SUPERSTARS
Zeppelins were flying high at £1,000 a night

Superstars… They play one night stands - for at least £1,000 a gig – to audiences of over 4,000. Each concert is attended by representatives of the top music papers and prominent officials of their record company. Advance orders for their albums reach staggering proportions.

One of the latest additions to this elite set is Led Zeppelin, the group formed by former Yardbird Jimmy Page and featuring local artists Robert Plant, vocalist, of West Bromwich and drummer John Bonham, who played for a time in Robert’s old group, the Band of Joy.

Recently returned from America where the superstars mostly work, they are to spend a short time in this country before starting a tour of Scandinavia.

After this, they set off again for America in April, for more gigs, including the one that’s staggered even them – a date at the Newport Jazz Festival.

The fact that their LP is breaking into the charts over here was obviously pleasing to them, but they were bound to take it calmly after hearing that advance orders in America had reached 125,000.

Led Zeppelin are flying really high, despite their name and at last Robert Plant feels fulfilled. Yet just before he got the job he was thinking of packing in the whole business.

He’d formed a number of bands which quickly became idolized locally – but somehow they all fell through. His most notable group was Listen, which entered the Top 50 for a week with a song called You Better Run.

He formed several Bands of Joy, but they didn’t get far outside the Midlands and eventually he joined another group – which was where his first break came.

While doing one concert he found himself playing on the same bill as Terry Reid. After the concert, they complimented each other’s singing and had a long talk about styles of music.

Three months later, Terry met a despondent Robert in London and told him: “The Yardbirds want to see you”.

Eventually Robert joined them, then formed a new group with Jimmy Page and bassist John Paul Jones, who had produced several Donovan records.

Then came the choice of a drummer. Robert suggested John Bonham, who was at that time backing Tim Rose. Jimmy was pleased with him and the group was together.

Ten hectic days followed during which they got the sound together, cut an album and prepared for a tour of Scandinavia. At the end of those ten days, Led Zeppelin was an established fact.  The Scandinavia tour was a hit.

They came back to Britain for a time. “Living on the name of the Yardbirds” as Robert say, then they set off for America. As a group they were unknown, although Jimmy had won an American audience with The Yardbirds.

Tapes of their album had been sent to the radio stations in advance and that served to whet the appetites of the fans.

They started off in Los Angeles, before an enormous audience who gave them a great burst of applause when they were announced. Says drummer John: “When they clap you like that you drive yourself to play well.”

He adds: “In America, the audiences are tremendously interested in what you’re doing.  They listen very carefully and if they life it, you’re made”.

They liked it! The music papers gave them rave reviews and they went on to San Francisco for several dates.  They started off unbilled, but finished by playing above established groups like Taj Mahal and Iron Butterfly.

Says Robert: “By the time we got to the east coast, we were getting standing ovations. At the Fillmore in New York, we did better than anyone. We were booked immediately for three times the amount. It was incredible. We were earning about £1,000 a night.  Everyone was saying we were the next Cream and the next God knows what.  Jerry Wexler of Atlantic Records, was so pleased that he came to every gig we did after that.”

Robert’s final words were that he doesn’t care what happens now that he’s been booked for the Newport Jazz Festival. From now on he’s satisfied.

[by John Ogden | Express & Star | February 27, 1969]