Fingerboard Stories
Here at Thalia, we’re big fans of the Gibson SG. Winning out in both playability and aesthetic departments, it’s an iconic axe for a reason. With that in mind, it’s perhaps unsurprising that an iconic axe has so many iconic players. Today, we’re spotlighting three Gibson SG wielding guitar legends, and the stories behind their signature instruments.
We’re back with the final entry in our top Led Zeppelin bootlegs list. In Part One, we covered the band’s raucous early days. In Part Two, we looked at some releases from their stadium packing mid period. Now, we’re focusing on the final years of the band. Many Zeppelin fans will attest that the group’s performing prowess faltered in their final years. But, there are some truly grand live moments in Zeppelin’s latter days, and the first entry in this article might just be the grandest…
We’re back with Part Two of our Led Zeppelin bootleg rundown. In the first article of this series, we covered the band’s early days, from the Fillmore West in 1969 to their first tour of Japan in ’71. In this edition, we’re picking up with Zep as they make the transition from burgeoning rock heroes to the arena level superstars. And, appropriately enough, we’re kicking off with a show that one-or-two of you might be familiar with…
“What’s your favorite Led Zeppelin album?” I’ve always struggled with this question. It’s not because I don’t like Led Zeppelin; they’re one of my favorite bands of all time. It’s because my favorite records from Messrs. Page, Plant, Jones and Bonham are ones that hardly anyone has heard of. I’m talking about bootlegs, and live bootlegs specifically. As far as I’m concerned, Led Zeppelin was a live band. I’m not saying that to downplay their immense achievements in the studio, but it was on stage that their music reached transcendence.
A few weeks ago, I read “1971 - Never a Dull Moment: Rock’s Golden Year” by David Hepworth. In the book, Hepworth argues that 1971 was the most important year in rock history. According to the author, the rock landscape changed in those twelve months, with massive shifts at an industrial, social and cultural level. As a result, a huge number of monumental albums were released; The Stones’ “Sticky Fingers”, “Who’s Next” and “Led Zep IV” to name but a few. And, it was the year that a plethora of rock legends established their place in the pantheon of popular music.
