Stairway to Heaven – Rick Wakeman

A beautiful rendition of the Led Zeppelin classic Stairway to Heaven by Rick Wakeman.

I saw Led Zeppelin perform Stairway to Heaven live, either it had just been released or yet to be released.

The Song Remains the Same

The Song Remains the Same is a concert Led Zeppelin gave in Madison Square Gardens in New York in 1973. Probably the same lineup I saw in 1972. Songs to send shivers down the spine – ‘Rock and Roll’, ‘Black Dog’, ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Heartbreaker’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’.

When I saw Led Zeppelin it was possibly the first time they played ‘Stairway to Heaven’. I remember they arrived in a Rolls-Royce, maybe more than one. I had their autographs, or did have, until a Czech friend stayed a couple of years ago and kindly tidied up for me, her idea of tidying up being to throw everything away.

We were lucky, we had a choice of Led Zeppelin or the Rolling Stones. I never at the time realised how lucky. We had The Who not long after their performance at Woodstock. To me at the time it seemed the norm, Genesis, Fleetwood Mac, and so I could go on. It was only later I appreciated this was anything but the norm.

Watching The Song Remains the Same, which I had picked up from Ben’s Records in Guildford, thus brought back happy memories. It also made me think of my lovely Russian friend Polina. She likes the Stones, who I was to later see in London, but was not familiar with Led Zeppelin. She would definitely like Led Zeppelin.

I was surprised how small their set was. Especially compared with the classic Queen performance at Wembley a decade later.

The beginning is surreal. I will not say how as it would spoil it for anyone who has not seen. The raw vocals of Robert Plant cuts through you. Amazing drum solo by John Bonham. Equally amazing guitar work by Jimmy Page. When I saw Led Zeppelin a year or so before this concert, this drum solo seemed to go on for half an hour or more, maybe it did!

Interspersed with the concert is the New York skyline. It is eerie to see the Twin Towers still standing.

It is interesting to muse on influences. Watching this concert I can see the influence of The Who. I can see how Led Zeppelin were to influence Queen a decade later. How in turn Freddie Mercury was to influence Robbie Williams.

Led Zeppelin spawned a load of clones, but what they did not seem to understand was that Led Zeppelin were more than noise. They had talent.

Where is this talent today?

It says its all really when Paulo Coelho poses a question on twitter how many people were at the Woodstock performance by Jimi Hendrix, and the response he gets is to be asked who was Jimi Hendrix!

http://keithpp.wordpress.com/2009/09/25/who-was-jimi-hendrix/

Who was Jimi Hendrix?

“Yes, I was surprised many people did not know who was Hendrix!”  — Paulo Coelho

“No comments on ‘who was Janis Joplin?’ Probably because I was shocked with ‘who was Hendrix’?” — Paulo Coelho

In the early hours of this morning I watched a little of The Song Remains the Same, a concert Led Zeppelin gave in Madison Square Gardens in New York in 1973. Probably the same lineup as I saw in 1972. Songs to send shivers down the spine – ‘Black Dog’, ‘Stairway to Heaven’, ‘Heartbreaker’, ‘Whole Lotta Love’. Before I knew it, it was almost 2-30am. I then watched a little of Robbie Williams one nighter Live at the Royal Albert Hall, a rendering of Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack classics. Quite moving ‘Mr Bojangles.’

I compared then with what now one has ones ears assaulted with. I do not know why, but the worse a person’s musical taste is, the more they feel they have to impose it on those around them. Why do I have to have these morons sat near me on a train? Once upon a time musicians played the clubs, learnt the ropes. They played because they loved music. Now they are wanna be celebrities on shows like X Factor and Pop Idol and their multitude clones around the world. Nonentities seeking their five minutes of fame.

On one of these shows, opiate of the masses, Led Zeppelin would not get past the get go.

Gone 3am, I checked my messages, and my attention was caught by a couple of messages from Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho. Synchronicity?

http://twitter.com/paulocoelho
http://www.heureka.clara.net/art/paulo-coelho.htm
http://www.heureka.clara.net/books/synchronicity.htm

Who was Jimi Hendrix?

That is the question people were asking Paulo Coelho. He was shocked,  I was shocked, that people did not know. It goes without saying they do not know who Janis Joplin was either.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/september/18/newsid_3528000/3528692.stm

For those who do not know, Janis was with Jefferson Airplane, then Jefferson Starship. Try ‘White Rabbit’.

There are excellent musicians around.

Jon’s Jam play at a rundown pub, The Old Ford,  next to North Camp Station. Sometimes they are rubbish at other times excellent. Depends who is playing. Just a group of musicians who get to play at a pub.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28068&id=1033255116&l=410c0b2a5d

They would not get a look in either on these rubbish TV programmes.

A few weeks ago I was on a train from Guildford to North Camp. I had a message from my friend Jane reference Jimi Hendrix. I thought ‘All Along the Watchtower’, Hendrix brilliant rendition of the Bob Dylan classic.

I got off the train, walked into The Old Ford, and could not believe it, Jon’s Jam playing ‘All Along the Watchtower’, more Hendrix than Dylan. Synchronicity?

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=28068&id=1033255116&l=410c0b2a5d
http://www.heureka.clara.net/books/synchronicity.htm

I picked up these two concerts Tuesday afternoon from Ben’s Records in Guildford, probably the best record shop in the country for choice and diversity, and amazingly cheap, unlike a second-hand record shop in North Laine area of Brighton, grumpy service and extortionate prices.

http://www.heureka.clara.net/surrey-hants/gu-ford.htm
http://www.heureka.clara.net/sussex/brighton.htm

Brighton does though have an excellent music scene. Try Jacob’s Stories or Mechanical Bride. Impossible to find in the shops. Not even in Resident, a must visit independent record shop in the North Laine area of Brighton.

http://www.heureka.clara.net/music/jacobs-stories.htm
http://www.heureka.clara.net/music/mechanical-bride.htm

Earlier yesterday afternoon I had chatted with two Brazilian girls. They did not not know who Paulo Coelho was! I expect this from English, but Brazilians! They did at least know AfroReggae. I could have tried Ana Carma, but a guess I know the answer without even trying.

http://www.heureka.clara.net/art/paulo-coelho.htm
http://www.heureka.clara.net/music/afroreggae.htm

Before he was a writer, Paulo Coelho was record producer and songwriter. Maybe he also performed as the young Paulo Coelho looks very much the part as a Brazilian Jimi Hendrix.

First published as a facebook note 16 September 2009.