If you are any type of fan of the mighty Led Zep, this is a MUST HAVE! Mr Page has spared nothing in the production of this 2 disc package. It is the BEST SOUNDING DVD I have ever heard. All 5 1/2 hours of it! Formats include standard 2 speaker, 5.1 surround and DTS. Every sound-field I selected was phenomenal in it's own right and the visual is spectacular as well. Clean as clean can be. Now I actually have John Bonham in my living room!
Disc 1 is pretty much an entire gig from 1970-71 showing the band drawing from from the 1st 2 LP's interpreting the blues the only way they could, with mega-power and ultra-dynamics. There are also some black and white clips from European television where is was obvious the audience had no idea what to expect and no clue they were basically witnessing history.
Disc 2, my oh my, Disc 2 is ultimate. It starts out with what looks to be a the band's view from a limo (or van) as they enter a stadium or some sort of outdoor venue. The hair is longer, the equipment is better and the swagger is definitely more confidant. "The Immigrant Song" is the opener. The Hammer of the Gods is swung and nail is hit squarely on the head. The next sequence is 5 songs omitted from the "Song Remains the Same" movie (and soundtrack) showing the band on their "Houses of the Holy" tour. This includes a great version of "The Ocean" that should have been included on the original packages. The next 2 sequences are the epitome of every Zep fans desire to see the band at thier zenith.
6 songs from the "Physical Graffiti" (75) tour shot at Earls Court in England at the tail end of that journey. It begins with "Going to California" with Jonsey, Percy and Pagey on stools. It ends with the best live version of "Stairway" I have ever heard (and I saw them at the LA Forum in '77!) In the middle is "In My Time of Dying" and Bonzo singing harmony on "Bron yr Aur Stomp". PRICELESS.....
If this disc would have included only the final sequence of songs from thier unknowingly last gig they would ever play (Knebworth), it alone would have been worth the price I paid for it. This is incredible. The years of touring, excess and personal loss are clearly visible on Percy's face. The decade of abuse is obvious on Pagey's body as he is rail thin. These factors seem only to add the overall movement of this performance.
The power and magic that these 4 men produced is displayed in such majesty as they clearly are brothers in arms. Each band member feeding and reacting off the other as if they were one. Jonesy and Bonzo are without any doubt, the best rhythm section rock music has ever produced. These guys create power and groove even in thier softest of moments. Effortlessly.
Bittersweet is a word that comes to mind over and over as I view Bonzo only a few months before his untimely death. To see these guys again playing real music is both inspiring and maddening. I found myself asking what could have been had their time not been cut short. As the DVD ends with an incendiary version of "Whole Lotta Love" and the band takes their final bows, Plant strolls up to the mic one final time and utters these words, "Thanks for 11 years!"
Thank you Jimmy, Robert, John Paul and John for the soundtrack to my life and thank you Jimmy, for giving this beautiful package to your fans.
Disc 1 is pretty much an entire gig from 1970-71 showing the band drawing from from the 1st 2 LP's interpreting the blues the only way they could, with mega-power and ultra-dynamics. There are also some black and white clips from European television where is was obvious the audience had no idea what to expect and no clue they were basically witnessing history.
Disc 2, my oh my, Disc 2 is ultimate. It starts out with what looks to be a the band's view from a limo (or van) as they enter a stadium or some sort of outdoor venue. The hair is longer, the equipment is better and the swagger is definitely more confidant. "The Immigrant Song" is the opener. The Hammer of the Gods is swung and nail is hit squarely on the head. The next sequence is 5 songs omitted from the "Song Remains the Same" movie (and soundtrack) showing the band on their "Houses of the Holy" tour. This includes a great version of "The Ocean" that should have been included on the original packages. The next 2 sequences are the epitome of every Zep fans desire to see the band at thier zenith.
6 songs from the "Physical Graffiti" (75) tour shot at Earls Court in England at the tail end of that journey. It begins with "Going to California" with Jonsey, Percy and Pagey on stools. It ends with the best live version of "Stairway" I have ever heard (and I saw them at the LA Forum in '77!) In the middle is "In My Time of Dying" and Bonzo singing harmony on "Bron yr Aur Stomp". PRICELESS.....
If this disc would have included only the final sequence of songs from thier unknowingly last gig they would ever play (Knebworth), it alone would have been worth the price I paid for it. This is incredible. The years of touring, excess and personal loss are clearly visible on Percy's face. The decade of abuse is obvious on Pagey's body as he is rail thin. These factors seem only to add the overall movement of this performance.
The power and magic that these 4 men produced is displayed in such majesty as they clearly are brothers in arms. Each band member feeding and reacting off the other as if they were one. Jonesy and Bonzo are without any doubt, the best rhythm section rock music has ever produced. These guys create power and groove even in thier softest of moments. Effortlessly.
Bittersweet is a word that comes to mind over and over as I view Bonzo only a few months before his untimely death. To see these guys again playing real music is both inspiring and maddening. I found myself asking what could have been had their time not been cut short. As the DVD ends with an incendiary version of "Whole Lotta Love" and the band takes their final bows, Plant strolls up to the mic one final time and utters these words, "Thanks for 11 years!"
Thank you Jimmy, Robert, John Paul and John for the soundtrack to my life and thank you Jimmy, for giving this beautiful package to your fans.