Led Zeppelin by Barney Hoskyns

Author:Barney Hoskyns
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781118234907
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2012-09-26T04:00:00+00:00

DESIREE KIRKE A lot of people thought Bad Company were American, because their image was quite plain and kind of Western-looking. They were almost like the opposite of glam rock, and people were kind of ready for that.

DANNY GOLDBERG The Bad Company album was number one, and that was the first release on Swan Song. Led Zeppelin signed another band, and it went to number one, and that was an amazing differentiation for Swan Song—what a way to start.

PETER GRANT That whole “Can't Get Enough” era was so fresh. We had Maggie doing quite well and the Pretty Things. I have a framed Billboard chart with all our artists listed one week in early 1975.

SIMON KIRKE (drummer with Bad Company) G was an amazing guy. If he was in your corner, then he would do anything for you. Initially, I was afraid of him. I'd heard that he had connections with the East End underworld, and in typical greenhorn fashion, I asked him about it. He said no, of course, and gave me a bunch of charming bullshit. The next meeting we had with him in his office, he started by saying, “Oh, Si, I've got something for you here,” and he bent down behind his desk and pulled out a toy Tommy gun—which looked pretty bloody realistic—and loosed off a stream of Ping-Pong balls at me.

BENJI LeFEVRE Zeppelin decided to have their own label so they could make money, but also so they could control their own destiny a bit more. The whole idea of it—with the Icarus logo and everything—seemed very appealing. Bad Company got off to a great start because everyone within the Zeppelin camp was focused.

MAGGIE BELL There was a great launch party at the Bel Air Hotel, with pink flamingos and doves—especially for a little girl from Glasgow who'd started out in the Salvation Army playing the tambourine.

ABE HOCH Maggie goes to Groucho Marx, “I'm so honored to meet you.” Groucho goes, “Fuck that, show us your tits.” Right there in front of everybody.

GEOFF GRIMES (plugger for Atlantic Records in the U.K., 1972–1978) The Swan Song launch in England was on Halloween at Chislehurst Caves, which was like a labyrinth. Everywhere that was accessible, they seemed to find something to put on in it. There were a bunch of naked male wrestlers writhing around in the dust. I just stood in the doorway and looked at this: nuns walking toward you with the complete dress on, and then you looked back and there was nothing on the back except suspenders.

BOB HARRIS (presenter of BBC2's Old Grey Whistle Test, 1972–1978) It was like being at a medieval orgy. Flames from huge torches flickered light across the dark, dank recesses of the caves, while a crowd of maybe two hundred people watched George Melly perform jazz tunes and bawdy songs in a nun's habit, naked girls wrestling in jelly in open coffins at his feet. In all, it was a strange and disturbing night.

Invitation to the Halloween Pretty Things party at Chislehurst Caves, October 1974.

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