The Visor

Release of vintage Led Zeppelin material has fans salivating

Tuesday, June 03, 2003 By Bill Dunphy

Rock radio fans have probably heard new versions of classic Led Zeppelin songs. These versions are from the long-awaited Zeppelin triple-CD set, How the West Was Won. The anthology is taken from two legendary showsÑone at the L.A. Forum and the other at the Long Beach Arena, both from June, 1972. The band was unveiling new songs from its upcoming album Houses of the Holy, which would not come out for another nine months, while also playing favorites from the first four albums. The two concerts are melded together to show a typical Zeppelin concert. A five-song sampler was released to the radio stations, and includes "The Ocean," "Over the Hills and Far Away," "Black Dog," "Heartbreaker" and "The Immigrant Song." Though known for the energy and quality of their live shows, Led Zeppelin has not released much, other than 1976"s The Song Remains the Same. The album was released with a film of the same name and showcased the band"s three-night stint at Madison Square Garden. The new album will be released with a DVD simply titled Led Zeppelin: DVD, which will have more than five hours of Zeppelin at their live best, plus rare interviews and television appearances spanning the band"s career. The DVD has entirely different material from the CDs, so a wide variety of Zeppelin material will be available to fans come May 27. Both releases were restored, remixed and remastered by Zep guitarist and producer Jimmy Page, ensuring top quality. Senior Brad Eligado is excited about the new Zeppelin material to be released. "Zeppelin definitely needs more stuff out there, and the live material is a good move," Eligado said. "I can"t wait to buy it." Many fans speculate on a reunion tour or at least a few shows in support of the new releases, but the remaining members of the band say it will not happen. Since Zeppelin"s dissolution in 1980 because of drummer John Bonham"s death, only three shows have brought vocalist Robert Plant, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones and Page back on the same stage. Now, because of a sour relationship between Plant and Jones and Plant"s desire not to live in the past, a reunion does not look promising.