RETRO: Led Zeppelin “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You”

Posted December 12th, 2007 by eric

In the wake of all the Led Zeppelin mania this week, I couldn’t help but pull out the self-titled DVD, which features this stunning performance of “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” off the band’s 1969 debut as a bonus feature. It’s from a rare Danish TV broadcast in front of an audience that had no way of comprehending what was happening in front of it. And despite hoping I didn’t see any of the reunion footage from the other night’s reunion show in London, I couldn’t help but watch all the clips that have surfaced, and it wasn’t even close to a train wreck. In fact, parts were pretty bad ass. And, though, I still think playing without John Bonham is a mistake, at least they kept it in the family. And it sure as hell makes up for that Live Aid debacle.

Tags: video

14 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Zep Fan // Dec 13, 2007 at 4:30 pm

    Wow. Concerning Zeppelin, you were like those Danes a few years ago. “no way of comprehending what was happening”.

  • 2 Eric Greenwood // Dec 13, 2007 at 5:05 pm

    So, let me get this straight, you’re saying Live Aid was a good performance for Led Zeppelin? The one the band members themselves were too embarrassed to allow to be included on the official Live Aid DVD?

  • 3 patrick // Dec 14, 2007 at 12:45 pm

    @Zep Fan: Wow. Concerning your comment, it makes absolutely no fucking sense.

  • 4 Zep Fan // Dec 14, 2007 at 2:41 pm

    Let me clarify. Hipsters have finally realized how amazing and influential Zeppelin were, hence the coverage here and elsewhere. I guess it’s a good thing. But there are music fans who have known it all along who don’t confuse their tastes with fashion statements or cool points.

  • 5 Eric Greenwood // Dec 14, 2007 at 4:16 pm

    oh please. don’t you think it’s far more likely that the dearth of led zeppelin news until this year is the reason sites haven’t been covering them?

  • 6 Zep Fan // Dec 14, 2007 at 4:43 pm

    Certainly the coverage has increased as a result of the reunion. But have you personally been a fan for as long as you’ve been covering/following music? My point is that hipster music snobs have finally come around. Fans of good music, be it popular or obscure, have always been on board.

  • 7 Eric Greenwood // Dec 14, 2007 at 5:23 pm

    i personally am a bit of a Led Zeppelin freak, but you were not able to detect it. people that try to look upon, as you say, “hipster” music with indignation typically sound like baby boomers trying to relate to that “rap” music. it just comes off kind of sad.

  • 8 K // Dec 14, 2007 at 5:55 pm

    Hilarious. Hipsters are now being chided for liking an old band. Ye Hipsters can’t win! I went through my Zep phase for a few months in Junior High and High School and while I appreciate what they did for Rock, I haven’t really had any significant need for them since, even given their increased press coverage. So, don’t go generalizing. Trust me, not all music snobs are re-living their days of getting the Led out.

  • 9 K // Dec 14, 2007 at 6:02 pm

    Is the Danes reference something to do with World War II?

  • 10 K // Dec 14, 2007 at 6:06 pm

    “My point is that hipster music snobs have finally come around. ” Was there a time when Music Snobs disliked Zep? I don’t think I’ve ever met a music snob that dissed on Led Zeppelin. Seriously. I know a lot of music snobs. It would be pretty hard to make a case against Led Zeppelin. Same goes for Bruce Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac, etc. They might be guilty pleasures, but they’re certainly not getting the high hat from anyone that truly appreciates music.

  • 11 Logan Young // Dec 17, 2007 at 4:27 am

    Re: “the Danes” – Hamlet I presume? – there truly is “something rotten in the state of Denmark.” And yee smells like yet another needless, money-grubbing reunion of a band that, for my money anyways, was always overrated both in terms of the actual music they produced and the legacy we’ve since ascribed to them henceforth…both elistist hipster snobs and rockist revivalists alike. Write a fucking song for Chrissakes, not endless and mindless riffs any 2-bit hack w/ a Rogue electric guitar, First Act amp and some knock-off distortion pedal could’ve mastered back when K there was in middle school. What little respect I ever had for them was flushed down the toilet – in through the out door, wholesale – when Paige and P. Diddy (or whatever that self-aggrandizing butt munch goes by these days) got together on SNL. As for Maitre Plant, keep on trying to get in Jessica Simpson’s pants – you might have to fight off her father’s schlong though – ’cause I’ve long since cared about anything you’ve to say. Nice goatee though!

  • 12 Zep Fan // Dec 17, 2007 at 2:43 pm

    “Was there a time when Music Snobs disliked Zep? I don’t think I’ve ever met a music snob that dissed on Led Zeppelin.”

    Ask the author of this post.

  • 13 patrick // Dec 18, 2007 at 10:41 am

    Look, there was a time when Zep needed to be dissed on. (See: Live Aid, 1985.)

    As an elitist music snob who’d never be confused with a hipster — they won’t even let me in the cool hipster bars to use the shitter any more — I can honestly say that I’ve never truly dug Zeppelin. It wasn’t because it was “fashionable” or “cool” to hate on Zeppelin. Hell, I got beaten up in middle school because I didn’t like “Stairway.” Zep I and II are classic albums, to be sure, and the players are all top-notch, but I’ll take The Who over Zeppelin just about any day.

    Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go listen to some metal.

  • 14 Eric Greenwood // Dec 18, 2007 at 11:54 am

    i hated zeppelin as a matter of course growing up because every redneck fruitcake confederate flag waving asshole loved them. so, i went out of my way to distance myself from that scene, even though in the back of my mind i didn’t dislike the music as much as i disliked the people who did like it. so, sure, i was slightly older when i started listening to them and admitting it. i think they’re easily one of the top three greatest bands of all time. and even those whose tastes swerve away from some of the band’s histrionics, save for wonderfully absurd ranters like logan, will acknowledge the band’s extraordinary individual talents.