Led Zeppelin (2003 Video) User Reviews

Just plain... Zeppelin

[sthapns247 · 10/10 · 15 February 2004]

Some people don't like Led Zeppelin, but luckily the number of people who versus the number of people who don't is WAY unbalanced. I am the proud converter of 2 or 3 Led Zeppelin fans and the only reason I was able to do this is because of this DVD.

For one, how someone can listen to "Stairway to Heaven" or "Immigrant Song" without falling in love with Zeppelin is beyond me, but to play the guitar and not like Page... That is like being Christian and not liking Jesus. My friend was like "Led Zeppelin sucks!" and I was like, "Oh yeah, watch this!" After about 2 mins of watching Page pick through "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" he was glued to the screen and has never said a bad thing about Zeppelin since.

Incase you haven't been following the running metaphor I am calling this DVD the Bible of Led Zeppelin. Held high by the followers and used as a converter for the unwashed heathens.

Course there are some things missing like "Over the Hills and Far Away," a good version of "Immigrant Song" and I really didn't need 2 version of "Whole Lotta Love," but what the hell, I'll take 'em.

Because there is nothing besides "The Song Remains the Same" to compare this too I gave it a 10 and even if there were more to compare it too I still would have given it a 10.

This really is a Stairway To Heaven

[pkwalden · 10/10 · 29 June 2004]

I bought my first Zep album in 1974 (at 17) and have been hooked ever since. This DVD has now taken pride of place in my music collection. It is not often that a band can boast 4 virtuosos in their lineup but here we can. Each member made their own contribution to the band but on the stage together, the electricity they generated was bigger than the 4 individuals. This masterpiece covers the band's entire career from Led Zep 1 to Coda and this is captured magnificently on this DVD as each concert shows how the band became bigger and bigger over the years. Recently my copy disappeared, but I'm happy to say was found in my 17yo son's room as the new generation discover just how great these guys were. This is a must have for anyone who has an appreciation of rock music. Long live Led Zeppelin.

The song finally changes... after 25 years!

[mister_pig · 10/10 · 11 June 2003]

Zeppelin is my favorite band, so when I heard that this double dvd was coming out, I was understandably excited. I'll just cut to the chase here, and say that if you are any kind of Zeppelin fan, you must run out and buy this right away! It's absolutely spectacular! It blows 'The Song Remains The Same' completely out of the water. Why this material was never released before is beyond me. The footage presented here really shows Zep at the peak of their game, which I never really felt that 'Song' quite did. Jimmy Page is the best ever without a doubt, and these performances make Jimi Hendrix look like a chump! Be on the lookout for the live jam 'White Summer'... whew!

Viva Jimmy Page!

Viva Led Zeppelin!

11 out of 10

Zeppelin's Last Stand

[teddyryan · 15 January 2004]

Led Zeppelin has been my favorite band since I was 12 years old. In the Christmas of 1991, I began this long obsession with the purchase Led Zeppelin II. From the opening riff of "Heartbreaker" to the tender chords on "Thank You," I was fueled with a new inner sanctity and knew my life was changed forever. Over the cold winter months of seventh grade, I indulged in the fourth album, hooked on the classic ballad "Stairway To Heaven." By my 13th birthday, I was well on my way to having their full collection. As a result, specific memories would follow:

1) listening to "The Rain Song" on a dreary Friday afternoon

2) convincing my dad to give me the money to buy "Physical Graffiti" at the mall in Kingston, MA

3) air guitaring to "Rock And Roll" with my friend Mitchell Daley

4) throwing in a tape of the live version of "Dazed and Confused" when I first got my license in the winter of 1996

5) In college, smiling through the haze of a Pab's Blue Ribbon as Dave Mayurnik headbanged to "Kashmir"

12 years later, I find myself in the deps of a hellish day job. However, Led Zeppelin's final album "Co/Da" remains in my office CD player. Today I listen to "We're Gonna Groove" and "Ozone Baby," tracks recorded in the bands prime but assembled only after the passing of John Bonham.

Gathering strength and happiness from their timeless music, their uncanny ability to touch my soul, and their commitment to the mastery of rock, I declare myself one of their greatest fans.

Filled with rare spots and archives, the LED ZEPPELIN DVD provides us with glimpses of the band hidden for over 30 years.

In addition, new lessons can be learned. Here is insight I experienced upon first viewing:

1) Jimmy Page was the mastermind. For example, watch him improv on the Knebworth performance of "Whole Lotta Love."

2) "Achilles Last Stand" is an anthem of unheralded wizadry and pure Zeppelin magic.

3) Plant looked much cooler in 1970 than he did in 1979

4) Bonzo was a machine of percussion.

5) Without John Paul Jones, the band might have gone off the deep end.

With that in mind, I await the day when I introduce my children to power of Led Zeppelin and teach them the many ways this band can alter daily life.

All the best. Ted

Perhaps the greatest music DVD ever!!!!

[mjoc · 10/10 · 30 May 2003]

After waiting years for a definitive collection of Led Zeppelin perfomances on video, fans have finally been rewarded with what is undoubtedly the greatest concert video ever! Much better than the dismal "Song Remains the Same", this video includes performances from no less than 5 different venues spanning a decade. It also includes rare interviews and TV appearances. The sound quality is amazing, considering the source material used. And the video quality is even more impressive. This is an ABSOLUTE MUST for any Led Zeppelin fan.

I magnificent piece of work, concert footage at its best.

[ironmanlivesagain · 10/10 · 15 November 2005]

This two disc set is incredible! If you're like me and never had the opportunity to actually see the band live, then this is the next best thing. Jimmy Page, who in my opinion is the second best guitarist ever to walk the face of the earth (second only to Slowfingers himself), He puts on an amazing show in every piece of footage in this film. John Paul Jones, although not as up front as Page, puts on one hell of a show. Although in the live atmosphere, his rythmic bass lines aren't as defined as they are on studio recordings, except of course in songs like Dazed and Confused, or What is and What Should Never Be), but his wide array of instumental talent is well displayed in these DVD's. John Bonham is John Bonham, what can I say? There is no comparison, his beats stand out like no other, and this DVD is proof. Last, but not least, Robert Plant wails like no other can wail. If you've ever read Hammer of the Gods, you'll be wondering the same thing as Page was when he first met Robert Plant, why the hell isn't this guy already famous? And so concludes my review, sorry about and spelling or grammar mistakes, Zeppelin rocks.

There ain't nothing else like it.....

[ostoneman · 10/10 · 24 December 2010]

If you have a brain you'll enjoy it; Messrs. Bonham, Plant, Page & Jones cannot fail to initiate an all out natural high. No matter what your localised musical taste it becomes nigh on impossible not to at least appreciate the musical onslaught that is live Zep. Not always as tidy as they'd like, but always having maximum fun with an honesty that is very captivating throughout. Taking a blues platform and delivering so much more, Led Zeppelin came out of the ether and took the world by storm. Four very different people, both as individuals and as musicians, came together with an uncanny musical immediacy, delivering songs within hours which would have put most talented bands to the task over a period of months, if at all. The music speaks for itself.....

Special thank you: John Bonham.

Black Dog......or 'Camp' Dog??

[SenderBex · 9/10 · 24 January 2008]

The only footage of Zeppelin I've seen prior to this DVD is 'The Song Remains the Same' movie from 1976. We used to spend hours round a friends house watching this, but I never really liked it and hated the fantasy sequences....

So what of this DVD? I didn't know it existed until browsing for the Physical Graffiti CD.....'When did this come out?' I thought

For some reason I thought that Page wasn't a great live guitarist, but to say that watching this DVD has changed my opinion is a massive understatement.

There's 'White Summer' from 1970 - 10 minutes of guitar wizardry.

There's an acoustic set from 1975 - 'Bron-y-aur Stomp' has a brilliant finger-picking improv section.

The 'In my Time of Dying' and 'Trampled Underfoot' performances (also from '75) are breathtaking - with Page and Bonham tearing things to pieces like no one else ever has. Demonic possessions of rawk!!

The magic continues into the Knebworth 1979 section. The rendition of 'Achillies Last Stand', considering their various drug-addled states just beggars belief! A song of complex guitar overdubs, Page arranged it in a way that lets him just 'punk it out' live - the effect is totally mesmerising. 'In the Evening' - I never liked this on disc but it zings along here. 'Sick Again' - great piece of sleaze-rock. The footage from Knebworth is very interesting, cutting between big screen, various rostrums and bootleg footage to great effect.

Plant is amazing throughout all the performances. Page, despite being painfully thin, looks like a six-year old kid having the most fun of his life at the Knebworth concert - and makes infectious viewing.

One thing that puzzled me - The 'Black Dog' performance from 1973 sounds very 'camped up'!! Robert Plant always did love a little 'mince' and those jeans are absolutely ridiculous - and would warrant an arrest nowadays. All very different from the muscle-bound kick-a$$$ studio version.

I love this DVD. It has reminded me how good Zeppelin were and remain.

Brilliant, and better than The Song Remains the Same

[grantss · 9/10 · 4 June 2023]

A collection of live Led Zeppelin recordings spanning the band's entire career. In particular, there's the Royal Albert Hall concert of 1970, the famous Madison Square Garden concerts of 1973 (that were used in The Song Remains the Same), Earl's Court 1975, Knebworth 1979 and a few single-song recordings.

Led Zeppelin's live film "The Song Remains the Same" (1976) was great but also a bit disappointing. The live performances, recorded over two shows at Madison Square Garden in 1973 during the Houses of the Holy tour, are brilliant and capture well the power, presence, theatricality and musicality of the world's greatest band. It would be hands down the greatest ever live concert film if it weren't for all the imagery and non-music stuff thrown in. It was largely cheesy and totally unnecessary.

This film/video demonstrates what TSRTS could have been like without all the pretentious nonsense. Just music, brilliantly made. Spanning their entire careers you get a feel for their development and elevation, from playing in small concert venues to the massive arena shows they later put on.

A great video and audio capture of the world's greatest ever band.

One of the ELITE Musical DVD's.

[THXboy · 10/10 · 2 June 2003]

From the opening drum hit of "We're Gonna Groove" to the last guitar hit of "Whole Lotta Love", this two-DVD set might be one of the best music DVD's ever to hit the shelves since the Beatles Anthology was finally released earlier this year.

One of the best things about this DVD is that on Disc 1, a whole concert and many television appearances can be found. For instance, the whole Royal Albert Hall concert is on the DVD, as well as some of the best performances from the band's last concert at Knebworth.

In the Royal Albert Hall concert, for instance, the band had a lot of room to improvise. Jimmy Page's guitar solos make "Dazed And Confused" a huge rock power ballad as opposed to the laid-back blues song it was on Led Zeppelin I.

Next, on DVD 2, is a promotional video for the Led Zeppelin III hit song "Immigrant Song". One of Zeppelin's hardest rocking songs, the video is about as sketchy as a Pre-MTV video was, but it displays a lot of guitar power by Jimmy Page, as it was taken from a live performance. After the video ends, we are treated, in transition, with a short picture of fans filling the seats at Madison Square Garden. The following are performances that were supposed to be part of "The Song Remains The Same", but did not make the cut. Excellent riffs like those in the songs "Black Dog" and "The Ocean" were both present.

After the Madison Performances, we are treated with Earl's Court. Most of the Led Zeppelin IV material was played here, like the most popular song that Zeppelin ever recorded, "Stairway to Heaven". It is brilliant as always, even more so than the version on IV.

Finally, to end the 5+ hours of live material, is Led Zeppelin's final concert in Knebworth in August of 1979. As the viewer watches this, they have to admit that Robert Plant's voice is getting throatier and deeper from all of the screaming he has done in the past, and it is evident here. On songs like "Kashmir" and "In The Evening", Plant does not have his vocal boost of old, yet, on "Whole Lotta Love", it returns for one more song.

Overall, one of the best musical DVD's ever released, only next to the great "Beatles Anthology" boxed set that was released earlier in 2003. The sound, both in 5.1 DTS and 5.1 Dolby Digital, just like the Beatles DVD, gives you a feeling of being on-stage with the performers, standing right next to them, as you would feel on the Beatles DVD when they are jamming in the studio. Even though The Beatles and Led Zeppelin are different bands, though, they each received different DVD's. Even though this set comes on only two discs compared to the five disc Beatles Set, it still feels very filling to the viewer after they have gone through all of that content. It is also a pleasure to watch again and again, not only because of the sound quality, but because of the sheer energy on stage when Robert Plant begins to sing.

A brilliant effort from Atlantic.

Kicks virtually every other rockband´s ass

[Iamalwaysright · 9/10 · 2 August 2003]

Buy this if you like rock, led zep or just want an amazing experience. world class! I love this band, and the dvd was even better than i had hoped for, believe me, if you took the time to read this thread, you need this dvd. period.

The Greatest Musical DVD EVER!!!

[james_bondage007 · 10/10 · 30 September 2004]

After seeing this DVD, I was floored. It is SO wonderful. Not only does it capture Led Zeppelin during convented performances, they span a few years. This only shows the growth of the band, and the growth of their GREAT music. This DVD is a MUST HAVE! The DVD is over 5 hours long, with extras. The extras are also great pieces, some are of the band performing in Denmark, and other various promo spots. This contains footage that was once thought lost, thankfully recovered, and carefully restored to 5.1 Dolby Digital, under direct supervision of Jimmy Page himself! Includes many timeless classics, such as, Stairway To Heaven, Going To California, What Is And What Should Never Be, Moby Dick, and so many more. Great acoustic songs are also included. This will correct any forethought that Jimmy Page isn't a supreme guitar legend!

Even Better Than the Song Remains the Same

[Sargebri · 4 June 2003]

This is a great no frills collection of some of the greatest performances of what many consider the greatest band of the 1970's. The first disc features a great performance from a 1970 show at the Royal Albert Hall. The second disc shows the band's evolution throughout the decade that they dominated. Of particular interest is the chapter featuring the 1973 Madison Square Garden show that was filmed for The Song Remains the Same featuring outtake performances including wonderful versions of their classics "Misty Mountain Hop" and "The Ocean". Also, you get to see several songs from what would be their final British concert at the 1979 Knebworth Festival. However, the whole two disc set is a treat for all Zeppelin fans.

Simply incredible

[dogsstar1 · 10/10 · 23 October 2005]

What can I say about this band, I was hooked in 68, I was a ten year old kid, I grew up on the Blues though my Dad, then these guys from the Midlands came along, a fusion of Country rock, Heavy Rock and Blues, I wish I could have got to see them live in the early years, I was lucky enough to be there in 79(Knebworth) that was the best concert I've seen to date, I hope a full version of that hot August night will be realest soon. This CD gave me a chance to see the boys over and over again, The Song remains the same is great but This CD gets down to the nitty gritty.

Long live the Zepp.

Led Zeppelin DVD

[jesse_king41 · 10/10 · 18 October 2006]

The first time I've seen this DVD, I was not only happy because of the fact that it was the first time in decades that the band put out anything, but also because the DVD itself is extremely loud. Jimmy Page obviously can't live with quiet music, I guess. I do must say though that during the concert at Royal Albert Hall, they expanded 'How many more times' and 'Moby Dick' too long. Other than that, it was exquisit. My favorite song of all time is now on that DVD. Trampled Underfoot. It's either that one or 'In my time of dying'. In that song, Jimmy really plays that thing good. Ever seen Randy Rhoads play? Well, Jimmy plays just like him, except his guitar is lower.

Satisfies a Taste

[macsroyal · 2 June 2003]

Let's not psycho analyze the quality and artistry of this Led Zeppelin DVD set. Led Zeppelin was such an innovative group that many of their efforts and attitudes resulted in a large void today.

When Zeppelin ruled the world (yes, they were bigger than the Beatles), their confidence allowed them NOT to bow to pressure to put out singles, name albums (their forth has no title), and most importantly, not allow recording or photographing of concert footage. Peter Grant (manager) was notorious in his violence towards bootleggers.

Here we are over 30 years later begging for something, ANYTHING that will allow us to remember the power and drive of Led Zeppelin in its prime.

This Led Zeppelin DVD does just that.

Yes, the quality is waning in some shots. But who cares? We take what we can get from the vaults of Jimmy Page.

Here are some of my thoughts:

I can not believe all the 'heavy lifting' Bonzo did in the performances. While Plant merely sang and JPJ kept it simple, often times Jimmy Page and Bonzo would face each other and hammer the rhythm and guitar together. Bonzo had to be thoroughly exhausted after each and every show.

The acoustic sets were unbelievable! Led Zeppelin was 'unplugged' 15 years before MTV knew the meaning of the word!

Watch Jimmy Page up close. You'll quickly see that Slash, Joe Perry, and even Eddie Van Halen (and his 'hammer-on') were wannabes at one time. The way they copied Jimmy Page is uncanny!

Songs of note: Trampled Under Foot is especially cool. A good 10 minute jam! All of the Royal Albert Hall performance is worth the price of the DVD alone. The acoustic ballads including Going To California and That's The Way were wonderful. They were of excellent quality as well! To here Achilles' Last Stand live in 1979 was absolutely riff bashing!

Any die hard Zep fan will be very pleased.

What is sad and profound about the DVD is Robert Plant's last words in Knebenworth 1979: 'Thank you for a wonderful 11 years'

It was as if he knew it was their swan song.

Led Zeppelin to the max

[SeanineSeven · 19 August 2011]

This DVD is a great one, it has footage to some of the most memorable and famous Led Zeppelin moments in their history.

Starting on disc one is the 1970 Royal Albert hall concert,one of Zeppelin's best. It features songs ranging from the trippy "Dazed and Confused" to arguably the greatest drum solo of all time, 21 year old John Bonham's performance of "Moby Dick" On Disc Two, there is more footage from different concerts from the band, from the stadium performance of"Immigrant Song" to The Group's last performance on stage: "Whole Lotta Love" Honestly, I am a Huge Led Zeppelin fan, and as a Led Zeppelin fan, I think this is one of the best Concert movies ever.

There is SO much to see on this DVD, you could not finish it in one night! Led Zeppelin fans will go crazy on this DVD, Especially the footage of The Royal Albert hall.

This is one of my Favorites, Ten out of Ten!

Possibly the best live concert footage ever!

[Dracula-17 · 13 January 2004]

This Led Zeppelin 2-disc DVD is an absolute must-have for any Led Zeppelin fan. Others have mentioned the content of the DVD, so I'll just briefly comment on my feelings about it.

There's not a single thing I dislike about this DVD. Every concert clip is fantastic and well worth the time it takes to watch. It's great to see the evolution of Zeppelin from the late '60s to '79.

My absolute favorite sequence is the Knebworth footage. This final section of the DVD will absolutely blow your head into the wall. Zeppelin was tight and rocked like there would be no tomorrow, and this version of "Kashmir" gives me chills every time I watch it. I find it a bit sad to see Zeppelin in top form like this and then realize that they would be together only another year or so before John Bonham's tragic death.

As fantastic as Zeppelin's "The Song Remains the Same" concert footage is, this DVD set is even better. If you are even a casual fan of Led Zeppelin and do not own this DVD, PLEASE do yourself a favor and buy it! I promise you will not be disappointed!

Led Zeppelin are an inspiration to us all

[eweetree01 · 14 July 2005]

Led Zeppelin are amazing. How can music touch your soul so much and lift you so much. Actually it isn't music well its half music half magic. I recommend anyone to watch their DVD 'the song remains the same' it contains many of their famous tracks but performed in a different way. The DVD has me trance every time i watch it, it truly contains ultimate magic and power. No matter how bad a mood I'm in as soon as i hear zep I'm quickly put back on top of the world. They are an inspiration to everyone. They know things about the world we don't. Robert Plants voice is an instrument in itself, any noise he made would sound amazing. Their music is about feeling not the lyrics. My favourite tracks are... Over the hills and far away, dazed and confused, since I've been loving you and whole lotta love. I guess i would say I'm an ultimate life long fan!!

Untouchable

[jameshartnell · 19 May 2004]

I had the good fortune of having a mother with exceptional musical taste. I grew up with the walls of house reverberating to the sounds of Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, The Who & Pink Floyd to name but a few. I also had the privilege to play in a signed rock band and have Mr. Robert Plant come and see us, then spend some time in our dressing room chatting away (to my mum as well. Made her night, I can tell you!).

Led Zeppelin are by far the most influential rock band of all time. Others had done "Heavy" before but none had the pure talent to push the boundaries. I can remember being at the Reading Festival, UK, a few years ago when Page & Plant played. There were the usual contemporary bands that were good on before and then these two wrinkly blokes come on stage and do their thing. I was with a friend who had never understood what all the fuss had been about. An hour later, I was in tears and she was standing with her mouth open. How many bands can play Black Dog & Whole Lotta Love as an encore? Note: The drumming was very sub standard - but what would you expect!

The DVD is simply sublime.

The lengths Jimmy Page went to in obtaining not only the lost footage but the means to play it on was staggering. The Audio in amazing.

The beginning of DVD1 was so impressive as you have to take into account the ages of Bonzo & Plant. To give such powerful and mature performances showed their potential immediately.

This shouldn't detract from The Song Remains The Same. It's from a different era and was the best they could do at the time. DVD is simply the latest and best insight to the most powerful band the world has ever seen.

Been a Long Time

[Harrpoe · 30 May 2003]

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.

A Must Have for all Led Zeppelin Fans!

[djricky45 · 25 October 2004]

This film is simply incredible and is a must have for all Led Zeppelin Fans. I'm really sorry I missed this film when it came out in 2003. It's just a shame that it took nearly 25yrs. for such a collection of concert footage to be released. "The Song Remains The Same" from 1976 doesn't even compare to this live footage.

The raw power of this band is very evident from the very first minute of this film. Rocking right along, it doesn't matter what genre they're playing; heavy rocker, blues based or acoustic this band could do it all. Not really surprising though, ask any fan from those years when LZ ruled the rock world and they will tell you the same. Now the whole world can see for themselves why they ruled the rock world.

The only negative comment I have is the sound quality one Disc 1. The audio from the Royal Albert Hall set is just a little distorted. The audio quality on Disc 2 is much better.