On this day 26 September

 Rock and roll, baby

2006 26 September On This Day Jerry Lee Lewis' album, Last Man Standing feat. Jimmy Page
♪ Cold, Cold Heart  Soundcloud

• 1998 Page & Plant North American Fall Tour, San Antonio, TX at Alamo Dome 

2006:

Jerry Lee Lewis' 2006 album, Last Man Standing is subtitled The Duets. While each track on the album does, in fact, feature a list of impressive musicians, the album is all Jerry Lee Lewis. The opening song is Led Zeppelin's Rock and Roll, but don't expect it to sound anything like what you're used to or to be hearing Jimmy Page's guitar work as more than support to Lewis' piano. Having heard this version of the song once I don't need to hear it again. One of the very best versions that I listen to all the time is Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones with Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins at Wembley in 2008 (see playlist below).

Lewis' album's title refers to the 1950s musicians that helped create rock and roll - Jerry Lee Lewis was the last one still alive at the time of the album's release. Jerry Lee Lewis's last on-stage performance was in 2019, though in March of 2020, it was announced that he and T-Bone Burnett, were recording a new album of gospel covers. Lewis died October 28, 2022.

2007 Led Zeppelin at Ahmet Ertegun Tribute, Rock and Roll (second encore)

2008 Jimmy Page at Foo Fighters' concert at Wembley

♪

♪  Rock and Roll (Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Jimmy Page, 2006) 
♪   Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin IV, alternate mix 2014 remaster) Y
♪   Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin, Detroit 1973) 
♪  Rock and Roll (Page/Plant/Jones and Jason Bonham, O2 2007) 
♪  Rock and Roll (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Wembley 2008) 

♪  Page & Plant (San Antonio TX at Alamo Dome, 26 September 1998) 
 

On this day 19 July

 Bring it...

1998 19 July On This Day Page & Plant at Jones Beach

• 1967 The Yardbirds-Colorado Springs, CO at Colorado Springs City Auditorium
• 1969 Led Zeppelin - Chicago, IL at Kinetic Playgound
• 1970 Led Zeppelin - Berlin, Germany at Deutschlandhalle
• 1995 Page & Plant Unledded Tour - Dublin, Ireland at The Point Theatre
• 1998 Page & Plant - Wantagh, NY at Jones Beach Amphitheatre

1998 Ray Gun Magazine interview (L-R: unknown, possibly Steve Albini), Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Dave Grohl)

1998:

Robert Plant on Michael Lee: "Michael's ...got a contemporary vision on how to present the drums in a non-hard-rock fashion. The way that he approaches the drums in the studio is different to on stage. Where I'm convinced he's building a small shed."
~ Robert Plant interview by Dave Grohl for Ray Gun Magazine

Michael Lee (1969-2008) was an English drummer who some thought might work out for a reincarnation of Led Zeppelin.  A tall man, Lee used large drum sizes like John Bonham did, and had an aggressive and dynamic drumming style. He once hit himself on his own head with a drumstick during a drum solo at the end of Rock and Roll.

Lee started out with the British band, Little Angels, toured with The Cult and a later version of Thin Lizzy. He drummed for Robert Plant starting with the 1993 album Fate of Nations.  When Page and Plant began their collaboration Lee was hired on to record and tour, and received writing credits on Walking into Clarksdale.

Lee stayed with Jimmy Page for a few additional projects, including Net Aid in October 1999 when Domino was performed for the first time.

Lee died on 24 November 2008 from an epileptic seizure.

♪ Led Zeppelin (Berlin Germany at Deutschlandhalle, 19 July 1970) 
♫  Chris Welsh footage of Led Zeppelin in  Berlin, 19 July 1970 
♪  Bring It On Home/Ramble On (Page & Plant, Dublin 1995) 
♪ Page & Plant (Wantagh NY at Jones Beach Amphitheatre, 19 July 1998)  
♫  Dave Grohl interview of Page & Plant for Ray Gun Magazine 1998 

On This Day 14 June

 Two NY concerts, including the final explosive night of Madison Square Garden in 1977

1972 14 June On This Day Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY at Nassau Memorial Coliseum

• 1972 14 June On This Day Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY at Nassau Memorial Coliseum
• 1977 Led Zeppelin - New York, NY at Madison Square Garden

1972 Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY at Nassau Memorial Coliseum.
Steve Jones collection,  photo: Ed Stasium

I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's tough being a rock star. Yesterday in 2015 Dave Grohl took a fall off the stage in Sweden during a Foo Fighters concert and fractured his leg, though he came back on stage to continue the show.

Jimmy Page has had a few of his onstage mishaps, too, suffering more than broken bones.  At the close of the final night at MSG some a**hole in the audience threw a firecracker (said to be an M-80) at the stage. The explosion damaged Jimmy Page's right hand, fortunately for the world not causing permanent damage. He left the stage, but came back out to finish up the concert with bloody bandages to perform Whole Lotta Love and Rock and Roll.

1977 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin - Madison Square Garden. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp

1977 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin - Madison Square Garden. Kashmir. (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

1977  Jimmy Page at MSG.  Gibson EDS-1275  double neck guitar (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

1977 MSG - John Bonham at the end of Moby Dick.
This is such a great photo.  If anyone could supply the photographer's name, I'd appreciate it.

♪  Led Zeppelin (Uniondale, NY 14 June 1972) 
♪  Led Zeppelin (Madison Square Garden  14 June 1977) 

On This Day 03 January

Happy Birthday John Paul Jones, born on this day in 1946

1964 03 January On This Day Dave Berry's My Baby Left Me released
Audio: My Baby Left Me (Soundcloud)

• 1969 Led Zeppelin - Los Angeles at Whisky A Go Go (day 2 of 4) 

1964:

"Big" Jim Sullivan (1941 - 2012) on Jimmy Page (a.k.a. "Little Jim"):

"I'll always remember the first time I met Jimmy. We had a session at Decca studios for Dave Berry. It was the session for 'My Baby Left Me' and Jimmy played lead guitar and I played rhythm. I remember the great solo that he did on that session, it is one of the best constructed rock solos on record.

"The rhythm section that played on a lot of the 60's group record consisted of Jimmy, myself, John Baldwin or John Paul Jones as he liked to be called, and Bobby Graham on Drums. The amount of recordings we did together was amazing and when he said he and John were going to leave he said I should join them too. I said I was married and would stay in sessions a while longer."

1969 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin Whisky a Go Go

1946:
On this day, John Baldwin was born.  Baldwin is, of course, better known today as John Paul Jones, bassist, keyboardist and composer with Led Zeppelin and now embarked on an independent musical career, including the 2009 band, Them Crooked Vultures, with Dave Grohl, and Josh Homme (and guitarist Alain Johannes during live performances).

Interestingly enough, the "other" John Paul Jones, born in 1747, was born John Paul and also adopted the last names "Jones".  However that JPJ did so to hide from law enforcement after winning a duel.

ca. 1965 John Paul Jones, session man

John Paul Jones / Led Zeppelin

2015 John Paul Jones

♪

♪  Diamonds (Jet Harris & Tony Meehan, feat. Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones 1963) YouTube
♪  My Baby Left Me (Dave Berry, feat Jimmy Page guitar 1964) YouTube
♪  Hoochie Coochie Man  (Dave Berry, feat Jimmy Page guitar 1964) YouTube
♪  Celebration Day (Led Zeppelin, isolated bass, vocals & drum tracks) YouTube
♪  New Fang (Them Crooked Vultures) YouTube

♪ Mage Music 1 playlist at YouTube
♪ Mage Music 2 playlist at YouTube

On This Day 26 November

Here in the US it's a day of thanksgiving.  I thank you, Jimmy Page, for the music you have given the world.

1965 & 2013 26 November On This Day Jimmy Page watched Bob Dylan at the Albert Hall,
with poet Scarlett Sabet in 2013 (posted on this day in  2014, 2015)

2009 26 November On This Day Jimmy Page attended Task Brazil fundraiser in Rio
(posted on this day in 2011, 2012, 2013)

• 1966 The Yardbirds -Washington DC, at Washington Coliseum
• 1967 The Yardbirds - Studio Session at Olympic Studios
• 1988 Jimmy Page Outrider Tour - Manchester, England at Manchester Apollo
• 1998 Page & Plant - Bordeaux, France at La Patinoire Meriadeck 

2009 Task Brazil fundraiser

2009 Task Brazil fundraiser

2009 Task Brazil fundraiser.  The kids are obviously in awe of Jimmy Page

♪

I am also thankful for you, my readers

♪

♪  She Just Satisfies (Jimmy Page, 1965) YouTube
♪  Baby Who's Driving Your Car (Jimmy Page, 1970) YouTube
♪  Heartbreaker solo (Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin, Earls Court 1975) YouTube
♪  Communication Breakdown (Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin, Dortmund 1980) YouTube
♪  Absolution Blues (Jimmy Page, David Coverdale, 1993) YouTube
♪  Ramble On (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Wembley 2008) YouTube

On This Day 26 September

Rock and roll, baby

2006 26 September On This Day Jerry Lee Lewis' album, Last Man Standing feat. Jimmy Page
♪ Cold, Cold Heart  Soundcloud

• 1998 Page & Plant North American Fall Tour, San Antonio, TX at Alamo Dome 

2006:

Jerry Lee Lewis' 2006 album, Last Man Standing is subtitled The Duets. While each track on the album does, in fact, feature a list of impressive musicians, the album is all Jerry Lee Lewis. The opening song is Led Zeppelin's Rock and Roll, but don't expect it to sound anything like what you're used to or to be hearing Jimmy Page's guitar work as more than support to Lewis' piano. Having heard this version of the song once I don't need to hear it again. One of the very best versions that I listen to all the time is Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones with Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins at Wembley in 2008 (see playlist below).

The album's title refers to the 1950s musicians that helped create rock and roll - Jerry Lee Lewis is the only one still alive. In fact, Lewis is still touring.  His next show is Saturday 03 October 2015 in Beaumont, TX.

2007 Led Zeppelin at Ahmet Ertegun Tribute, Rock and Roll (second encore)

2008 Jimmy Page at Foo Fighters' concert at Wembley

♪

♪  Rock and Roll (Jerry Lee Lewis feat. Jimmy Page, 2006) YouTube
♪   Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin IV, alternate mix 2014 remaster) YouTube
♪   Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin, Detroit 1973) YouTube
♪  Full set - Rock & Roll last song (Page & Plant, San Antonio 1998) YouTube
♪  Rock and Roll (Page/Plant/Jones and Jason Bonham, O2 2007) YouTube
♪  Rock and Roll (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Wembley 2008) YouTube

 

On This Day 19 July

Bring it...

1998 19 July On This Day Page & Plant at Jones Beach

• 1967 The Yardbirds-Colorado Springs, CO at Colorado Springs City Auditorium
• 1969 Led Zeppelin - Chicago, IL at Kinetic Playgound
• 1970 Led Zeppelin - Berlin, Germany at Deutschlandhalle
• 1995 Page & Plant Unledded Tour - Dublin, Ireland at The Point Theatre
• 1998 Page & Plant - Wantagh, NY at Jones Beach Amphitheatre

1998 Ray Gun Magazine interview (L-R: unknown, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, Dave Grohl)

1998:

"Michael's ...got a contemporary vision on how to present the drums in a non-hard-rock fashion. The way that he approaches the drums in the studio is different to on stage. Where I'm convinced he's building a small shed."
~ Robert Plant interview by Dave Grohl for Ray Gun Magazine

Michael Lee (1969-2008) was an English drummer who some thought might work out for a reincarnation of Led Zeppelin.  A tall man, Lee used large drum sizes like John Bonham did, and had an aggressive and dynamic drumming style. He once hit himself on his own head with a drumstick during a drum solo at the end of Rock and Roll.

Lee started out with the British band, Little Angels, toured with The Cult and a later version of Thin Lizzy. He drummed for Robert Plant starting with the 1993 album Fate of Nations.  When Page and Plant began their collaboration Lee was hired on to record and tour, and received writing credits on Walking into Clarksdale.

Lee stayed with Jimmy Page for a few additional projects, including Net Aid in October 1999 when Domino was performed for the first time.

Lee died on 24 November 2008 from an epileptic seizure.

♪  Bring It On Home (Led Zeppelin, Berlin 1970) YouTube

♪  Bring It On Home/Ramble On (Page & Plant, Dublin 1995) YouTube

♪  Domino (Jimmy Page, Net Aid 1999) YouTube

♫  Chris Welsh footage of Led Zeppelin in  Berlin, 19 July 1970 YouTube

♫  Dave Grohl interview of Page & Plant for Ray Gun Magazine 1998 

On This Day 14 June

Two NY concerts, including the final explosive night of Madison Square Garden in 1977

1972 14 June On This Day Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY at Nassau Memorial Coliseum

• 1972 14 June On This Day Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY at Nassau Memorial Coliseum
• 1977 Led Zeppelin - New York, NY at Madison Square Garden

1972 Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY at Nassau Memorial Coliseum.
Steve Jones collection,  photo: Ed Stasium

I've said it before and I'll say it again: It's tough being a rock star. Yesterday Dave Grohl took a fall off the stage in Sweden during a Foo Fighters concert and fractured his leg, though he came back on stage to continue the show.

Jimmy Page has had a few of his onstage mishaps, too, suffering more than broken bones.  At the close of the final night at MSG some a**hole in the audience threw a firecracker (said to be an M-80) at the stage. The explosion damaged Jimmy Page's right hand, fortunately for the world not causing permanent damage. He left the stage, but came back out to finish up the concert with bloody bandages to perform Whole Lotta Love and Rock and Roll.

1977 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin - Madison Square Garden. Bron-Y-Aur Stomp

1977 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin - Madison Square Garden. Kashmir. (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

1977  Jimmy Page at MSG.  Gibson EDS-1275  double neck guitar (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

1977 MSG - John Bonham at the end of Moby Dick.
This is such a great photo.  If anyone could supply the photographer's name, I'd appreciate it.

♪  Full concert (Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY 1972) YouTube
♪  The Song Remains the Same and Sick Again (Led Zeppelin, MSG, 1977) YouTube
♪ Segments from MSG concert  (Led Zeppelin, MSG, 1977) YouTube
♪ Whole Lotta Love and Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin, MSG, 1977) YouTube

On This Day 07 June

What a day in musical history!  Today in 1977 was the first night of the six fabled Led Zeppelin shows at Madison Square Garden.  But for me, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters at Wembley in 2008 just zings straight to my heart.

2008 07 June On This Day Jimmy Page &  John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters - Wembley Stadium

• 1972 Led Zeppelin - Montreal, Quebec,Canada at Montreal Forum
• 1977 Led Zeppelin - New York, NY at Madison Square Garden
• 1995 Page & Plant - Unledded Tour - Lyon, France at Halle Tony Garnier
• 1998 Page & Plant - St Louis, MO at Keil Center
• 2008 Jimmy Page &  John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters - Wembley, London at Wembley Stadium 

1972 Led Zeppelin - Montreal, Quebec,Canada at Montreal Forum Photo Kevin Rowe

1977 Led Zeppelin - New York, NY at Madison Square Garden Photo Terry O'Neill

1977 Led Zeppelin - New York, NY at Madison Square Garden Photo Terry O'Neill

2008 07 June Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters - Wembley Stadium

2008 07 June Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters - Wembley Stadium

2008 07 June Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters - Wembley Stadium

2008 07 June Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters - Wembley Stadium

Ya gotta love 'em
John Paul Jones, Taylor Hawkins, Jimmy Page & Dave Grohl
2008 Wembley - Halfin photo

From Ross Halfin's diary June 7, 2008

"I climb onto the stage as they take a bow, get them to turn around and face me and get... the photo I want. Walk off the stage with Jimmy and John Paul Jones, stop them on the ramp and take a couple of shots. John says he wished they'd done more, they were just getting going."

Don't we all.

♪  Stairway To Heaven (Led Zeppelin, Madison Square Garden 06/07/77) YouTube

♪  Magical Sound Boogie (Led Zeppelin, concert, Madison Square Garden 06/07/77) YouTube

♪ Page & Plant (concert, Live in Lyon, 1995) YouTube

♪  Rock and Roll (Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters, Wembley, 2008) YouTube

♪  Ramble On (Jimmy Page & John Paul Jones with Foo Fighters, Wembley, 2008) YouTube

♫  More Ross Halfin Photos of Foo Fighters/Wembley