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The Archive.
updated July 2004
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June
28th 1969.
Led Zeppelin.
| 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 . Apparently Freddy Bannister the promoter of Bath 69 has unearthed a few tracks as he is offering them as part of his latest project , a Led Zeppelin tribute . Not having heard the tracks , we can't comment on the quality. We have been appraoched by a fan who did record the band at Bath but he has not been abel to find his tape and he says the quality was dire anyway. Once we have heard the Zep tracks we will review them here. 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 onyl the most ardent fan would endure more than once ..... | Photo© Mike Wheeler |
There were a few people out taping in 69, and making some good sounding tapes too, if the conditions were right - as the existence of two tapes of King Crimson and Pink Floyd from the Plumpton Festival will testify- but perhaps no one covered this festival, as so far much diligent searching through many tape lists on the net has failed to unearth any recordings at all . This does not mean they do not exist, as there are tapers who just don't copy their tapes or consider them of insufficient quality to distribute. If there are, well I say- EMPTY THE VAULTS - get the music out there so others can judge its value.
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Above. Zeppelin onstage,
photo courtesy of Malcolm Strachan ©
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 thephotographer, and about 20 yards to the right of stage ;-)
Cheers,
Mike Le Voi
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Photo© Mike Wheeler |
and 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 Wheekler and Malcolm Strachan for allowing us to use these rare photos of the band at Bath
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Links
Contents
If you have photos, recollections, set lists, newspaper reports or tapes of the event then email me at and I'll add them to the site. Contact email
Bands in order of appearance.(l to R)
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Deep
Blues Band
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Bands listed below most probably did not perform
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Babylon
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Group Therapy. |
Principal
Edwards Magic Theatre. |
Bath 69 reviews
