Ex Led Zeppelin

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1983 1985 1988 1990 2000 2002

promo copy of Manic nivirna and signed Now and Zen album

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The Principle of Moments Tour 1983

The-sign-from-"The-Priciple-of-Moments"-album

4 December 1983 / Colston Hall / Bristol

This was my first rock concert. I remember being 4 rows from the front to see Planty playing on his first solo tour. It really was fantastic to see him play most of his songs from his first two albums(he did not play any Zep songs at this point in his career.)

I was in awe of him as I was still a spotty teenager and a huge Zeppelin fan. John Paul Jones(Zep bass player) was there and came on for the encores, which if I remember were old 50's numbers. Plant earlier in the gig said something like "this one is for Mr Baldwin" (J.P.Jones real name), there was huge applause, but I did'nt know at the time that he was coming on later. It was a huge bonus to have JPJ play as well at my first rock gig (half of Led Zeppelin) wow.

NB

The Colston hall is a smallish old venue with lots of character. I love the place(I used to go there as a kid and watch my father, and later on my wife perform there.)

1985

Shaken'n'Stirred tour 85

8th Sept 1985 / NEC / Birmingham

The NEC is not one of my fave arenas(it holds about 10'000) to see groups. I got there early enough to here the sound check from outside.

I did still enjoy the concert as Plant played tracks from his latest album called Shakin'n'Stirred. It was a little strange and a little off beat but good never the less. They seemed to be using a kind of sloping stage which made running around hard. Half way thru the concert the band went off stage and on came Plant with some jazzy musos called "The King Bees" (males) and the "The Queen Bees"(F). They played some Honeydrippers songs(Plant had released an album of Swing time covers called "The Honeydrippers volume 1" in 1984). This was great fun and by the end of their numbers it went back to Plant and his band.

This would be the last time I would see Plant with his old band, by the time I would see him and his new band on his next tour; I would be in for a big surprise.

Non Stop Go Tour 1988

3rd April 1988 / Astoria / Oxford

Support act: It Bites

Here I was at another theatre in another place to see Plant. The Astoria was a bit like the Colston Hall; not to big and full of character. It Bites were a band that I liked and it was good to see them live supporting Mr Plant. Their singer guitarist who was undoubtedly talented was a bit of a show off and tried to take over from the rest of the band. Their songs went down well. The guitarist(Francis Dunnery) would later play on one of Plants solo albums(Fate of Nations) and tour in the 90's.

For the first time since his Zeppelin days Robert Plant included some Zep songs which brought the house down. His new band were good and included a young guitarist called Doug Boyle.

I shall always remember going to the backstage door after the gig to see Francis Dunnery(It Bites) appear to be trying to get in through the backstage door without any luck as the bouncer would not let him in. He had to go round the front with his tail between his legs as we all looked on in amusement. Nobody asked for his autograph.

12th April 1988 / Astoria / London

In the tour programme it said that Doug Boyle's dad was a classical muscian, my father was a classical muscian and recognised the surname. He happened to be the son of my old mans best man. I was amazed and twelve days later there I was going to see Planty again at the London Astoria as a guest of Doug Boyle. I got my access all areas pass and off I went. The concert was a good one and the rest they say is history. As you can see opposite I have Doug's and Robert's autograph. A night to remember.

Autographs, backstage pass and pic of Doug boyle and I

Backstage pass,autographs,programme and Doug Boyle

Plant at Oxford Apollo 88

1990

Manic Nirvana tour 1990

5th June 1990 / Hammersmith Odeon / London

Support: Alannah Myles

1990 and I found myself a guest of Doug Boyle's again on Plant's next tour. The band played well and were now fully fledged. Plant was still playing some Zep classics which again went down a storm(his solo work was and still is very good). I had an after show pass and went to the bar backstage which was tiny and crammed full of people I recognised, like Britt Eckland. Robert Plant did not come to the bar with some of the band which was disapointing, but hey I cannot complain as I had another great night.