They Shook Them

This is the week Led Zeppelin first played Zoo York City, at Bill Graham's legendary Fillmore East, January 31st & February 1st. Nowadays most bands hit NYC first, so they can exploit all the media outlets that will in turn send out ripple effects across the country. In 1968, however, Led Zep treated the Big Apple like flyover, opting instead to make their debut in the snowy confines of Denver, followed by shows in cold, damp northwest locales like Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and Spokane. In fact, they weren't even listed on the bill for that first Denver show with Vanilla Fudge. But by the end of January '69, word was out that this was one white-hot band.

British rockers The Move were scheduled to support headliners Iron Butterfly for those nights at the Fillmore, but instead dropped out and the Zeppelin signed on--much to the misgivings of IB's people, who were label mates (IB was on Atco, LZ on the more respected, big brother Atlantic imprint). By the end of Zeppelin's first set--they did two each evening, at 8 & 11:30 pm--they'd done two encores and had the crowd in such a lathered frenzy that Iron Butterfly waited a good 45 minutes before beginning their anticlimactic set. You can reviews of the show and check out some very cool memorabilia from those nights (including every page of the program everyone received those nights) here. For $3, $4 & $5 a ticket, people saw history for a bargain.

A mere four months later, May 30th 1969, Led Zeppelin returned to the Fillmore--but this time as headliners. No, Iron Butterfly wasn't reduced to being the opening act this time--that chore went to Delaney & Bonnie & Friends and jazz great Woody Herman and his orchestra. Bill Graham loved putting variety on his bills, like having Miles Davis open for The Grateful Dead, Chicago open for Zappa & The Mothers or Chuck Berry open for The Who. You can read all about those May '69 LZ shows here.

But what goes around....

On the bottom of page 20 here (you may have to scroll up a little), check out what happened later in 1969 when Led Zep's manager Peter Grant forcibly made opening band Grand Funk's manager stop their warm-up set because they were upstaging the Zeppelin. Sure, LZ could dish it out as support, but now as headliners? It wasn't long after this they decided that being the sole act on the bill was probably best--for finances AND karma.

And Cheech & Chong Were A Big "Hit" Here Too

I'm a Murrayan. I grew up in Murray, Kentucky from age 3 until I left for college at 18. That's the same Murray as in Murray State the sports world is talking about. And for good reason: It's the greatest season ever for a tradition-rich program in a basketball-crazy part of the world. Their 13 year-old arena is filled to rafters, finally--kinda like the old days. But this was the arena I watched many an MSU game in. It began life as The Fieldhouse, then was renamed Racer Arena. From 1954-1998 it was where Murray State played its men's and women's basketball games and hosted many a concert (Diana Ross & Supremes, Billy Joel, 3 Dog Night, ELO, Kenny Rogers & 1st Edition, Sly & Family Stone--even Andy Williams--all played there). In 1971, Murray State hosted Western Kentucky when both were ranked in the top 20. See that long steel support beam in the front? The one that curves all the way over to the right press box, just above the word "volleyball?" I stood on top of that very press box and leaned on that very beam during that sold-out, SRO game in 1971. With memories like that still reverberating 41 years later I can only imagine what the big bang of this season will do for my hometown and its people--the best you'd hope to meet--for decades to come. Go Racers!

(BTW Justin Seeley took the photo above; here's his site for more great shots.)

"We Don't Give A Damn How Ya'll Do It Down South."--rest of America

Lowest-rated BCS title game ever. SEC becomes the first conference to simultaneously win and lose the BCS championship game. Dominating defense, ordinary-to-nonexistent offense.

Yes Virginia, there will be a playoff system, but not nearly soon enough.

Having a #13 Michigan/#11 VaTech Equal/Splenda/Sugar-Substitute Bowl and a #15 Clemson/#23 West Virginny Sunny D Orange-Substitute follow a fantastic #5 Oregon/#10 Wisconsin Rose Bowl and a #3 Ok. State/#4 Stanford Fiesta Bowl is like seeing Bruce & E Street Band then Paul McCartney then trotting out as an encore Yanni and Vanilla Ice.