Saturday 11 December 2010

Led Zeppelin - Knebworth, 4th August, 1979

An occasion which dwarfed the gig, without a doubt.The Knebworth shows were the music event of the year,and the first time they had played the UK for four years. A crowd of 180,000 turned up to see Zep, but in truth they were past their best.The set list was poor, and the show struggled to get going. Indeed it was 13 songs in, with "Kashmir", before they really found their stride.The day never felt special and the band struggled to connect with the vast audience.

On the supporting bill Fairport Convention disappeared without trace,Chas n Dave were totally out of place,and the Marshall Tucker band simply did not have the material. Respectability was secured by Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes with "I Don't Wanna Go Home" warmly received. Before Zeppelin, Todd Rungren's Utopia pretty much saved the day with an audience friendly,accessible set which culminated with "Love is the Answer", the performance of the day.



1.The Song Remains the Same" (Page, Plant)
2."Celebration Day" (Jones, Page, Plant)
3."Black Dog" (Jones, Page, Plant)
4."Nobody's Fault but Mine" (Page, Plant)
5."Over the Hills and Far Away" (Page, Plant)
6."Misty Mountain Hop" (Jones, Page, Plant)
7."Since I've Been Loving You" (Jones, Page, Plant)
8."No Quarter" (Jones, Page, Plant,)
9."Ten Years Gone" (Page, Plant)*
10."Hot Dog" (Page, Plant)
11."The Rain Song" (Page, Plant)
12."White Summer"/"Black Mountain Side" (Page)
13."Kashmir" (Bonham, Page, Plant)
14."Trampled Under Foot" (Jones Page, Plant)
15."Sick Again" (Page, Plant)
16."Achilles Last Stand" (Page, Plant)
17."Page Solo" (Page)
18."In the Evening" (Jones, Page, Plant)
19."Stairway to Heaven" (Page, Plant)
Encore:

1."Rock and Roll" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant)
2."Whole Lotta Love" (Bonham, Dixon, Jones, Page, Plant)
3."Heartbreaker" (Bonham, Jones, Page, Plant)

Best Song: "Achilles Last Stand"
Rating: 4/10