On this day 21 December

 Lucifer is the bringer of light to humankind, for which he has been vilified since day one.

December On This Day Winter Solstice
AUDIO Lucifer Rising

• 1971 Led Zeppelin - Salisbury, England at Salisbury City Hall
• 1993 Jimmy Page, Coverdale Page Tour - Osaka, Japan at Osaka Castle Hall
• 2012 Page and Plant interview on Charlie Rose CBS This Morning Show

Winter solstice 2023
A henge is a type of earthwork of the Neolithic period, generally consisting of a roughly circular bank with an internal ditch surrounding a central flat area that may or may not contain ritual structures of various kinds. About 8 miles north of Salisbury, England, where Led  Zeppelin played on this day in 1971, Stonehenge is aligned to the winter solstice. Although it is one of the most well-known henges, Stonehenge in fact atypical in that the ditch is outside the main earthworks.

Just like Jimmy Page:  He's a guitarist but atypical. Outside the norm. But you knew that.

The winter solstice marks the shortest day and longest night of the year when the planet's polar cap is pointed farthest from the sun (December in the northern hemisphere, June in the southern). Festivals, religious ceremonies and rituals mark and celebrate the next morning's "rebirth" of the sun, or of deities, or simply of the hope for survival till warm weather arrives again.

In 2023, the exact winter solstice is Friday, 22 December 2023 at 03:27 UTC (21 December EST at 10:27 EST in the US). At Stonehenge that is the wee hours of the morning on the 22nd, but the celebration begins when the sun rises after the long, chilly night and lights the standing stones of the henge. Pass the time by listening to appropriate music. 

Remember, it wasn't Lucifer who kept humans in the dark, it has always been Lucifer's detractors who shrink from the light.

Welcome to the winter solstice!

2012 21 December Jones, Plant, Page on CBS Charlie Rose Morning Show

Stonehenge solstice (stonehengetours.com photo)

♪

♪  In The Light (Led Zeppelin, Physical Graffiti) YouTube

♪ It Might Get Loud movie

♪  Coverdale/Page (Osaka Japan at Osaka Castle Hall, 21 December 1993)
♫ Page/Plant/Jones interview on CBS TV 2012

On this day 11 December

 Oh yes, the spirit of the band was shining bright

2007 11 December On This Day O2 afterglow

2023

• 1972 Led Zeppelin - Cardiff, Wales at Capitol Theatre (day 1)

2007

A great description of the rehearsal and the concert itself by Frank Smith in the comments section of the 09 December post, Soundcheck, 

2007 Mojo Magazine cover

2007 Q Magazine cover

2007 Robert Plant & Jimmy Page, O2 concert (Ross Halfin photo)

What I love about the above photo, besides that it's a great photo by Ross Halfin, is the look on Jimmy Page's face. He so clearly loved playing together as Led Zeppelin again. 

♪

♫  BBC Breakfast Show Interview (11 December 2007) YouTube
♫  Jimmy Page Interview about after the O2 concert: A nightmare (Blabbermouth news)

On this day 10 December

 Beyond amazing and into the realm of Magick.

2007, the Concert of the Century

It's rock and roll, baby.  It's Jimmy Page.  It's Magick.

10 December Jimmy Page's On This Day (published 2020)

1998 and 2007 - 10 December On This Day, Page & Plant at Amnesty International Show
and Led Zeppelin/Jason Bonham at Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, O2
Videos: Black Dog  Gallows Pole

On this day 2023

• 1966 The Yardbirds - Bristol, England at Student Union, Bristol University
• 1968 Led Zeppelin - London, England at  Marquee Club
• 1975 Led Zeppelin - St. Helier, UK at Behan's Park West (guest appearance with pianist Norman Hale)
• 1998 Page & Plant, Amnesty International Concert - Paris, France at Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy
• 2007 Led Zeppelin Ahmet Ertegun Tribute - London,England at O2 Arena  

1975

Robert Plant was still recovering from his August car accident, and the four members of Led Zeppelin were in Jersey for a few weeks. John Paul Jones and John Bonham were at a club where the resident pianist, Norman Hale, invited the two onstage to jam. Instead the full band showed up a week later for a 45 minute set with Hale at the piano and Plant seated on a stool, performing to an audience of a few hundred lucky souls.

1975 Led Zeppelin - St. Helier, UK at Behan's Park West
(guest appearance with pianist Norman Hale)

1998
Jimmy Page and Robert Plant performed When the World Was Young, Babe I'm Gonna Leave You, Gallows Pole, and Rock and Roll at the last Human Rights Concert to benefit Amnesty International. The full 1998 performance with Page & Plant, among others, is available on Amazon.

1998 Page & Plant, Amnesty International Show, Paris

2007
Ahmet Ertegun (1923-2006) was a powerful figure in Led Zeppelin's career. He was founder and president of Atlantic Records and was a chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After hearing Led Zeppelin's demo recording, Ertegun immediately signed the then unknown band to his label.

At age 83 Ertegun was backstage at a Rolling Stones' concert at the Beacon Theater in New York when he tripped and fell, hitting his head on the cement. During the Led Zeppelin induction to the UK Music Hall of Fame on 14 November, 2006, Jimmy Page announced that Ertegun had gone into a coma. Ahmet Ertegun died on December 14, 2006 and was buried in his native Turkey.

The remaining members of Led Zeppelin organized an Ahmet Tribute Concert to raise money for the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund for university scholarships in the UK, US and Turkey. Although other performers were to share the stage, it was the reunion of Led Zeppelin, with Jason Bonham taking his father's place, that stole the headlines.

Over 20 million people tried for tickets.

2007 February, Led Zeppelin statement on passing of Ahmet Ertegun

2007 10 December, Led Zeppelin reunion, with Jason Bonham,
at Ahmut Ertegun Tribute concert, O2 Arena, London

2007 O2 ticket

2007 Dave Grohl with Scarlet Page and the "secret" setlist, before the show
(Ross Halfin photo)

Setlist:
Good Times, Bad Times
Ramble On
Black Dog
In My Time of Dying
For Your Life
Trampled Under Foot
Nobody's Fault But Mine
No Quarter
Since I've Been Lovin' You
Dazed and Confused
Stairway To Heaven
The Song Remains the Same
Misty Mountain Hop
Kashmir

Encore:

Whole Lotta Love

Rock and Roll

2007, the Concert of the Century

2007 Jimmy Page at the mic, O2

2007 Jimmy Page, O2 (Ross Halfin photo)

2007 Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, O2

2007 John Paul Jones, Jason Bonham, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant at O2 (Scarlet Page photo)

♪

♪  Full set (Page & Plant, Amnesty International Paris 1998) YouTube

♪  When the World Was Young (Page & Plant, Amnesty International Paris 1998) YouTube 

♪  Babe I'm Gonna Leave You (Page & Plant, Amnesty International Paris 1998) YouTube
♪ Gallows Pole (Page & Plant, Amnesty International Paris 1998) YouTube
♪  Good Times Bad Times with concert intro (Led Zeppelin with Jason Bonham, Ahmet Tribute Concert at O2, 2007) YouTube

♪  Black Dog (Led Zeppelin with Jason Bonham, Ahmet Tribute Concert at O2, 2007) YouTube

♪  Stairway to Heaven (Led Zeppelin with Jason Bonham, Ahmet Tribute Concert at O2, 2007) YouTube

♪  Kashmir (Led Zeppelin with Jason Bonham, Ahmet Tribute Concert at O2, 2007) YouTube
♪  Rock and Roll (Led Zeppelin with Jason Bonham, Ahmet Tribute Concert at O2, 2007) YouTube

♪ Led Zeppelin Celebration Day (Ahmet Ertegun Tribute Concert, London at O2, 10 December 2007)

♫  Rolling Stone review by David Fricke

On this day 09 December

 Here comes the brilliance!

1964 09 December On This Day Jimmy Page at Brill Building
AUDIO: Here Comes the Night (Lulu)  Soundcloud

• 1971 Led Zeppelin - Coventry, England at Coventry Locarno Ballroom
• 1983 Jimmy Page ARMS Charity Concert Tour - New York at Madison Square Garden (day 2)
• 1984 Jimmy Page The Firm - London, England at Hammersmith Odeon  (day 2) 

1964
The Brill Building is famous for its music industry tenants.

Text from Jimmy Page's website:

I visited the Brill Building in New York.

I arrived in New York today in 1964, in transit to Los Angeles as a guest of Bert Berns and his wife Ilene. It was my first time in the US. Bert was a legendary R&B producer and songwriter for Atlantic Records who was responsible for countless hits including The Isley Brothers' Twist & Shout, Irma Franklin's Piece of My Heart and Solomon Burke’s Everybody Needs Somebody. During my stay Bert took me to the legendary Brill Building and Atlantic Records where I met Jerry Wexler, Nesuhi Ertegun and Tom Dowd. When people visit America, the very first port of entry always has a lasting effect on them. It certainly did for me, feeling the energy of New York and being introduced to these musical icons.

I had first met Bert when he came over to England. Atlantic Records were being distributed by Decca in the UK at the time. It was a pretty unique situation to have a producer come over from the States to work with in-house artists. One of the sessions that Bert did in London was Here Comes the Night with Lulu, which he was also to produce with them. Lulu’s version was recorded in Decca Studios in Broadhurst Gardens, West Hampstead. She sings a really credible version, which is worth hearing. I played guitar on this and also did some guitar overdubs on it.

1971

The show is interrupted after the first three songs by an IRA bomb scare.  Although authorities attempted to clear the building, many in the audience just took it as an opportunity to score closer positions to the stage.

Later, during Dazed and Confused, Jimmy Page lost his grip on his bow and it flew out into the crowd.

1983

"On the ARMS tour I realized the fans wanted me back."

~ Jimmy Page, as quoted by Dave Lewis

How could he have ever thought otherwise?  

1983 Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, ARMS MSG

1983 Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, ARMS MSG

1984
Full Circle, written by Gene Clark in 1972, refers to a wheel of fortune and the unpredictable nature of fame and fortune. It was released initially by Clark exclusively in The Netherlands, but is probably more known for its inclusion on the Byrds' 1973 reunion album, and has been covered by a number of musicians.

1984 Jimmy Page / The Firm Hammersmith Odeon London

2007
What exquisite torture it was waiting for this concert. What frustration it was if you were one of the many millions who couldn't be there (that would include me).

2007 09 December - getting ready for the concert of the century

♪

♪ Jimmy Page/ARMS (New York City at Madison Square Garden day 2 - JP starts at 1:08:40, 09 December 1983)

♪  Jimmy Page/The Firm (London at Hammersmith Odeon, 09 December 1984) 
♫  Pre-show, interviews, concert footage (Jimmy Page/The Firm, Hammersmith Odeon London 1984)

On this day 06 December

 The boys were hot, weren't they!

1991 06 December On This Day Jimmy Page at Little Mountain Studios

• 1969 Led Zeppelin - Chatenay-Malabry, Paris at L'Ecole Centrale Chatenay-Malabry
• 1983 Jimmy Page ARMS Charity Concert - Inglewood, CA at The Forum (day 2)

1991

In March of 1991 Jimmy Page jammed with Les Paul at Paul's Fat Tuesday's gig and while in NYC Coverdale and Page began talking about a collaboration. They first got together to see if they could write new music at Coverdale's Lake Tahoe residence, resulting in "Absolution Blues". They moved to Barbados to continue the work until May, when they returned to Nevada. The two jammed in Reno with the band, Poison. JP fell into the stage pit - but climbed out and continued to play. There may have been chemical substances involved. At the end of May JP joined a local band, Solid Ground to play the whole set list. 

By November, Coverdale and Page had begun recording their first and only album, using analog equipment to get the sound they were looking for. Rhythm tracks were recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, vocals and overdubs were recorded at Criteria Studios in Miami, Florida. Additional recording took place at Abbey Road Studios in London, and Highbrow Productions, Coverdale's home studio in Nevada. 

Coverdale/Page was released 15 March 1993 to mixed reviews. Mage Music thinks it's a damned good album, for what that's worth.

♪

♪  Led Zeppelin (Chatenay-Malabry Paris at L'Ecole Centrale Chatenay-Malabry, 06 December 1969)

♪  Jimmy Page ARMS Charity Concert (Inglewood, CA at The Forum - day 2, 06 December 1983)

♪  Feeling Hot demo (Coverdale-Page, 06 December 1991) 

On this day 05 December

 

1984 05 December On This Day Jimmy Page with The Firm at Hamburg

• 1983 Jimmy Page ARMS Charity Concert - Inglewood, CA at The Forum 
• 1984 Jimmy Page The Firm - Hamburg, Germany at Audiomax
• 2007 Led Zeppelin + Jason Bonham, Shepperton rehearsal

2007

Ross Halfin photos of Shepperton rehearsal 

♪

♪  Jimmy Page ARMS Charity Concert (Inglewood, CA at The Forum, 05 December 1983) 
♪  Jimmy Page The Firm (Hamburg, Germany at Audiomax, 05 December 1984)
♪  Led Zeppelin + Jason Bonham, Shepperton rehearsal, 05 December 2007)

On this day 04 December

 Led Zeppelin.  The end of an era of greatness but never the end of the Magick.

1980 04 December On This Day Led Zeppelin disbanded 

• 1966 The Yardbirds - Lima, OH at Springbrook Gardens Teen Club
• 1972 Led Zeppelin - Glasgow Scotland at Green's Playhouse (day 2)
• 1980 Led Zeppelin disbanded
• 1984 Jimmy Page The Firm - Ludwigshafen, Germany at Pfalzbau

1980

To "disband" is to break up an organized group; to cause the break up and end the functioning of an organized group. The word is even more apt when applied to a musical group - a band.

Disbanding is not the same as saying the members of the group can't keep going on individually.  They can "reband", they can soar on their own, they just can never go back to what they were.

The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not "get over" the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.

~Elisabeth Kubler-Ross & David Kessler, On Grief and Grieving

1984

“The main aim is to play some rock ‘n’ roll and have some fun.”

~ Jimmy Page

1984 Jimmy Page The Firm - Ludwigshafen, Germany at Pfalzbau

1984 Jimmy Page The Firm - Ludwigshafen, Germany at Pfalzbau

♪

♪   Led Zeppelin, Glasgow Scotland at Green's Playhouse - day 2, 04 December1972) 

♪  Jimmy Page The Firm (Ludwigshafen Germany at Pfalzbau, 04 December 1984)

♪  All the King's Horses (The Firm, 1986) YouTube
Note that Paul Rodgers was married to Machiko Shimizu when this song was written