CELEBRATION DAY
One of the good/bad things about "these days" is the speed of gratification. I grew up where waiting for things was the norm...like for weeks or months. Now with the Internet, iPhones and Pads, and the ability to order anything you think of by virtue of a device within arms reach at all times, things are different. "Instant Gratification" is the crack of our day to day lives. Waiting and patience is a lost talent for most people. I for one embrace the instantness of today's gratification. I'm sorry.
Now to the exciting part of this post. I say that with the caveat that if you are not in anyway a fan of music or the history of how music got to where it is now (sometimes it is hard to figure out exactly where it is) or think anything that is not Bach or Mozart is just noise, you may feel free to leave.
Those of you that have stayed, I have just spent the last two hours reliving some of my youth via the musical phenomenon known as Led Zeppelin. I know I posted about them a couple days ago, but through the magic of instant gratification, I received in the mail today the Celebration Day 2007 concert package that was just released on Monday. Quite surprised I was, but nonetheless ready to leave work immediately to get home to check it out. I was unnaturally excited I must say, and the looks on my non-understanding co-workers (this is Texas and Zeppelin is not Willie Nelson) gave thought to a possible seizure on my part.
The box once opened, revealed two CD's of remastered Zeppelin classics, a Blu-Ray DVD of the December 10th, 2007 concert at the O2 Arena in London, a DVD of the last rehearsals on December 6th, 2007. And a small booklet with short statements from each band member relative to this concert. Ironically death broke up this band and death brought this reunion concert about.
As I have mentioned previous, the great Zeppelin drummer John "Bonzo" Bonham died in September 1980. This after a day of rehearsals for their upcoming tour. Unfortunately Bonzo had a great affinity for copious amounts of alcohol. After a day and night of heavy drinking and eating he "retired" to bed. Sadly he was found dead the next afternoon and the cause was aspirated vomit in his lungs. You drink and eat too much, you pass out, you vomit, you inhale, you die. Certainly not the the first time this has happened but for sure (for me) the most crushing. I had tickets to their show a month later. I was beyond distraught. The band immediately announced the tour was canceled and they would no longer be performing as a group. The end.
I was in a state of disbelief for days. The radio station I listened to played their music as tribute and for me, a constant reminder of what I would never witness...a live performance by the greatest rock band ever. Of course compounding this matter was the fact that in a moment of unclear thinking, I foolishly sent my unusable concert tickets back for a refund. How friggin' stupid was that!!
The band never did perform again. No replacement drummer was ever going to stand up to Bonham's thrashing of the skins. There was never even a hint of Zeppelin playing again as a group. Everyone who ever hoped it might happen, hung those hopes on the solitary fact that Bonzo's son Jason was a drummer. I always held out hope he would be the one person who could reunite the group. It was the only hope in my mind.
The death of Ahmet Ertegun former Atlantic Records producer (Zeppelin's label at one time) on December 14th, 2006 created the opportunity for Zeppelin to do a tribute concert the next year. Someone somewhere wanted to see the band play again and this was the best opportunity...and it happened!
Back to the DVD...I put the Blu-Ray disc in the player and immediately strains of Kashmir spill over the title frame. As tempted as I was to listen, I pressed play and got right to the concert. The opening riffs of Good Times Bad Times kick things off and for me was quite an emotional excitement. Hearing that first song, thinking back to when I first heard it, recalling the time I was in the bowels of the Cleveland Coliseum and hearing Zeppelin play, seeing those guys together on the stage, and watching Jason perform as if the spirit of his father had taken over...it was very intense.
(Slight digression, my wife thinks watching a concert on TV is not really seeing a concert and even though she loves Zeppelin, she will be no where near as involved as I was tonight. But hey, they will probably never play together again and for sure not tour so watching the Blu-Ray on a big screen plasma at Mach 8 volume in a dark room...does it for me.)
The play list is as follows:
1 Good Times Bad Times
2. Ramble On
3. Black Dog
4. In My Time Of Dying (phenomenal rendition)
5. For Your Life
6. Trampled Under Foot
7. Nobody's Fault But Mine (one of my favs from Presence)
8. No Quarter (I friggin' love this song!)
9. Since I've Been Loving You
10. Dazed And Confused (yes, complete with bow-playing guitar work)
11. Stairway To Heaven (always voted greatest rock song of all time)
12. The Song Remains The Same
13. Misty Mountain Hop
14. Kashmir (WOW!!)
15. Whole Lotta Love
16. Rock And Roll
Now a few observations:
1. They nailed EVERY single song! The power and force were unbelievable for a group with three guys in their mid-60's. Page is going to be 70 in two years, watching this performance and equating it with that was mind boggling. He is arguably the greatest creative guitarist ever. These songs have stood for 40 years and rival anything being played today. Plant's voice is still fantastic and so perfect for this music. JPJ's bass and keyboard work round out their sound. This concert couldn't have sounded any better if it was back in 1980 again.
2. Jason Bonham IS his old man. He is a big solid dude and can absolutely play lights out. His power drumming drove the show. Critics review afterward: "Bonham's playing was flawless." Agreed. Read his little note in the box set, pretty cool. Rated it the greatest day of his life and after it was all over, he just broke down and cried. Props dude.
3. Not a weak song in the bunch (not that LZ has any weak songs). Reaffirms their status as the greatest rock n roll band ever.
4. Watching a concert from the comfort of your own couch does not suck.
5. If you enjoy this band and their music in anyway shape or form, this is the best $29.95 you can spend this holiday season. Get it for yourself or for your favorite music fan. Nancy, this may help your son see the light!
6. I am buying a second set to keep sealed and put away.
7. I took these pictures of the screen like I was standing in the front row of the show!
Here is the last two minutes of the show...
I'll probably watch this again next week...rock on!
