Ep. 284 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast
On November 28, 1983 Jimmy Page walked onstage in Dallas, Texas for his first American appearance in more than 7 years. He was newly free of the chains that heroin addiction had weighing him down, and he was working on getting back to fighting fettle.
Paul Rodgers is joining him for this tour, as Steve Winwood was in the studio and couldn’t reprise his Royal Albert Hall performances. We have the gestation of The Firm as Jimmy and Paul debut Midnight Moonlight, for the first live performance ever.
Overall Jimmy seems ok throughout most of the show. It’s obvious he had practiced with the band as the songs were tight and solid, especially Midnight Moonlight. Paul obviously hadn’t gotten the lyrics committed to memory, as City Sirens has some hilariously mumbled lines. His passionate singing makes up for any flubs.
The recording has the full show with sets by Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and the ensemble jams at the end, finishing up with Goodnight Irene by Ronnie Lane himself.
Bonus Episode – Heart of Markness Classic Rock Podcast
This is a great soundboard recording from July 28, 1969 at the legendary Boston Tea Party. A great set from an amazing band. Paul Rodgers sounds incredible and Paul Kossoff soars. Enjoy.
Clapton, Beck, Page, Cocker, and More. December 6, 1983 Millard 1st Gen
An incredible recording of the ARMS tour from the LA Forum, December 6, 1983. We hear Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page playing individual sets, as well as together, to benefit Ronnie Lane. A legendary tour.
This is a great recording by Joe Maloney, of Bad Company on their first headlining tour. Paul Rodgers sounds amazing as do the rest of the band. We get not only a bunch of great Bad Co. songs, we get a Mott the Hoople song, as well as a Free song. A wonderful experience. If you would like to download the whole concert, you may do so right here: https://mega.nz/folder/CpUSiIyL#imzvBhAcJpAKUmgqDAjJyw
Jimmy Page was a very busy boy in 1984. He was fresh off the rejuvenation (or resurrection) of the ARMS Tour (last date of that was 12/9/83), and he immediately started looking for drummers for the new band he wanted to create, with Paul Rodgers (late of Bad Company).
On 1/22/84 Jimmy was jamming with drummers in Nomis studios. Rat Scabies from the Damned, and Bill Bruford (King Crimson & Yes) was among the drummers he played with. Recordings exist. They’re muddy (cassette boombox it sounds like) but there’s some good stuff there. I think it may be Pino Palladino on bass.
Somewhere around this time Jimmy contacted Chris Slade. I do not know if he auditioned him, or just knew enough and wanted him, but Chris Slade had just (literally minutes before) taken a call from Dave Gilmour to do a tour with him. So he told Jimmy it would be three months before he could join the Firm. Jimmy agreed to wait, and it eventually became a 9 month wait.
02.?? New York (with Eric Clapton, Charlie Watts, John Entwistle and Louis Bertignac of Telephone – Glyn John’s birthday party) No recordings have circulated.
3/84 – Recording the Honeydrippers EP with Robert Plant, Jeff Beck, Nile Rodgers, and more. Produced by Ahmet Ertegun.
April/May/84 – Jimmy Page records the album Whatever Happened To Jugula, with Roy Harper, at Roy’s 24 track studio, The Boilerhouse. Also performs with Roy’s band on the following dates:
05.19 May Tree Fair, Thetford
05.20 Kenley Fayre, Norwich
05.21 St. Ives Hotel, Lytham St. Annes
5/5&6/84 Jimmy plays on three tracks of Stephen Stills’ album Right By You. It was recorded in Jimmy’s Sol studios, and released 7/30/84. If you’re in the USA these vids won’t play on my site. CLICK THE WATCH ON YOUTUBE LINKS and you’ll be fine.
6/5/84 – Alexis Korner Benefit with The Alexis Light Orchestra aka Ian Stewart’s Rocket 88. Charlie Watts, Ian Stewart, Jack Bruce, Ruby Turner, Paul Jones, John Picard, Don Weller Dick Heckstall-Smith
6/24/84 – Jimmy Page jams with Yes on the Beatles song, I’m Down. This show was in Germany, and it was professionally filmed, and released on home video. Jimmy’s encore is NOT in the release, but I bet it exists somewhere, in pro-shot goodness.
7/12/84 Pistoia Blues Festival. Another benefit show for the recently deceased Alexis Korner. This time he plays with (among others) Ginger Baker in Italy. Jimmy is in fine form. He does a super ballsy Train Kept A Rollin’ but the rest of the band obviously doesn’t know the song, because it’s a train wreck (no pun intended), but Jimmy’s playing was amazing. He was drinking vodka straight from a bottle during this gig. Rock and Roll.
07/28/84 With Roy Harper’s band – Cambridge Folk Festival (afternoon & evening sets)
LISTEN TO THIS. IT’S AWESOME
07/29/84 Battersea Park, London – Jimmy Page with Roy Harper’s band.
08.?? Heartbreak Hotel, Ibiza (Page and Plant with Phil May and members of The Pretty Things)
9/84-11/84 Recording the Firm album, mixing and producing. Sol Studios.
11/16/84 (broadcast date)Jimmy Page & Roy Harper Langdale, Cumbria (Old Grey Whistle Test, BBC TV)
11/24/84 – Jimmy Page & Roy Harper Rock Garden, Covent Garden, London
11/29/84 The Firm debuts in Stockholm, and Jimmy Page is on another path.
12/9/84 The Firm played the Hammersmith Odeon in London, which is professionally filmed and recorded. MTV plays a 30 minute version. Maybe you remember it?
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