As promised last weekend, today’s Sunday Sessions offering is Led Zeppelin in all of it’s 1973 glory. Filmed (mostly) at Madison Square Gardens on 27, 28, and 29 July 1973, it is the best documentation of Led Zeppelin at the height of their power. I could do without the fantasy sequences that were inserted to highlight the individual personalities of the members of Led Zeppelin (including their manager Peter Grant and their tour manager Richard Cole) but some of you may enjoy them. In case you are interested, here is a summary of the fantasy sequences that I borrowed from the Wikipedia page about the movie……
- Grant and Cole were filmed as hitmen driving towards Hammerwood Park estate in Sussex in a 1928 Pierce-Arrow car. Roy Harper also makes an uncredited guest appearance as one of the ‘greedy millionaires’ portrayed at a business meeting of multi-national corporations. Massot envisioned Grant and Cole in the hitman roles, as it symbolised the tough business decisions they made on behalf of the band. The female passenger wearing a scarf with Peter Grant driving on a country road is his wife, Gloria. Massot had originally shot Grant walking a cameraman around a collection of antique cars, but this footage was quickly abandoned.
- John Paul Jones was filmed first at home with his wife Mo, and reading Jack and the Beanstalk to his two daughters, Tamara and Jacinda, before receiving a call to join the band on their American concert. For his fantasy sequence, Jones initially wished to use footage from the original Doctor Syn film, but was prevented from doing so as this film was owned by Disney. Instead, his fantasy sequence involved a reinterpretation of the film. Jones portrays a masked gentleman known as “The Scarecrow,” who travels at night on horseback with three others and returns home to Sussex, an ordinary family man. The three other horsemen with him are a reference to the other band members. Jimmy Page’s girlfriend, Charlotte Martin, and baby daughter Scarlet Page can be briefly seen during the closing moments of this sequence, which was filmed in October 1973. The thematic music is “No Quarter.”
- Robert Plant was captured relaxing on his Welsh country farm with his wife Maureen, and children Karac and Carmen. His fantasy sequence involves him being a knight rescuing a fair maiden (played by Virginia Parker), who is a symbolic representation for his vision of the ideal – his personal search for the Holy Grail. Scenes from the sword fight were filmed at Raglan Castle in Wales while the sailing, horseback riding and beach scenes were shot at Aberdovey thenMerionethshire and now Gwynedd, in October 1973. The thematic music consists of both “The Song Remains the Same” and “The Rain Song.”
- Jimmy Page is filmed sitting by a lake next to his 18th century manor at Plumpton, East Sussex, playing a hurdy gurdy. The tune played is called “Autumn Lake” and the scene was filmed in October 1973. Page’s fantasy role involved climbing up the face of a snow capped mountain near Boleskine House, Loch Ness during the nights of a full moon on December 10 and 11, 1973.The act was meant to show Page on a quest of self enlightenment, and deep understanding, by seeking out the Hermit, a character featured in many Tarot packs. The mythological Hermit is seen on the summit of the mountain; Staff of Wisdom in one hand, and in the other, the Lantern of Knowledge held out abreast over the world below. Being a Threshold Guardian, he represents an obstacle the seeker must overcome to achieve true enlightenment. At the culmination of Page’s quest, he reaches out to touch The Hermit, only to discover paradoxically that the Hermit is himself. The Hermit features on the artwork of the untitled fourth album. The thematic music is “Dazed and Confused.”
- John Bonham was shot with his wife Pat and son Jason Bonham on their country estate, Old Hyde Farm in Worcestershire. It is interesting to note that part of his fantasy includes him spending time at home with his family. Bonham was known for falling into deep depressions while on tour away from his family. His heavy drinking, which ultimately resulted in his death, is partly attributed to his homesickness. The game of snooker was shot at The Old Hyde Hotel and the Harley-Davidson riding near Blackpool. His fantasy sequence is the most straightforward of all the members, with Bonham drag racing an AA Fueler at 260 mph at Santa Pod Raceway, Wellingborough, Northants, UK, in October 1973, and its thematic music is the instrumental “Moby Dick.”
If you just want to see the concert footage, here is a listing of the songs and the times that they appear in the movie
1. 0:12:58 – Rock And Roll
2. 0:16:56 – Black Dog
3. 0:21:45 – Since I’ve been Loving You
4. 0:30:50 – No Quarter
5. 0:43:24 – The Song Remains The Same
6. 0:49:04 – The Raing Song
7. 0:58:22 – Dazed and Confuzed
8. 1:28:16 – Stairway to Heaven
9. 1:39:35 – Moby Dick
10. 1:51:14 – Heartbreaker
11. 1:54:48 – Whole Lotta Love
As always, let me know what you think…..
