(Originally posted on the website Continuum…)

T: “Dad, I’m at Circuit City. Did you buy that new Led Zeppelin dvd yet?”

ME: “No, can you check out the price while you are there and call me back?”

T: “Sure.”

(** a mini eternity passes **)

T: “Dad, the dvd is $22.95. Did you know there is also a new 3 cd live set? Do you have that?”

ME: “No. How much is that?”

T: “Same price. But they have a sale only for today. But both for just $30.”

ME: “ONLY 30 BUCKS??? HOLY CRAP!!”

T: “Dad…”

ME: “What?”

T: “I had enough money with me so I bought it for you!”

ME: “Dooooode! Awesome! You’re the coolest! Now get yer butt home so we can watch it!”

Awesome is right! Over 5 hours of tremendous live Led Zeppelin! Oh man! Amazing! I have been listening to Led Zeppelin for 25 years or so. But I never saw them live. Their peak was slightly before my time. (They had their first two albums out before I was even finished with kindergarten!) I never saw any video performances of them either. They were big before MTV even existed. Then their drummer died tragically right as I was finishing high school. No more tours. So to see them playing their music live was just awesome. I was revited to the screen. I put the dvd in at 8 PM and nearly finished it last night.

After having the recent joy of buying a new drumset, to see John Bonham actually playing was astounding! His playing has been an influence on my own style, not to mention the influence he has been to so many drummers over the years. The first dvd contains live footage from 1970 and the camera angles are perfect for watching Bonzo. I was amazed at his speed and endurance. I can understand why the band stopped touring after his death. No one could have replaced him.

You have to see this dvd! This is a band that has not made any new music for over 20 years. Yet, their songs are on rock radio stations all over the world to this day. They were among the leaders and pioneers of rock music back in the 1970s. What a deal to get a 5 hour dvd AND a 3 cd audio set all for $30! Awesome!

Posted at 2:00 PM (EST)