LED ZEPPELIN - KNEBWORTH AUGUST 4TH 1979

'I dunno how to say it - Thanks for Eleven Years'

It's a strange feeling looking back 42 years, to a time when late teenage dreams, hopes and excitement ran high. The clamour for Led Zeppelin's live homecoming had been growing as far back as '76, if not from May 26th '75 in the immediate aftermath of the glory of Earls' Court. 

After Robert's accident we knew there was going to be no live activity after the release of Presence, occasional statements and comments about Robert's physical well being periodically placed in the 'other news' or gossip columns in NME, MM, Sounds and the rest enough to keep us abreast of the situation.

After the excitement and wonder of The Song Remains The Same, the word was Led Zeppelin were planning to get back to work. Back in the summer rumours whispered of a Wembley Stadium show (or two), but they weren't ready. But by the time the film was being promoted and premiered rehearsals were booked and Led Zeppelin were a band again. A functioning, performing, writing and recording band. 

Of course, they looked to the US and set up their most ambitious, record breaking batch of shows, split into three distinct sections, striding across the enormodomes of North America. Magick.

As news, pictures, reviews and the first bootlegs dribbled out, NME reported in late May that they had been approached/offered an open air UK show at Wrotham Park, Barnet, north of London scheduled for August 20th. Never confirmed and frankly never likely, it did get the old pulse racing, compounded by a quote from Robert (I think) during the Magick Tour stating they wanted to 'make their mark on England' after the US dates. As those dates were scheduled to finish the previous Saturday August 13th at JFK Stadium, Philadelphia it would have fitted. But a one off almost tacked on to an extensive US Tour was never Led Zeppelin's style. G would see to that.

Sadly, the tragic end to the US tour dismissed any thoughts of gigs, recording, music. Anything. All thoughts were with Robert and his family, and with the future of Led Zeppelin in a state of flux, only time would tell. 1978 dragged. With a growing pile of '77 bootleg tapes to immerse myself in and wonder with, little bits of information in the 'teasers' columns about rehearsals and wine bar jams were encouraging. I knew then in my heart that Led Zeppelin would return, when they were ready. We were always ready. 

1979 began brightly, with talk of the imminent release of a new elpee and therefore a tour. Tommy Vance aired two of the long lost BBC Sessions during his Friday Rock Show on February 2nd and all bar Jonesy jammed I'm Going Down with Bad Company at Birmingham Odeon on April 3rd. Again, the rumour mill was rife - a tour, maybe across Europe, maybe even a UK Tour, but in my mind a spectacular open air show always seemed the most likely (and fitting) return.

And on May 22nd Anne Nightingale announced on the OGWT that Led Zeppelin were to play Knebworth. I stared at the screen for ages, then wrote the date on the front of one of my old scrapbooks and stared at that for even longer. It was happening. From then on the intensity was getting cranked up. Tickets sold like lightning, and a second show was added. 

Robert gave a studied and polite interview to BBC Rock On aired on June 9th and Led Zeppelin encamped at Bray Studios for intensive rehearsals of both band and light show. Many years ago strong rumours of several hours of footage from these rehearsals persisted, and still do. So far there are a few still shots including Jimmy and Robert in shorts due to the stupefying heat.

And suddenly, the wait was (nearly) over. Two hush hush warm-ups in Copenhagen (check out my thoughts on other pages..) and from the middle of the week the Knebworth nation assembled. It was madness, an incredible gathering. We arrived (me, my brother Simon and mate Keith King) friday afternoon to a shanty town with a couple of dozen portaloo's, thousands of tents and the smell of bonfire's, dope and expectation in the air. Tommy Vance's FRS could heard across hundreds of radios, vying for air space against assorted sounds of live Led Zeppelin bootlegs and Monty Python! What was that lyric 'magic in the air'?? Late that night a rumour spread like wildfire about getting into the arena, so thousands of us found the gates, and they were breached by sheer weight and pressure, I guess about 3am. 

We got split up, but I found a spot and slept to be woken by Nicky Horne at 7.30 with a cheery 'good morning Knebworth' and the breakfast sounds of Supertramp. Somehow, we stumbled into each other and found a spot, to the right and in front of the desk on the down slope. And waited. And waited. The day was hot and long, and the anticipation took away much of the enjoyment of the other acts on the bill. For me, only Todd and Utopia (including Kasim now a Blue Oyster Cult stalwart by the way) sparked the event musically into life and satiated some of the growing tension. It was clear the majority of the crowd would have preferred a harder rockin' support bill, but that was never to be. 

By now the crowd was enormous. We'd cheered during the afternoon when a groom plus his bride in her wedding dress picked their way through the prone bodies that seemed to be everywhere. I'd never been in a crowd like it. And never have since. I've read all the different arguments about 104,000 140,000 216,000 240,000 etc etc. All I can add is I've been in crowds of 120,000 in Germany (Monsters of Rock Karlsruhe/Nuremburg 1984) and they were nothing like this. The UK Donington shows pale in comparison. Facts and figures have their place but at Knebworth the most important thing was the communion, the gathering of the Led Zeppelin Nation.

And it got colder, the shadows got longer and space got less and less. Like a high pressure valve about to burst, we sat and waited. I was passing the time cheerily playing bootleg vinyl oneupmanship with a couple of guys behind me as the piped music went on and on. As each track faded a roar rose, louder each song, only to fall away as the next classic rock track fired up. 

At about 9.35 Lynyrd Skynyrd's Tuesday's Gone filled the air, but was prematurely faded. And then, finally, Led Zeppelin strode nervously into view. I have NEVER felt or heard a roar, an energy charge, a release of tension like it. Ever. Everyone rose, punched the air, craned their necks as Bonzo thrashed a couple of triplets and Jonesy checked his bass sound. Jimmy flailed away at the twin neck and the hubbub abated for a second. Someone behind let off a couple of flares, green and red I seem to remember, and simultaneously the video screen sprung into view and life. Then Jimmy held the Gibson high, hit THAT chord and Led Zeppelin were back. The Song Remains The Same was raw, rough, just about under control, but awesome. 

The nerves were raw, onstage and among us all. They hurtled through the opening numbers, calming down after a muscular Nobody's Fault But Mine to deliver a fine Over The Hills And Far Away, by which time it had finally hit home. This was Knebworth. This was Led Zeppelin. For nigh on 3 hours they took us through all sorts of emotions, all sorts of musical avenues (and the odd cul de sac) After playing a joyous Misty Mountain Hop Jimmy had settled his own nerves enough to give us a Since I've Been Loving You to remember. Robert's introduction 'You got the Booze (cheers)? Well, we, and I hope to God, we got the Blues' showed his and their nerves, but the drama was intact, and if Jimmy wasn't the million miles a second guitar wizard from the movie, he could still take your emotions and wring 'em dry.

By now everything was settled. The atmosphere was wonderful and the sound supreme. No Quarter was honed down from the marathons on '77 (I know the Badgeholders version off by heart, for my many sins!), but changed the mood and took us all into a different direction. The coda was spectacular, Jimmy letting loose on the wah wah and pushing the band in time honoured fashion as he pulled amazing figures and moods from his Les Paul and those 5 cranked Marshalls. After that Ten Years Gone was magical. Broadcast by MTV, it showed a mellow and winsome Led Zeppelin, musical above bombastic and Jonesy played every string and bass pedal he could and Jimmy summoned the guitar army from his b-bender Telecaster. 

Hot Dog was, err a bit nothing really. It was gone before we knew it and just a bit throwaway. The Rain Song was spectacular. With Jonesy now using his new Yamaha 'dream machine', the horrors of the Mellotron were behind him. It was winsome, deft and delicate. A beautiful performance that brought a tear or two. Jimmy's solo that followed was better than I expected, pulling some great runs and dissonant flurries from his now hybrid Danelectro before the expected revolving riff that led into Kashmir. Wow. Even if Robert has memories of 'singing from my boots' it's a sterling version. Dramatic and strident. Muscular and celebratory. Bonzo, who has underpinned everything so far brilliantly, drives Led Zeppelin on and above the Atlas Mountains with a series of fills that you just can't teach or explain. A highlight. 

From then on Led Zeppelin hit overdrive. Trampled Underfoot and Sick Again kept the momentum up before a monumental Achilles' Last Stand. When I heard my first live version of this - from the original 'battle scene' Destroyer bootleg - I was amazed. At Knebworth, it came close. The rhythm section is the key here, and they're monsters. Watch 'DVD'. It's stunning. And then came Jimmy's sorcery dreams. Spectacular for sure, 'sadly' not so sure. A visual moment to treasure that brought everyone to their feet again. The new In The Evening was loose but strident, and showed for me that Led Zeppelin could still summon up the energy, drive and songwriting to come again.

After that the climax and celebration. Stairway To Heaven was winsome and a bit too much of a come down at first, but grew as it built into a fitting end to the event. Encore time was the celebration, and Rock And Roll had us all ready to boogie. Whole Lotta Love was just right, a powerful riff version although for me I missed the Theremin soundblats of old. And that came after a tear jerking crowd rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone to bring 'em back. Then just when the crowd thinned at that seemed to be it, the mania of the faithful brought us Heartbreaker, a tired but fitting end to a long day of celebration and renewal of our faith in the church, the religion of Led Zeppelin.

The aftermath was expected, negative media and endless rumour about what comes next. Wallowing in the event, I was so happy that Led Zeppelin had returned and delivered. The emotion and their musicality pulled it off. A gamble, a risk, but they proved themselves to be the biggest and best at a time when the media and business were against them and the musical climate was all about the then new kids on the the block. 

Of course, we now have some of the highlights on 'DVD'. And after the two tracks MTV broadcast in December 1990 the full set (with the odd edit) has made it's way onto bootleg DVD from the pro-shot footage relayed onto the screen on the night. On vinyl, we had the 2LP set on Phoenix, Knebworth Fair 1 & 2, and even the 4LP 'complete and uncut' (not quite true...) sets. On CD, various audience recordings have come out, and like the vinyl use OK but not great recordings, which always amazed me because on the night the sound was loud, powerful and clear. Perhaps the amount of people made the logistics hard for prospective bootleggers. We also have the soundtrack from the footage and a full soundboard recording too. It was a unique occasion, certainly a 'you had to be there' moment, but can be partially experienced again and again with the plethora of recordings out there.

The fan cine film also has an important place in capturing the event, scenes of the crowd, campsite and pivotal moments of the performance. Some are seen on 'DVD' and do add a flavour to it all. For a full breakdown of the event, check out Dave Lewis Knebworth book at tightbutloose.co.uk 

Robert and Jonesy gave interviews for both Australian Radio and KLOS FM (that one with legendary DJ JJ Jackson), and the bulk of the second of these was mooted and prepared for a promo interview LP that never happened outside a test pressing, a sleeve and a catalogue number. The two driving forces behind In Through The Out Door didn't quite get their say on the new Led Zeppelin.

42 years on, Led Zeppelin at Knebworth was a triumph, and in particular a communion with the English Folk. A cornerstone for the next generation too young to see their rise but still mesmerised by their music and muse. It seems a lifetime ago, but in reality is just a blink of an eye.