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Press Review: Zeppelin Rises High

There was no evidence of a 'Communications Breakdown' between Led Zeppelin and its enthusiastic audience when Zeppelin recently played to a sellout crowd at Olympia.

The group's lead guitarist, Jimmy Page, his fingers sliding across frets and strings, as if greased, demonstrated plainly to the crowd why he has been classed with such guitar greats as Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck.

Page, outfitted in a cream-colored velvet jacket, white ruffled shirt, white satin pants, and red patent leather shoes, resembled a 17th centutry king, his thick, dark brown hair flowing over his shoulders and down his back.

Half way through their performance, Page soloed on guitar in two of his own compositions, 'White Summer' and 'Black Mountain Side'. In some of his leads, Page used a violin bow which he drew across his electric guitar strings, producing an entirely different technique as well as sound.

Three acts, preceded Zeppelin: Lee Michaels, Grand Funk Railroad and the MC5.  

But no act topped Jimmy Page and the Zeppelin.

Several hundred people, during the last number, 'How Many More Times,' left their seats to surround the stage,  listening intently until the last note out of Page's electrifying guitar was sounded.

[by Linda Chomin / Oct. 1969]