FOUND! A Strange Look at Led Zeppelin Near the End. Forgotten 1979 Article.

Описание: Led Zeppelin in 1979—still “leading the pack,” still selling out Madison Square Garden for SIX nights, and still somehow managing to stay mysterious while the rest of rock is out here begging for attention. In this episode, I crack open a Circus magazine (Sept 18, 1979)—published just after In Through the Out Door and one year before we lost John Bonham—and we read an article that’s equal parts praise, myth-making, and spicy critique.

Along the way, we talk Peter Grant (the human brick wall), Zeppelin’s “no singles” strategy, the In Through the Out Door six-cover paper bag rollout, and one of the most interesting Bonham descriptions I’ve ever seen: a drummer defined by what he doesn’t play. Then the article drops the line that made my Zeppelin defense shields deploy: “They have never been innovators.” …and we’re gonna argue about that in the comments.

Big thanks to Gary Light Hall for sending this magazine in the legendary box of treasures—and thanks to Digitech for supporting the channel.

Timestamps

00:00 – Why this 1979 article matters
00:23 – “Still leads the pack” headline
00:54 – Thanks to Gary Light Hall
01:05 – Sponsor shoutout: Digitech
01:16 – Stick around: special message later
01:25 – In Through the Out Door context
01:49 – The six secret album covers (A–F)
02:09 – Why this album is a “mixed bag”
02:52 – The article’s killer Zeppelin description
03:48 – MSG six nights + $100 scalper tickets
04:25 – Bill Graham drama + Gandhi quote
05:13 – Did YOU ever see Zeppelin live?
05:40 – “A shrine” every rock fan must visit
06:13 – Discovering Zeppelin in the early ’80s
07:20 – The “Zeppelin… he’s great” test
08:27 – 1979 radio: Stairway still dominating
08:50 – No singles… album-only strategy
09:42 – Incredible photos + Band of Joy note
10:00 – The Starship Jet (Boeing 720) story
11:20 – Bonham’s “what he leaves out” genius
12:24 – Gilmour comparison + the power of restraint
14:50 – Zeppelin vs Beatles: cultural impact debate
15:55 – “Innumerable clones like KISS” (wait…what?)
17:29 – 30 hours in the studio?! Debut album flex
18:29 – The Terry Reid “what if” moment
19:17 – Peter Grant: strategy + protection
20:24 – Custom setlists by city (wild)
21:52 – The mystique strategy (and why it works)
23:19 – KISS mystique… and the overexposure trap
26:01 – Page, the occult, and Boleskine House
27:04 – Plant’s tragedy + “All of My Love” context
27:26 – Peter Grant: “Popeye” airport story
28:12 – “They were never innovators” (fight me)
29:18 – Borrowing, blues standards, and credit issues
30:21 – Stairway, Kashmir, Achilles… not innovative?
32:31 – “Pioneering isn’t required” (Elvis comparison)
34:53 – “They’ve always been synthesizers”
35:49 – Final message: the channel’s next level
38:03 – Volunteer invitation + how to reach me

Get Involved

If you want to help this community grow, email me: [email protected]

Hashtags

#LedZeppelin #InThroughTheOutDoor #CircusMagazine #JohnBonham #JimmyPage #RobertPlant #ClassicRock #RockHistory #VinylCommunity #Digitech