Fool in the Rain
I was just watching the Led Zeppelin Song Remains the same concert film again on VH1 classics. Every time I watch that performance it blows me away. It is one of the greatest live music recordings I've seen. In addition to all the members of the band being at their peak, the videography and editing is outstanding as well. The way they intertwine mini-plot music video sequences with the live performance and backstage and fan interaction really gives you a sense of being there. I also like the fact this happened just a few miles away from where I'm at right now at Madison Square Garden.
Its almost unreal how great Jimmy Page is on the guitar in this. You can tell he knows what a total bad ass he is and how in control of the instrument he is. It makes me think of what a joke so many other bands are that pale in comparison. He's wearing those wild moon and star bell bottoms along with perfectly clashing embroidered matador-like small jacket. Throughout it I was thinking of a show I saw about the band once about how Page was into black magic and that could partially be what catalyzed the band's demise in the end. I'm not sure what that guy did to get so great, but its truly remarkable. With practice anyone can become a good guitar player, but few are truly great and innovative. He's always been up on my list of top guitar players of all time.
I really like how they tie in the band's theme of fantasy and mysticism with each of the mini music videos. Some of them are quite hilarious and odd but fit perfectly with the show. One of my all time favorite songs of all time is The Rain Song and the performance here is no disappointment. The videos add a visual compliment to Plant's Tolkien influenced songs. I just read here that the sequence of Plant during The Rain Song was shot on his Welsch farm. It makes me want to visit there some day.
Apparantly they were showing this to advertise a newly released version of the film for Blu-Ray and HD-DVD. I need to get a copy of that and maybe buy a copy for other people for Christmas, its truly a great work of art in many ways. I'm not so excited about the idea of Led Zeppelin touring again, reminds me of the Pixies coming back, I just don't think it will be nearly close to the same. However, with this film you can see the band at their prime which is truly a high standard that many bands have tried to copy but very few have come close.
