Led Zeppelin
Seattle 1977

THE REVIEW

The eleventh US tour of Led Zeppelin is remembered by rock historians as a disastrous tour, concluded in the worst possible way, with the tragic death of the very young Karac Plat, only five years old.

It's certain that the post-Earl's Court period was not smooth sailing for the group, amidst accidents and substance abuse, but it's also true they never looked back, continuing on the challenging path of success during a time that wasn’t easy for bands like the Zeppelin. It’s also true that if 1977 rightfully belonged to the rising success of punk rock, Led Zeppelin ignored the media and the journalists’ petty stories in NME and Creem, to awe the States with massive sold-out concerts, months before the actual tour began.

Unfortunately, there are no official records (unlike the brief glimpses from 1975 and 1979 available on the 2003 official DVD) that can prove the power of most shows, leaving as always the challenging task to the much-loved/hated bootlegs.

While there are numerous audio testimonies, the video ones are indeed very rare. To date, it is known that some private videos are held in Page's archives. These are mostly low-quality footage taken from the large screen behind the band during concerts. Only one show has been rescued from oblivion and has been clandestinely copied on VHS and more recently on DVD for years. Among many, this one, simply titled "SEATTLE 1977," is the complete document of the massive show held at the Kingdome in Seattle, on July 17, 1977.

The audio and video quality is not excellent, just to be clear, but this extraordinary historical artifact provides the best demonstration of the band in their last days of glory on American soil. Unlike the previous tour, Robert's voice seems slightly pulled back together, particularly thanks to the setlist change that places The Song Remains The Same at the start and elevates Rock And Roll to the encore rank.

The singer, no longer forced to start full throttle, manages to slowly warm up his vocal cords, reaching (especially during the last part of the concert) the ecstatic peaks of the ninth US tour. The Song gives way to the hard Sick Again, Jimmy, in all white and with a Gibson hanging low, churns out note after note, delivering during Over The Hills And Far Away a superb solo. Since I’ve Been Loving You seems slower than its counterpart in the film based on the 1973 New York concerts, but always hypnotic. No Quarter, perhaps too long, with John Paul Jones intending to change the show’s atmosphere, moves skillfully from synthesizer to grand piano. Yet of great class. The acoustic set is fun and implausible at the same time. Jonesy on second voice on The Battle Of Evermore (with Bonzo on tambourine) unfortunately is not convincing.

John Bonham delivers one of the last versions of Moby Dick, renamed Over The Top, for which the opening riff is preferred from Out On The Tiles. Scruffy beard and a few extra pounds, but who would have stopped him anyway? Bonzo shows his usual agility and strength during this much-applauded performance.

The climax is reached in the final part of the show, with a surprising triple shot. Kashmir, which has now become a classic, is cheered by fans, as well as the incredibly fast Achilles Last Stand, for which Jimmy does his part with a knockout solo.

Great performances, but they do not match the magic of the evening's highlight, one of the best Stairway ever. Robert interprets the text with his usual solemnity, while Jimmy Page, with his double-neck guitar, performs a musical miracle. The success undoubtedly lies in the strong artistic bond with Bonzo, who accompanies the guitarist’s adventures through various and complicated improvisations. A version not far from the splendid Stairway officially released on DVD in 2003, i.e., Earl’s Court on May 25, 1975.

What makes this bootleg version more surprising is precisely the tug of war between Page and Bonham; the two leave and rejoin each other, accompanied by Jones’s grand piano, making the piece even more epic. Robert’s finale is among his best after '73.

The encores, short but intense, consist of a taste of Whole Lotta Love giving way to a fiery Rock And Roll; needless to say, Robert Plant is phenomenal.

The concert was certainly not perfect (often between songs, Robert coughs and can be seen drinking his beloved honey tea), Jimmy is unpredictable as usual in these latter years of the band, but in this case, to his credit, he doesn’t miss a beat.

The DVD is recommended for true fans of the band, those who still crave more of the Zeppelin beyond the hills despite loving the 2003 DVD and all its treats.