MAGE MUSIC

Monday, June 15, 2015

Ask Jimmy!

Translated from the French website ouiFM using Google Translate, so it's a little weird:

ASK YOUR QUESTIONS TO JIMMY PAGE WITH YES FM!

On the occasion of the last batch of reissues of the albums of Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page and FM Yes give you an appointment at a special masterclass, during which you can ask YOUR questions to the master!

We do more than they expected: after the first 6 editions of legendary Led Zeppelin studio albums, widely acclaimed by critics, it was the turn of Presence, In Through the Out Door and Coda know a prodigious back in the studio ! Guitarist and producer Jimmy Page has again secured the remastering of these mythical discs that close discography of one of the most essential rock formations of his generation. Presence, recorded at a lightning session of 18 days in Germany published in 1976, had reached the top of the American and British charts upon its release. His successor, In Through the Out Door, released in 1979, contains the bombs Fool in the Rain and All My Love, classic American radio stations but also the last album recorded with drummer John Bonham, who died the following year. Finally Coda, released in 1982, the most mysterious disk group consisting of unreleased tracks from 1970 and 1978, giving a surprising spotlight on keyboards.

On the occasion of reissues of Presence, In Through the Out Door and Coda, FM Yes Fnac joined forces to host the great Jimmy Page at Fnac Ternes Tuesday, June 23 from 17h to 18h for an exceptional masterclass! The English genius we speak of the decisions and the work on these final versions and will put an end to this campaign of rediscovery of Led Zeppelin, with Thomas Caussé, present to enliven the interview. Invitations to withdraw on site from 9 am on D-Day

But that's not all: in addition to offering direct invitations, Yes FM invites you to participate in the interview with Jimmy Page! Nothing could be simpler: send your question in an email titled LED ZEPPELIN Thomas Caussé to this address . And do not forget to mention your name!

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Mage Music note: The translation of "bombe" from French should be "hit", not "failure". Google isn't infallible!

On This Day 15 June

Bad Company was good for Swan Song

1974 15 June On This Day Bad Company's first album released by Swan Song.
Bad Company was the first band that Swan Song Record's signed to the label.

Bad Company was founded by former Free singer Paul Rodgers in 1973. Joining Rodgers was drummer Simon Kirke (Free), guitarist Mick Ralphs (Mott the Hoople ) and bassist Boz Burrell (King Crimson). It was not a surprised that the band signed to Swan Song Records/Atlantic Records since Peter Grant was Bad Company's manager.

Led Zeppelin's first recordings for Physical Graffiti took place in November 1973 at Headley Grange using Ronnie Lane's Mobile Studio. Led Zeppelin turned it all over to Bad Company to record their debut album, Bad Company. Swan Song Records was launched in May 1974 and Bad Company was the first US release for the label.

1969 Led Zeppelin - Manchester, England at Free Trade Hall
1972 Led Zeppelin - Uniondale, NY at Nassau Memorial Coliseum
1974 15 June On This Day Swan Song Records releases Bad Company
1995 Page & Plant - Unledded Tour - Rotterdam, The Netherlands at Ahoy Rotterdam
1998 Page & Plant - Chicago, IL at United Center

1972 Led Zeppelin at Nassau Coliseum (day 2)

1972 Led Zeppelin at Nassau Coliseum - Steve Jones Collection

2005 Jimmy Page and Jim Marshall at Marshall's photo show opening - Photo Ross Halfin

2013 Jimmy Page backstage with Lez Zeppelin

Sunday, June 14, 2015

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

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Cream's Ginger Baker On Led Zeppelin

In a series for Forbes, writer Jim Clash risks an interview with drummer Ginger Baker. Given that Baker can be... how to put this.... well, let's just say one interviewer referred to the interview experience with the drummer as a "professional horror show", Clash did well.

In this interview, Jim Clash dares to bring up Led Zeppelin. Considering how Ginger Baker has trashed them (particularly John Bonham) and every other major band since Cream, this is a pretty positive response from the man.

Maybe Mr. Baker has mellowed out.

Nah.

Ginger Baker (left), Jack Bruce, Eric Clapton of Cream (1966-1968)

JC: Are there bands that came from Cream’s influence you consider to be good, maybe Led Zeppelin?

GB: Jimmy’s [Page] a good player. I don’t think Led Zeppelin filled the void that Cream left, but they made a lot of money. I probably like about 5% of what they did – a couple of things were really cool. What I don’t like is the heavy bish-bash, jing-bap, jing-bash bullshit.

JC: What do you think of Zeppelin’s late drummer, John Bonham?

GB: Years ago, John said, “There are two drummers in rock and roll, Ginger Baker and me.” There’s no way John was anywhere near what I am. He wasn’t a musician.

John Bonham, on the other hand, has said this about Ginger Baker:

"When I listen to drummers I like to be able to say "Oh! I haven't heard that before." Being yourself is so much better than sounding like anyone else. Ginger Baker's thing is that he is himself. So it's no good trying to do what he does."

~John Bonham, as quoted by his brother Mick Bonham in John Bonham: The Powerhouse Behind Led Zeppelin

And Jimmy Page himself:

I was surprised that in the recent documentary on Ginger Baker [Beware of Mr. Baker], he takes some shots at Bonham's musical ability. You just never hear other drummers making that criticism. He's usually so untouchable.

That's an interesting film, because of the way the film starts. Doesn't it start with Ginger hitting the director with a cane? I did see the film, and I know what you're talking about. I was a bit disappointed by that. His criticism was that Bonham didn't swing. I was like, "Oh, Ginger. That's the only thing that's undeniable about Bonham." I thought that was stupid. That was a really silly thing of him to say.

~ Jimmy Page, GQ Interview 2014

Jimmy Page, as depicted for GQ's "Rock God" Man of the Year 2014

On This Day 13 June

Enter The Danelectro! Madison Square Garden! Another award announcement!

1965 13 June On This Day Jimmy Page starts using the Danelectro in the studio AND
On This Day in 2014 the announcement that Jimmy Page will receive the Silver Clef Award in July

1965 13 June On This Day Jimmy Page starts using the Danelectro in the studio
1969 Led Zeppelin - Birmingham, West Midlands, England at Birmingham Town Hall
1972 Led Zeppelin - Philadelphia, PA at The Spectrum
1977 Led Zeppelin - New York, NY at Madison Square Garden (show 5 of 6)
1998 Page & Plant - Fargo, ND at Fargo Dome
2014 Announcement that Jimmy Page is to receive a Silver Clef award in July

During this fifth night at MSG a number of incidents. Among other things, Jimmy Page dropped his guitar, knocking it out of tune before White Summer/Black Mountain Side; Bonham was introduced as "a rhinestone cowgirl" before Battle of Evermore; and Bonham comes in too early in Stairway to Heaven, forcing Robert Plant to switch lyrics. Plant comments on it as he sings: "There's still time to change the road you're on... I hope so Bonzo".

Some say this fifth of six nights was the best show at Madison Square Garden in 1977.

1977 Jimmy Page & John Bonham MSG (Photo by George De Sota /Redferns)

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

1977 Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

1977 MSG Jimmy Page and John Bonham (Photo by George De Sota/Redferns)

1977 Jimmy Page and his Danelectro, at Madison Square Garden (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

1998 June Guitar World Magazine - Jimmy Page and his Danelectro

2008 Jimmy Page, still playing that Danelectro, from the movie It Might Get Loud

♪ Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin, MSG 13 June 1977) YouTube

Friday, June 12, 2015

On This Day 12 June

1963 12 June On This Day Sweet and Tender Romance feat. Jimmy Page released

1963 12 June On This Day Sweet and Tender Romance (Carter Lewis and the Southerners, feat. Jimmy Page) released
1995 - Page & Plant - Unledded Tour - Toulouse, France at Palais des Sports de Toulouse
1998 - Page & Plant - Minneapolis, MN at Target Center