, the 4 play their first rehearsals at Gerrard Street, London. Beginning September 14, they play their first tour, still billed as the New Yardbirds. They record _Led Zeppelin I_ in October, and play their first gig as Led Zeppelin at Surrey University October 17. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5-How and when did John Bonham die? On 24 September 1980, Bonham left Worcestershire to meet with the group at Bray studios for rehearsals for the upcoming US tour. He drank quadruple screwdrivers steadily along the way. After the rehearsals, the band retreated to Page's Windsor house, where Bonham continued to drink and then passed out. At around 1:45pm on 25 September, sound technician and Plant roadie Benji Le Fevre checked on Bonham to find out why he hadn't stirred. There was no pulse. A doctor arrived and pronouced Bonham dead at the scene. A subsequent coroner's inquest revealed the cause of death to be accidental-- Bonaham choked on his own vomit after drinking the equivilent of 40 measures of vodka. Alcohol poisoning may have been involved, but was not positively determined. On December 4th, 1980, Led Zeppelin issued the following statement: We wish it to be known that the loss of our dear friend and the deep respect we have for his family, together with the sense of undivided harmony felt by ourselves and our manager, have led us to decide that we could not continue as we were. Led Zeppelin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6-What are Zeppelin's songs/albums? The following is by no means a complete discography, but covers the principal releases of the band in the US. Singles are, in all but one case, ignored. For a more complete discography consult Dave Lewis' _A Celebration_ or contact maes@prl.philips.nl. _Led Zeppelin_ (January 1969) Good Times Bad Times, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, You Shook Me, Dazed & Confused, Your Time Is Gonna Come, Black Mountain Side, Communication Breakdown, I Can't Quit You Baby, How Many More Times _Led Zeppelin II_ (October 1969) Whole Lotta Love, What Is And What Should Never Be, The Lemon Song, Thank You, Heartbreaker, Livin' Lovin' Maid (She's Just A Woman), Ramble On, Moby Dick, Bring It On Home _Led Zeppelin III_ (October 1970) Immigrant Song, Friends, Celebration Day, Since I've Been Loving You, Out On The Tiles, Gallows Pole, Tangerine, That's The Way, Bron-Y-Aur Stomp, Hats Off To (Roy) Harper "Immigrant Song" b/w "Hey Hey What Can I Do" (1970) US Single _Untitled_ (November 1971) Black Dog, Rock And Roll, The Battle Of Evermore, Stairway To Heaven, Misty Mountain Hop, Four Sticks, Going To California, When The Levee Breaks _Houses Of The Holy_ (March 1973) The Song Remains The Same, The Rain Song, Over The Hills And Far Away, The Crunge, Dancing Days, D'yer Mak'er, No Quarter, The Ocean _Physical Graffiti_ (February 1975) Custard Pie, The Rover, In My Time Of Dying, Trampled Underfoot, Houses Of The Holy, Kashmir, In The Light, Bron-Yr-Aur, Down By The Seaside, Ten Years Gone, Night Flight, The Wanton Song, Boogie With Stu, Black Country Woman, Sick Again _Presence_ (April 1976) Achilles Last Stand, For Your Life, Royal Orleans, Nobody's Fault But Mine, Candy Story Rock, Hots On For Nowhere, Tea For One _Soundtrack From The Film The Song Remains The Same_ (October 1976) Rock And Roll, Celebration Day, The Song Remains The Same, The Rain Song, Dazed And Confused, No Quarter, Stairway To Heaven, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love _In Through The Out Door_ (August 1979) In The Evening, South Bound Suarez, Fool In The Rain, Hot Dog, Carouselambra, All My Love, I'm Gonna Crawl _Coda_ (November 1982) We're Gonna Groove, Poor Tom, I Can't Quit You Baby, Walter's Walk, Ozone Baby, Darlene, Bonzo's Montreaux, Wearing And Tearing _Led Zeppelin_ (4CD boxed set) (October 1990) Selections from the studio albums, with the addition of "Hey Hey What Can I Do," a live in-studio "White Summer/Black Mountain Side," a live in-studio "Travelling Riverside Blues," and a Page amalgamation of "Moby Dick" and "Bonzo's Montreaux". The non-US version, later released in the States, is entitled _Remasters_, is a 2CD set, and contains one song not on the 4CD set ("Good Times Bad Times"). All tracks are remastered from the lowest generation tapes available to Page and George Marino. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7-Should I buy the boxed set? How about _Remasters_? The sound quality of both is incredibly improved over the US CD releases. For that reason alone either is worth getting, at least until such time as Atlantic reissues the 10 original CD's with the Page-remastered versions of the songs. As for the "unreleased" material--"HHWCID" is available on the "Immigrant Song" single, "Traveling Riverside Blues" is a staple of AOR radio, and there are many versions of "White Summer" superior to the one released on the set. The packaging is outstanding. From there, you'll have to make up your own mind. _Remasters_, the short version of the set, differs only in the number of songs offered and the presence of "Good Times Bad Times," which is not on the 4CD set. Its value to those who already own the 4CD set is principally that of a collector's item. But it is a viable (and cheaper) alternative to the larger set. Again, make up your own mind. With the release of the remaining Zeppelin tracks on a second boxed set, from a quality standpoint the boxed sets become almost a necessity. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8-So what is the fourth album called, anyway? Nothing. It's officially untitled. It's commonly referred to as Four Symbols, ZOSO, and most often simply Led Zeppelin IV. The album, as originally released, carried absolutely no band or title identification anywhere on the jacket. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9-What's the deal with those symbols? Page's symbol, while _not_ standing for "ZOSO" or any combination of letters, is a mystery. Plant reports being told exactly once what it means, but he has since forgotten. Jones' symbol came from a book of runes and is said to represent confidence and competence. Bonham's came from the same book, and represents the man-wife-child trilogy. It has also been remarked that it is the symbol for Ballantine Beer. Plant, like Page, designed his own symbol, and the feather in the circle is based on a sign of the ancient Mu civilization. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10-What's that thing on the _Presence_ cover? It's called The Obelisk, and was designed by Hipgnosis (the design company) to represent Led Zeppelin's "force and presence." It is not supposed to refer to the Monolith of 2001. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11-What's up with the album covers for _In Through The Out Door_? There are 6 different covers, each showing the same scene from a different point of view. The album originally came in a plain brown wrapper. An added bonus--the inner sleeve, when dampened, changes color. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12-What's Zeppelin's best song/album? This is a purely subjective opinion--there's no right answer. Albums--_IV_ has sold the most copies, though it never hit #1 (it was behind Carole King's _Tapestry_). Critics and fans usually pick either _IV_ or _Physical Graffiti_ as the best, though the most often cited by musicians as being influential is _II_. Plant's fave is _PG_. Songs--"Stairway To Heaven" is the most-requested and most-played rock song of all time. It was never released as a single, so comparisons to "End Of The Road" are not applicable. The band seems to feel that "Kashmir" captures the essence of the band better than any other song, though Page and Jones profess abiding love for "STH," and Page is proud of "Achilles Last Stand." Plant loathes "Stairway." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13-What's up with (song title) (and who's Roy Harper)? A few notes about individual songs: "Dazed And Confused"--The Yardbirds performed this with different lyrics as "I'm Confused". "Black Mountain Side"--Viram Jasnai plays tabla. "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper"--Roy Harper is an English folk musician who toured (not in the performance sense) with Zeppelin and with whom Page and other Zeppelin members have often worked. "Bron-Yr-Aur"--A cabin where Zeppelin often retreated for composition and relaxation. It means "The Golden Breast". "Black Dog"--The title came from a black dog that wandered in and out of the studio during the _IV_ sessions. "The Battle Of Evermore"--Sandy Denny (of Fairport Convention) on vocals. Her parts were handled live by John Paul Jones. "D'yer Mak'er"--pronounced like Jamaica. "Boogie With Stu"--Stu is Ian Stewart, the Stones resident pianist. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14-Are there a lot of references to J.R.R. Tolkien's works in Zeppelin songs? Not really. "Ramble On" and "The Battle Of Evermore" feature direct references, as does the title "Misty Mountain Hop," but that's it. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15-Didn't Zeppelin copy (song title) from (blues artists)? Yes, no, and maybe. Here's a partial list of covers, credited and otherwise: "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"--Anne Bredon (the Joan Baez version was the one this was based on) "You Shook Me," "I Can't Quit You Baby," and "Whole Lotta Love"--Willie Dixon "Dazed And Confused"--Jake Holmes, lyrics changed "Black Mountain Side"--traditional, Bert Jansch, John Renbourn "The Lemon Song"--Chester Burnett, Albert King, Robert Johnson ("squeeze my lemon" lyric) "Traveling Riverside Blues"--Robert Johnson (lyrics only, the music is totally different) "Since I've Been Loving You"--brief lyrical nod to Moby Grape "Gallows Pole"--traditional, often played by Leadbelly "Hats Off To (Roy) Harper"--traditional, Bukka White (song entitled "Shake 'Em On Down") "Black Dog"--vocal arrangement loosely based on Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well" "Rock And Roll"--drawn from Little Richard's "Good Golly Miss Molly/Keep A Knockin'" (mostly the drum line) "When The Levee Breaks"--Memphis Minnie and Kansas Joe McCoy "Custard Pie"--some Bukka White material "In My Time Of Dying"--traditional, Bob Dylan's version was adapted "Boogie With Stu"--Richie Valens "Nobody's Fault But Mine"--Blind Willie Johnson (lyrics) "We're Gonna Groove"--B.B. King, J. Bethea So is this thievery? With the exception of the uncredited Willie Dixon tunes and the lifting by the Yardbirds of Jake Holmes' "D&C," anyone who understands the blues tradition knows that theft is an irrelevant concept within that musical genre. Besides, as was the case with "Traveling Riverside Blues," often the Zeppelin version bore little if any resemblance to the original. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16-Where's all the unreleased stuff? There are very few unreleased _studio_ Zeppelin songs, as most of the extras have appeared on _PG_ and _Coda_. There are quite a few jams and alternate takes to be had, however. As far as professionally- recorded live audio and video, most of this still resides in Page's vaults, though most of the soundboard bootlegs of the past few years are taken from tapes stolen from his house. The long-rumoured Page-produced live recording is unlikely to appear, nor is any further work on the soundtrack to _TSRTS_ forthcoming. George Marino of Sterling Sound is quoted about Page's attitude toward releasing live material - "Even if they were guaranteed to sell a million of a live thing, I don't think he'd put it out if he didn't feel that the playing was good enough." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 17-How does the band feel about bootlegs? First of all, a few definitions-"bootlegs" are, in this case, defined as live concert recordings, studio outtakes, radio broadcasts, and similar material neither released nor sanctioned by the band or its management. They are not to be confused with counterfeit copies of legitimate releases, which are uniformly denounced and actively prosecuted by the law. In the past, Peter Grant used to make surprise stops in record stores to destroy any Zeppelin bootlegs he found. He also confiscated or destroyed any microphones and recording equipment he found at concerts. Since then, however, the band has mellowed considerably on the subject. Jimmy Page: "_Coda_ was released, basically, because there was so much bootleg stuff out. We thought, 'Well, if there's that much interest, then we may as well put the rest of our studio stuff out.'" The much- discussed chronological live album has not been put out by Page, becuase, "there are so many bootlegs around that people who are interested have probably made up their own compilation." He also has said, on the possibility of more studio outtakes being released: "Ah, no. There's some great live stuff. But there's also some great live bootlegs, ha ha. Thank God they're there and thanks to the people who send me these things. I listen to them and go, 'My God, that was good. I wish it had been recorded on the line.'" Robert Plant has often been known to autograph bootlegs, and all three members have from time to time requested copies of some of the better known productions. And a Page fan reports meeting Page and giving him a copy of a 10-album Zeppelin bootleg set. Page said, "Thanks," and continued walking on, as rock stars usually do when fans hand them something. But when he saw that the gift was a bootleg, Page stopped, went back to the fan, and said, "Thanks! This is great!" Page's opinion of boots has soured somewhat since the release of _Outrider_, however, as his house was broken into during the early recording stages. Among the items stolen were the demo tapes for what was to be a 2-album release (rather than the 1 that came out as _Outrider_), numerous studio outtakes and live soundboard recordings which have since flooded the market, and the pro-shot Knebworth video from 8-11-79. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18-So where do I get bootlegs? This is a difficult subject for the list, as we are dealing with an illegality (though a not-very-well-enforced one). Specific info on bootlegs and traders will not appear in this FAQL, nor should the actual transfer of material appear in the list itself. Caution should be excercized for the protection of both the list and the traders themsleves. Having supplied the necessary disclaimers... Small (non-chain) record stores that advertise "New-Old-Used" records almost always carry bootleg albums and CDs, as well as some out-of-print stuff. _Goldmine_ and _Record Collector_ magazine can be scanned for sources. Tape trading, the most popular form of collecting, is usually restricted to individuals rather than organizations or companies. You should also know that many bootleg collectors/traders frown on the "selling" of bootlegs, although beginning collectors are often restricted to that option. Most often, simply posting to the list and stating your desire to find unreleased Zeppelin material will start the ball rolling. Note that the discussion of bootlegs is in no way illegal. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19-Which bootlegs should I start with? This is a very short list of the most popular collections/shows culled from _A Celebration_ and ZOSO Magazine. Apologies if your favorites were left out: The ZOSO Top Ten CDs: Tour Over Europe '80 (Zurich), Moonlight/Dinosaur, Dallas '75, Classics Off The Air I, II, & III, Blueberry Hill, Live In San Francisco, Destroyer (Archive version), Stokes '73, Rotterdam '80, Silver Coated Rails/Rock & Roll Recommendations culled from a special ZOSO feature and _A Celebration_: LP's--Bonzo's Birthday Party, Cologne 1980, Copenhagen Warm-Ups--The 2nd Night, Feel All Right, Fillmore West 1969, V 1/2 (Highway or TMQ), For Badgeholders Only, Going To California, How Many More Times, Knebworth (Stork), Live At The Budokan, Pb (a/k/a Mudslide), No Quarter, Tangible Vandalism, Three Days After, 214, 207.19, LA Forum--A Night At The Heartbreak Hotel, Persistence, Live at the Chicago Stadium, Bonzo's Last Ever Gig In Berlin, The Can, In The Light '69-'85, Something Else, Hiawatha Express, The Making Of Friends, Studio Rehearsals May 1970, Inedits, Out Through The Back Door, The Last Rehearsal, Listen To This Eddie, Strange Tales From The road, Alpha Omega, White Summer, Live at the London Lyceum, Bath Festival 1970, My Brain Hurts, Quantient, Bonzo's Birthday Party CDs--(in addition to above list)--Something Else, Studio Daze, Last Stand/ Final Touch, Jennings Farm Blues Tapes--2-1-69 Fillmore East, 4-7-70 Raleigh NC, 9-29-71 Festival Hall Osaka, 6-9-71 Charlotte NC, 6-19-72 Seattle, 6-25-72 The Forum LA, 10-4 & 10-9-72 Osaka, 5-5-73 Tampa, 5-13-73 Mobile AL, 5-14-73 New Orleans, 5-19-73 Fort Worth, 7-6-73 Chicago, 7-21-73 Providence, 7-26-73 Buffalo, 2-12-75 MSG NY, 2-28-75 Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, 3-5-75 Dallas, 3-10-75 San Diego, 3-24 & 3-25 & 3-27-75 LA Forum, 5-(17,18,23,24,25)-75 Earls Court, 6-7-77 MSG NY, 6-19-77 San Diego, 6-(21,25,27)-77 LA Forum, 7-23-77 Oakland, 8-11-79 Knebworth, 7-2 & 7-3-80 Mannheim Videos--Danish TV 1969, 1-9-70 Royal Albert Hall, 1-21-75 Chicago, 2-8-75 Philadelphia, 3-75 Seattle, 3-24-75 LA Forum, 5-18-77 Birmingham, 7-23-77 Oakland, 7-11-79 Knebworth, 7-5-80 Munich Note that there's duplication and overlap in the above lists. A few notes about formats--the quality of CD releases is only occasionally better than other formats, but the permanence and playback advantages of CDs have convinced many collectors to concentrate on them. The CDs are not always tracked well, though--track markers are often misplaced or missing altogether. LPs suffer from quality problems with repeated playback and scratching, but have the advantage of better packaging. Tapes are the cheapest option, and suffer the most from successive generations of copies. However, they have two significant advantages: many shows on have never appeared on CD or LP, and complete concerts are much easier to obtain on this format (CDs and LPs exhibit the so-called "slice and dice" mentality of bootleggers trying to meet time requirements and still make money). --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20-How about videos (the legal ones)? _The Song Remains The Same_ (1976) Directed by Joe Massot and Peter Clifton, recorded live at Madison Square Garden July 27, 28, and 29, 1973, and at various locations. Autumn Lake, Bron-Y-Aur, Rock And Roll, Black Dog, Since I've Been Loving You, The Song Remains The Same, The Rain Song, Stairway To Heaven, Dazed And Confused, Moby Dick, Heartbreaker, Whole Lotta Love, Stairway To Heaven _The First Cuts_ (1990) Outtakes from TSRTS. Recalled. _Supershow_ Virgin Vision VVD 167 (September 1986) Recorded live at Staines Studios on March 25, 1969. Dazed And Confused _Rock Aid Armenia_ Virgin Video VVD 636 (November 1989) Supershow D&C plus the Firm's video for "Satisfaction Guaranteed" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21-Are there any books on Zeppelin? Many. Few good ones, though. The key resources are: Led Zeppelin Complete--(piano) Music from the first 5 albums. Led Zeppelin--(music) A 2-book companion to the 4CD set, features notation and tabulature for all instruments used on the boxed set tracks. The transcription is excellent, though the lyrical interpretations leave something to be desired. Led Zeppelin--Howard Mylett Led Zeppelin In The Light--Howard Mylett and Richard Bunton Led Zeppelin In Their Own Words--Paul Kendall Led Zeppelin A Visual Documentary--Paul Kendall Led Zeppelin Portraits--Neal Preston--This book is a must-have, as Preston was an "offical" photographer and knew better than anyone how to capture Zeppelin's mystique. Led Zeppelin The Final Acclaim--Dave Lewis Led Zeppelin The Book--Chris Welch The Illustrated Collectors Guide To Led Zeppelin--Robert Godwin--Another must-have, covers the legal and bootleg discographies on vinyl and CD. 3rd edition. Led Zeppelin A Celebration--Dave Lewis--The principal resource for this FAQL. Incredible. Led Zeppelin Heaven And Hell--Charles Cross and Erik Flannigan, with Neal Preston--another key resource for this FAQL. Jimmy Page: Tangents Within A Framework--Howard Mylett and, of course: Hammer Of The Gods--Stephen Davis--The band denounces it, and it is mostly the rememberings of tour manager/perpetual addict Richard Cole, whose own book is much more valuable for these insights. Readers should know that Stephen Davis once claimed quite seriously, in an interview for a Zeppelin fanzine, that Jimmy Page had put some sort of curse on him. Read at your own risk. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22-Are there any magazines about Zeppelin? Yes. The biggest one is: ZOSO Magazine $28 per year US 41 Sutter St., Suite 1495 $30 Canada San Francisco, CA 94104 (USA) $50 overseas Others include: Oh Jimmy The Ocean P.O. Box 80287 46 Brairwood Drive Lansing, MI 48908 (USA) Westwood, MA 02090 (USA) Oh Jimmy - The Jimmy Page Fanzine Via Pedritti N. 12 41015 Nonantola (Modena) Italy Electric Magic - a Zeppelin fanzine from Woodbridge Ontario. The magazine comes out every month. Subscriptions rates are $35 Canadian for Canada, and $35 US for US. Mailing address: phone: 416 850-2089 186 Bordeaux Dr. Woodbridge Ontario Canada L4L 8B6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23-Info on lyrics, tabs, GIFs, etc.: ***(NB: this area is under construction. Info is not guaranteed, and sources remain incomplete and unverified)*** Lyrics--correct lyrics for the Zeppelin catalog are largely unavailable. The lyric transcription in the boxed set folio is terrible, the lyrics in _Complete_ are deliberately incorrect in places, and there are no canonical sources for the rest. _Presence_, for instance, remains a particularly hard album to complete lyrics for. See addresses below. Tabs--the boxed set folio has excellent tabulature (and standard notation) for vocals, all guitars, bass, drums and percussion, keyboards, and all other instruments. See addresses below. GIFs--See addresses below. One good on-line source for info is our own Maurice, who has available the following information: -lyrics (long) -tour & bootleg info (long) -list of bootlegs with songlists (long) -singles (a short list) -list of LZ covers by other artists (medium) -list of covers Played live by zep (medium) -info about Page's sessions (long) -list of anagrams :-) -list of video boots (short) -list of books and mags (long) - A long Jim Zappia file of roots of Zep songs -lots of other stuff I saved... FTP sites with Zeppelin info include: ftp.nevada.edu pub/guitar (tabs) sumex-aim.stanford.edu info-mac fonts (_HOTH_ font) card (Hypercard stack of Zeppelin info) sound (Zeppelin samples) Below, unedited, are the results of an ARCHIE search for ftp-able Zeppelin sites. Sincere thanks to Kevin Rauch for doing the search. Host animal-farm.nevada.edu Location: /pub/guitar DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 1024 Oct 25 14:50 Led_Zeppelin DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Dec 14 14:20 Led_Zepplin Location: /pub/guitar/NewThisWeek DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Jan 6 13:14 Led_Zepplin Host athena.sdsu.edu Location: /.0 DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Dec 4 00:34 led_zeppelin Host clouso.crim.ca Location: /pub/guitar DIRECTORY drwxrwxr-x 1024 Oct 15 14:41 Led_Zeppelin Host cs.uwp.edu Location: /pub/music/discog FILE -rw-r--r-- 3319 Dec 20 1990 zeppelin Location: /pub/music/lyrics/files DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Nov 21 1991 led.zeppelin Host f.ms.uky.edu Location: /pub3/pictures/gif FILE -rw-rw-r-- 414022 Oct 18 22:57 zeppelin.gif Host ftp.uu.net Location: /doc/music/guitar DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 1024 Oct 26 23:14 Led_Zeppelin DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Dec 14 22:53 Led_Zepplin Location: /doc/music/guitar/NewThisWeek DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Dec 14 22:52 Led_Zepplin Location: /systems/mac/info-mac/font FILE -rw-r--r-- 75568 Jul 13 16:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host isfs.kuis.kyoto-u.ac.jp Location: /Mac/info-mac/card FILE -rw-rw-r-- 214835 Aug 24 18:49 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /Mac/info-mac/font FILE -rw-rw-r-- 75568 Jul 20 19:09 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host iskut.ucs.ubc.ca Location: /pub/info-mac/card FILE -rw-rw-r-- 0 Aug 22 00:00 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /pub/info-mac/font FILE -rw-rw-r-- 75568 Jul 13 00:00 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host larry.mcrcim.mcgill.edu Location: /poskbitmaps FILE -rw-r--r-- 5392 Apr 18 1989 ledzeppelin Host lth.se Location: /pub/images/poskanzer FILE -rw-r--r-- 5401 Nov 23 1989 ledzeppelin Location: /pub/mac/info-mac/card FILE -rw-r--r-- 214835 Aug 23 00:12 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /pub/mac/info-mac/font FILE -rw-r--r-- 75568 Jul 16 00:36 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host mc.lcs.mit.edu Location: /its/ai/-pics- FILE -r--r--r-- 1855 Feb 13 1977 zeplin.pic.Z Host me10.lbl.gov Location: /pub/hp_X11R3_tape/examples/customization DIRECTORY dr-xr-xr-x 1024 Dec 10 17:47 zeppelin Host metten.fenk.wau.nl Location: /info-mac/card FILE -rw-r--r-- 214835 Aug 22 02:08 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /info-mac/font FILE -rw-r--r-- 75568 Jul 13 19:57 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host net-1.iastate.edu Location: /pub/lyrics/l DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Dec 24 03:13 led.zeppelin Host nic.funet.fi Location: /pub/culture/music/lyrics DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Nov 11 1991 led.zeppelin Host nic.switch.ch Location: /mirror/info-mac/card FILE -rw-rw-r-- 214835 Aug 22 08:36 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /mirror/info-mac/font FILE -rw-rw-r-- 75568 Jul 13 22:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Location: /mirror/info-mac/sound FILE -rw-rw-r-- 220305 Dec 6 03:19 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx Location: /software/mac/info-mac-shadow/card FILE -rw-rw-r-- 214835 Aug 22 08:36 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /software/mac/info-mac-shadow/font FILE -rw-rw-r-- 75568 Jul 13 22:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Location: /software/mac/info-mac-shadow/sound FILE -rw-rw-r-- 220305 Dec 6 03:19 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx Host plaza.aarnet.edu.au Location: /micros/mac/info-mac/card FILE -r--r--r-- 214835 Aug 22 06:36 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /micros/mac/info-mac/font FILE -r--r--r-- 75568 Jul 13 20:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Location: /micros/mac/info-mac/sound FILE -r--r--r-- 220305 Dec 6 02:19 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx Location: /micros/mac/umich/hypercard/fun FILE -r--r--r-- 196398 Aug 27 16:53 ledzeppelin0.9.sit.hqx Host quepasa.cs.tu-berlin.de Location: /pub/mac/font/truetype FILE -rw-rw-r-- 55168 Aug 15 22:35 led-zeppelin-11.cpt.bin FILE -rw-rw-r-- 862 Aug 15 22:35 led-zeppelin-11.intro Location: /pub/mac/hypercard FILE -rw-rw-r-- 157952 Sep 20 11:49 led-zeppelin.v.9.cpt.bin FILE -rw-rw-r-- 535 Sep 20 11:49 led-zeppelin.v.9.intro Location: /pub/mac/mirrors/stanford/sound FILE -r--r--r-- 202411 Dec 6 03:19 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx.Z Host reseq.regent.e-technik.tu-muenchen.de Location: /informatik.public2/comp/X11/contrib/bitmaps/poskbitmaps FILE -r--r--r-- 7756 Mar 11 1989 ledzeppelin.xbm.Z Host rusmv1.rus.uni-stuttgart.de Location: /.serv3/soft/atari/sound FILE -rw-rw-r-- 283136 Jan 20 1992 zeppelin.lzh Host sics.se Location: /pub/info-mac/card FILE -rw-r--r-- 214835 Aug 23 03:02 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /pub/info-mac/font FILE -rw-r--r-- 75568 Jul 15 03:51 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host src.doc.ic.ac.uk Location: /computing/systems/atari/umich/Sound FILE -r--r--r-- 283136 Oct 30 20:49 zeppelin.lzh Location: /computing/systems/mac/sumex/card FILE -r--r--r-- 195144 Aug 22 07:36 led-zeppelin-09.hqx.Z Location: /computing/systems/mac/sumex/font FILE -r--r--r-- 69261 Jul 13 21:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx.Z Location: /computing/systems/mac/sumex/sound FILE -r--r--r-- 202411 Dec 6 02:19 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx.Z Location: /computing/systems/mac/umich/hypercard/fun FILE -r--r--r-- 180954 Aug 27 17:53 ledzeppelin0.9.sit.hqx.Z Host swdsrv.edvz.univie.ac.at Location: /mac/info-mac/card FILE -rw-r--r-- 214835 Aug 21 23:36 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /mac/info-mac/font FILE -rw-r--r-- 75568 Jul 13 13:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host toklab.ics.osaka-u.ac.jp Location: /mac/info-mac/info-mac/new1992/07 FILE -rw-r--r-- 69261 Jul 28 12:06 led-zeppelin-11.hqx.Z Location: /mac/info-mac/info-mac/new1992/08 FILE -rw-r--r-- 69261 Aug 3 10:20 led-zeppelin-11.hqx.Z Location: /mac/info-mac/info-mac/new1992/09 FILE -rw-r--r-- 195144 Aug 26 14:55 led-zeppelin-09.hqx.Z Location: /mac/info-mac/info-mac/new1992/12 FILE -rw-r--r-- 202411 Dec 18 13:09 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx.Z Host uhunix2.uhcc.hawaii.edu Location: /mirrors/info-mac/card FILE -rw-r--r-- 214835 Aug 22 06:36 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /mirrors/info-mac/font FILE -rw-r--r-- 74733 Jul 5 00:00 led-zeppelin-10.hqx FILE -rw-r--r-- 75568 Jul 13 20:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Location: /mirrors/info-mac/sound FILE -rw-r--r-- 220305 Dec 6 02:19 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx Host unix.hensa.ac.uk Location: /pub/uunet/doc/music/guitar DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 1024 Nov 25 05:28 Led_Zeppelin DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Nov 6 04:59 Led_Zepplin Host utsun.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp Location: /ftpsync/info-mac/card FILE -rw-rw-r-- 214835 Aug 24 09:49 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /ftpsync/info-mac/font FILE -rw-rw-r-- 75568 Jul 20 10:09 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Host walton.maths.tcd.ie Location: /pub/rjwalsh/music/guitar/tab DIRECTORY drwxr-xr-x 512 Dec 4 17:01 led_zeppelin Host wuarchive.wustl.edu Location: /mirrors2/info-mac/Old/sound FILE -rw-r--r-- 337759 Mar 5 1992 led-zeppelin-beeps.hqx.Z Location: /mirrors2/info-mac/card FILE -r--r--r-- 214835 Aug 22 01:36 led-zeppelin-09.hqx Location: /mirrors2/info-mac/font FILE -r--r--r-- 75568 Jul 13 15:10 led-zeppelin-11.hqx Location: /mirrors2/info-mac/sound FILE -r--r--r-- 220305 Dec 5 20:19 zep-stairway-backmask.hqx Location: /mirrors3/archive.umich.edu/atari/Sound FILE -r--r--r-- 283136 Oct 30 14:49 zeppelin.lzh Location: /mirrors3/archive.umich.edu/mac/hypercard/fun FILE -r--r--r-- 196398 Aug 27 11:53 ledzeppelin0.9.sit.hqx ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 24-Where do I get Zeppelin collectables (the legal kind)? Super-collector Rick Barrett can be contacted at: Rick Barrett PO Box 66262 Houston, TX 77266-6262 fax 713-680-0325 ZOSO Magazine is also a source, as well as any of the music mags, your local t-shirt/poster shop, etc. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 25-What did the members of Zeppelin do after the band broke up? Jones recorded the soundtrack for _Scream For Help_, with the assistance of Page and Yes' Jon Anderson. He has produced Mission UK and his daughter (Jacinda Jones), as well as a group he referred to as "industrial flamenco": La Sura Dels Baus. He has done string arrangements for Cinderella's _Heartbreak Station_ and REM's _Automatic For The People_, and appeared in Paul McCartney's movie and soundtrack for _Give My Regards To Broadstreet_. He appeared on stage with Plant once in December 1983, during the _Principle Of Moments_ tour. He has composed for and performed with the early music ensemble Red Byrd. He appeared on and assisted with Ben E. King's reunion tour and album. He professes his interests to be in keyboards and dance music, rather than rock. Plant has released 5 solo albums--_Pictures At Eleven_, _The Principle Of Moments_, _Shaken 'N' Stirred_, _Now & Zen_, and _Manic Nirvana_. In addition, there is a _Little by Little Collector's Edition_ EP. He was the vocalist for the Honeydrippers' only album, which also featured Jimmy Page on "Sea Of Love" and "I Get A Thrill." He has appeared on the _Porky's_ and _White Nights_ soundtracks, and also an album of Elvis covers. He contributed vocals for the song "The Only One" on Page's _Outrider_. And, of course, he did a Diet Coke commercial. Rumours of a relationship with Canadian singer Alannah Myles were true. He is currently not married, and has 2 children (Carmen and Logan). Page released the soundtrack to the film _Death Wish 2_. He has jammed extensively, with (among others) Jeff Beck, Yes, Foreigner, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Poison, Eric Clapton, Ian Stewart, Roy Harper, Alexis Korner, Robert Plant, The Beach Boys, Jaco Pastorius, Solid Ground, and even Harry Connick, Jr. He appeared on albums by Willie and The Poor Boys, Stephen Stills, and Box Of Frogs (an ex-Yardbirds reunion). He teamed up with Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, Tony Franklin from Roy Harper's band (last seen with Blue Murder) and Chris Slade of Manfred Mann (now with AC/DC) to create The Firm, which released 2 albums--_The Firm_ and _Mean Business_. He participated in the British and American versions of the ARMS tour (to benefit MS) with Clapton, Beck, Steve Winwood, Bill Wyman, and other luminaries. He guested on two tracks from Plant's _Now & Zen_ album, "Heaven Knows" and "Tall Cool One." And he released a solo album entitled _Outrider_ with Jason Bonham on drums. He is married and has two children. Bonham, surprisingly enough, made it past the grave as the drum track to Frankie Goes To Hollywood's hit "Relax," as well as being extensively sampled for rap beat compilations. Peter Grant is working on the much-lamented Malcom McLaren movie, details of which are best gotten from our British friends. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26-Reunions, reunions, reunions... First of all--as of this writing, Zeppelin is _not_ getting back together. A brief history: XYZ--a project combining elements of Yes and Zeppelin. Chris Squire reports that he has tapes of things that he, Alan White, Page, and possibly Jones (though no one knows for sure) were involved in. The project crashed for lack of a vocalist--namely, Plant--and becuase of thinly veiled threats from various management interests. The name, in case someone hasn't figured it out, stands for "eX-Yes-and-Zeppelin". Live Aid--On 13 July 1985, the 3 living members of Zeppelin, along with Paul Martinez (from Plant's band) on bass, Tony Thompson (of Chic) on drums, and Phil Collins (who had to fly over after his performance at Wembley) on drums, appeared at the Live Aid festival at JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. They performed "Rock And Roll," "Whole Lotta Love," and "Stairway To Heaven." Plant was hoarse from 4 consecutive nights of singing and a morning rehearsal, Page's guitar was out of tune, Collins and Thompson were lost much of the time, and Bill Graham, who was promoting, was pointing at his watch all through "STH" because Zeppelin was taking more than their allotted time. Ten days later, Page joined Plant on his solo tour for a few encores. Reunion #1--In January of 1986, Zeppelin and Tony Thompson met in secret in a village hall near Peter Gabriel's Bath studios. Plant handled bass chores while Jones played keyboards. They worked through "..two or three things that were quite promising, a sort of cross between David Byrne and Husker Du." But it was not to be--Plant was not used to having to deal with Page's eccentricities any longer (he reportedly changed the batteries on his wah pedal every other song), and Tony Thompson was injured in a car accident. Plant walked out. Hammersmith Odeon--17 April 1988, Page joins Plant's tour for a blistering encore featuring "Trampled Underfoot," "Gambler's Blues/I Can't Quit You Baby/Since I've Been Loving You," and "Rock And Roll." Atlantic 40th--14 May 1988--A 12-hour tribute concert for Atlantic Records, which came to a climax with Zeppelin's performance featuring Jason Bonham on drums. Jason played well, but the night is generally considered a disaster. The rehearsal was reportedly brilliant. The evening arrived with the band better rehearsed than they had been at Live Aid. But the concert ran late, upsetting Page's always fragile nerves, which caused him to drink even more heavily than usual. Plant was refusing to sing "STH" up until they actually went on stage. The sound men for the TV broadcast completely lost the keyboard sound for "Kashmir." Plant was bumped by a fan during the same song, and forgot the lyrics to one verse and to "STH" later on. Page's solos were mostly a disaster. The set list was: "Kashmir," "Heartbreaker/ Whole Lotta Love" (the Knebworth '79 arrangement), "Misty Mountain Hop," and "Stairway To Heaven." Carmen Plant--The band played at Carmen Plant's 21st birthday party, with Jason once again on drums. Set list was "Trampled Underfoot," "Misty Mountain Hop," and "Rock And Roll." November 1989. Jason's Wedding--The band also reformed for Jason Bonham's wedding, playing "Bring It On Home, "Rock And Roll," "Sick Again," "Custard Pie," and Jerry Lee Lewis' "It'll Be Me." Both this and the previous performance were said to be outstanding. 28 April 1990. Knebworth '90--Page joined Plant's band (despite rumours and even the official set list announcing Led Zeppelin's presence, Jones was nowhere to be found) for "Misty Mountain Hop," the first-ever Page-led performance of "Wearing And Tearing," and "Rock And Roll." Page had stood on the sidelines earlier as Plant's band ran down "Immigrant Song" and "Going To California." Reunion #2--The following January, the members of Zeppelin met with Peter Grant to discuss a reunion tour. Lighting and sound companies were contacted, stadiums were quietly reserved. After badgering Plant in public and private about the reunion, Page thought he had finally convinced him to go along with it. Both Page and Jones had expressed varying degrees of enthusiasm for the idea. But Plant, after agreeing to the tour and breaking for lunch, came back one hour later and said no. This angered Page immensely, and given Plant's continuing bad-mouthing of Zeppelin in the press, he set out to show up Plant. Which leads to... ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27-What's with this Page/Coverdale project? The project, currently entitiled _North And South_ and slated for a March 16th release (though this is the 5th date since April of 1992), features Page, David Coverdale of Whitesnake, Ricky Phillips of Bad English on bass, and Danny Carmassi of Heart/Montrose on drums. It is rumoured to be an outstanding album by those, including Jason Bonham, who have heard it, with complex times and rhythms that hearken back to such songs as "TSRTS" and "The Ocean." The following was culled from literature at an album listening party: Side A Side B Shake my tree (4:50) Easy does it (5:51) Waiting on you (5:15) Take a look at yourself (5:02) Take me for a little while (6:17) Don't leave me this way (7:52) Pride and joy (3:32) Absolution blues (6:00) Over now (5:22) Whisper a prayer for the dying (6:54) Feelin hot (4:10) "It begins February 9 with 'Pride and Joy.'" "Album in stores March 16." "Never has it been more true that the music speaks for itself." Produced by Coverdale, Page and Fraser Engineered by Mike Fraser Mixed by Fraser, Page and Coverdale Technical support ...TransPerformance for the Automatic Tuning Guitar.... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 28-What about the new Plant album? The new Robert Plant album is scheduled for an April release. Guitarist Doug Boyle has been replaced by Francis Dunnery from It Bites. No other details are currently available. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 29-What's this I hear about another Led Zeppelin boxed set? March 23 is the tentative release date for a second Zeppelin box containing the songs not on the 4CD set (excluding material from _TSRTS_) and a previously unreleased track from the _I_ sessions entitled "Baby Come On Home". Page and George Marino (who worked on the original set) apparently did the work on this one while Page was working on his own solo release. Whether or not this clears the way for newly-remastered versions of the ten studio albums is not known. As for the unreleased track, Yves Beauvais, who put the last box set together and is also working on this one, describes it as "a real open blues type of thing, not a busy Zep-type tune where there's a lot of guitar work...It's a very good song, a Page/Plant original, on which Plant sings wonderfully." ______________________________________________________________________________ 30-I saw the Swan Song logo on a non-Zeppelin album! Swan Song artists included Bad Company, Pretty Things, Maggie Bell, Detective, Dave Edmunds, Midnight Flyer, Wildlife, Robert Plant, and Jimmy Page. Signed but unreleased artists include Mirabai and Metropolis. Bobby Parker was never signed, though considered. Richie Sambora claims he was signed to Swan Song for a time. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31-All about _The Song Retains The Name_: This is a collection of Zeppelin covers by rock/metal bands. It may be available from: Mad Rover Records Dept. CZ, Box 22243 Sacremento, CA 95822 Track listing: Black Dog The Royal Mixxers with KGIG and Konan Kelley Living Loving Maid Rich Hardesty & The Del Reys (She's Just A Woman) Down By The Seaside Robert Kuhlmann & Flying Boats Good Times, Bad Times Dalai Lamas Four Sticks Earwigs Immigrant Song Headface In The Evening Twice Shy No Quarter I Love Ethyl What Is And What Helen Keller Plaid Should Never Be Houses Of The Holy Fool Killers Rock And Roll Tent Poles Further info will be posted when it becomes available. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32-Who is Dread Zeppelin and how does the band feel about them? Dread Zeppelin are a group of musicians playing reggae, often using Zeppelin and/or Elvis songs as the material. Their albums have contained progressively less Zeppelin content. They were, at the outset, extremely satirical in nature. Page hates them. Plant loves them. Jones' opinion has not been noted but is almost assuredly the same as Plant's. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33-Did Page invent bowing? No. It was suggested to him by a session violinist whose father was the actor David McCallum, but it had been done before. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34-What's this "theramin" thing that Page uses? This is the first device to use alternative means of interaction to produce...er...music (sort of). It was invented by Leo Theremin, a Russian living in England, in the 1930's, and was made popular in the 1960's by Sun Ra. The instrument produces sine-wave sounds by the beat frequencies between a reference RF oscillator and an oscillator tuned by the change in capacitance between a antenna and the performer's hands, arms or body caused by movement. The closer you came to the antenna, the higher the capacitance and higher the pitch. Later versions of the instrument have volume control from a second antenna. Page uses the theramin live during "Whole Lotta Love" and "No Quarter," and occasionally elsewhere. It was also prominent in the studio version of "WLL". The Theramin is used at the beginning of Beach Boys' song "Good Vibrations". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35-Is that Jimmy Page I hear on TV? If you're watching the beginning of "The Wonder Years," the answer is yes. Again, no attempt will be made to cover the extensive and largely unknown Zeppelin discography here, but a few significant Zeppelin appearences include: _Lucifer Rising_--Page did the incredibly annoying, headache-inducing soundtrack. _Whatever Happened To Jugula?_--Page and Roy Harper, acoustic. _Right By You_--Stephen Stills solo album, with Page on 2 tracks. _Dirty Work_--Rolling Stones, Page on "One Hit (To The Body)". _Their Satanic Majesties Request_--Rolling Stones--Jones did the string arrangements for "She's A Rainbow". "With A Little Help From My Friends"--Joe Cocker's famous cover, Page. "You Really Got Me," and "All Day And All Of The Night"--The Kinks, though the band denies Page's involvement. "Gloria," "Baby Please Don't Go," and "Here Comes The Night" by Them, Page on guitar. "Can't Explain"--The Who, Page on rhythm guitar only. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36-Is Jimmy Page a Satanist? Jimmy Page is a collector of occult books and paraphanalia. He is interested in religion and spirituality to the point of considering, in an interview, "...getting a degree in theology." He was a devotee of Aleister Crowley, a famous English occultist (and, perhaps, Satanist) to the point of buying his old residence. He often quoted Crowley, most notably on the runoff matrix of _III_. So is he a Satanist? He says no, the band says no. There is no reason to speculate further. Rumours persist that the band sold its souls to Satan in exchange for power, fame, wealth, etc., and that Jones was the only one to refuse. The various disasters which have befallen the band are often used to support this theory. However, there is absolutely no evidence for this, the band denies it, and in the words of Zeppelin biographer Charles Cross: "Rereading these comments, while lying in a room that Jimmy Page, the person--the human being--once occupied, I can't believe the heartlessness, the meanness, the utter inhumanity of those remarks. From mud sharks to pacts with Satan, the public seems to suspend normal human empathy when talking about Led Zeppelin, accepting preposterous malice of the sort that would never be accepted if it were directed toward anyone outside of rock 'n' roll. Have you heard anyone describe a successful business executive as having sold his soul to Satan? Wouldn't we laugh this comment off instantly if applied to anyone else, anyone working in any other art form? Can one _really_ believe that a pact with Satan is possible, and if so isn't _that_ the big story here?" ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37-I heard there were backward messages in "Stairway To Heaven". You're not alone. This rumour has persisted ever since a California committee of parents and religious leaders set out to prove that rock music was leading our children down the path to the devil. For reasons still unknown to rational minds, they decided to play some albums backwards, and professed to hear all sorts of messages in songs like Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust," anything and everything by Styx and ELO, Rush's "Anthem," the Stones' "19th Nervous Breakdown," Skynyrd's "Freebird," The Eagles' "Hotel California," and most notably the most-requested rock song of all time, Led Zeppelin's "Stairway To Heaven." A cynic might wonder why nearly all the titles named were huge hits, just like many wonder why believers in reincarnation were always someone famous in a past life. A definition is useful here--"backmasking" is the process of either: 1) recording a message backwards on a tape meant to be played forwards, or 2) the "hiding" of messages within forward phrases that, when played backwards, reveal another phrase. So does backmasking exist? Andy Johns, the producer of _IV_, says that not only is "backmasking" a myth, but that there was no such nonsense while he was present. Certainly, since the advent of the "backmasking" scandal, groups such as ELO and Pink Floyd have used the technique to poke fun at people who would actually play records backwards. Most of the bands named in such accusations tend to ignore the outcry, for as Jones commented in _Rolling Stone_, there's absolutely no arguing someone out of something they really want to believe. But the idea of backmasking is uniformly considered ludicrous by musicians and producers alike, and they're the ones that would be responsible for the process. Despite the denials of the people involved, let's assume that these messages do exist. Are they effective? If they were subliminal messages played _forward_, then scientists agree that the brain could and would process the information. But scientists are also convinced that the brain cannot decipher backwards information unless it is specifically engaged for that purpose. Therefore, even if backmasking _did_ exist, it would be useless. Plant: "If it worked, every record would have the backward message 'BUY THIS RECORD' in it!" So much for Satanic intent. And specifically, as regards "Stairway To Heaven"--there are many messages that various groups have claimed to hear while playing the song backwards, but the most uniformly cited is the phrase "Here's to my sweet Satan." Not all listeners that hear backward phrases are in agreement here, however, and not even close to all who hear the song backwards hear messages at all. Many of those who do hear "something" dismiss it as a mere phonetic coincidence. And few of those who do hear the exact message given were unaware of the accusations against Zeppelin and "STH" before they listened to the song. Therefore, overwhelming evidence supports the conclusion that such messages do not exist, and if they did they would be useless, and even if they weren't they are almost assuredly accidents aided by the power of suggestion. But still, this rumour will not die. Perhaps it is relevant to note that the same committee who found "STH" to be Satanic in nature also claims that the theme song from the "Mr. Ed" TV show is full of Satanic messages when played backwards. (Sincere thanks to the MIT Psych. Dept. and the Boston Globe for assistance.) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------