Ep. 284 – The Heart of Markness Led Zeppelin Podcast
On November 28, 1983 Jimmy Page walked onstage in Dallas, Texas for his first American appearance in more than 7 years. He was newly free of the chains that heroin addiction had weighing him down, and he was working on getting back to fighting fettle.
Paul Rodgers is joining him for this tour, as Steve Winwood was in the studio and couldn’t reprise his Royal Albert Hall performances. We have the gestation of The Firm as Jimmy and Paul debut Midnight Moonlight, for the first live performance ever.
Overall Jimmy seems ok throughout most of the show. It’s obvious he had practiced with the band as the songs were tight and solid, especially Midnight Moonlight. Paul obviously hadn’t gotten the lyrics committed to memory, as City Sirens has some hilariously mumbled lines. His passionate singing makes up for any flubs.
The recording has the full show with sets by Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and the ensemble jams at the end, finishing up with Goodnight Irene by Ronnie Lane himself.
Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page and More to benefit Ronnie Lane
We hear songs from every featured artist on the ARMS tour, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and Ronnie Lane. From Dec. 1, 1983 at the Cow Palace, SF, we have one of the biggest lineups ever for a benefit for Ronnie Lane. Great music by great artists for a sick friend, and the return of Jimmy Page to public life.
Clapton, Beck, Page, Cocker, and More. December 6, 1983 Millard 1st Gen
An incredible recording of the ARMS tour from the LA Forum, December 6, 1983. We hear Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page playing individual sets, as well as together, to benefit Ronnie Lane. A legendary tour.
This is good. It’s not Led Zeppelin so it’s ok if you’re not interested, but this show (Sept 21, 1983) has some solid playing by a very nervous Jimmy Page. This is the night after the ARMS Concert and it’s the same show, but this night Charles and Diana were there for the Prince’s Trust Rock Gala… so that’s what it was called. This is Jimmy’s return to public performing after the loss of Zep, and Steve Winwood sang for him (Paul Rodgers would fill in when the tour reached the USA). He played 3 songs from Death Wish 2 and Stairway. He plays really well, especially given how shaky he was the night before, although Prelude is better on the 20th (imo). I like it. I hope you do too.
Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, and Jeff Beck. ARMS Tour USA 1983
Steve Winwood, Joe Cocker, Paul Rodgers, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Ronnie Wood, Kenney Jones… Jesus Christ, everybody
Links from the show
This is San Francisco 12/2/83. San Fran 12/2/83 is a nice set by Jimmy. He is hit or miss on this tour, often within the same set. Remember, he may not be using heroin anymore, but he was in no way sober. This is the show from which the Goodnight Irene heard in the podcast is taken. You should watch the whole thing. It’s a shit ton of talent on one stage, and no one is being a prick.
WATCH THIS ONE. It’s not Jimmy’s best, but it’s not that bad. This show also has a killer Goodnight Irene at the end, with Jimmy, Jeff, and Eric trading solos and it’s GREAT! Watch it or the monsters will eat you. You also get incoherent Joe Cocker gibberish at the end.
This is the intro to the officially released London gig. Watch it. It shows how sweet Ronnie Lane was, and how all these huge stars really worked together to help hime. It’s nice.
The first part of the London gig. Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood. Drink coffee first.
Find the rest yourself. I’m an old man.
BONUS NOTES AND SHIT FROM THE PODCAST.
Ronnie Lane:
Ronnie Lane was the bass player for the Small Faces (itchycoo park) and later (when they were no longer small) The Faces. The Faces were a good time, drunken rock and roll band that had Rod Stewart as its singer, and Ronnie Wood as their guitarist, both fresh from Jeff Beck’s band. Remember when the Black Crowes first came out, with Jealous Again? They were a clone of the Faces. The Ron Wood went off to become a Rolling Stone, and Rod Stewart went off to be a disco fuckhead. Ronnie Wood ended up living in a trailer on Pete Townshend’s property, having never ‘made it big’. He recorded an album with Pete, in 1977, called Rough Mix that is absolutely wonderful. Not only is a great album, it’s a great album featuring not just Pete Townshend and Ronnie Lane, but Eric Clapton, Charlie Watts, John Entwistle, Ian Stewart, and a bunch more. It’s a great album that was just never promoted by the record company. It also is one of the best sounding analog recordings I’ve ever heard. Totally listen to it. Do it.
During the recording of Rough Mix Ronnie Lane was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. His ability to play was hampered, and his already not great life got worse. He must have been a great guy, because holy shit a million huge stars came out to help him.
In 1983
One Of The Best ARMS Gigs in Great Video
The early 1980’s was a dark time for the rock gods of the 70’s. Led Zeppelin had broken up, Jeff Beck was a footnote, and Eric Clapton had turned so mellow he was like the James Taylor of guitar. Everyone had peaked and was hitting 40. The first generation of rock gods were all total has beens by the time they hit 40. This generation risked obscurity as well.
In 1983 a bunch of British rock gods gathered together to perform a series of benefit concerts, in support of Ronnie Lane. Ronnie was the bass player for the Small Faces, and then the Faces. He was a beloved musician and friend (he lived rent free on Pete Townshend’s estate), who had contracted MS and needed some help.
The bands that were represented were the cream of British rock royalty. Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts from the Rolling Stones, Ronnie Wood (from the Faces and the Stones) showed up in New York City for some songs, too. Eric Clapton from Cream, Jeff Beck from the Yardbirds and as his own bad self (also former bandmate of Ronnie Wood), Joe Cocker and his awesome keyboard player, Chris Stainton. Holy shit a lot of people. Oh yeah, The Who! Kenny Jones from The Who (and also the Faces with Ronnies Lane and Wood). Fernando Saunders on bass (Lou Reed and Jeff Beck’s bassist)… so many goods. And Paul Rodgers from Free and Bad Company. Lots of folk who all got together to help a friend.
Jimmy Page had been out of the spotlight since the death of John Bonham, and dissolution of Led Zeppelin. He was a physical and mental wreck. Drug addiction was at an almost terminal level, and the deep depression of Bonzo’s death just made everything worse. Aside from a few minor projects, or even just jams, Page was a hermit.
The word on this is that Eric Clapton was tapped to approach Jimmy and tell him to get his shit together, heroin-wise. Clapton had just himself finished rehab, and everyone else in the band(s) pretty much had their shit together (although I think Charlie Watts got in to heroin at roughly this time), except for Jimmy. So, a pep talk, some positive reinforcement, and a trip to the states, got Jimmy off the heroin. Alas he still drank like a fish and did hella blow.
Still, credit where credit is due. The ARMS tour got Jimmy to come back as a performer again. Having worked with Paul Rodgers on the US Tour for ARMS, Jimmy formed the FIRM. The Firm sucked. Yes it did. Yes it did.
