I’ve decided to dedicate this page to Led Zeppelin.
This band was a complete inspiration to me as a musician. They literally
changed my life.
I put together a collection of some of my favorite
articles and pictures. (Obviously, I can’t post them all) I have been a
dedicated LZ fan since age 12. I literally went from playing with Barbie
to listening to Led Zeppelin overnight. And from that moment on, up to the
attic Barbie went.
One summer afternoon, my cousin and I were croozin’
around in her car when she popped in "Black Dog". I was truly amazed by
the song. But what really captured my attention was Robert Plant’s
stunning voice! I was mezmorized for that entire moment!
I said to her, "who’s that? some new blues singer?"
I didn’t know, I was a kid. She laughed and said it’s Led Zeppelin.
I rushed out and bought Zeppelin’s fourth album. I
couldn’t wait to play it. My mother recognized "Stairway To Heaven", I
listed to it over and over again.
I was hooked. I had to get another album. So I went
out again, this time looking through all the LZ albums and I couldn’t
decide on which one to buy so I started studying album covers.
Hmmm, which one should I buy?? I looked at Physical
Grafitti, I saw the windows with all the different pictures. This seemed
interesting. Hmmmm.....then I picked up LZ’s first album and flipped it
over and saw Jimmy Page’s picture for the first time. I never knew what he
looked like. My heart was pounding. I rushed to the checkout and bought
it. From that moment on, my world changed even more.
I started listening closely to the songs and Jimmy’s
guitar playing. A bunch of my friends and I decided to go and see "The
Song Remains The Same" at the theater. For me, this was rock & roll
heaven! I went to see that movie several times until I was able to buy it
on VHS.
"The Song Remains The Same" was about the best
midnight movie you could go see back then.
As time went on, I met a girl in high school who I
discovered loved LZ as much as I did. We instantly became friends. We’d go
out at night to the forest preserves, pack a cooler of beer, listen to Led
Zeppelin and talk about Jimmy and his fascination with Crowley. We’d scare
ourselves.
I collected everything from magazine articles,
newspaper clippings, posters, postcards, T-shirts, Led Zeppelin music
books, pictures, buttons, LZ liters.....whatever I could get my hands on.
I just couldn’t get enough!
I even tried dressing like Jimmy Page at one point
in time. Not so much with the wizard looking pants but the sweaters, ties
and jackets he’d wear. I don’t think he realizes the impact he has made on
people.
When I turned 16, I started tinkering around with
the guitar. I decided I was going to take some lessons, learn LZ tunes and
transform into a female Jimmy Page.
I asked my parents if I could get an electric
guitar. They said first I could get an acoustic one and if I kept up with
the lessons, they’d buy me an electric. Fair enough.
I studied the guitar and practiced. I was used
to that because I had taken years of piano lessons
as a kid. It was time now to get the electric guitar.
Of course, I had to have a Sunburst Gibson Les Paul
guitar. Well, the family took a drive to the music store. I remember going
into this guitar shop in Cicero, IL. I don’t even know if it’s still
there.
I walked in and was amazed at all the great looking
guitars they had hanging on the walls. I walked over to the accessory
counter and low and behold, who’s autographed picture was hanging there
but Jimmy Page’s!
I wanted it so bad. I secretly thought about
stealing it. But then I thought, if I get caught, I’ll get in big trouble
and I’d blow my chance to get my guitar.
So I left Jimmy haning on the wall and walked away.
Damn!
I looked around with my parents and my brothers. I
knew exactly what I wanted. But, was that what I got?? Not quite. My
parents wouldn’t spend the money for a Gibson Les Paul so I had to get the
next best thing.
A Gibson Les Paul copy. A Sunburst Hondo II. Oh God!
And a Pignose Amp! How lucky was that?!?!
I wasn’t too thrilled about the Pignose. The guy at
the guitar store said it was made well and all but, it wasn’t a Marshall.
The parents just wouldn’t budge.
So off we went with the Hondo II and the Pignose. I
really hated that pig snout of a volume button. I cried in the car. My
whole family laughed at me.
My brothers teased me the whole way home. I hated
that amp! I cried and yelled out that I was the only kid that had a pig
snout on my amp for a volume button. THAT WAS NOT COOL!
I wouldn’t let anyone see that amp. So I saved my
money and finally got a Kustom practice amp. At least there were no
embarrassing snout buttons on it.
The first rock song I learned was of course,
Stairway. How’d ya ever guess?? I learned several different Zep tunes,
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, The Rain Song. I’d lock myself away in my room
for hours at a time, practicing and daydreaming about Led Zeppelin.
When I was in school, I was under the impression
that I was going to see them in concert until one day when I received the
horrible news.
A classmate came up to me and asked if I heard the
news about a member of Led Zeppelin dying. I was horrified. I paniced and
asked, was it Jimmy? She said, no. Robert? No...one of the other members.
When I got out of school, I turned the radio on and
got the news about John. I was sick. I felt terrible for his family and
the rest of the band. I never got to see the original Led Zeppelin but I
was fortunate enough to see Jimmy and Robert throughout their solo
careers.
I saw The Firm twice, the Outrider Tour, Robert
Plant’s solo project at Alpine Valley, WI, Plant & Page’s No Quarter Tour,
which was fabulous! I saw Plant & Page again at the United Center, in
Chicago. Unfortunately I was not able to see Jimmy when he toured with the
Black Crowes. I have followed both of their career’s and love all the
music they have created after Led Zeppelin disbanded.
I particularily love "Walking Into Clarksdale". That
CD is wonderful! It would have been something if that CD would have come
out when Led Zeppelin were still together.
I’m also very fond of Robert Plant’s "Dreamland" CD
and his "Mighty Rearranger" disc. Wonderful songs, Robert!
As time went on, I finally sold the Pignose. As
years went by, I came to find out that Jimmy had a Pignose. From that
moment on, I wished my little Pignose Amp was still tucked away in my
closet for safe keeping!
-Sheree Fray
Welcome
To My Led Zeppelin Photo Gallery
More photos to come!
