Get the Led Out - Ep2552 wk of 22dec

'Get The Led Out' Explores The Incredible History Of The Rock Band Led Zeppelin!

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, this is Carol Miller. Welcome to our Get the
Leadout calendar. On December twenty second, nineteen seventy two, Led
Zeppelin played the first of two consecutive nights at the
Ali Pally that's the Alexandra Palace in London, their final
gigs of seventy two. While the year was ending, led
Zeppelin's extensive UK tour was only halfway through. Each show

(00:20):
at ali Pally hosted six thousand concert goers for a
total of twelve thousand over the two nights. Even though
the acoustics at ali Pally left a lot to be desired,
there was good reason for everyone to be thankful. The
final encore of the first night was led zeppelin song
thank You, and they were playing it more sparingly than

(00:41):
in previous years, saving it just for special occasions. On
December twenty third, nineteen eighty nine, Robert Plant was the
special guest, fronting a band called the Busty Bobby's. They
were a group of English policemen who played music on

(01:04):
the side, so of course they liked the police. It
was a charity gig, so Robert stepped outside his comfort
zone and attempted songs he never otherwise would have approached

(01:25):
like Run to You by Brian Adams. The Busking Bobbies
featuring Bobby Plant, closed with their only led Zeppelin cover,
Rock and Roll. On December twenty fourth, nineteen sixty eight,
Led Zeppelin spent their first day in America staying at

(01:45):
the Chateau Marmont on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. The
late rock singer Terry Reid was living in an apartment there,
decorated with multiple Christmas trees. Terry Reid had been an
earlier choice of Jimmy Page's for singing in led Zeppelin.
When Jimmy asked him to audition, Terry said he was
committed to being a solo artist, so he recommended his

(02:06):
friend and fellow singer Robert Plant. And there's another led
Zeppelin connection to Terry Reid. His debut album called Bang
Banger Terry Reid, features John Paul Jones playing on Terry's
song Quote without Expression. On December twenty fifth, nineteen sixty eight,

(02:32):
John Paul Jones spent Christmas Day away from the rest
of his led Zeppelin bandmates. The band's first trip to
America brought most of them to la before they even
played anywhere. John Paul Jones had traveled to the US
earlier than the rest, and he brought his wife and
family along with him to Newark, New Jersey. Sole singer
Madeline Bell was originally from there and her family still

(02:54):
lived there, so they hosted the musical visitors from England.
John Paul was the godfather to two of her children,
so their families got together for Christmas just as Madeline's
next album, Doing Things was coming out. It contains one
song written solely by John Paul Jones and a pair
of songs the two of them collaborated on. On December

(03:15):
twenty sixth, nineteen sixty eight, Led Zeppelin played their first
American show, taking place in Colorado at Denver Auditorium Arena.
They played his opening act to the band's Spirit and
the Vanilla Fudge. Nobody in the crowd knew they'd be
seeing led Zeppelin that day. They knew of only the
two bands listed on the bill. Led Zeppelin were such

(03:35):
a recently added attraction that there was no publicity in
advance of their appearance. After the show, the radio station
became inundated with requests for the opening act. Since led
Zeppelin's debut album was not out yet, an advance copy

(03:58):
sufficed for radio airplay the day after the show. This
is Carol Miller. Thanks for Getting the let Out. Check
back next week for another Get the Letout Calendar podcast