How was it...
Review
Planet Rock's roving reporter, Liz Barnes was at the gig, here's her review:
In two hours last night, Led Zeppelin confirmed what millions hoped was true; by jingo, they've STILL got it. After weeks of speculation, broken fingers and persistent will-they-won't-they tour rumours, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and Bonzo's son Jason silenced the gossips for one night only.
Just before the walloping start of Good Times Bad Times, the 02 was full of furrowed brows and chewed lips. Even Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl was in the bar, bouncing like a teenager outisde the head's office. After the crashing intro, band and crowd prowled around each other...then, they were off! Ramble On thundered in, closely followed by a tight-as-a-drum Black Dog and twenty thousand people had the night of their musical lives.
After an intial hestitation, (for which I can find no conclusion other than a bit of disbelief from the fans mixed with a heady anticipation from the four guys we were there to see) Led Zeppelin proved song after song that they could still play rock n' roll like no other human beings on earth. Plant looked relaxed, taking his natural position as ringmaster with Mr Page providing the tunes to which to dance. But it was the rhythm section of John Paul Jones and Jason Bonham which drew the most respect, from me at least. There wasn't a hair's breadth between them and they drove the Zeppelin juggernaut forward through the night, in particular for a jaw-droppingly good 'Trampled Under Foot'. From then on, it was a done deal.
All the elements you would expect were here - the bow, the double necked guitar, the green lasers, the blistering guitar from Page and the wails, albeit a key or two lower from Robert Plant. He was chatty throughout, recalling Bonham and his wife singing Hendrix songs to a much smaller Jason, thanking Ahmet Ertegun for the "greatest record company on the planet" and giving Jimmy Page his dues after a spell-binding rendition of the sublime Dazed and Confused.
Led Zeppelin is not the same band that John Bonham left behind in 1980. But then it was never going to be. They're older, they've grown up and Jason Bonham is on the double-kick drum instead of his father. But tonight proved that the impossible chemistry created back in 1968 is unquestionably still there and no-one can bottle, replicate or do it quite like Led Zeppelin. Every so often it was plain to see the four of them have a quick smile to one another. For one night only, seeing was most definitely believing, for both audience and band.
Set List:
1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Ramble On
3. Black Dog
4. In My Time Of Dying
5. For Your Life - never played live before.
6. Trampled Under Foot
7. Nobody's Fault But Mine
8. No Quarter
9. Since I've Been Lovin' You
10. Dazed and Confused
11. Stairway to Heaven
12. Song Remains the Same
13. Misty Mountain Hop
14. Kashmir
ENCORE:
15. Whole Lotta Love
16. Rock N Roll
ADD YOUR OWN REVIEW
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(07/04/2010 08:04:35) I too was lucky enough to see Led Zeppelin at Knebworth 1979-I was 16 and had just left school.I too tried as a lifelong fan to get tickets to the O2 and was as many were,disappointed,However it struck me that I had seen THE LED ZEPPELIN not this reformed version which sadly didnt have the great BONZO there at the back.I am more than sure that Jason did a great job but he isnt his dad is he? I am glad I have those 1979 memories and in a way didnt see the O2 show, you cant relive the past and Plant/Page and Jones have made the right decision to leave it at that-What is and what should never be! |
| - Steven Hooper |
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(25/11/2008 22:35:03) cant beleive i got tickets but i did. it was something i thought i would never see, zeppelin live. fantastic. the whole night was unforgetable and i will never forget it. had tears in my eyes and hair standing up on the back of my neck when they came on stage it was brilliant. zeppelin has allways been such a big part of my life from a boy to a 33 year old man today, and to see them play live will always stay with me. its twelve months on and i still buzz when i play there songs. thanks led zeppelin for so much. |
| - christian carey |
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(07/08/2008 17:32:06) I wasn`t there:I tried obtaining tickets by registering and even entered various competitions,but the odds were very remote (a one in a hundred chance at best,formerly/optimistically speaking). I think that it was very insensitive to leave so many fans out. The counter-argument would be that it was better to play for some than none and it was done for charity,but it was very elitist and expensive and Zeppelin garnered immense publicity,with companies jumping on the bandwagon along the way. I am pleased to have seen them at Knebworth,which would have been better in any case. More recent claims were also insensitive however that they were going to play Cardiff Millennium Stadium.It was of little surprise to me that it never materialised.Even if it had what would the odds have been of securing a ticket? |
| - Mark Griffiths |
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(03/08/2008 05:32:12) Lucky enough to be there, from the moment I hit the bar chatting to other rock fans the expectation levels were so high it hurt..... you just wanted this to be the greatest gig you ever went to it was thank you |
| - Micky |
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(11/07/2008 20:51:55) Took 20years off us..Made me feel 20 years younger..Busked 100 cafes for the ticket and aweek in London town,treated my girl.. Jim was looking great, Saw him in a small tree festival with Mr Roy Harper in1984 looking a bit worn for weather..good to see them all looking well..Robert just awsom,along side Mr Jones and of course our new drummer,did have a tear on the way to france..nostalgia perhaps,unbelievably real,huge clouds, cleard the air for a lot of people,love you loads,one more time for the boys please!!!! luv Nick,toots and Sarah.see you guys..thanks a lot.. |
| - nicky vaughan |
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