4/18/1970 Phoenix, AZ Desert StormWe're Gonna Groove, Dazed and Confused, Heartbreaker, Bring it on Home, White Summer/Black Mountain Side, Thank You, Moby Dick, Whole Lotta Love
Bonzo is out of control during We're Gonna Groove, thrashing and pounding everything within reach. The band are locked into each other during Dazed and Confused. The fast guitar solo section is especially riotous. Page shreds through the solos in Heartbreaker. Bonzo's pounding is relentless, he attacks the drums with incredible force.
Plant seems to be holding back during Bring it on Home, avoiding the strain of the higher notes. He sounds mournful during Thank You, which features an excellent solo from Page. A couple loud firecracker blasts interrupt the quieter moments. A thunderous Moby Dick is immediately followed by Whole Lotta Love, skipping How Many More Times. Plant talks his way through the lyrics, it's obvious he's in bad shape. He attempts a signature wail during the theramin freakout, but gives up singing/saying "I can't take it." During the "way down inside..." section, he quips "sometimes I don't feel so good" before pushing himself to belt out the final "love!" After the band leaves the stage, Page returns with an announcement that due to Plant's illness, the show will not continue.
The tape is clear with occasional brief disturbances throughout.
Click here for an audio sample courtesy of Black Beauty.
1970-04-18, Arizona Coliseum, Phoenix, AZ "Desert Storm" (EVSD)
ReplyDeleteListened to this while running, so mostly just in the background. Show starts with We're Gonna Groove and Dazed and Confused. Heartbreaker is next, followed by Bring It On Home. Page then rips thru a nice White Summer, and then Thank You is played, with the Organ Solo intro, there are some firecrackers that go off during this but the band keeps on playing. Moby Dick follows, then the band skips over the usual How Many More Times and jumps right into Whole Lotta Love. Plant makes some comments during the song that makes it sound like something is up, he's not feeling well. After this song the band leaves the stage, with Page returning a bit afterwards to say that since Plant is under the weather, the show is over. Overall a decent sounding, fairly consistent tape. Not much with talking (except between songs) and tape issues.
I remember going to the concert, unfortunately I don't remember much about it.
ReplyDeleteI was there..and fairly close to the stage the funny thing though is,up until now(2016) I had always recollected that it was John Bonham who collapsed shortly after doing his wild drum solo on "Moby Dick". Then the band exited the stage..the lights raised up in the Phx. AZ. Veterans Memorial Coliseum...everyone was confused, thinking is this an intermission? Then again..apparently mistaken, I had always thought Robert Plant eventually ran back on stage saying "Our drummer is ill..and can't continue...so that's the end of the show"..then gave a wave and said "Good night"! ..running off stage. Anyway..it was an amazing show...if anyone else recalls would love to hear their memories.(Rob Cook formerly of Scottsdale AZ.)
ReplyDeleteI was 13. It was my first concert. And it changed my life forever!
DeleteAlways a fan
I was 14 and I was there. After the concert ended early, while waiting for our ride home, we somehow ended up on a very smoggy sweet smelling groupie bus. That’s my main memory.
Deletewe actually drove Robert Jimmy and Mark the stage manager to the hospital right after the concert. Robert‘s throat had closed and needed to get medication for it. There were no Urgent Care facilities back then so we had to drive to the hospital on McDowell. It was a wild trip to say the least
DeleteRob - I was there and I have the same recollection as you. Drummer collapsed after long unbelievable drum solo.
ReplyDeleteI was 15yrs. old and I remember this show pretty well but high most of the show. Had to hitch hike home up 19th ave. Back in the days when it seemed safe.
ReplyDeleteI remember mass audience disappointment during “Whole Lotta Love” when Robert Plant basically gave up trying to sing. Another memorable moment came when John Paul Jones was playing keyboards and the strap on his bass guitar failed. The bass hit the floor causing quite a cacophonous sound.
ReplyDelete