Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

[Lee Brenkman]

These recently came to my attention. They were taken May 11th 1969 at the Greenlake Aqua Theatre in Seattle. This venue was only used for a few rock shows at the very end of the 1960s. The stage, originally part of an Aquacade show with divers, synchronized swimmers etc. sat between the sound and the pool. The audience of about 5,000 sat in concrete bleachers on the other side of the pool. Probably good for security but not great for the acoustics.

Note the usual for the era minimal miking of the drums and backline. The Marshall head on the stage left "Jimmy Page" side of the drums is not sitting on top of the box with the two re-entrant horns, it just looks like it from this angle.

The only thing that vaguely resembles a monitor anywhere is the single cabinet stage left facing towards center stage.

 

[Mike Caldwell]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

I'm going to guess that that even with that production they put on a more energetic, captivating, from the soul show than many of todays acts with a 20 semi arena tour can.

 

[Bennett Prescott]

I'm going to guess that that even with that production they put on a more energetic, captivating, from the soul show than many of todays acts with a 20 semi arena tour can.

Either that or it sounded like an AM radio turned half way up. I dare someone to buy, borrow, or steal that rig (or similar) and run a show on it.

 

[John Halliburton]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

Either that or it sounded like an AM radio turned half way up. I dare someone to buy, borrow, or steal that rig (or similar) and run a show on it.

Skip that, I think more venues should have a "moat" like that-then Steven Tyler and Jimmy Buffett(to name the most recent I can think of)would not have injured themselves falling off the stage...

Best regards,

John

 

[Ivan Beaver]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

Either that or it sounded like an AM radio turned half way up. I dare someone to buy, borrow, or steal that rig (or similar) and run a show on it.

With a decent operator, I bet it would sound better than some rigs I have heard-or at least the mixes I have heard. Many times it is simply a matter of running a rig within its limits-and not asking it to do something it can't. But so few understand that----

 

[Tom Manchester]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

Reminds me of a "Sunday concerts in the park" series we were scoping out to try and get a contract for. I googled a picture of the event and it was a cover band with a single Bose L1 and probably about 3000 people in attendance. Given the choice, I'd taken the Zeppelin PA any day, probably efficient and loud as hell.

 

[Karl Winkler]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

I'm going to guess that that even with that production they put on a more energetic, captivating, from the soul show than many of todays acts with a 20 semi arena tour can.

That was my thought, too. It probably ROCKED. They were young, lean and hungry back then and full of piss & vinegar. Would have been cool to see them, even in that messed up situation.

 

[kristianjohnsen]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

With a decent operator, I bet it would sound better than some rigs I have heard-or at least the mixes I have heard. Many times it is simply a matter of running a rig within its limits-and not asking it to do something it can't. But so few understand that----

If the audience would just shut up and listen that would effectively give your system 20 dB more headroom, too...

 

[Lee Brenkman]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

If the audience would just shut up and listen that would effectively give your system 20 dB more headroom, too...

Amen on that! I regularly mix the support bands in clubs where the hipsters stand around talking loudly while waiting for the headline band to start. It's like mixing on the other side of a waterfall!

At least on that stage between the pool and Puget Sound Led Zeppelin was listened to no more intently than Three Dog Night and the first, unknown to me band that performed that day.

 

[John Norris]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

Lee, there was entertainment later on that night, as well. With a mudshark.

 

[Lee Brenkman]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

Lee, there was entertainment later on that night, as well. With a mudshark.

Yep, it was THAT tour. Although research into the facts disproved much of the oft told tale about the groupie and the fish AND which member(s) of the Zep entrourage were involved. Not that Frank Zappa and Flo and Eddie had anything to do with the "when confronted with the truth and the legend, promote the legend" of it all.

The NEXT tour is the one that the entire band touring party "decorated" their rooms with Mudsharks and trashed the furniture, leading to their lifetime ban from the Edgewater Hotel and contributing to the demise of the "fishing from your room" policy ever since.

 

[Ivan Beaver]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

Yep, it was THAT tour. Although research into the facts disproved much of the oft told tale about the groupie and the fish AND which member(s) of the Zep entrourage were involved. Not that Frank Zappa and Flo and Eddie had anything to do with the "when confronted with the truth and the legend, promote the legend" of it all.

The NEXT tour is the one that the entire band touring party "decorated" their rooms with Mudsharks and trashed the furniture, leading to their lifetime ban from the Edgewater Hotel and contributing to the demise of the "fishing from your room" policy ever since.

One of my favorited albums is Zappa at the Filmore-in which one of the themes (that Zappa was well know for) was the mudshark and the edgewater inn.

So how was vanilla fudge tied in with it? inquiring minds really would like as many details-such as they are.

 

[Jack Arnott]

Re: Zeppelin landing in Seattle circa 1969

So how was vanilla fudge tied in with it? inquiring minds really would like as many details-such as they are.

Apparently someone from Vanilla Fudge filmed Zepplin's road manager pleasuring a red head with the nose of a red snapper.
The mud sharks were all left in the room, hanging on coat hangers.