The Archive .
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Last update Sept 2022- new pix Led Zeppelin, The Nice and Liverpool Scene.
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June
28th 1969.
Led Zeppelin.
© Nigel Hall |
I was expecting to find a recording of the Zep performance at this earlier Bath festival, but so far we at the Archive have not been presented with a recording . Although a few audio recordings have emerged recently, theres still no audio of Zeppelin at Bath 1969. We have been approached by a fan who did record the band at Bath but he has not been able to find his tape and he says the quality was dire anyway. Rest assured that if we do ever acquire any Zep tracks we will review them here. At least the recent airing of a few bits of film of Zep from the 1969 festival give us more hope that audio is there to be found . Hopefully they are better sounding than the tapes of Zeppelin at the 1970 festival, which are really for die hard fans only, the quality is mostly atrocious and listening to them is an ordeal that only the most ardent fan would endure more than once .....
I was at the festival with 3 or 4 mates,sadly I've misplaced the photo of them. The first image is of John Peel (compare) and a leather clad Lee Jackson (Nice). Those following are of Led Zeppelin ( well Page & Plant at least) from the side of the stage. I actually had a chat with Jimmy Page and Robert Plant backstage. I asked for autographs, Jimmy asked a girl who they had just signed for to borrow her pen, she refused which prompted a reply of "bitch" from them both, they told me when I found a pen to go into the 'Pavillion' where the bands were getting hospitality , I said there was no way that I would be let in, so I never did get their autographs , but I did get a memory of meeting and a quick chat. Both of them were very friendly & accessible as many musicians were in those pre-stadium rock days days. I saw them again at the 1970 Shepton Mallet Bath Blues Festival, I recorded them, but sadly the tape ended up knackered, the quality was bad and the cross wind made the sound fluctuate. Peter Clinck
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Photo © Mike Wheeler |
© Peter Clinick |
© Peter Clinick |
© Peter Clinick |
© Peter Clinick |
© Melvin Green |
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photo courtesy of Malcolm Strachan ©
© Tom Tom |
© Tom Tom |
In the absence of a tape we do at least have Derek Manuel's brief recollections ,
Led Zeppelin played mid afternoon - spectacular. The Recreation Ground is a natural amphitheatre with echoes coming back from the Georgian buildings in the background. My memory is of real ( not manufactured) echoes of Jimmy Pages guitar played with a violin bow.
Mike Le Voi agrees
About 2 km across the park from the stage was Bath Town Hall and I always remember the look on Robert Plant's face when he was doing Whole Lotta Love and during the screech at the end he heard his own echo coming back - so he kept screaming - and listening to the echoes. I am sure that this gave birth to the album track :-) Remember, this gig was prior to the album.
PS looking at your Led Zep photo - I was about 10 rows back from the photographer, and about 20 yards to the right of stage :-)
Cheers,
Mike Le Voi
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Photo© Mike Wheeler |
Stuart Godfrey adds Biggest early crowd reaction was for Led Zeppelin who came on ridiculously early: I remember looking around at the gaping jaws and popping eyes as Jimmy Page did his violin bow routine...Plant was in terrific voice and he looked great - a real peacock figure amongst all the denim and leather. A flamboyant, extravagant performance - it was clear they were destined for much bigger things
Many thanks to Mike Wheeler and Malcolm Strachan and Tom Tom for allowing us to use these rare photos of the band at Bath
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Photo © Alywne Bates
Led Zeppelin were one of the first bands to appear on the right hand stage. My main recollection was of their brilliant take of ("I asked her for water.....she gave me....) Gasoline".
Frank Butler.
Perth,
Western Australia
Colour pix provided by Charley Cioffero .
Links
- Some excellent photos by Chris Walter of Zeppelin at the 1960 Bath festival can be seen here
- A great close up of Bath 69 along with many Zep photos from the 1970 festival can be viewed here
- John has photos and comments about Zeppelin at Bath 69 as well as many other Zeppelin photos
- Check out the info on Zeppelin at the 1970 bath festival here.
- Article regarding the film footage found in 2008 here at www.tightbutloose.co.uk
Please Contact us if you have any more information about this gig
Contents
If you have photos, recollections, set lists, newspaper reports or tapes of the event then email us and we'll add them to the site. Contact us
Bands in order of appearance.(l to R)
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Babylon
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Group Therapy. |
Clouds |
Bath 69 reviews and recording information
| 8mm Film |
