Peter's Live Zep-Out Rocks Long Island

They call it "ZEP OUT" aka "ZEP FEST" -- America's Longest Running Commemorative Led Zeppelin Party.


Born in 1988 at the U of M Ann Arbor, Zep Out started as an after hours listening party, then mutated into a chronic annual event -- an 8 1/2-hour party where the goal is to graduate from Zep I at 7 pm, all the way to the final track of Coda at 3:30 am.

ZEPPELIN ONE
ZEPPELIN TWO
ZEPPELIN THREE
FOUR
HOUSES
PHYSICAL, SIDES 1-4
PRESENCE
IN THROUGH THE OUT DOOR
CODA


It all started from one simple fact: if you were in the class of 1980 or later, you were fucked. No Zeppelin at the Garden. No Zeppelin at the Forum.

But you still had THE ALBUMS, played in a row on Saturday night near April 1st where you could MIND MELD with the entire decade of the 1970s in one huge, fat album-rock get-down. And only one band hit the Zoso exactly right.

Zep Fest started in Ann Arbor, riding the coat tails of the Diag's Annual Hash Bash, then moved to New York City.

Zep Out -- not an idea whose time had come, an idea whose time REFUSED TO GO AWAY.

Then this year, thanks to co-creator Peter Witkow and his blushing baby mama Cindy, the Zep Fest went live.

For his birthday party at a Port Washington bar and casino, Peter (aka "Prime") commissioned a band of Long Island pros to create a 2 hour Zep Out of songs representing the entire Zep catalogue. The band featured Bob and Norm from classic rock outfit Powderfinger.

The music and the party were a total home run. Excellent musicians, excellent show. Guests hailed from as far as England and L.A.

ZEP FEST LIVE AT "H ON THE HARBOR"
May 31, 2008

First Set)
Good Times Bad Times
Dazed & Confused
Whole Lotta Love
Heartbreaker/Livin/Lovin Maid
Moby Dick
Immigrant Song
Bron Y Aur Stomp
Black Dog
Rock & Roll

Second Set)
Misty Mountain Hop
When the Levy Breaks
The Ocean
No Quarter
Houses of the Holy
Wanton Song
Kashmir
Fool in the Rain

For everyone who saw it, there's only one thing to say:
ZEP OUT FOREVER

No Zeppelin Tour in 2008, UK Paper Says

Robert Plant says no to Led Zeppelin world tour and £100m
EXCLUSIVE Plant says No to a world tour.. and £100M
By Sean Hamilton Showbiz Editor Sean.Hamilton@Sundaymirror.Co.Uk 2/03/2008

Robert Plant has turned down an extra £100million fortune to take Led Zeppelin on a world tour. The rock legend wants to concentrate on his new partnership with US country singer Alison Krauss... spelling the likely end of the famous band. Led Zep fans had been longing for a tour announcement since last year - when the 1970s superstars reformed for a one-off show at London's O2 Arena. Surviving members Plant, Robert Page and John Paul Jones were offered a guaranteed £100m each for a tour of North America and Europe after a million fans applied for O2 tickets. But after extensive talks Led Zep - best known for the song Stairway To Heaven - decided against the moneymaking opportunity. Guitarist Jimmy Page, 64, was keen to do the tour this year and was backed by bass player John Paul, 62. But singer Plant, 59 - already worth an estimated £70million - wants to concentrate on his new success with US country singer Krauss. The pair's duet album Raising Sand went to No 2 in America and Britain and they are starting their own tour in April. A band source said: "Despite the enormous offer, the decision did not come down to money. They always said they would do the one-off show and then see how they felt. Jimmy had enjoyed the concert in December enough to want to tour. He argued they still had something to offer. He likes the idea of another chapter in the band - the grown-up tour. John sided with Jimmy. He loved making music with the others again. But Robert wanted to leave last year's concert as their legacy. They had proved they could still do it and that was enough. He has other commitments and is happier looking forward to those. Robert put the mockers on the tour."

The King, The Man & The Band

Led Zep and Hawaii Five-O share a special provenance.

They both ran from 1968 to 1980.

And Elvis was fascinated by each.

I Rest My Case

Oh yes, one final encoded message in the scriptures of Zeppelin foretelling the band returning to Cali.

The freaking song called GOING TO CALIFORNIA.

"Valhal-L.A. I Am Coming"

Air New Zeppelin to Los Angeles
First Scheduled Service Since 1977

"A Feeling I Get When I Look to the West"

Los Angeles
New Zeppelin Shows
Foretold in the Scripture of Zep IV

We will know them by the drumming of the Son of the Drum.

"Our Only Goal Will Be The Western Shore"

New California Shows Foretold In Scripture

As It Was Written in the Book of Zeppelin III

We will know him by his solo that's not in the album version.

How Page Actually Injured His Hand

Belfast Telegraph

From the Genius Irish Press at The Belfast Telegraph:

"The most eagerly anticipated rock reunion for three decades happened last night. But was it worth the wait, and all the fuss? Andy Gill delivers his verdict while Emily Dugan talks to the fans.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

The return of rock and roll: Led Zeppelin at The O2 London"

"…"
The evening's high point comes with the mighty "Kashmir", whose middle-eastern-toned riff has a golem tread which makes it the song best equipped to withstand the arena's questionable acoustics. It's also given the most satisfying of the visual backdrops on the huge screen behind the band, a complex series of mandala devices which brings out the song's exotic flavour. "There are people out there from 50 countries!" marvels Plant in his introduction. "This is the 51st."

Encores of "Whole Lotta Love" and "Rock And Roll" bring the evening to a close, the former given the full-on laser and dry-ice treatment for Page's celebrated mid-song breakdown section of guitar and theremin. One can't help feeling, however, that these big, uptempo rockers would have been better placed in the middle of the set. But for those happy punters departing Greenwich in a state of mild euphoria, just to be here was clearly enough.

What the fans thought

Andrew Mason, 17,high school student from Minnesota, USA

"Oh man, it was excellent. Nothing can explain it; I've lost pretty much all of the hearing in my ears. I never thought I'd get to see this - I thought that I'd been born too late. We came to England on Friday, and it's been well worth the wait."

Graham Wright, 50, travel agent from Southgate.

"That was just unbelievable. It was like going back in time. I saw them six times in the Sixties, but never thought I'd get to see them again. I'm here with my 16-year-old son who loves them too. There wasn't a bad bit - they played everything I wanted to hear."

Marju Kruusamagi, 38, finance manager from Finland

"After coming such a long way to see the band it was so fantastic to see them play. The last song, 'Whole Lotta Love' was my favourite. I didn't know much about them before I came here tonight - my boyfriend is the big fan - but they blew me away."

Leah Tilbury, 33, hotelier from Ibiza

"I have to admit that I was a Led Zeppelin virgin until I came to the concert tonight, and I've got to say that I've been well and truly converted. The band played brilliantly, and I'd love to see them play again now. I absolutely loved them."

Nate Nicholls, 40, television producer from Los Angeles, USA

"Led Zeppelin is the jam! If you've ever been to America, had a doobie in your mouth and your girlfriend on the backseat with their second album blasting out, then you'll know what heaven is. The only thing I wished was that they'd played 'The Ocean'."

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music-gigs/reviews/article3242227.ece

Q: Why Zeppelin?

A: Because they are the ALBUM GODS of the ALBUM DECADE (1970s), and the Greatest Live Band in Rock History.

It's only logical.

Priests of Zeppinology

Nichols Bros., Witkow Hail the Dawn of Air New Zeppelin

"U.S. Shows Por Favor."