Led Zeppelin – Sydney Showgrounds 1972
Feb 18
70s rock photographer Kevin Hill took thousands of photos of bands playing in New Zealand and Australia. This photo is one of many he took of the February 1972 Led Zeppelin concert at the Show Grounds in Sydney, Australia. The band opened the show with “Immigrant Song” (from Led Zep III) – straight after the first song the fans stormed the barriers and rushed to the front of the stage… security couldn’t stop them and they stayed there for the rest of the night. The performance of Immigrant Song at Sydney is featured on the Led Zeppelin ‘Official Remastered” DVD set issued by Jimmy Page. See if you can spot Kevin Borich at the front (with the press photographers) … before the crowds crashed the barriers – hint look at the B&W photo! There are over 1,000 photos in Kevin Hill’s collection of local and international rock musicians. The link to Kevin’s musical photo collection is: Christchurch Music Scene 1968-1980 photostream Kevin’s book VISUAL MEMORIES – the Christchurch Music Scene 1968-80 is available now. 200+ pages of high quality B&W and colour prints from the...
Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way 2010
Jul 10
Joe Walsh has had a long musical career spanning over 40 years. Hailing from Wichita Kansas, Joe attended Kent State University in the 1960s and it was during this era that he formed what would eventually become the James Gang. James Gang were moderately successful and released several albums, the most successful being ‘Rides Again’. After the demise of the ‘Gang’ Joe forged a solo career, with a backing band known as “Barnstorm” and it was during this time that classic tracks such as ‘Rocky Mountain Way’ and ‘Turn to Stone’ were penned. Joe’s solo career hit a peak in the mid-70s and cumulated in a live album recorded as part of the ‘Don Kirshner Rock Concert’ series aired in 1975. The LP released was ‘You Can’t Argue With A Sick Mind” and featured a stellar backing band including: Jay Ferguson (Spirit / Jo Jo Gunne), Don Felder (Eagles), David Mason (Traffic) and highly sought after session drummer Joe Vitale [a long time friend of Walsh’s]. A very successful album “but Seriously Folks” followed. In 1976 Joe joined the Eagles and along with songwriter Don Felder played the classic “Hotel California” solo, which is now entrenched in music history. He also wrote all the music to ‘Life In the Fast Lane’ and the Felder/Walsh dual guitar partnership was cemented. During this period Joe sought nomination as an independent candidate for congress, but was knocked back due to being under-aged. There are still some “Joe Walsh For President” stickers about if you look hard enough (I still have one). The Eagles parted ways for 14 years in 1980 and Joe resumed his solo career, with mixed results. The highlights of Joe’s post-Eagles work was probably his time down under where he played with New Zealand band “Herbs” and later “The Party Boys” (a band founded by Kevin Borich and Paul Christie). They recorded several albums, including a great live LP in Melbourne 1989. Joe lived in New Zealand for some years and I met him in 1988 during his time there. The Eagles reformed in 1994 and a newly sober Joe was ready to take the world by storm. The “Hell Freezes Over” era was extremely successful for the Eagles, but little new material surfaced from the band. It would not be until 2007 that the Eagles would release a full album of new material – but alas the...
Split Enz at Nambassa
May 04
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia and Canada during the early 1980s, most notably with the single “I Got You”, and built a cult following elsewhere. Their musical style was eclectic and original, incorporating influences from art rock, vaudeville, swing, punk, rock, new wave and pop. Photo courtesy of Peter Terry –...
Split Enz at Nambassa January 1979
May 03
Split Enz at the Nambassa festival New Zealand, January 1979 1978 was the band’s toughest year. They lost their Chrysalis contract and spent most of the year without a record deal, a booking agent or a manager. Debts mounted and, unable to get gigs, they were forced to go on the dole. But they continued writing new material at a frantic pace and rehearsing constantly. It was at this point that the New Zealand Arts Council came to the rescue with a five thousand dollar grant. They immediately booked a tiny 8-track studio in Luton and with the help of 18-year-old English engineer David Tickle, they knocked out demo recordings of around 28 new songs in less than five days. These legendary sessions, (the Rootin’ Tootin’ Luton Tapes), displayed both a newfound edge and considerable commercial potential. Around the same time, they recorded a new single with Tickle, a frenetic new song by Tim called “I See Red”. Photo courtesy of Peter Terry –...