On this day 22 December

 Mortals have trembled... and mortals will tremble again.

22 December On This Day published 2020
Artist's impression video

Confused about the winter solstice and why some of us celebrate the solstice on one day and others the next? This crazy planet of ours is tilted!  It's all good, though, and what it means is that we can celebrate it two days in a row if we want to.

2009 22 December On This Day It Might Get Loud DVD released in USA

• 1972 Led Zeppelin - London at Alexandra Palace
• 1993 Jimmy Page Coverdale-Page Tour - Nagoya Japan at Nagoya Gym
• 2009 Jimmy Page - It Might Get Loud DVD Released in USA 

2009

As with any major event in one's life, there are always things that stand out. For me, it was me feeling so impatient with Jack White's and The Edge's scenes in It Might Get Loud. Yeah, yeah, they're great. Now let's see Jimmy Page. Because to me, it's a movie about him.

I suppose there are Jack White and The Edge fans who think the movie's about them. Bwahahaha! No way!

2009 22 December On This Day text
(click on image to enlarge)

2009 Jimmy Page plays air guitar in It Might Get Loud

2009 Jimmy Page in his equipment storage room in It Might Get Loud

May get loud again

♪

♪ Led Zeppelin (London at Alexandra Palace, 22 December 1972)

♪  Coverdale-Page (Nagoya Japan at Nagoya Gym, 22 December 1993)

♪  It Might Get Loud movie
♪  Movie trailer (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Whole Lotta Love (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Embryo No. 1 (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Domino a.k.a. Embryo No. 2 (Jimmy Page, Net Aid at East Rutherford 1999) YouTube
♪  Embryo No. 2 a.k.a. Domino (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Embryo No. 3  (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube

On this day 09 October

 He really is a musical genius, you know.

1999 09 October On This Day Jimmy Page at NetAid

• 1966 The Yardbirds-Southampton, England at Southampton Gaumont Theatre
• 1972 Led Zeppelin - Osaka, Japan at Osaka Festival Hall
• 1995 Page & Plant Unledded Tour - Boise, ID at BSU Pavilion
• 1999 Jimmy Page - East Rutherford, NJ at Giants Stadium - Net Aid

1999:
NetAid was an anti-poverty nonprofit organization to raise awareness of and money for anti-poverty projects. It was created in 1999 as a joint venture between the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems and is now a part of Mercy Corps.

NetAid was launched with concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, Giants Stadium in New Jersey and the Palais des Nations in Geneva.  The concerts were broadcast live on MTV, VH-1, the BBC and other broadcasters to 60 countries, as well as radio broadcasts that would reach 120 countries, making the concerts the widest heard live musical performances in history. The shows were meant to promote NetAid's website, where donations could be accepted. The website got 2.4 million hits, and the $830,000 for NetAid was the largest amount raised online to date.

Jimmy Page performed with Michael Lee, Chris and Rich Robinson (from The Black Crowes), and Guy Pratt as his backup band. He also joined Puff Daddy for the song Come With Me.

The Giants Stadium NetAid show generally got poor reviews - except for Jimmy Page.

"Thank God, then, for Jimmy Page. After reuniting Led Zeppelin to mixed results at Live Aid, Page made up for it here as he ripped into an instrumental of Dazed and Confused that showed no signs of age. Page evoked the golden age of the Guitar Hero and stadium rock -- complete with the scent of many a burning joint. And it only got better when Black Crowes Chris and Rich Robinson came out for a rejuvenated In My Time of Dying and brutal Whole Lotta Love.
~Marian Montgomery NetAid concert review  

Jimmy Page debuted Domino (later to become Embryo No. 2 in It Might Get Loud but not performed in full) at NetAid. Domino was never officially released and this was its only live performance. 

NetAid Setlist
1. Come With Me (with Puff Daddy)
2. Dazed And Confused
3. Domino
4. In My Time Of Dying (with The Black Crowes)
5. Whole Lotta Love (with The Black Crowes)

1999 Jimmy Page NetAid (David Atlas photo)

2012 Jimmy Page at Celebration Day movie premiere in NYC

2014 Jimmy Page in Tokyo for an author book signing (stamping, in this case) Ross Halfin photo 

♪

♪  Led Zeppelin (Osaka Japan at Osaka Festival Hall, 09 October 1972) 
♪  Page & Plant Unledded Tour (Boise, ID at BSU Pavilion, 09 October 1995) 
♪  Come With Me (Jimmy Page, Puff Daddy, NetAid 1999) 
♪  Jimmy Page - Net Aid (East Rutherford NJ at Giants Stadium, 09 October 1999) 

♪ Domino 

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 11 April

The never ending Magick...

2010 11 April On This Day Jimmy Page went to a Bad Company concert at Wembley

2010 Paul Rodgers & Jimmy Page, Bad Company at Wembley (Ross Halfin photo)

• 1968 The Yardbirds-Boston,MA  at Boston Tea Party
• 1970 Led Zeppelin - St. Louis MO at Kiel Auditorium

Today is Mage Music's last daily On This Day post!  Last year I committed to providing a full year's worth, and now that it's done I won't post any more unless Jimmy Page's website offers some new ones. You can view each of them by clicking on the date in the right-hand navigation column.

Stay tuned for new posts here on the Mage Music blog about the music and Magick of Jimmy Page, as well as previews of new Mage Music projects. In the meantime, enjoy a few magazine covers featuring Jimmy Page over the years plus more of the best music in the world.

♪

♪  Baby Who's Driving Your Car (Jimmy Page, John Williams 1970) YouTube
♪  Asylum (Box of Frogs feat. Jimmy Page 1986) YouTube
♪  Writes of Winter (Jimmy Page, Outrider 1988) YouTube
♪  Absolution Blues (Coverdale/Page 1993) YouTube
♪  Depot Studio Session/Domino (Soundcloud)
♪  Domino (Jimmy Page, Net Aid East Rutherford NJ 1999) YouTube
♪  Kashmir (Page/Plant/Jones/Jason Bonham, O2 2007) YouTube
♪  Ramble On (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2008) YouTube
♪  Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin, Sunset Sound Mix/Remaster 2014) YouTube

♪ Mage Music 1 playlist at YouTube
♪ Mage Music 2 playlist at YouTube
♪ Page & Plant playlist at YouTube

On This Day 22 December

Mortals have trembled... and mortals will tremble again.

22 December On This Day published 2020
Artist's impression video

2009 22 December On This Day It Might Get Loud DVD released in USA

• 1972 Led Zeppelin - London at Alexandra Palace
• 1993 Jimmy Page Coverdale-Page Tour - Nagaya, Japan at Nagaya Gym
• 2009 Jimmy Page - It Might Get Loud DVD Released in USA 

2009

As with any major event in one's life, there are always things that stand out. For me, it was impatience with Jack White's and The Edge's scenes in It Might Get Loud. Fine, fine, now let's see Jimmy Page. Because to me, it's a movie about him.

I suppose there are Jack White and The Edge fans who think the movie's about them. Bwahahaha! No way!

2009 22 December On This Day text
(click on image to enlarge)

2009 Jimmy Page plays air guitar in It Might Get Loud

2009 Jimmy Page in his equipment storage room in It Might Get Loud

May get loud again

♪

♪  Movie trailer (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Whole Lotta Love (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Embryo No. 1 (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Domino a.k.a. Embryo No. 2 (Jimmy Page, Net Aid at East Rutherford 1999) YouTube
♪  Embryo No. 2 a.k.a. Domino (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube
♪  Embryo No. 3  (Jimmy Page, It Might Get Loud 2009) YouTube

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

On This Day 9 October

He really is a musical genius, you know.

1999 09 October On This Day Jimmy Page at NetAid

• 1966 The Yardbirds-Southampton, England at Southampton Gaumont Theatre
• 1972 Led Zeppelin - Osaka, Japan at Osaka Festival Hall
• 1995 Page & Plant Unledded Tour - Boise, ID at BSU Pavilion
• 1999 Jimmy Page - East Rutherford, NJ at Giants Stadium - Net Aid

1999:
NetAid is an anti-poverty nonprofit organization to raise awareness of and money for anti-poverty projects. It was created in 1999 as a joint venture between the United Nations Development Programme and Cisco Systems and is now a part of Mercy Corps.

NetAid was launched with concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, Giants Stadium in New Jersey and the Palais des Nations in Geneva.  The concerts were broadcast live on MTV, VH-1, the BBC and other broadcasters to 60 countries, as well as radio broadcasts that would reach 120 countries, making the concerts the widest heard live musical performances in history. The shows were meant to promote NetAid's website, where donations could be accepted. The website got 2.4 million hits, and the $830,000 for NetAid was the largest amount raised online to date.

Jimmy Page soloed, with Michael Lee, Chris and Rich Robinson (from The Black Crowes), and Guy Pratt as his backup band. He also joined Puff Daddy for the song Come With Me.

The Giants Stadium NetAid show generally got poor reviews - except for Jimmy Page.

"Thank God, then, for Jimmy Page. After reuniting Led Zeppelin to mixed results at Live Aid, Page made up for it here as he ripped into an instrumental of Dazed and Confused that showed no signs of age. Page evoked the golden age of the Guitar Hero and stadium rock -- complete with the scent of many a burning joint. And it only got better when Black Crowes Chris and Rich Robinson came out for a rejuvenated In My Time of Dying and brutal Whole Lotta Love.
~Marian Montgomery NetAid concert review  

Jimmy Page debuted Domino (later to become Embryo No. 2 in It Might Get Loud) at NetAid. Domino was never officially released and this was its only live performance. I wonder if we'll get to hear it on Jimmy Page's next album.

NetAid Setlist
1. Come With Me (with Puff Daddy)
2. Dazed And Confused
3. Domino
4. In My Time Of Dying (with The Black Crowes)
5. Whole Lotta Love (with The Black Crowes)

1999 Jimmy Page NetAid (David Atlas photo)

2012 Jimmy Page at Celebration Day movie premiere in NYC

2014 Jimmy Page in Tokyo for an author book signing (stamping, in this case) Ross Halfin photo 

♪

♪  Stand By Me (Led Zeppelin Osaka 1972) YouTube
♪  Full set (Page & Plant, Boise 1995) YouTube
♪  Come With Me (Jimmy Page, Puff Daddy, NetAid 1999) YouTube
♪  Domino (Jimmy Page, Net Aid at East Rutherford 1999) Youtube

♪  Whole Lotta Love (Jimmy Page et al, NetAid 1999) YouTube

♪  Embryo No. 2 (It Might Get Loud, 2009) YouTube

On This Day 07 August

A joy to hear anytime anyplace

1971 07 August Led Zeppelin at Montreux

• 1966 The Yardbirds - Mentor, MN at Maple Lake Pavilion
• 1969 Led Zeppelin - Berkeley, CA at Berkeley Community Theatre
• 1971 Led Zeppelin - Montreux, Switzerland at Montreux Casino Hall

1971 Led Zeppelin at Montreux

1971 Jimmy Page/Led Zeppelin at Montreux

1971:
With the help of Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegün of Atlantic Records,  in 1967 Claude Nobs, Géo Voumard and René Langel founded the Montreux Jazz Festival. Originally a jazz festival, it opened up to other music genres in the 1970s.  Led Zeppelin played Montreux that year and the next.

In British slang, a nob is an important person, a person of social distinction.  In 1970 Eva Von Zeppelin threatened to sue the band for making money off her family name.  “Then we shall call ourselves the Nobs when we go to Copenhagen,” shrugged Page. “The whole thing is absurd.”

Did Led Zeppelin choose to call themselves The Nobs for a little while because of Claude or because of Eva? Jimmy Page hasn't explained.

I'm still out of town, so here's mostly non-On This Day related music for you.


♪  16mm film (Led Zeppelin, Montreux 1971) YouTube
♪  Jimmy Page "Domino" East Rutherford, New Jersey 1999
♪  Embryo No. 2 - Jimmy Page (It Might Get Loud)
♪  Stairway to Heaven (Jimmy Page with Jeff Beck & Eric Clapton, MSG 1983) 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 

Ain't No Emo Here

"I don't deal in technique, I deal in emotions."
   ~ Jimmy Page 1977 Guitar Player interview.

Mage Music 44

Magick is a process of desire + will + ritual. Yes, I know I keep telling you that, but only because it's so important. Each of the parts is necessary, and the whole is fueled by emotion. It's possible that powerful enough desire and will could drive the Magickal process without emotion fueling it, but it's hard to believe any Mage with that much will and desire could be emotionless about it. After all, emotion fuels just about everything we humans do.  Emotion is connected with the most primitive parts of our brain - and not coincidentally, so is music.

It is because of the close inner connection of music and emotion that hearing music can make us feel emotion. In a sense, music (or the right kind of music) is emotion made manifest in the world.

The right kind of music - Mage Music - draws emotion out of our hearts and souls, mixes it with Magick and returns it to us so we are uplifted and purified.  Emotion:  It's what we live for. The rest is just experience that gives context for the emotion.  That's why we listen to Mage Music - it may not be the most beautiful, technically brilliant stuff, but it delivers what we crave.


Ain't Emo  

Not to pick on Emo, but it really is a poor excuse for what Wikipedia says is supposed to be "emotional hardcore" music.  I don't think so.  Emotion expressed as music isn't from "melodic musicianship and expressive, often confessional lyrics" but is from Magick.  A Mage digs deep into his own emotion and puts it forth through the ritual of music. No wonder Jimmy Page, having become arguably the most technically accomplished guitarist in the world, left technique behind in favor of the messy business of emotion.  If a musician can't deliver emotion, then all he's delivering is sound.  It might be entertaining but it won't be Magick.

♪ ♪ ♪ 

Playlist

You might want to go back to listen to last week's playlist just for the pleasure of hearing how Jimmy Page pushes the envelope, exploring new ways to bring forth emotion in his music.  I love listening to the music I chose for this week's playlist because Domino (which is on both week's lists) and both the Embryos are such gutsy, meaty pieces.  No emo there - they are luscious and dripping with emotion and not a confessional lyric to be heard.  That's why I prefer Mr. Page's instrumentals - no matter how brilliant a vocalist he might perform with, it is Jimmy Page who brings the Magick to the music and it is his work I want to hear.

Domino evolved to become Embryo No. 2.  There are echos of the past and hints of the future in these two works, and that's worth listening for as well.

I threw in the bit of Ramble On that Jimmy Page did for It Might Get Loud because of his overdubbed commentary.  And last but not least, I find Jimmy Page's words at the end of Domino to be particularly lovely:  "That's the first time I've played that number for anybody, so thank you very much indeed."

No, thank YOU, Mr. Page.

It's Your Magick Too

"A rock concert is in fact a rite involving the evocation and transmutation of energy."
~ William Burroughs, Crawdaddy Magazine, June 1975. Rock Magic: Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, And a search for the elusive Stairway to Heaven 


Mage Music 43

This week's Mage Music came about because of a birthday playlist request.  You may have noticed I stopped doing playlists in these posts.  I realized how much time choosing the right music takes and, as important as this blog is to me, I nevertheless decided I needed to use that time for other things.  That makes this playlist a little more special.

I wanted to pick songs that have Magick for me personally (even though the list is meant for someone else), not just songs that are well performed.  The songs are not necessarily beautiful, the playlist doesn't even flow well from one song to the next.  I picked the songs because it seems to me in each one Jimmy Page was pushing, exploring, reaching for something deeper and more meaningful than ordinary music conveys.  I chose these particular songs, too, because the more closely I listen, the more they prompt me to join in that reaching.

This made me think about Mr. Burroughs' comment about what a rock concert is about, and what music brings to us, the audience - or, more specifically, about the Magick from the audience point of view whether or not the audience is at a live concert.

But I'm not going to talk about any of that this week.

You'll have to forgive me - or be PO'd if you prefer - for my not going further with these ideas right now.  I'm taking a little time off for other work.   Perhaps some of you have thoughts on this - I welcome them.  Right now, though, I'm leaving you with the birthday playlist and getting back to my other work.  Enjoy!





PLAYLIST

Note:  I recommend not looking at the visuals, and not paying attention to lyrics.  These songs are about the vision of Jimmy Page as expressed through the music produced by his own guitar.

White Summer Black Mountain Side	1969 (live)  Led Zeppelin June 27, 1969 London's Playhouse Theatre First released on LZ 4-disc boxed set 11/08/90
Lucifer Rising Outtake 2	1972 (studio) Jimmy Page, Album: Lucifer Rising
Guitar Solo	1977 (live)  Led Zeppelin  May 30, 1977 Landover MD (from bootleg Double Shot - sorry, the end of the song is cut off for some reason)
Cadillac	1986 (studio)  The Firm, Album: Mean Business
Emerald Eyes	1988 (studio)  Jimmy Page, Album:  Outrider
Saccharin	1993 (studio)  Jimmy Page, David Coverdale.  Unreleased.
Domino	1999 (live)  Jimmy Page, NetAid Benefit Concert.  Unreleased.
Nobody's Fault But Mine	2007 (live)  Led Zeppelin + Jason Bonham, Celebration Day O2 Concert
Ramble On	2008 (live) Foo Fighters, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones.  Wembley Stadium.
Summer's Day	2011 Happy birthday, Sue Clement.  Hope your day is special.

Light and Shade: Domino

Painters and other visual artists will, in the process of creation, discover something – a technique, an image detail, color combinations, shapes – that intrigue them and lead them into exploration in their next works. All creative artists look at other artists’ work, at life around them or deep inside themselves and discover something that intrigues them. They will absorb it, play with it and reinterpret it, make it their own and let it come out in their subsequent work. Thus the artistic products evolve. It has ever been so with all artwork, and students of the various artistic mediums can follow the evolution of the inspiration from artist to artist, and within one artist’s work.

Once Led Zeppelin was formed and Jimmy Page was able to become fully creative with his own music we can more clearly hear his exploration of themes and pushing of the musical envelope that is so characteristic of his musical genius. Expression of “light and shade” has always been a fundamental part of Mr. Page’s music. He may have picked up the term during his time at art school, although the use of light and shade to provide contrast is a concept used in all forms of art. Unlike in life when things may be much the same for long periods of time, an artist has control over the use of contrast to bring focus to and highlight certain areas of the work.

Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette,1885–1886, oil on canvas, Van Gogh Museum

In music, the technique of light and shade may be brought about through changes in volume, tone, rhythm and speed, the use of different instruments, of melody versus chorus, and various other techniques. Jimmy Page uses every means in his considerable arsenal to achieve contrast with just one musical instrument - his guitar - intensifying the depth of his music to an incredible degree. Part of the magic of his music is in his use of light and shade, which draws us in and delivers us to the heights and depths of Mr. Page’s inner vision.

One of the light and shade areas that Jimmy Page appears to be drawn to is that of allowing his music to rise from a version of drone. In music, drone is a note or chord that is continuously sounded throughout most or all of a piece. We know that Middle Eastern tuning is one of the techniques Page uses (Kashmir, discussed last week, being a great example); drone originated in instrumental music of southwestern Asia and spread to Europe, India and Africa.  It can be used to evoke an emotional atmosphere, which we see Mr. Page do to great effect, such as can be heard in in Domino (1999), where sometimes the extended low growl of the guitar’s chords is used as a drone and other places it is the memory of the drone and the return to it that gives the impression of drone.

Domino YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-W-G5txkbw

Page’s melodies rise out of the drone effect throughout Domino, and using light/shade, he returns to the drone again and again to give the mind rest before the contrast of the notes that rise like a fiery phoenix from the dark.